Summer of extremes
Because of the long, cold winter Finns celebrate their summer very passionately. Some go to music festivals, offering a choice of jazz, blues, rock, opera and chamber music. Others are kayaking or hiking or enjoying slow life at their summer cottages – swimming, fishing and cooking dinner on the grill. For three brief – but oh, so sweet! – months, the temperatures soar high and the sun does not set at all.
The summer isn’t endless in Finland, but there are almost endless summer days. In Finnish Lapland a single summer day lasts for over two months. In the southern parts of the country it is never really dark either, just a period of twilight for a few hours. On a fine summer day, Finns have an overwhelming urge to get outside and get out of town. From the beautiful coastal islands to the ever-present forests and lakes everywhere and anywhere in the country, the nature is always nearby, even with the largest of cities.
Towards August, nights grow darker and at the end of the summer it is already possible to see the Northern Lights – quite an extreme contrast to the Midnight Sun that just dominated the sky a few moments ago. If beginning of Finnish summer is all about sunlight, then the last sweet weeks of summer are about preparing for autumn.
What would you do with an endless summer day?
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Lakeland
A blue labyrinth of lakes, islands, rivers and canals, interspersed with forests and ridges, stretching for hundreds of kilometres in a placid and staggeringly beautiful expanse. Welcome to the largest lake district in Europe, Finnish Lakeland.
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Coast & Archipelago
Finland’s coast boasts the world’s largest archipelago. Old wooden towns, lighthouses, historical manors and stone churches, large national parks stretching over land and sea – this all sums up coastal Finland in a nutshell.
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Helsinki
The capital of Finland is a compact city easily explored on foot. Design, architecture, culture, nordic food and shopping are all great exploration angles and large park areas, forests, lakes, and the coastline with numerous islands sprinkled off it make certain there’s no shortage of natural presence. Needless to say, there’s something going on in Helsinki every day of the year.
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Lapland
In the summer Finnish Lapland bathes in 24-hour sunlight for nearly three months. It is an incredible contrast to the darkest winter months when there is no sun at all. “Midnight Sun”, as this phenomenon is called, calls for many activities such as hiking on the beautiful fells or visiting cultural events such as the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä.
Tour Operators
This is the easy way to travel, with a wide selection of travel packages from many tour operators.
To book, please contact your travel agent or the operator directly.
*Destinology
Destinology are a luxury tour operator offering a personal tailor made service for holidays across Finland for winter and summer. Everything from family Christmas holidays to northern lights short breaks and winter and summer stays in luxury lodges and hotels. Your personal travel assistant will make sure that no service is overlooked however small, from your initial enquiry all the way through to you returning home. See our website for inspiration or visit our state of the art flagship store in Wilmslow, Cheshire to meet the team.
*Discover the World
From brown bear watching trips in the summer to northern lights, huskies and fully-inclusive cabin holidays in the winter – Discover the World offers a fantastic collection of year-round holidays to Finland. With 35 years’ experience, this independent holiday company is one of the UK’s leading tailor-made destination specialists to the Nordic regions.
*Regent Holidays
With over 40 years’ experience, Regent Holidays offers an extensive range of summer and winter holidays to Finland, including group tours, city breaks & fly-drives. Our Bristol-based team of knowledgeable & experienced travel specialists can tailor-make your perfect itinerary to incorporate a variety of activities including husky & reindeer sledding, snowmobiling, Arctic cruises, horse trekking & more.
Baltic Travel Company
At Baltic Travel Company, we pride ourselves on our intimate knowledge of Finland. Why not try Helsinki, the 3rd most liveable city according to Monocle, see the Northern Lights, Spa and Wellness, Rally-driving, dog sledding, snowmobiles and much more.
Best Served Scandinavia
Founded in 2005, Best Served Scandinavia is an independent, tailor-made tour operator specialising in holidays to Scandinavia and Finland. They offer winter and summer holidays, ranging from short breaks to longer fly drives and cruise combinations. Offering the widest geographical range of any operator to the region, Best Served Scandinavia prides itself on its expert knowledge, with a team of specialists with extensive experience in the region. Accommodation is selected according to strict criteria and ranges from budget/simple three star properties to top of the range luxury and boutique hotels.
Escape 2 Scandinavia.
Experience the dramatic fusion of seductive landscapes, natural phenomena, pioneering architecture and cultural diversity available in Finland. Whether you are looking for a well-earned relaxing break among idyllic panoramas or you yearn for an action-packed adventure, our holidays to Finland provide you with a truly authentic experience.
EXODUS
Exodus is the UK’s leading adventure travel company with over 35 years experience, offering small group discovery, wildlife & adventure, walking & trekking, cycling, family, winter activities and polar expedition holidays.
Explore - The Adventure Travel Experts
Explore specialise in small group adventure holidays, with over 450 tours on offer in 120 countries. Explore has a wide range of adventure travel options including walking and trekking tours, cycling tours, polar voyages, family adventure holidays and much more… For further information please visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844 499 0901.
Flash Pack
Why back pack when you can Flash Pack?! As a group travel company The Flash Pack create exciting small group holidays for those who like their adventure in style! Think hunting the northern lights by snowmobile in Finland or snoozing in a luxury Aurora camp on the edge of a frozen lake! Perfect for the solo traveller you can meet other like-minded professionals your age and enjoy a holiday of a lifetime.
Kirker Holidays
Kirker Holidays provides carefully-crafted short breaks to Helsinki, and escorted Music Holidays to the Sibelius Festival in Lahti. Individual tailor-made holidays include private transfers, Kirker’s exclusive Guide Notes and the services of the Kirker Concierge to arrange private guides, excursions, opera and concert tickets or restaurant reservations. For 2015, our Sibelius Festival tour will stay for seven nights in Lahti, including performances of all seven symphonies, to celebrate the 150th birthday of the composer. Sibelius Tour
Kudu Travel
Experience the magic of “Magic Flute” & “Aida” performed in a mediaeval castle in a Finnish lake, travel through silver birch forest for concerts at Kuhmo and enjoy summer days discovering art & architecture in Helsinki on a guided tour.
Off The Map Travel
Off the Map Travel specialises in tailor-made soft adventure holidays throughout Europe. Offering guided or independent activity tours to Finland including sailing, hiking, canoeing or relaxation breaks for couples or families alike staying in self-catering luxury accommodation or country hotels.
On The Go Tours
On The Go Tours offers a diverse range of group tours and tailor made holidays to over 50 countries, taking travellers on amazing journeys filled with exciting cultural experiences. From a Helsinki city break, exploring the best places in the trendy capital, to the beautiful vast wilderness of Lapland, crossing the Arctic Circle to meet Santa Claus, On The Go Tours takes you to the very best Finland has to offer
Original Travel
Original Travel is a multi-award winning tour operator in London who specialise in Big Short Breaks – action-packed long weekends to adventurous destinations – and all types of tailor-made travel. Finland is one of our favourite European destinations.
Scandinavia only
Scandinavia Only is a specialist tour operator to the Nordic countries; Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Greenland. They provide a wide selection of tours for both winter and summer and offer an extensive tailor made service.
Solos Holidays
Solos Holidays is the UK’s number 1 holiday company for single travellers, having been voted Best Specialist Singles Holiday Tour Operator in the 2011 and 2012 British Travel Awards. They have over 30 years experience in arranging group holidays and adventures exclusively for solo travellers and offer a wide choice of destinations and experiences across the UK, Europe and Worldwide, each with a dedicated Tour Leader.
WEXAS Travel
WEXAS Travel is a luxury tour operator specialising in year round tailor made holidays to Finland. Whether you are looking for a bespoke Northern Lights holiday, would like to take your children to see the Father Christmas, watch bears in the wilderness or celebrate your honeymoon in snowy surroundings, our specialists can tailor make your holiday according to your requirements.
1. The competition is arranged by Business Finland – Visit Finland (later Visit Finland), P.O. Box 358, Porkkalankatu 1, 00180 Helsinki, Finland.
2. The prize is a 5-day trip in Helsinki, Finland, during June-September 2018, for two people. The trip includes:
· Finnair (AY) flights from London/Manchester/Edinburgh airport to Helsinki, Finland. Flights subject to availability.
· Four nights’ accommodation in Helsinki and in Espoo (3+1), breakfast included
· Tentsile Experience ”Night in the tree” in Nuuksio National Park, Espoo + transfers to Nuuksio
· Museum Card and Helsinki Design Walk
· Lunch or dinner in summer restaurant Saari
3. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be claimed in cash.
4. The winner of this competition is chosen by Visit Finland. Winner will be contacted directly by Visit Finland’s contact person. Participation is possible for adults over 18 years except the employees of Visit Finland and its cooperation partner in the competition.
5. The winner will be chosen by 5th of May 2018. If the winner can’t be reached within seven days of being notified about the win, new winner will be chosen.
6. Visit Finland reserves the right to announce the winner on VisitFinland.com site and social media channels.
7. Visit Finland will take care of lottery tax.
8. Any personal data relating to applicants will be used solely in accordance with current Finnish data protection legislation.
9. The winner should arrange sufficient travel insurance coverage for themselves and their carry–along property at their own expense as well other traveling documents. The winner bear full risk of any damage or accidents that may be encountered by them during the trip and Visit Finland assume no liabilities.
10. Visit Finland reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition or the rules without notice.
11. Disclaimer: winner releases organizers and all companies and other partners that have taken part in the planning and execution of the competition from all responsibility regarding injury or damage caused or alleged to have been caused by taking part in the competition, or by receiving the prize or by taking advantage of the prize.
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