CARBON FOOTPRINT: 38.96kg CO2 eq / person / day*

An adventurous self-drive holiday to the Northern Karelia. See a bear, try river rafting and photograph yourself in incredible landscape of Koli hill.

Kuopio is located by lake Kallavesi. It is in the heart of the lake district. The Kuopio market place is worth a visit and there is a nice 2-hour lunch cruise with 2-course meal and coffee (meat, vegetarian and fish options for main course). I suggest you would take the cruise (included), then get back to the B&B and take the rental car. Puijo sightseeing tower is worth visiting before leaving the town so you can see the larget lake areas. 

Karelian guesthouses are known for their great hospitality and food. You will have a charming family cabin with log walls. On one night you will have the Karelian buffet table and on the other one a table-served dinner. You will also make a forest trip with take-awy lunch there. 

Wildlife watching takes place in Kuhmo. You can see both brown bears and wolverines, foxes and even wolves and different kinds of birds in both locations. On the way we recommend to stop at Petola nature centre in Kuhmo. Your observation night starts by a late lunch at 15:00 and ends in breakfast. Note! In case you are more interested in wolverines, we recommend another observation centre in Lieksa so we'll change the order of the days. . 

Summer cabins in Lentiira are simply charming. Two rooms in one floor and a terrace indoors with lake views. This is where you will relax after the wildlife night and enjoy two day with timetable of your own. The only prebooked activity is the smoke sauna. You will also have two canoes in your usage for one day. 

Ruunaankoski rapids are simply great and river rafting there best in Finland. You can choose either 8 rapids by a wooden boat or 5 rapids by a raft. Both include lunch. For those staying on land lunch buffet is booked at the restaurant. In Ruunaa you will stay in a summer cabin with 4 individual beds. There are very nice hiking routes but a guide will first show you one so you can take more next day on your own. 

On the way to Koli a location worth stopping is the Paateri church, a creation by artist Eva Ryynänen. Also her studio can be visited. 

Koli is considered to form the National landscape of Finland. Every finn has been sitting on the Ukko-Koli rock and taken a photograph of their family. The wide-open hilly landscape is just breath-taking. You will stay in a cottage at a farm with rich country breakfast included.

At Koli there are very well-market routes starting from the hilltop so you will not need a guided for this. There is also a very nice restaurant called Alamaja by lake Pielinen and a restaurant in the Sokos Hotel on the top of the hill where you can have lunch or dinner if you do not mind cooking yourselves at the cabin. 

 * Carbon footprint calculation process is found here.