Ecological Short Break From Helsinki to Porvoo 5 days

Discover eastern Helsinki by kayak and the old town of Porvoo by e-bicycle

CARBON FOOTPRINT: 15.40kg CO2 eq / person / day*

Helsinki is the capital of Finland, also called the "white capital of the north" or the "daughter of the Baltic Sea". In Helsinki there is always a lot happening, and especially summer here is a perfect time for you to cycle through its many parks.

You will first meet your guide at the Helsinki Central Railway Station. Then you'll pick up your bikes and head for cycling tour around the “Old Town Bay”. The Old Town Bay is where Helsinki was originally built. Your guide will tell you about the history of Helsinki while cycling through the parks around the bay. On your way you'll stop for a lunch. The tour ends at your hotel.

After checking in to your hotel and dinner you will head to Summer night kayaking in the eastern archipelago of Helsinki. Each season makes the nature look different but beautiful. During summer the colors are bright and green. There are thousands of islands and little cottages on the shores which make the view ever changing. The delicate light of the summer night lets you guide your way through the islands.

The kayaking is guided by local professional guides. Your guide will give you instructions and tell you more details about the tour. Enjoy this wonderful experience in the Helsinki archipelago while respecting the surrounding nature.

You'll spend the night in a hotel which is located in Vuosaari by the sea. The hotel has an own beach next to the paddling center. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful nature offering good opportunities for outdoor life.

Next day you leave by bicycle to Porvoo. A cycle road follows the main road, so it is easy to navigate. Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland, its Old Town is known for its well-preserved 18th and 19th century buildings and 15th century cathedral. The Old Town is recognized as historically and culturally significant as one of the National landscapes of Finland. Spend the evening strolling around the old town streets and have a good night sleep in a cozy hotel in the centre of the town and explore Porvoo by bicycle next morning. You will get a cycle map with several optional routes.

You will leave Porvoo with a historical cruise ship Runeberg. m/s J.L. Runeberg is an old steam ship built in 1912. The ship has been renovated and now works by a diesel engine. Runeberg has served for passenger traffic for more than 100 years. The 3,5h cruise route takes you along the eastern coast to the Baltic sea back towards Helsinki. During the cruise you will be served a soup lunch and coffee with a traditional sweet pastry called the Runeberg pastry. From the top deck you can watch the never ending archipelago before arriving back to Helsinki.

Please note! This tour can be adapted to your needs.

* Carbon footprint calculation process is found here

What's included?

Accommodation: 2 nights in a standard room at a seaside hotel in Helsinki, 1 night in a comfort room in a city-centre hotel in Porvoo, 1 night in a comfort room at a very nice hotel in the city centre of Helsinki (varies depending on availability)

Meals: breakfast x 4

Transfers: e-bicycle rental Fri-Mon, cruise by m/s Runerberg from Porvoo to Helsinki, airport transfers, transfer to the rental store

Activities: Guided cycling in Helsinki 4h, night kayaking tour 4h

Please note

This tour is part of our Low Carbon Tours .

In this tour sustainability is taken in account by:

Human-powered activities(walking, cycling, kayaking, etc.)
Ecological transportation(train, bus, cycling, etc.)
Sustainable restaurants and cafés recommended(vegetarian, vegan, local ingredients, etc.)
Sustainable and certified accommodation(ecological, social or other certification)
Authentic local culture(local arts, history and cultural sights, etc.)
Professional local guides for a better and safer experience
Every activity, accommodation and sight is tested and audited by us and meets our Sustainable Criteria

To learn more about our sustainability and what you can do on your holiday see our Sustainability plan and Social Responsibility Strategy .

What to bring

On this tour your luggage will travel with you all the time, in other words there is no additional transfers for your luggage. This is done in order to keep the carbon emissions as low as possible. It also means that you have to pack efficiently so that you can carry everything with you while cycling. On the bikes you will have two (large) saddle bags and optional (small) saddle bag. Cycling is slow tempo, so you can also carry a backpack easily with you.

The weather in Finland can vary rapidly, which means that in addition to basic summer wear it is necessary to bring a good gear of weather proof clothing: