Welcome!

You are visiting the webpages through which you can explore the nature possibilities provided by the province of South Karelia.

Find here nature trails and spots

Welcome!

You are visiting the Hiking and Nature pages of South Karelia. This webpage is produced by the South Karelian Foundation for Recreation Areas. Contact information for the foundation and ongoing international projects can be found under the headline of “Foundation”.

Excursion to South Karelia

Head to the beaches of Lake Saimaa or to forestry nature trails, explore the border region by bike!

South Karelia has a diverse environment for hikers and cyclists. On this site you will find more information about Saimaa and the Nature of South Karelia.

Recreation areas, Excursion harbors and other Excursion destinations and routes can be found in the Trails and Spots search.

Note that Trails and Spots have their own search pages.

See on the Map!

The Map page allows you to view and search for routes and destinations on the map. Similarly, map pages are for Trails and Spots separately.

Hiker instructions

Wherever and however you go on an excursion, remember that a real hiker cherishes the peace and purity of nature and knows how to take care of his own safety and the safety of others! On this site you will find instructions for moving around in nature and water, as well as for litter-free hiking.

Saimaa Archipelago Route and Bicycle Ferry Rasti

The Saimaa Archipelago Cycling route, which revolves around Southern Saimaa, can be ridden during the Bicycle Ferry Rasti’s traffic season.

Rasti also transports some summer days from Sarviniemi to Puumala Lintusalo. Be sure to buy tickets for Rasti on time! The ticket always includes a bicycle.

Ilkonsaari Island

Ilkonsaari is a unique excursion destination in Saimaa. The island, about 1.5 km long, has five chapels, each with its own role model in different areas of the Orthodox Church from northern Sámi via Russia to Greece.

Ilkonsaari cruises are organized during the summer.

Hiitolanjoki River

Hiitolanjoki River in Rautjärvi, South Karelia, is home to Finland’s last remaining stock of original and fully natural landlocked salmon. Barriers to the upstream movement of migratory fish will be removed and three new flowing rapids will be created in a large-scale project managed by the South Karelian Foundation for Recreation Areas.

Saimaa Geopark

At the Saimaa Geopark’s destinations and routes, you can learn about the birth story of southern Saimaa after the ice age and the even longer history of the bedrock.

You will also find these in the Trails and Spots search of the site.

Excursionmap by Parks and Wildlife Finland

The Retkikartta is a map service produced by Metsähallitus. Map service comprehensively presents routes and excursion destinations from all over Finland.

The Retkikartta is a good tool for planning trips and also a functional tool during the trip.

GoSaimaa.com

The GoSaimaa provincial tourism portal provides area tourism services, such as restaurant and accommodation services and program services.