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