Paul Wahl 7 days all-embracing nature cruise
Feel the nature at Lake Saimaa – enjoy a safe luxury vacation in Lake Saimaa Finland!
Located in Finland, and shaped by moving ice thousands of years ago, Saimaa offers an amazing site for unique cruise experiences on board of a luxury steamer yacht that is one of a kind.
All-embracing nature experience in a VIP Cruise
Welcome to our most exclusive cruise. Admire the most beautiful spots of Lake Saimaa and take full advantage of this multifaceted 7-day luxury cruise with all inclusive service. Are you ready for the ultimate escape to the exquisite wilderness of wonderful Lake Saimaa? Cruise with us through a labyrinth of Saimaa’s pure waters and thousands of little islands. Imagine how miraculous the views are! We happily welcome you on board of our luxuriously renovated steamship S/S Paul Wahl. Enjoy the pure, untouched nature of Lake Saimaa on our exclusive cruises aboard 100-year-old steamships.
Your travels back and forth are organized by us including a private jet from your convenient location to Savonlinna airport and private transport from the airport to the yacht.
We look forward to seeing on you board!
Welcome to the safest and happiest cruise in the world!
We take care of every detail to make this private journey comfortable and safe just for you. You are in good hands with us. We are glad to tell more about our latest safety program.
Within our cruise we see the most beautiful parts of exclusive Finnish Lake District. We recreate the route of world famous travel product ”week on Lake Saimaa”. We go through the most beautiful water routes in Heinävesi, National park Linnansaari, Famous Punkaharju ridge area and much more. We enjoy the local meals made by fresh, all pure local and clean ingredients. Our professional crew guides and hosts You and make sure that you have the unique experience learning all about Lake Saimaa and our unique nature.
Daily program
1 Day – Savonlinna
Step aboard and meet our crew and guide over a Champagne reception before your journey begins. Later, evening cruise with stemship’s special dinner feast on region’s seasonal dishes paired with fine wines.
2 Day – Savonlinna
Visit the medievel st. Olof´s castle, home of world famous Savonlinna Opera Festivals.
The building of Olavinlinna, castle of St. Olaf, began in 1475. The Danish-born founder of the castle, knight Erik Axelsson Tott, decided that a powerful fortification should be build to protect the strategically important Savo region. The castle was supposed to repel Russian attacks from the east and to guarantee the control of the Savo region for the Swedish Crown. The history of Olavinlinna is a mixture of medieval arms clashing, cannons roaring and every-day chores inside the security of the castle’s thick walls.
Savonlinna is an active and vibrant summertime town. The town itself and its surroundings are one of the most popular holiday regions in Finland. Beside enjoying the opera, admire the breathtaking scenery in and around the town, have a giggle at some of the eccentric local events, and listen to the legends associated with the historical sites.
The region offers culture vultures plenty to choose from besides the Savonlinna Opera Festival. In addition you can visit fascinating museums and art galleries, and go shopping at specialty boutiques. Pop in at an idyllic café, savour the delicacies at an elegant restaurant, or spend an evening at a terrace bar listening to live music. We enjoy dinner in st. Olof´s castle
3 Day – Astuvansalmi
This morning enjoy a leisure breakfast as we cruise to Astuvansalmi. The Astuvansalmi rock paintings are located on a steeply rising face of bedrock on the shore of Lake Kovesi 16 km ESE of Ristiina Church. An island called Astuva is located opposite the painted rock face on the other side of a strait at a distance of approximately 150 metres. The rock paintings are in lake setting of barren beauty with wooded outcrops of bedrock along the shores that have preserved their wilderness character almost intact.
The paintings were made on a special outcrop of bedrock resembling a human head. At present, the rock face is roughly 30 metres above the surface of the lake. The bedrock consists of several types of rocks, predominantly granite and migmatite. In many places the rock has been worn to a smooth and burnished finish by the effects of the last Ice Age.
At present, over 90 rock painting sites are known from Finland. Of these, the Astuvansalmi paintings are the largest and most diverse entity. They are also the largest ensemble of painted rock. art in Scandinavia and the regions of the hunter-gatherer cultures of the northern coniferous zone.
The paintings were executed on an area of slightly overhanging bedrock roughly 16.5 metres long and 5.5 metres high. Over 80 designs and figures painted in red ochre have been identified on the rock face. They include representations of humans, elks, and boats, as well as hand and paw prints. The paintings appear to have been made over a long period, as in many places the designs overlap.
Archaeological excavations carried out on the terrace formation beneath the paintings revealed two fragmentary, arrowheads, dating from the late Stone Age and the Early Metal Period respectively’. The arrowhead fragments beneath the painted rock face may indicate ritual archery performed at the site.
The Astuvansalmi paintings are dated with reference to the history of the Lake Saimaa water system. Owing to land uplift, the basin of the lake system has had three different discharge channels. Before the formation of the last discharge channel, the River Vuoksi (ca. 3800 BC), only the location of the uppermost painted designs could have been above water level. But after the formation of the River Vuoksi, water levels rapidly sank by 2.5 metres. Approximately 1000 years later, the terrace beneath the painted rock face emerged from the waters of the lake. The painted figures and designs are thus dated to ca. 3800-2200 BC, the period following the formation of the River Vuoksi.
After visit the rock paintings return to steamship and cruise Sahanlahti for dinner. Sahanlahti is a small, family run resort with hotel and cottage accommodation and two restaurants serving the best of local food made from seasonal ingredients. Both restaurants offer the most amazing lakeside views and the small guest harbour hosts visitors from near and far in the summertime. Built around an old sawmill, Sahanlahti is steeped in history and has a story or two to tell you as you wander around the resort.
4 Day – Punkaharju
Day cruise with lunch on board to Punkaharju ridge area. In Punkaharju visit to Lusto Forest Museum and Johanna Oras art manor. Lusto is a national museum and a versatile exhibition and culture centre at the heart of the Saimaa lake district and right next to the Punkaharju Conservation Area. Lusto’s exhibitions and events provide a diverse and illustrative insight into the significance of forests in the life of Finns. Tuunaankartano Manor, situated in the heart of the Retretti area in Punkaharju. The manor-house, built in the 1910´s, is the permanent location for Johanna Oras´s summer exhibition. A side building will be renovated into the artist´s summer atelier, offering something exceptional in Finland; the public will have the chance to follow the artist at work and see some of the mysterious birth process of a work of art from inspiration to the final brush touch. We enjoy delicious Dinner in Hotel Punkaharju
5 Day – Linnansaari National Park
While cruise to Linnansaari National park we have breakfast served on board. Easy nature exploring in Nationl park forest.
Linnansaari, in the heart of the Finnish Lake District, is an ideal place to spot rare lake seals and majestic ospreys. The waters of the park are dotted with lush green islands and rocky islets. At Linnansaari Croft traditional slash-and-burn farming practices are preserved. The lakeland scenery is a delight all year round. A boat service takes trippers to the main island during the summer.
HELPING THE SAIMAA RINGED SEAL TOGETHER
We take part of Saimaa ringed seal protection program. Using a diverse range of measures, the LIFE Saimaa Seal project aims to enhance the conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal. Although the Saimaa ringed seal is very rare, you may most likely see it towards the end of May when it moults and basks also at day time onto the lakeshore rocks to dry its fur. When in the water, the seal is not fright- ened by boats, and may follow a boat travelling at a leisurely speed.
We will check that people Use seal-friendly fishing methods
By-catch mortality is the most serious immediate threat to the seal population. Pups, in particular, easily get entangled in fishing nets and may follow fish into a fish trap, from which they cannot escape. Therefore, use a trap in which the maximum width of the opening is 15 cm, even when stretched. There are regional and temporal restrictions for net fishing and for the use of other fishing gears dangerous to the seals. Angling and lure fishing are seal friendly fishing methods. However, fishing nets are dangerous to the seal. Picnic lunch on the top of Linnansaari.
Linnansaari
Linnansaari National Park is an ideal place to spot rare lake seals and majestic ospreys. The waters of the park are dotted with lush green islands and rocky islets. All the hiking trails are on the main island of the park, Linnansaari Island. At Linnansaari Croft traditional slash-and-burn farming practices are preserved. Our experienced nature guode takes you on a hike on the nature trail and to the croft.
6 Day – Heinävesi
After Breakfast We will take ” the most beautiful inland waterway in Europe “Heinävedenreitti” and stay over night in some of the small harbour on the way in Kerma, Heinävesi. Have Sauna and enjoy the atmoshere. The Heinävesi Water Route offers a unique lake scenery experience. It is an extraordinary route of narrow, winding waterways, open lakes, islands and old canals. The construction of the canals along the route began at the end of the 19th century and the first to be completed was Karvio Canal in 1896. It connected Lake Suvasvesi and Lake Kermajärvi and opened a shipping lane from Kuopio to Heinävesi. Subsequently, from 1903 to 1906, the canals of Kerma, Vihovuonne and Pilppa were built south of Lake Kermajärvi. This opened a shipping lane to Savonlinna. A connection to Lake Juojärvi came into being between 1911 and 1916 when the canals of Varistaival and Taivallahti were built.
Visit to The Valamo Monastery
The Valamo Monastery is a living centre of Orthodox religious and cultural life. The peaceful atmosphere of the monastery and the surrounding environment provide a modern person with a unique opportunity to calm down far from all the hurry. The Valamo Monastery is located in Heinävesi, which has a beautiful natural environment. After visit to Valamo Monastery we have very special evening dinner cruise to Savonlinna.
7 Day – Savonlinna
Have breakfast before the crew bids you farewell and disembark for your onward travel arrangements.
The crew is on board and available for the customers at all times.
Price
Price 98 500€ Charter cruise
Price includes VAT.
Price includes
transfers to/from Savonlinna harbor, transfer from harbors to the excursions during the journey
- Free Champagne bar 24/7
- cruise in a unique steamship and accommodation in a luxury suite
- bed linen, towels, bath rubs, slippers
- crew and host services
- guiding
- paddling and water jet
- premium wines from sommelier
- wine and food tasting event
- Private concert in Saimaa nature
- exclusive hi-end glamping experience
- entry fees
- all meals, drinks and snacks
Alternatives
- Other programs such as paddling or water jet ( booked as advance)
- Premium wines from sommelier
- Wine & food tasting occasion
For more information, please contact
Captain Janne Leinonen
Phone +358 50 368 2287
janne.leinonen@vipcruise.info