This is the story of Sebastian’s journey to Finland and our wonderful culture where nature and spending time in summer cottages are essential .

Straight after arriving in Helsinki we got our rental car and drove north. Ahead of us was a 10 day journey through the southern part of Finland. My expectations of this beautiful country were fulfilled immediately after leaving the city and entering the remote nature of Finland. We drove for around 3 hours north, one hour was driving on a gravel road straight into the forest until we reached our cottage directly at lake.

A Finnish BBQ in the forest.

After a day of hiking and exploring the area we finished the day by making a campfire on a hill with views over the lake. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine a better place for a fire. The nature and the remoteness of that place even made it more beautiful. A cold beer and some sausages on the stick really made a perfect evening.

Amazing view on the National Park of Repovesi

After leaving the remote cottage behind, we made our way to explore Repovesi National Park. In the park there are a lot of hiking trails and some great views over lakes and forests. There are also some campgrounds, where families spent the night. Unfortunately we didn’t bring our own tent, so we had to leave the park at dawn to sleep in our B&B.

Roadtripping in Finland

After another night at a campfire at the B&B Pinus in Mäntyharju, we made our way more north to Koli National Park where we stayed on a farm for 2 nights. The view from the top of Koli National Park was even more breathtaking than the views we saw before. After a good day of hiking, we had one of the best burgers ever at Kolin Ryynanen, close to the park.

Scenic sunset in Finland.

On our way to the West Coast we stopped at another cottage directly at a lake. As many times before in Finland we were all by ourself. We took out the paddle boat for a sunset cruise before sitting at the warm campfire again.

Lovely view from pier. Time to jump in!

The west coast was a bit disappointing. There was no road directly at the sea and we missed our days at the lakes so much, that we headed back inwards on our way back down south to Helsinki.

Helsinki City overview.

Our last couple of nights we spent on an organic farm with an awesome breakfast. Holidays in Finland is pure nature and relaxation. If you want a lot of action, this is the wrong place. But if you are looking for untouched nature and wilderness, this is one of the best places I have visited so far.

Helsinki is a charming capital, with lots of good bars, restaurants and great cultural activities. I liked Finland so much, that I came back a couple of months later to see it in autumn. The weather was more moody but definitely as beautiful as in summer.

Sebastian made a short video while exploring Finland. In the video Sebastian experiences the Finnish nature and cottage culture at the fullest.  It’s worth checking out. Sebastian creates fantastic short films about traveling in different locations and takes quite spectacular photos while traveling!

You can follow Sebastian in Instagram: sebpic_

Finland is one of the prettiest countries in the world. It is known for the amount of contrast that you get to see in its landscape. It is here that you can see the four seasons in true earnest. It is at Finland that you would be able to see the Midnight Sun as well as the Northern Lights.

Pyhä-Luosto National Park

The first name that needs to be taken in this context is the Pyhä-Luosto National Park. These are basically rugged hills that have been there for a long time and they have been cut at various places by gorges that happen to be really deep. The best thing that you can do over here is trekking. You can easily walk to the top through these forests that have been there for an eternity and more. The top areas of this park do not have any trees and there is plenty of wind to contend with as well. The skies here are vast as you would find elsewhere in Lapland.

The scenery is especially breathtaking during both summer when you have the Midnight Sun, and winter when the skies are being lit up by the Northern Lights. You would also see some Siberian jays that are really friendly if you happened to stop for a picnic while hiking.

Aland

Aland happens to be the perfect weekend getaway if you happen to be in Finland. No matter who you are with this is the best place to have some great time. You can relax at the sauna, go hiking around the archipelago which is naturally inspiring, or just walk around and take in the sights and sounds over here.

One of the various things that you should certainly do whilst you are at this place is to take part in one of the fishing trips. You can hire a local fishing guide for the purpose – this is one experience that is always going to stay with you. The food over here also happens to be exceptional. It is highly recommended that you visit the local Art Museum and Cultural History Museum, and the Aland Maritime Museum. If you are here you might catch hold of the Northern Lights as well as one of the many storms.

Uto Island

Uto Island is located right in the southernmost part of the country and is the last inhabited island in that part of this archipelago. You can get there with the help of a free ferry that takes around five hours. The island is small as such and is there right on the Baltic Sea. A lot of people visit it during the winter season – a time when it happens to be as cold as hell. You can also visit it during spring and autumn where you would see many migratory birds.

The island is a rocky one and occupies an area of just a square km. All around the year over here, you would not find more than 50 people on an average. There are normally around 150 people during the summer season. The island was vacated in 2005 by the Finnish armed forces.

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

One of the various things that you can do in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is trekking. You can easily visit one hilltop from another this way. All the way you would be passing through Arctic fells. This also happens to be the finest hiking trail in the country.

Apart from hiking, skiing is also one activity that you would really enjoy doing over here. You can stay at the Lappish villages that have plenty of history apart from lodgings where you can haul up without compromising on your comfort. It also helps that they are really welcoming. In fact, it is said that this part of Lapland has the best air in the whole world with regards to freshness. Once again this is a great place if you wish to see the Northern Lights. You can easily visit the national park by way of a car and other modes of public transportation.

Koli National Park

The Koli National Park is located in northern Karelia and as such is well known for its natural scenery that comprises hills covered in trees. One of the best views that you can get from here is that of the Lake Pielinen from atop the Ukko-Koli Hill.

This is one reason why over the years so many artists, nature lovers, and photographers from across the country have been attracted to the spot. The scenery is as splendid as they come and as such it fills you with a sense of serenity unlike anything else. You just feel a sense of wonder when you come here. In fact, the lakes and hills over here create such a setting that you would enjoy it no matter which time of the year you come over here. You can access this by car as well as public transportation.

Oulanka National Park

The national park is located at Kuusamo and happens to be one of the most popular members of its fraternity in the country. The national park is also known to have a commendable collection of falls and rapids. The most prominent name among these is the Kiutaköngas rapid that is located in the Oulanka River.

The Jyrävä fall and the Myllykoski fall at the Kitka River are worth mentioning in this context as well. The national park itself is part of the Karhunkierros trail, which is known for its rough terrain. There are plenty of choices if you wish to go trailing over here – the hanging bridges only add to the charm of the entire region as such. In fact, the waterfalls over here are said to be among the most impressive of their kind in the entire country. There is plenty over here for the nature photographers.

Some other options that may be mentioned in this regard are a village named Saramo, Riisitunturi National Park, Repovesi National Park, and Kilpisjärvi, where the borders of Finland meet those of Norway and Sweden.

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The writer Sarah Bennett is a senior content curator in HolidayFactors.com, a leading holiday portal in Dubai, UAE

Text and photos: Marjaana Tasala

This year 2017 is very special to us Finns, because our beloved home country is turning respectably 100 years old! There have already been all kinds of celebrations going on through Finland, but one major occasion worth mentioning is the newest addition to Finnish National Parks – Hossa. Oh Hossa, a true paradise for anyone keen on pristine northern wilderness. Its clear waters lure you to hop on your kayak and enjoy the peaceful stillness. Its meandering paths through wild green forests and rugged rocks invite you to a nature adventure you will never forget. Hossa National Park truly is a sight to see.

Fascinating nature attractions with diverse wildlife

Imagine a mystical landscape full of ridges formed by Ice Age glaciers, and a mosaic dotted by over a hundred crystal clear lakes and ponds. Some of them might be the most clear ones you have ever seen! Like Lake Öllöri, which is situated next to Hossa Visitor Centre. Or narrow Muikkupuro Stream, which campfire site is one of the most attractive places to have a well deserved break between your hiking or paddling trip through Hossa National Park.

Julma-Ölkky canyon lake in Hossa National Park

Finland’s biggest canyon lake, Julma-Ölkky, and its 50 meters high rocky walls can be found from Hossa, too. This massive natural formation is actually best viewed from the lake, so grab a canoe and paddle in your own pace or hop on a cruise boat, which will take you to a 30 minute long ride from shore to shore.

The wildlife in Hossa is like nowhere else, because the king of Finnish forests lives around there. While you are unlikely to meet a brown bear on the park’s hiking paths, you are almost sure to encounter one on an organized bear safari. Santa’s little helpers, reindeers, also belong to Hossa’s scenery along with the Siberian jay and many other bird and wild animal species.

Unique history telling its stories from the stone age

Finlands former president Urho Kekkonen loved Hossa’s scenery so much, that he was planning to be a permanent resident there after retiring. Unfortunately, he didn’t ever have the chance to move there, but as a passionate fisherman he visited Hossa several times.

But historically the most valuable thing in Hossa might be the famous Värikallio rock paintings. On the surface of the rock wall along an ancient water route are over 60 separate figures illustrating the traditional northern worldview. The paintings are estimated to be even 4500 years old and are a definite must see destination if you are visiting the area.

Activities whole year round (and for families too)

On summer time clear waters and whispering pine forests invite Hossa’s visitors to activities like diving, trekking, canoeing, fishing, supping, berry and mushroom picking – you name it. There are 100 kilometers of marked hiking trails, so all the best natural spots are easily accessible by foot or cross-country bike. If you would like to roam Hossa’s wonders with a canoe, 60 kilometers of water routes will provide you enough canoeing for days.

Or is stillness something you are looking for? You are definitely in a right place. Hossa’s peaceful atmosphere will calm you down and instructed yoga and mindfulness moments are of course available too. Relaxing quietness of the wilderness will charge your batteries like nothing else before.

Hossa is an excellent destination for families with children too! Most of the marked hiking routes are easy and perfect for little feet to lumber. The National Park also provides trails that are suitable for people with reduced mobility, so these routes are accessible by baby carriage or wheelchair.

During the snowy white winter months cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snow shoeing are one of the most popular activities. But you mustn’t forget a true Finnish winter experience – a refreshing dip in icy water! Because believe it or not, swimming in a hole in the ice leaves you feeling fantastic. And of course you can do it straight from the warmth of a wood heated sauna.

Where to stay and how to get there?

There are several resorts and other accommodation possibilities in the surrounding area. You can choose to lodge in one of the cozy cabins, lean-to shelters or wilderness hut or even hotel and of course camping is possible too. But remember, campfires are only permitted in spots designated for this purpose.

Was that convincing enough for you to pack your bags and travel to north-eastern Finland? Flights from Helsinki to Kuusamo and Kajaani will take you quite near, and from the airport it is easy to reach the park by a rental car.

Accommodation in Hossa: check out the large selection of rental cottages near Hossa National Park

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Marjaana Tasala co-writes two blogs: RIMMA + LAURA (www.rimmalaura.com) and Fall into Finland (www.fallintofinland.com). We recommend you to follow her amazing photos on Instagram, too.

In Finland it’s very easy to arrange adventurous excursions and experiences, even for a short visit. Wild nature is near everywhere you go, even in the capital city Helsinki.

Helsinki is also a popular stopover destination especially when flying between Asia and Europe. As you might guess, the capital offers plenty of things to do, even if you had only a few hours in the city.

Planning a trip with a stopover in Helsinki is getting so popular these days that Finland’s leading airline Finnair created its own stopover program for international travelers. You can spend up to 5 days in Finland before your connecting flight, but how to decide how to spend those stopover days?

The easy way is to book tailored tours, when your tour operator will take care of the transport between the airport and your stopover destinations as well. Adventurous travelers might want to plan an unforgettable stopover in Helsinki all by themselves.

Are you one of them? Read on, because we have some suggestions how to plan an unforgettable stopover in Helsinki with 4 interesting itineraries for adventurous and outdoorsy travelers.

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you that Finland is the land of unique landscapes, pure nature, thousands and thousands of lakes and the cleanest air in the world. Besides this, every keen traveller knows Helsinki, the beautiful capital of Finland, and of course Lapland—The home of Santa Claus, white winters, reindeer and northern lights.

But how about the rest of Finland? With so many unique destinations, it would be a crime to be satisfied with Helsinki and Lapland only. Therefore we asked 4 travel professionals to share their best travel tips: Where to go in Finland in 2017?

Finland is a land of green forests, clean air and pure nature. In Finland you also have freedom to roam; No matter whether you are local or a tourist, everyone has a right to get in touch with Finnish nature. The best way of doing this is to visit one or more of the 40 Finnish national parks all over the country.

Unlike in some countries, Finnish nature – including national parks – is available for everyone and completely free of charge to enter. Each national park in Finland has it’s own unique landscapes and attractions and also a visitor centre where you can get detailed information about places to visit, hiking routes, campfire sites, restaurants, cafés and other services in the area.

Did you know that only a 20-minute walk in the forest lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress? They are good enough reasons to take a small tour and visit 5 beautiful national parks with their most famous attractions right now.

Are you ready? Let’s go!