Finnish Archipelago - Where Happiness Is At Home

Day 1: Arrival in Helsinki

We meet in Helsinki and then we have a meeting in front of our Lapland hotel with the guide Maddalena Benedetti, who will show us her personal Helsinki. We will discover the historical centre, the Finnish Art Nouveau and the Uspenski cathedral, among other things, which are located next to a city with modern architecture. We have dinner in the traditional restaurant Savotta.

Day 2: Helsinki to Turku - approx. 38 km

From the new capital to the old capital, Turku. Helsinki is crossed by magnificent bicycle paths and we leave in the morning along the coast. We ride through forests, coastal paths and charming suburbs to Luoma, where the Hvitträsk museum is located. The architects Gesellius, Lindgren and Saarinen wrote the history of architecture here. After a picnic in the beautiful garden of the property, we discover the villa-museum during a guided tour. A bus helps us to cover the last kilometers to Turku. During dinner, prepared by the chef who is proud to introduce us to local Finnish cuisine, we learn more about the fascinating history of our hotel, a former prison, and its inhabitants.

Day 3: In the archipelago off Turku - about 38 km

The morning is devoted to the old capital and Hanseatic city of Turku, which we discover on a guided walk. From Nagu, we cross to Hanka and start our walk through the archipelago. As we cross from one island to the next via bridges and small ferries, the sight of the sea remains ever-present. A picnic awaits us at the "quiet harbour" in Röölä, then we continue on small roads to Rymättyla. Our destination is the Naantali Spa hotel. After dinner, we will have time to discover this small town in the archipelago in the evening sun.

Day 4: The big crossing: Åland Islands - approx. 51 km

During their turbulent history, the Åland Islands have belonged to both Sweden and Finland, so that’s way today Swedish is spoken on this sunny Finnish territory. We take a different, more leisurely pace when we load the bikes at the ferry terminal and continue our journey. We cross the archipelago towards the Baltic Sea and finally dive into a world of 6500 islands, rocks and small red wooden houses nestled in countless bays. In Långnäs we return to land and cycle to Mariehamn, the capital of Åland, passing through the peaceful villages of Lumparland and Lemland and the oldest wooden church on the island. A delicious dinner in a small restaurant closes a relaxing day.

Day 5: Heading north - approx. 65 km

We start the day with a visit to the charming town of Mariehamn, before getting back on the saddle to explore Fasta Åland. On the way, Anne Lund waits for us in her garden with a delicious refreshment, then we have the opportunity to discover a Nordic permaculture garden. After a few kilometers on the excellent bike paths, we take the bike ferry to Geta. After a few more kilometers, we arrive at our Havsvidden hotel, ideally located by the sea. A well-deserved dinner awaits us there in the form of a barbecue picnic with a view of the sea.

Day 6: Sailors, champagne and other stories - approx. 65 km

Champagne for breakfast? Meeting a wreck diver like Christian Ekström is a rare and special occasion. Over a glass of champagne at his guesthouse, he regales us with the story of how he found a cargo of French champagne at the bottom of the sea, believed to have been intended for the Russian tsar. Then the bikes take us to Kastelholm Castle, once the centre of the Swedish empire. In the afternoon, a particularly beautiful stretch awaits us: small archipelagos, bridges, ferries and flat roads follow one another on a dreamy route through Färdö, Sandö and Simskala. It is there that a boat comes to take us back to our hotel.

Day 7: On the way to Stockholm

After a last breakfast with a view of the sea, a bus takes us to the pier of the ferry in Mariehamn. Now that we have our sea legs, we enjoy the crossing while the rocky islands and the beautiful coasts pass us by. We arrived in the afternoon in Stockholm. Enjoying the view of our hotel garden, we have our farewell dinner.

Day 8: Stockholm and departure

Following a visit to the island of Gamla Stan and the historic district of Stockholm, it is time to bid farewell. For those who desire, there is an option to extend their stay and immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere of this city.