Great Lakes Route
Spanning a total length of 458 km, the Great Lakes route is a circular route encompassing Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna and Mikkeli. The route runs through the picturesque rural and lakeside landscape of eastern Finland, not forgetting the bustling and hospitable towns of the region.
Along the way, unhurried country spots and interesting towns with their versatile amenities alternate at regular intervals. Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland, the nearby Russian border, the national landscape of Punkaharju, Olavinlinna Castle, a ferry ride, accommodation on the shores of Lake Saimaa and many other attractive features create a wonderful setting for a summertime cycle tour!
The Great Lakes Route - Detailed description of the route
Lappeenranta – Savonlinna 180 km
The route sets off from Lappeenranta in southern Karelia. The Fortress and Saimaa Canal offer an opportunity to delve into the colourful history of this border town, located in the middle of two disparate cultures. The shorelines of Saimaa are traced via Joutseno to Imatra, where vibrant spa life and the gushing Imatra Rapids have drawn visitors from as early as the 19th century. Valtionhotelli Hotel is a magnificent 100-year-old Jugend-style castle serving customers right along the Rapids. The initial leg of the journey from Imatra to Punkaharju is set along a historical museum road. The nearby Russian border is a fascinating feature, which can be further explored at the hotel-restaurant Laatokan Portti on the shores of Lake Simpelejärvi. As one of the most significant wetland bird areas in Finland, Siikalahti Bay in Parikkala attracts birdwatchers. From Parikkala, head towards Punkaharju in southern Savo. Punkaharju is one of the most famous sights in Finland and includes the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto and the Retretti Art Centre, partly situated in caves. Kerimäki provides a chance to visit the biggest wooden church in the world, and Savonlinna is internationally renowned for its Opera Festival and Olavinlinna, the medieval castle.
Savonlinna - Mikkeli 157 km
Rolling country roads lead you from Savonlinna towards Sulkava, where you can visit the pre-historic Hill Fort and fascinating ridge area of Vilkaharju. At Puumala it is worth taking the lift up to Saimaa Bridge, set 28 metres above Lake Saimaa. From the residential area the route returns to the scenic Savo road, which is part of the Green Gold Culture Road. In Puumala, Sahanlahti village and Sahanlahti Sawmill Museum offer a stopping point and versatile services on the shores of Saimaa. A moment later, breathtaking views are un-veiled over Pistohiekka and the scenic Lietvesi road. The route along main road 62 is pic-turesque, but the surrounding Lakeland region draws a lot of visitors so traffic can be heavy. Ollinmäki vineyard provides an invigorating pause in Anttola. At Parkkila the route diverts onto a gravel road leading to Visulahti Travel Centre, a family favourite in eastern Finland. Mikkeli is the administration centre of eastern Finland, where the Headquarters Museum offers a chance to explore Finnish history. The Naisvuori viewing tower is a landmark of the town, providing stunning sceneries at 127 metres above Saimaa Lake.
Mikkeli – Lappeenranta 121 km
From Mikkeli market the route continues via Kenkävero towards Porrassalmi museum road, and on through historic sceneries via Löytö to quaint Ristiina. From southern Savo your journey takes you to Suomenniemi in South-Karelia. Part of a state conservation pro-gramme, the notable village landscape of Suomenniemi comprises 24 historical peasant farms. At Savitaipale, accommodation is on offer at the striking Olkkola Hovi Manor on the edge of Lake Kuolimo. The route continues to Taipalsaari, where a welcome break can be enjoyed at Suur-Saimaa Holiday Village or Hotel Saimaanranta. The return trip to Lap-peenranta proceeds along a pleasant small road and a cycle path leading to the town cen-tre. A cruise along Saimaa Canal is a relaxing end to the Great Lakes route!
Route Difficulty
The route is suitable for those who are fit and have previous experience of cycling. An array of visitor attractions can be found along the way. Daily distances can be maintained at a reasonable level as accommodation is generally available every 30 kilometres. Meandering and shifting terrain sets its own requirements, and the bigger hills make the route fairly challenging at times. The roads can be narrow and winding, sometimes without verges, and the unsurfaced road sections may be in poor condition, so it is worth taking a simple bicycle repair kit along. Traffic can be heavy on the main road sections (NB! heavy lorry traffic), which require extra caution.
Accessibility
The route is circular and can be cycled in either direction. One can, for instance, begin and finish in Lappeenranta after completing the entire circuit. Alternatively, the journey can be cut into shorter sections, such as from Savonlinna to Mikkeli, Lappeenranta or Imatra -there are plenty of options!
The Great Lakes route guide contains road maps on a scale of 1:100 000 and city maps on a scale of 1:20 000. There are separate cycling maps available for Lappeenranta and Mikkeli.
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