8 ACTIVE DAYS IN THE THOUSAND LAKES REGION

Summer trip to Finland in a small group of 8 adventures. Let’s go to the region of a thousand lakes, Lakeland its called at Finland. A summer of sensations, combining activities, excursions, crazy local gastronomy with smoked fish, forest fruits and living like a local in an authentic Finnish cabin, next to our private beach.

Kayaking | Authentic finnish summer cottage life| Barbeques| Midnight sun swimming | Lots of kayaking | Teamworks Slow travel | Local Gay travel companion | Reduced group of 8 men

OUR PERFECT ENVIRONMENT AT LEPPÄVIRTA

Let’s go to the region of a thousand lakes. At Leppävirta we share and stay in a comfortable 8 person lakeside cottage equipped with all kinds of amenities (fully furnished kitchen, sauna, barbeque, rowing boat etc.), we will go on excursions along the area’s.

A summer of sensations, combining activities, excursions, crazy gastronomy and living like a local in an authentic Finnish cottage, next to a private beach.

Slow travel, gastronomy, sports and living inside the real finnish people and environment.

ITENERARY OF THIS SPECIAL EXPEDITION GAY

FINLAND SUMMER LAKELAND EXPEDITION GAY ADVENTURE TOUR ITINERARY

To get my complete itinerary, please contact me!

• • • Day 1 – Helsinki, Finland / Leppävirta
    • Day 2 – Cottagelife
    • Day 3 – Kayaking at the Sorsavesi
      • Day 4 – Let’s visiting at Kuopio city
        Today we will visit Kuopio. We are, quite simply, on the upper edge of the world here. During a traditional fish soup lunch, visit the local market, visit Puijo Tower and do small sightseeing at the city center, shopping also. This afternoon we’ll visit an Arctic Sauna, where you can enjoy a dip .. Tonight we stayed in the cottage, with dinner served at the cottage.
    • Day 5 – Orinoro hiking and paddling at Sorsavesi
    • Day 6 – Savonlinna
    • Day 7 – Helsinki by night
      • Day 8 – Helsinki / Departure
        There are no activities planned today, so you are free to explore the city and depart at your leisure. Your local guide Harri will help arrange your included departure transfer to the airport. Safe journey!

ESTIMATED BUDGED OF THIS AVENTURE : 1800€

DURATION: 7 Days

DATES:  of June (This active trip is still in process..)

TYPE: Small group

GROUP SIZE: min4-máx 8 guys

APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST about €1.800 + flights from your city of origin to Helsinki.

BREAKDOWN:

Remember, the cost of this trip is divided into 3 parts:

A) THE EXPLORA FINLAND SERVICE: €650 (VAT included).

That’s what I get for organizing the trip. Travel design, negotiation with locals, search for local services at prices without intermediaries and quality, advice (pre-trip and on the trip), save your time and end your headaches + travel team with similar people in tastes and values. It is paid before traveling.

B) TRAVEL BUDGET €1.150

This is an estimate of what the stay and activities cost.  Many expenses are usually to be shared with the rest of the expedition members. The estimate is based on a complete group. For example, it is not the same to divide the cost of a rented car among 3 members as it is among 5. The same with gasoline, etc… (accomodations, local transportation, local guide, tickets, trekking permits etc.) is everything we need at the local level to comply with the program. You pay part of it before the trip and the other part during the trip, directly to local providers. I don’t gain anything from this part.

To give you an idea about the cost of this multiadventure:

• ACCOMMODATION AT DESTINATION: our cottage is worth around €1450 for eight nights to be divided among the participants and one night at Helsinki €
• FOOD: I estimate €15 per person/day buying at the local supermarket. We will make breakfast, lunch and dinner in the cabin. What you take on your own on the outings is out of your pocket. Alcoholic beverages are not included
• CAR and GASOLINE: rental of a medium car €350/week and gasoline €150 per car to be distributed
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: €25.25 with IATI-insurance (recommended). You can hire the insurance you want or if you already have one, perfect. This section is MANDATORY
• ACTIVITIES: 49€ Kayaks, visit to Kuopio, visit to Savonlinna 
• Any other planned activities
• COMMON FUND: we will put a common fund for certain expenses, such as expenses to be distributed, a local bus ticket or the transport pass. We will do it as a group of friends since it is the easiest way to pay small expenses. Here we would include paying a car ticket, because we are all human.
• OTHER EXPENSES: Some shopping, food in Helsinki, going out to a restaurant, or having a drink. Please note that anything other than eating at the destination is not included

C) EXPENSES EXCLUDED FROM THE BUDGET

FLIGHTS from your origin to the destination or meeting place. I leave from Malaga, but if you want to join Helsinki from any other part of the world, no problem: I will try to help you find the most advantageous option.
ACCOMMODATION OUTSIDE THE DESTINATION. Any type of accommodation necessary to make and that is not the cabin. For example, your plane arrives a day earlier in Helsinki and you must spend the night there. I will also try to help you if you ask me.
ANY EXTRA EXPENSES NOT ESTABLISHED HERE: shopping, going out to a restaurant, a drink, etc.

Trip Notes at this adventure

Finland Visa

If your passport is from the USA, Canada, or Europe you can stay up to 90 days without a visa. There may be exceptions, and all visas are the responsibility of the traveler.

Culture Shock at Finland

Finland is one of the safest countries in the world to visit, and it comes with all the comforts of home. However, the Finns are famously reserved (unless they’re at the sauna), so don’t be taken aback by awkward silence.

Local LGBT Scene at Finlandia

Finland, like all of Scandinavia, is easy to visit as a gay traveller. Sexuality is virtually a non-issue, but Finland could be considered one of Scandinavia’s more conservative countries (and it’s still rather liberal).

Weather during this multiadventure in Thousands of lakes area

We’ll be near the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter, so pack accordingly. It will easily be freezing, with temperatures dipping as low as -15C/5F.
Required Vaccinations
The WHO suggests immunization against Hepatitis A and B before visiting Finland. To determine if you should take preventative measures, talk to your doctor or a travel medical clinic.

Electricity

You will need an international travel plug/adapter for F-type sockets.

Connectivity

We’ll be venturing through some remote parts of the country, with cellular signals to match. Most of our accommodations will have, at the very least, Wi-Fi service. Feel free to tweet, post and pin.

Travel Insurance

For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Explora Finlandia tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum medical coverage.

Meals

All meals daily we make normally with us at the cottage, some days at restaurants.

Money

The local currency is the European Euro (EUR). Finland is also among the world’s first cashless societies, meaning credit cards and electronic payment methods are widely accepted. However we recommend you bring about 400€ in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold.

Tipping

We’ve covered the gratuities for included activities, meals, and our local Tour Guide. You’ll only need to offer a tip on any extra drinks or services you buy on the trip.

What to bring

Our adventures entail carrying your own luggage on occasion. And while you’ll never schlep far, things can quickly get costlier than a celebrity breakup if you don’t keep your baggage under 20kg/44lb thanks to costly surcharges on domestic flights. You should also bring something smaller for day trips to carry water, your camera, and any souvenirs you find along the way.

Optional Activities

At every Explora Finlandia adventures offer optional excursions that are not included in price of this trip. Please see the daily itinerary in your final pre-trip packet to learn what’s available.

How We Travel

Explora Finlandia is all about good times with likeminded guys. Whatever’s on the itinerary – from fireside camping to five-star decadence – our goal is to make the experience magical. We’re also committed to supporting the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations when possible, and celebrating local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.

Your Guide

All Explora Finlandia adventures are led by a gay (or gay-welcoming) guide. Whenever possible, we hire destination locals. And we can also connect you with the right people if you’d like to delve deeper into the local culture. If you’re pleased with your guide, we recommend a tip of US $5-10 per person, per day…they’ll certainly appreciate it!

Flying Solo

If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. I can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room in case if its possible. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis.

Starting/Finishing Point Hotel

We met and strart from Klaus K Hotel, Helsinki city center.
Klaus K Hotel is located in the heart and center of Helsinki. Klaus K is the first Preferred Hotels & Resorts property in Finland. Inspired by the national epic Kalevala we provide you modern, indigenous, memorable and uncomplicated experience.

Situated 100 m from the Esplanadi shopping district, this design hotel features free gym access. The rooms include free WiFi, LCD TVs and luxury beds.

Hotel Klaus K’s soundproofed rooms have décor inspired by the Finnish epic poem, Kalevala. Some rooms include a bathtub and views of Helsinki’s bustling city centre. Italian cuisine and Tuscan wines are offered in Restaurant Toscanini.

Tram numbers 3 and 6 stop directly outside Hotel Klaus K, providing easy access across Helsinki.