Finnish Lakeland gravel
4.84(49)Saimaa Lakeland, FinlandGravel
Five days on forest roads between thousands of lakes, with a swim and a sauna at the end of every ride.
- Flat, quiet forest roads between the lakes
- A lakeside sauna every evening
- Ridges of the Punkaharju esker
- Midsummer light that lasts all night
About the trip
Finland's Lakeland is made for easy gravel riding: thousands of kilometres of smooth forest roads, hardly any traffic and a lake round every corner.
We ride 40 to 60 kilometres a day with only gentle hills, and stay in lakeside cottages and small hotels, each with a sauna and a jetty for swimming. In June the light lasts almost all night, so there is no hurry.
It is a perfect first gravel trip, and a lovely one for confident riders who want a slower week.
What's included
- Four nights in lakeside cottages and hotels
- Breakfasts and dinners
- Gravel or e-gravel bike hire
- Support van
- A lake ferry crossing
- Liisa as your guide
Your guide
Liisa Korhonen
Lead guide, Finnish Lakeland and Lapland
Liisa splits her year between canoe routes in the Lakeland and snowshoe trails in Lapland. She is a wilderness first-aid instructor and believes no day outdoors is complete without a sauna and a cold lake.
Meet LiisaDay by day
22 km, 100 m up
Meet by Olavinlinna castle and a short ride along the lake.
48 km, 300 m up
Along the esker, a ridge of pine between two lakes.
52 km, 350 m up
Forest roads to the world's largest wooden church.
58 km, 400 m up
A ferry and forest tracks to a cottage on the water.
30 km, 150 m up
A last swim and the ride back to Savonlinna.
