A Finnish archipelago adventure with WalkingWomen

SUMMARY

Date: Sunday 4th to Sunday 11th July 2027 – 8 days and 7 nights

Guide: Maarit our local guide 

Walking Grade: Goat 2 – walks are on good paths and with little ascent. This is for those who want to be outdoors for long summer days but with little ascent or descent. Walking distance will be maximum 15 km / 10 miles per day. This is a truly unique experience led by Maarit.

Highlights:

• A cooler climate for a summer holiday by the sea – the Gulf of Bothnia
• Historical lighthouses and natural parks
• Campfires and outdoor living and swimming with Maarit our Finnish guide
• Isolated islands with peace and quiet and wildlife   – away from the crowds

Base: we will stay in different types of accommodation to give you a full taste of this region of Finland. One night we will have a lighthouse all for WalkingWomen. 

Arrivals:  Turku Main Station at 16.00/4pm this is a 2 hour, approx, direct train ride from Helsinki Main Station 

If you prefer to travel accompanied by WalkingWomen we will meet you at Helsinki Airport between 12 noon and 13.00/1pm to travel to Helsinki Main Station and on to Turku to arrive by 16.00/4pm.

Maarit will be at Turku Station with a mini bus to collect everyone. Maximum numbers are 8.

Departures: Sunday July 11th we will transfer back to Helsinki after breakfast approx 10am . Book flights after 14.00 to be sure to be there.

We will discuss travel with you once we know where everyone is coming from.

Price: £3,400 solo occupancy for a fully immersive Archipeligo week.

• Solo occupancy room with all rooms ensuite except the historic Bengtskar Lighthouse where we all share bathrooms.
• All Breakfast, lunches and evening meals
• Transport required throughout the week
• Experienced local guiding with additional local lighthouse guide
• Pick Up and Departure transfers from Turku and return to Helsinki.
• WalkingWomen personalise support throughout.

The price is £ 2900 per person if you bring a friend/partner and share a room.

Not included:

• Travel toTurku,Finland
• Additional drinks from the bar
• Activities not included in the itinerary.

DETAILS

The map gives an overview of our Archipelago Adventure in Finland – this is a unique experience to discover two completely different and special lighthouse islands, Utö and Bengtskär. We travel by minibus and ferry to get to these remote spots. On the islands we walk, swim, have Finnish saunas and be by the sea to simply stare at the horizon and relax!

Utö is the southernmost inhabited island in Finland and is home to Finland’s oldest lighthouse. There have been lighthouse keepers and pilots on Utö since the 16th century, which is why Utö’s history is interesting and colorful. Currently there are less than fifty residents live permanently on the island. Utö is one of the best birding spots in Finland, and the island has been visited by bird enthusiasts for decades.

Bengtskär is the highest lighthouse in the Nordic countries. Hardly any other lighthouse in the world has such a dramatic history as Bengtskär. Before the lighthouse was built, the surrounding seas caused the destruction of many ships and the lighthouse itself was attacked in both world wars.
Since 1995, the lighthouse has operated as a museum and visitor lighthouse and over the years it has established itself as one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Archipelago Sea.

ITINERARY

Activities may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of the guide. We always say trust your local guide as they know their area and will always be working hard to give you the best experience.

Sunday ARRIVAL TURKU by 16.00/4pm.

There are good train or bus connections from Helsinki, the journey takes about 2 hours. From Turku we continue the journey together by minibus along the archipelago roads to Nauvoo, where the Utö ferries depart. The driving time takes about 1.5 hours. In Nauvo we will have dinner, a welcome briefing, orientation and stay overnight.

Monday: Ferry to Utö Island

After breakfast we drive to the ferry pier and board the Utö ferry. The journey takes 4-5 hours, depending on the stops. There is a soup lunch on the ferry.
After arriving on the island we stay and get to know the island’s services. There is a small grocery store on the island.

16.00/4pm: Guided lighthouse tour by Hanna who was born on Utö Island. Hanna tells the history of Utö in a colorful way, with glimpses of smugglers and her grandmother helping shipwreck survivors. You will hear what it is like to live far away in the outer archipelago both in summer and winter.

Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday: Island Day

After breakfast we go on an exploration of the island.We visit the island’s chapel, old bunkers and see a memorial to the shipwrecks. We hike the paths and cliffs where we can walk freely – there are some areas that are restricted during the birds nesting season. We will take towels and swimsuits to take a dip during our walk. We will stop for lunch at Hanna’s cafe.

In the evening, a barbecue evening at the cottage with sauna and swimming.

Wednesday: Return to the mainland and to the island of Parainen

After breakfast we take a walk on the island and have time to go swimming. After a late lunch we are ready to transfer to the ferry that will take us back to Nauvoo, where we arrive approximately 20.00/8pm

From Nauvoo it is about an hour’s drive through the beautiful archipelago to the island of Parainen, where we will stay overnight and have a late dinner.

Thursday: Bengtskär

After breakfast we have a drive of just under two hours to the next ferry port in Käsnäs. We take the morning ferry to the island of Bengtskär. We have booked the Lighthouse to stay overnight and get the full experience. When the day visitors leave, there is no one on the island except the restaurant staff and us. The rooms are former lighthouse keeper families’ rooms and each room has 2-6 beds. The rooms do not have their own toilet or shower room, each floor has a shared toilet and washing room. Each room has a sea view. A visit to the lighthouse island includes all meals and an evening sauna. Refreshments and alcoholic beverages can be purchased at the lighthouse restaurant.

Friday: Bengskar to Mathildedal

After a walk and lunch we say goodbye to Bengskär. A short sea trip and the minibus journey of 60km to the historic ironworks village of Mathildedal –  we arrive at around 18.00/6pm to settle in and have our evening meal together.

Saturday – an 8km walk in the nearby Teijo National Park

Evening Meal and overnight in Mathildedal

Sunday – return to Helsinki 

Maarit drives us all back to Helsinki after breakfast