Archipelago Tales
Summer is a traditional season for tourism and travel in the Finnish archipelago. Museums, shops, accommodation, restaurants and churches are all open and ready for individual and group visitors. Nature is lush and beautiful in this season, and weather is usually pleasantly warm, not too hot nor too cold.
Spring and fall are also good seasons to visit the archipelago, especially late spring and early fall. The region is peaceful but everything is still available according to request for groups. There is less traffic and you get to experience the starry night sky and deep silence and soundscape of the island region.
Darkness comes early during the fall and winter, but this is not a bad thing. Atmosphere, open skies and dark waters relax the mind and body. Cottage accommodation with fireplace, sauna and some daily activity outside in nature, are a memorable experience for travelers coming from crowded countries.
Pargas: Modern & Medieval
On this historical tour, you will get to know the unassuming splendor of Medieval catholic times in Pargas and Kaarina; an era hidden amidst the lush and inviting countryside.
During the trip history will be dived into through local important figures like bishop Maunu Tavast, the Fleming nobles and interesting Medieval destinations like the ruins of Kuusisto bishop’s castle and Pargas stone church. Atmospheric local sites and homey restaurants will give their own personal flair to this outing.
On this tour we follow a part of the famous St. Olavs Waterway between Turku and Trondheim.
Duration: c. 6 h
Season: 1 May – 15 October
Group size: 10-40 persons
Price: From 30€/person inc. guide, entrance fees and lunch.
Nauvo - Heart of The Archipelago
Come join us on this tour of the most popular local destinations of the Finnish archipelago. Nauvo, an old ship building village that used to be known across the Baltic sea and known today Finland’s most pulsing guest harbor, is a must visit on the Archipelago Trail.
The island has an interesting history as a seafaring and ship building village, which can be seen in the little local Maritime museum, in the medieval St Olaf’s church and its graveyard. Many local business owners are descendants of seafaring families and most families have been on these islands for centuries, originally allocated from Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. Today’s Nauvo has many unique restaurants, nice little shops and a good beach. Welcome to this little pearl of the Baltic sea!
Where: Nauvo (Nagu), Turku Archipelago
When: 1 May – 15 October
Duration: 6 hours
Group size: 10-40 persons
Price: From 39€/person inc. guide, entrance fees and lunch.
Korppoo - Island Around a Village
Welcome to Korppoo island, a place with a calm human pace, plenty of wild nature and pleasant countryside, beautiful views and a vibrant history full of secrets from our prohibition era.
During the prohibition era of Finland, the archipelago and Korppoo especially, was a hub of illegal alcohol trafficking. Secrets and danger are at the center of many stories of this eventful age in the otherwise quiet archipelago, which is still visible in Korppoo in places like Hjalmars restaurant & Inn. Korppoo also has some beautiful sights in the main village and at the southern edge of the island, where rock and dining meets the sea.
Duration: 6 h
Season: All year round
Groupsize: 10-40 persons
Price:
Does not include bus transportation
Best of Kimito Island
This contrastfull excursion across the great park-like countryside of Kimito island takes you all the way to the cool and windy sights from Kasnäs peninsula, a popular port stretching into the Baltic sea.
We will begin by visiting Söderlångvik manor, which was the home of local figure Amos Anderson. He was a wealthy man and founded our nation’s most notable newspaper in Swedish, Huvudstadsbladet. Amos was also known as a patron of the arts and a notable art collection adorns the manor today. Amos was renowned in culture circles and had many famous visitors in his manor.
Today the manor has vast gardens with a wide array of planted tree species and apple orchards and greenhouses which produce fruits and vegetables for purchase also for visitors. We will take a walking tour of the manor and have coffee at their cafe.
After our coffee break, we will continues toward Kasnäs and cross over Lövö bridge, with amazing views over the archipelago. In Kasnäs, we will enjoy lunch at Kasnäs Paviljong buffet. We will relax by the glistening sea and have a gander at Dalbrusk guld’s beautiful jewellery. You can buy affordable jewellery from the shops by the shore and the factory outlet.
Group size: 30-50 persons. If you group is smaller, ask for an offer!
Duration: c. 7 hours
Price: From 44 € / oerson
Price includes: Guided tours and entrance fees, lunch and coffee & cake, VAT.
Seili - Island of Souls
The lush meadows and groves of Seili coupled with its woeful yet hopeful history as an asylum and hospice, create an interesting contrast. The island also hosts the Archipelago Research Institute of Turku University. This popular destination reachable only by ferry or boat, will be a great addition to your holiday in the Turku region.
Previously used as a place of expulsion and healing for lepers and other unwanted persons, the island opens a window to a part of history we can be happy we have evolved from. Seili has been called and island of no return. The patients came to the island with material for their own coffins and never left. Now the island is peaceful and open for exploration along its many paths crossing into idyllic historical courtyards and traditional grazing landscapes with unique flora and fauna. On our guided tour you will be acquainted with the nature, history and research conduected the island.
From Nauvo/Hanka
Transportation: Ferry From Nauvo and Hanka according to m/s Östern schedule
Season: From mid May to end of August (2021, 14.5.-29.8.)
Includes: Ferry transportation, lunch, entrance fees, Archipelago guide or Seili guide, coffee.
Price: From 47 €/person
With accommodation in Seili, from 142 €/person. Ferry transportation, lunch, entrance fees, Archipelago guide or Seili guide, coffee, sauna, evening snack and breakfast, VAT.
From Turku
Transportation: From Turku by ferry to Seili, duration c. 2h.
Includes: Guided tour of Seili, c. 1,5 h, lunch, coffee at restaurant Seili, free time on the island and return transportation. Whole day trip!
Season: Beginning of May to end of August, depending on booking situation!
Price: For over 35 persons groups 59€/person. Othe group sizes according to offer.
Includes: Tickets for turn & return ferry trip, coffee, lunch, guided tour, entrance fees and VAT.
Ask for an offer according to group needs!
Turku - Island City
Turku is not only built on hills, but on islands. Come tour the idyllic islands of Hirvensalo and Kakskerta which are popular local destinations for recreation and weekend trips, and among the most prized suburban areas in Turku. Experience some of Turku’s most scenic sites with neoclassical and modern day architecture.
First we will visit Brinkhall manor, which is the earliest of our country’s neoclassical manor houses. The gardens and parks of the manor have been planted way back in 18th century, in part even earlier. The English park of Brinkhall is one of the oldest landscaped gardens in Finland. We will also visit the ecumenical art chapel of St Henry, which is reminiscent of an upturned boat. We will also visit the Kakskerta church built in 1770.
Groups size: 30-50 persons. If your group is smaller, ask for an offer!
Duration: 8 h
Season: May-August
Price: From 42 € / person, when group has 40 persons
Includes: Lunch, Archipelago guide, entrance fees and VAT. Driver and group leader free of charge.
Tour also available as a shortened version.
Kimito Ironworks - Hipster & Historical
The village of Mathildedal has evolved into the most hipster village in Finland over the last few years. Not long ago the place was almost desolate and forgotten, despite the ideal location and historical value as an ironworks village. The Dalsbruk ironworks and factory museum will also be visited on this tour, visually in stark contrast to Mathildedal and very informative of the history of steel mills in Finland.
Duration: 6,5 h
Price: From 42 € / person
Group size: 30-50 persons. If your group is smaller, ask for an offer!
Season: May-September
Price includes: Lunch, archipelago guide, entrance fees and VAT. Driver and group leader free of charge.