Cycling holiday in Finland – go island hopping!

Explore Finland independently with our self-guided cycling tours

Tour Length 7 days / 6 nights

Average cycling 40 km per day, maximum per day 57 km
Difficulty rating: Generally easy, but with occasional rolling sections

Combine a summer cycling tour with a city break in Turku, the 2011 European Capital of Culture. Turku offers hundreds of arts events, a medieval castle and cathedral, and a dozen of river boats with restaurants and bars. Take your bike from an island to an island using local ferries, follow the beautiful route and stay in atmospheric converted barns, spas and hotels.

The tour is also suitable for beginners with average cycling of 40 km per day, the longest ride is 57 km.

The six nights/seven day tour starts and finishes in Turku. Included in the package is accommodation with breakfast, three dinners, bicycle hire with panniers and helmets, detailed route notes, cycling maps, luggage transportation, and 24 hour emergency service.

Travel to Turku is not included in the price.

You can book extra nights in Turku to enjoy the cultural programme.

The Turku archipelago are one of Finland’s most stunning natural phenomena – 20 000 islands stretching out into the sea from the city in the country’s south-west. Island hopping is made easy, and exciting, by a system of local ferry services, constantly going back and forth acting like bridges.

As well as the fun of the ferries, there are also picturesque harbour villages to visit. The cycling route starts and ends in Turku – the former capital of Finland, a bustling, attractive market town, and also the European Capital of Culture in 2011.

Nauvo

Example itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival: A cultural taster
Turku is a bustling summer city with the River Aura cutting right through its heart. Visit the market square, art museums and stroll unhurriedly by the riverside. For the year 2011 Turku is the European Capital of Culture with many special events to choose from all year around. Enjoy a dinner in one of the many restaurants by the river. Overnight in Turku centre with a bed and breakfast.

Day 2 – Turku-Taivassalo (55 km): Take in the scenery
Your bicycles are brought to the hotel in the morning. Ride from Turku to the nearby old wooden town of Naantali. Soon after Naantali the island-hopping begins, first with a stunning ride across the Merimasku Bridge and then take a break from peddling with a relaxing 45 minute ferry journey. Continue by bike to your overnight hotel. Overnight in Taivassalo with a dinner, bed and breakfast.

Ferry crossing

Day 3 – Taivassalo – Korppoo (57 km): Island hopping
Today is the main island-hopping day with 5 ferry journeys, reaching the very heart of the archipelago. The tiny peaceful island of Iniö is the remotest spot of the trip. Houtskär island has some of the region’s most challenging cycling, but you can rest on the 30 minute ferry ride to the next island! On Korppoo island stay overnight in a wonderful B&B, a former barn converted to a guest house. Overnight on Korpoo, dinner bed and breakfast.

Day 4 – Korppoo – Nauvo (31 km): Local delicacies
Cross over to Nauvo, the main archipelago island. Nauvo village has a small lively harbour for sailing boats and yachts. There is a medieval gray stone church to visit or pop to the islanders market by the harbour. The locals are proud of their cuisine: there is fish, delicious potatoes and even liquers made from island’s herbs. There is possibility to do a longer route if desired. Overnight on Nauvo island, a dinner, bed and breakfast.

Day 5 – Nauvo – Naantali (54 km): History and Moomins
Take the ferry north from Nauvo back to the mainland and continue by bike via Rymättylä to Naantali, a small idyllic seaside town with cobbled streets and old wooden houses around a beautiful boat harbour. There is an old convent church with regular concerts, or you can pop in the Moominworld to get some souvenirs. Overnight in a spa hotel in Naantali, with plenty of local restaurants to choose from for a dinner.

Day 6 – Naantali – Turku (14 km)
Free time in Naantali or in Turku according to your preference. Short ride back to Turku. Return your bicycles. Time to relax with a drink, do a bit of shopping and maybe enjoy the nightlife in Turku. Overnight in Turku centre, bed and breakfast.

Day 7 – Departure or a cultural break
You can book extra nights in Turku, book tickets to concerts, plays or circus, or just potter around the city that comes alive in the summer.

Package prices

from £784 per person sharing a twin room when 2 persons travelling together
from £1151 per person for a single traveler

What is included in the price?

• 6 night accommodation with breakfast
• 3 dinners
• 7 or 21-speed bicycle with panniers, km counter, repair kit, pump, helmet
• All necessary island ferry fees
• Cycling road map (1 for up to 2 persons)
• Detailed route notes indicating suggested route and ferry timings
• 24 hour emergency phone service
• Luggage transportation between hotels

Flights are not included in the package, please ask for a quote with flights.

Departure dates in 2012

We have nine fixed departure dates for the 2012 program starting in June and ending in August:
June 3rd, 10th, 24th
July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th
August 5th, 6th

Notes on the accommodation

• All our chosen overnight properties have private bathrooms.
• At Naantali Spa we use economy rooms, but with full access to all the spa facilities.
• We have combined a city centre location at the start and end of the tour (which is the easiest part of the region to arrive and depart), with some beautiful natural locations in the archipelago, and a stay in the old town of Naantali where you can choose a restaurant for dinner from a range in the harbour area. A perfect combination of all that is best in the area.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not included in your holiday cost. It is strongly recommended that insurance be taken out to protect you and your group against many unforeseen insurable events.