Post Tour June 18-20

Lake Saimaa, Midsummer Festival

The Post Tour provides an introduction to Finland’s biggest lake region and forestry. It includes a Slavonic evening, a night at Valamo Monastery and a chance to join in Midsummer festivities.

Midsummer represents the height of the Finnish summer when almost all Finns head for the country if possible. 

Punkaharju conservation area and
the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto

The Punkaharju conservation area is one of Finland’s best-known national landscapes. Punkaharju Ridge and the forest and arboretum of the Finnish Forest Research Institute are a fine introduction to Finnish forestry past and present.

The Finnish Forest Museum Lusto is a national museum and science centre. Its exhibitions, events, work demonstrations, theme days and auditorium programme create a wide picture of the Finnish forests and their significance to the nation.

Valamo Orthodox Monastery at Heinävesi

After the Second World War the 200 or so monks at the monastery founded in the 12th century on the island of Valamo in Lake Ladoga (in what is now Russia) moved to Heinävesi in Finland. They have there continued as a spiritual community rooted in the ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church while at the same time running a tourist centre and hotel.

The Saimaa Canal – Heinävesi route

The Heinävesi watercourse passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Finland, along narrow, winding channels, open stretches of water dotted with islands and six old lock canals.