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Credit: Visit Finland
Nature
Finland's vast green forests, beautiful Baltic islands, windswept arctic fells and countless blue lakes are home to some amazing wildlife. These landscapes provide habitats for many creatures including bears, wolves, lynxes, eagles, cranes and swans, as well as the world's rarest seal, Saimaa ringed seal.
“Forest therapy” is free in Finland. Spending even 30 minutes absorbing nature’s healing powers has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and depression and there’s no shortage of forests in Finland. In fact forests cover 75 percent of the country’s land area, the highest proportion in the world.
Archipelago
Finland has a very long coastline with several large archipelagos with huge numbers of islands and skerries. Much of the coastline and many of the islands are sparsely populated and support a great diversity of life. Some of the largest archipelagos are protected in Finland’s marine national parks. There are four principal archipelagos; the Kotka archipelago in the Gulf of Finland, the Helsinki archipelago, the Archipelago Sea, and the Kvarken archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Archipelago regions offer beautiful national parks, charming small villages, impressive lighthouses and historical monuments.
Particularly worth seeing are the 20,000 islands between the city of Turku and the Swedish-speaking Åland Islands. Ask us about island hopping bicycle tours or archipelago cruises.
Credit: Visit Finland/Flatlight Films
The Arctic
The Arctic is a vast, varied and fragile region spreading around the North Pole. Nearly one-third of Finland's land mass lies above the Arctic Circle in the province of Lapland.
The Arctic Circle marks the southernmost latitude at which, on the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (December 21), the Sun will not rise all day (polar night), and on the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (June 21), the Sun will not set (midnight sun).
Aurora Borealis (northern lights), can be predominantly seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic.
Indigenous peoples comprise 10–20% of the Arctic region’s roughly four million inhabitants. There are about 9,000 indigenous Sámi people living in Finland.
Travel with us to learn more about the fragile Arctic nature and the Sámi people and their culture.
Credit: VisitFinland/Julia Kivelä
Conservation
The purpose of nature conservation areas in Finland is to safeguard the biodiversity of species and habitats. Nature conservation areas also contribute to the preservation of national landscapes, cultural heritage and recreation and hiking areas.
National parks and strict nature reserves constitute the backbone of the Finnish network of nature conservation areas. In Finland there are 41 national parks. The purpose of the 12 wilderness areas established in northern Finland is to preserve the wilderness character of the areas, protect the Sámi culture and nature-based livelihoods, and promote a diverse use of the natural environment.
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC) is the largest non-governmental organization for environmental protection and nature conservation in Finland. The symbol of FANC is Finland's only endemic mammal, the Saimaa ringed seal.
With only about 420–430 individuals now in the wild, the Saimaa ringed seal is one of the most endangered seals in the world. The Saimaa ringed seal only lives in Lake Saimaa in Finland.
Another important environmental organisation is BSAG, The Baltic Sea Action Group, (officially “Foundation for a Living Baltic Sea”) which is an independent non-profit foundation (2008) based in Finland. BSAG works to find solutions and right actors to restore the good ecological balance of the Baltic Sea.
We offer our guests opportunities to support these organisations when travelling in our home region.
Credit: Visit Finland
Forests
Most of Finland is dominated by dense coniferous forests of pine and spruce with some deciduous trees, primarily birch, mixed in. Most of Finland’s forests have been harvested at some point, but there are also many old-growth forests untouched for centuries and now protected in the national parks and other nature reserves. There’s no shortage of forests in Finland. In fact forests cover 75 percent of the country’s land area, the highest proportion in the world.
Almost 60 percent of the forests are owned by private people. Even though these forests are privately owned, at the same time they belong to all Finns. 'Every person's right', also known as “freedom to roam”, enables free wandering, as well as picking berries and mushrooms in all forests.
The Finnish Forest Museum Lusto offers surprising insights and different perspectives of forests for all ages. The national museum responsible for forest culture is located in Punkaharju, in the midst of the most beautiful landscape of ridges and lakes in Eastern Finland.
Regardless which parts of Finland you are planning to visit, we can always include a forest experience into your itinerary. Be it a hike, foraging, a leisurely walk or camping. Even in Helsinki. Do get in touch to find your own 'forest therapy' session.
Credit: Visit Finland
As long as we can remember Finland has been promoted as the 'land of a thousand lakes' - that is until Santa Claus became the most famous Finn. :) Finland is 10% water and there are actually 188,000 lakes - yep, they have been counted.
The largest lake in Finland is Lake Saimaa in the east. At some 4,400 square kilometres, it is the fourth-largest natural freshwater lake in Europe.
The Finnish dream involves having a holiday house by a lake with a sauna, of course. Lake activities are not confined to the warmer months only - in winter you can cross-country ski, skate snowmobile or do some ice fishing on the frozen lakes.
"Live like a local' and hire a cottage by a lake with your own sauna and rowboat. Connect with nature and your nearest and dearest in a serene beautiful lakeside setting. We know the best spots so do get in touch!
Credit: Visit Finland/Jaakko Tahti
Finland has more than 40 national parks, and they’re scattered throughout the country. The aim of establishing Finland’s national parks was to give people the opportunity to relax and enjoy nature. The Finnish “right to roam” means people can venture just about anywhere as long as they respect nature and clean up after themselves.
All Finnish national parks have marked hiking routes, nature trails, information boards and picnic sites, many of them with a campfire site. In most parks, there are tent sites, hire cabins and unlocked huts that anyone can enjoy.
Why not join one of our guided hiking or skiing tours that will take you to the most beautiful natural areas in Finland?
Credit: Visit Finland
Even though some forests and nature areas might be privately owned, at the same time they belong to all Finns. 'Every person's right', also known as 'right to roam', enables free wandering, as well as picking berries and mushrooms in all forests. You have a right to roam, but you have a duty to do it responsibly.
With Finland's everyman's right comes responsibility. People may not pick protected species. They may not disturb others, damage property, light fires without permission, let their pets off leash or leave litter, among other things.
We can find you accommodation in places where you will have opportunity, freedom and space to roam.
Credit: Visit Finland/Julia Kivela
Finland is home to many extraordinary species of animals that are rare, endangered, or extinct in the rest of western Europe. The four big predators, bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), and wolverine (Gulo gulo), are elusive hunters and generally avoid humans. The majestic elk (Alces alces; Moose in North America), however, is more often seen.
Some threatened species have made strong recoveries in Finland. The numbers of osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) have increased dramatically in recent years. And the whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), the national bird of Finland, was once nearly extinct in Finland, but now flourishes on the lakes of central and northern Finland.
The endangered Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis), one of the world’s few remaining fresh-water seals is slowing rebounding thanks to effective conservation efforts.
Birdwatchers travel to Finland to find species that are hard to spot anywhere else in Europe. Keen wildlife photographers also come here to enjoy excursions and facilities that enable them to get spectacular shots of amazing animals in their natural habitats.
We can include a wildlife experience into your itinerary. Be it spotting bear cubs playing with their mum or a Saimaa ringed seal sunning itself on the cliffs. Or join a photography tour to make memories that will last a life time.
Credit: Visit Finland
