Activities

Ecological Short Break from Helsinki to Tampere, 4 days

Sustainable break from Helsinki to Tampere by train and bicycle for very small groups of 1-4 people

CARBON FOOTPRINT: 14.43kg CO2 eq /person / day*

This tour starts from a bike rental shop in Helsinki where you will get your trekking bikes. Also e-bikes available as well as a guided cycle tour in Helsinki (extra cost).

Then, you will take a local train to Turenki where your host will meet you at the railway station. You will cycle 16 kilometers through the most beautiful Finnish countryside. On the way, you may stop to see an old church, take a nature trail or stop to swim in a lake. There is definitely no rush and we'll take our time wandering the country roads.

Erkkilä is the country home of the Skafur-Tour owner Riitta, located in Tervakoski, 80km from Helsinki surrounded by large forest areas. From mid-July to mid-August the berry season is at its best. We offer you a chance to spend a Finnish summer day with us. We'll go to the forest for a walk. We might also find some berries or chantarelles. If the weather is hot, we can go to the lake for a swim. Later you'll have sauna and we'll cook some food together out of the fresh vegetables growing in our garden. You'll spend the night in a private cabin by a small pond and in another small log cabin. There is also a small granary or the guestroom of the main house for the other two.

Hämeenlinna is a small town by lake Vanajavesi. Hämeenlinna has a long history dating back to the middle age, so we can well start from historical point of view. You will cycle from Erkkilä to the medieval Häme Castle, where you will spend a few hours learning about the middle ages in Finland. Later you continue by bike to your next hotel. All in all, you will cycle 39km.

The next morning you will continue by bicycle 20km to iittala glass village, have lunch at a local home and then 13km further to Visavuori, the museum of the life and works of sculptor Emil Wikström (1864-1942) and his grandson, cartoonist Kari Suomalainen (1920-1999). From Visavuori you will cycle 38km to your next accommodation, which is a farm b&b in the village of Narva. On Tuesdays 25.6.-5.8., you can continue by waterbus at 13:45-16:00 to Lempäälä and then cycle 16km only.

Tampere used to be the center of the textile industry in Finland. Today it is the 3rd biggest city in Finland with 230 000 inhabitants. It is located between two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Almost 1/4 of its geographical area is water. You will get a good look at Tampere when cycling there from the farm house by following lake Pyhä. This leg is 47-55km depending on route.

In Tampere, you will meet your local guide and take a Tampere sightseeing by bicycle or by canoe as you wish.

NOTE! It is well possible to add a cycle tour to start with in Helsinki. See extras during the booking process.

* Carbon footprint calculation process is found here

What's included?

Accommodation: 1 night in a log cabin at a private country home for two (if the group is bigger, there is a granary/guestroom in the main house), 1 night in a villa close to Hämeenlinna, 1 night in a b&b and 1 night in a 4-star hotel room

Meals: breakfast daily, lunch/dinner x 3

Transfers: local train from Helsinki to Turenki, train from Tampere back to Helsinki, e-bike rental

Activities: a short forest walk or rowing on lake, a traditional Finnish sauna, Tampere sightseeing by foot, bicycle or canoe

Guidance: hosting on days 1-2, sightseeing in Tampere

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, hiking, 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:

Rain coat / jacket (water/wind proof)

Long sleeved shirt