Rules for walking along the Saimaa Canal. Big cruise along the Saimaa Canal. Country life on the canal

on m/v "M/S Carelia"

Possible tour dates:

Tour program

7:30 a.m. boarding a bus in St. Petersburg (Oktyabrskaya hotel, Ligovsky pr. 10). 8:00 transfer to Vyborg. 10:00 arrival in Vyborg, where the only medieval castle island in Russia built in the 12th century is located. 10:30 late breakfast. 11:30 a.m. City tour with a visit to the Mon Repos natural landscape park and the Vyborg Castle, where you can watch Viking games, a knightly tournament and taste drunken grog. 16:00 Check-in for the motor ship "M/S Carelia" at the pier of the Vyborg Castle. On board the ship you will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. 17:00 Departure of the ship to Lappeenranta. You will make a fascinating journey along the Saimaa Canal (5 hours), during which you will see the bewitching landscapes of the Karelian Isthmus, rocky landscapes and unique lock structures. On the boat you will be offered: a dinner (buffet) of Finnish culinary specialists, a bar, a duty-free shop "Duty free" and an entertainment program. 21:30 Estimated arrival in Lappeenranta. Accommodation in cozy 3* hotel rooms. The hotel has a bar and a restaurant. Free time.

8:00 breakfast at the hotel (buffet). 10:00 sightseeing tour of Lappeenranta with a visit to the fortress "Lappeenranta". Free time to visit shops and supermarkets. 13:00 departure to Imatra. 13:30 sightseeing tour of Imatra, during which you will see the castle-hotel "Imatran Valtionhotelli" and the famous crown park. 14:30 Visiting the Fairytale Forest water park (for an additional fee). 19:00 Acquaintance with the famous waterfall on the rapids of Imatrankoski to the magical music of Jean Sibelius. This spectacle is truly worthy of kings! 19:30 bus departure to St. Petersburg. 23:45 estimated arrival in St. Petersburg.

Tour cost per person:

The tour price includes:

• Excursion service
• Breakfast on the first day
• Dinner on the ship
• Accommodation in hotels of the selected category with breakfast (buffet)

Additionally paid:

• Entrance ticket to the water park

Sea trip along the Saimaa Canal with a visit to 4 cities!!!

St. Petersburg - Vyborg - Lappeenranta - Imatra - Savonlinna - St. Petersburg

Possible tour dates:

Tour program:

7:30 a.m. boarding a bus in St. Petersburg (Oktyabrskaya hotel, Ligovsky pr. 10). 8:00 transfer to Vyborg. 10:00 arrival in Vyborg, where the only medieval castle island in Russia built in the 12th century is located. 10:30 late breakfast. 11:30 a.m. City tour with a visit to the Mon Repos natural landscape park and the Vyborg Castle, where you can watch Viking games, a knightly tournament and taste drunken grog. 16:00 Check-in for the motor ship "M/S Carelia" at the pier of the Vyborg Castle. On board the ship you will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. 17:00 Departure of the ship to Lappeenranta. You will make a fascinating journey along the Saimaa Canal (5 hours), during which you will see the bewitching landscapes of the Karelian Isthmus, rocky landscapes and unique lock structures. On the boat you will be offered: a dinner (buffet) of Finnish culinary specialists, a bar, a duty-free shop "Duty free" and an entertainment program. 21:30 Estimated arrival in Lappeenranta. Moving to Imatra. Accommodation in 3 * hotel rooms. Free time.

8:00 breakfast at the hotel (buffet). Sightseeing tour of Lappeenranta with a visit to the fortress "Lappeenranta". Free time to visit shops and supermarkets. Departure to Imatra. Lunch for an additional fee. Overview of the city of Imatra, during which you will see the castle-hotel "Imatran Valtionhotelli" and the famous crown park. Visiting shops and supermarkets. Free time. Visit to the water park "Fairytale Forest" (approximate time of stay in the water park 2.5 hours). 19:00 Acquaintance with the famous waterfall on the rapids of Imatrankoski to the magical music of Jean Sibelius. This spectacle is truly worthy of kings! 19:30 Departure to the hotel. Free time at the hotel.

8:00< завтрак в отеле (шведский стол). 9:00 отправление в г.Савонлинна. 11:00 прибытие в г. Савонлинна. Экскурсия по городу Савонлинна - одному из самых популярных туристских мест Финляндии с посещением величественной крепости Олавинлинна. Крепость и два ее музея (музей истории крепости и православный музей) открыты круглый год. Олавинлинна - наиболее хорошо сохранившееся военное укрепление на севере Европы. Свободное время для прогулки по центру города, по всевозможным маленьким магазинам и небольшим бутикам улицы Линнанкату и многочисленным магазинчикам «Кирпутори». В центре города также есть несколько универмагов, где продаются, в частности высококачественные текстильные изделия и керамика. 15:00 отправление в Санкт-Петербург на автобусе. 23:00 - Ориентировочное прибытие в Санкт-Петербург.

Tour cost per person:

Additionally paid:

• Consular fee + insurance 43 euros
• Entrance ticket to the water park
• Entrance ticket to the Olavinlinna fortress - adult - 5 euros, children - 2.5 euros

The tour price includes:

• Bus and boat service
• Excursion service
• Breakfast on the first day
• Entrance fees to Vyborg Castle and Park
• Dinner on the ship
• Accommodation at the hotel with buffet breakfast

Exclusive sea trip along the Saimaa Canal

On m/v "M/S Carelia"

on the route St. Petersburg - Vyborg - Lappeenranta - Imatra - St. Petersburg

Back home from Finland to Russia along the Saimaa Canal by boat!!!

Possible tour dates:

Tour program:

7:30 a.m. boarding a bus in St. Petersburg (Oktyabrskaya hotel, Ligovsky pr. 10). 8:00 transfer to Vyborg. 10:00 arrival in Vyborg, short stop. 10:30 departure to Lappeenranta. 12:00 estimated arrival in Lappeenranta. Sightseeing tour of Lappeenranta with a visit to the fortress "Lappeenranta". Free time to visit shops and supermarkets. Moving to Imatra. Accommodation in cozy rooms of a 3* hotel in Imatra. Visit to the Fairytale Forest water park (approximate stay in the water park 3 hours) 19:00 Acquaintance with the famous waterfall on the rapids of Imatrankoski to the magical music of Jean Sibelius. This spectacle is truly worthy of kings! 20:00 transfer to the hotel. Free time at the hotel.

6:00 breakfast at the hotel (buffet). 6:45 bus departure to the seaport of Lappeenranta. 7:30 a.m. Check-in for M/S Carelia. On board the ship you will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. 08:00 departure of the ship to Vyborg. You will make a fascinating journey along the Saimaa Canal (5 hours), during which you will see the bewitching landscapes of the Karelian Isthmus, rocky landscapes and unique lock structures. At your service on the ship: lunch (buffet) of Finnish culinary specialists, a bar and a duty-free shop "Duty free". 14:30 estimated arrival of the ship in the port of Vyborg. Boarding a comfortable bus, departure to St. Petersburg. 18:00 Estimated arrival in St. Petersburg.

Tour cost per person:

The tour price includes:

• Bus and boat service
• Hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast
• Lunch on the boat

Additionally paid:

• Consular fee + insurance 42 euros
• Entrance ticket to the water park

Departure from St. Petersburg by bus at 10:30 from the station. Metro "Black River" Moving to Vyborg. Sightseeing tour of Vyborg. Vyborg is a small corner of medieval Sweden in the north of the Leningrad region. During the sightseeing tour we will see the Clock Tower and the ruins of the Cathedral, the Church of St. Hyacinth and houses of wealthy citizens of the XIV-XVI centuries, the Round Tower on the Market Square and, of course, the Vyborg Castle with the tower of St. Olaf. The castle is located on an island in the Gulf of Finland, the first mention of it dates back to the 13th century. We will walk along the narrow streets of the old town, admire the squares and parks of Vyborg. Those who wish can climb to the top of the St. Olaf to look at the panorama of the city from above. Free time. Registration for the ship "M / S Carelia" at the pier of the Vyborg Castle. Departure for a cruise. On board the ship we will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. During the five-hour cruise we will pass through Saimaa Canal, along all eight locks that raise the ship to a height of 80 meters, we will see unique rocky landscapes. On the boat, we have a restaurant where we will have dinner from Finnish culinary specialists ("buffet": meat or fish dish, 2 types of potatoes and 2 salads), a bar and an entertainment program. Arrival in Lappeenranta. Accommodation at Sokos Lappee hotel.

2 day

Breakfast in the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the city of Lappeenranta with a visit to the fortress. This village received city status from the Swedish Queen Christina in the 17th century. To protect the Swedish borders, a fortress was erected on a cape that jutted into Lake Saimaa. Hastily erected ramparts could not protect the city, the fortress was captured by Russian troops. Already at the end of the 18th century it was rebuilt by Count Suvorov. Not only we, but also the Finns, who diligently preserve the heritage of bygone times, are rightfully proud of his work. Moving to the town of Lemi. We will go to Lemi, first of all, in order to try sarya - a specialty of these lands. This is lamb stewed in a wooden trough, it is cooked according to a special technology for at least 9 hours. Särä is considered an integral part of Finnish cuisine. Departure by bus to St. Petersburg. Arrival in St. Petersburg to the station. metro station "Chernaya Rechka" at approximately 23:00.

It will appeal to those who are interested in the history of their native land, as well as the life and life of our closest neighbors. Both the Finnish border towns and our Vyborg are remarkable not only for their shops, but also for their history and architecture.

We invite you on a one-day tour to Finland along the beautiful Saimaa Canal aboard the cozy small ship "Karelia". was launched in Germany in 1969 and has been based in the port of Lappeenranta for about 20 years. From the ship you can admire the views of the wonderful nature of the Lake District.

The Saimaa Canal, 43 km long, connects the Gulf of Finland with Lake Saimaa. It has eight picturesque locks, three - in Finland, the remaining five - in Russia. The Saimaa Canal was solemnly opened in 1856. It underwent a major renovation in 1968 and has been an important transport artery in northwestern Europe ever since.

Departure from St. Petersburg

• by bus at 10:30 from the station. metro station "Chernaya Rechka" st. Savushkina 9.

• Moving to Vyborg.
• Sightseeing tour of Vyborg.
  Vyborg is a small corner of medieval Sweden in the north of the Leningrad region. During the sightseeing tour we will see
  The clock tower and the ruins of the Cathedral, the church of St. Hyacinth and houses of wealthy citizens of the XIV-XVI centuries, the Round Tower on the Market Square and, of course, the Vyborg Castle with the tower of St. Olaf. The castle is located on an island in the Gulf of Finland, the first mention of it dates back to the 13th century. We will walk along the narrow streets of the old town, admire the squares and parks of Vyborg. Those who wish can climb to the top of the St. Olaf to look at the panorama of the city from above.
• Free time.
• Registration for the ship "M / S Carelia" at the pier of the Vyborg Castle.
• Departure for a cruise.
  On board the ship we will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. During the five-hour cruise, we will pass along the Saimaa Canal, through all eight locks that raise the ship to a height of 80 meters, we will see unique rocky landscapes. On the boat, we have a restaurant where we will have dinner from Finnish culinary specialists ("buffet": meat or fish dish, 2 types of potatoes and 2 salads), a bar and an entertainment program.
• Arrival in Lappeenranta.
• Sightseeing evening tour of the city of Lappeenranta with a visit to the ancient fortress.
  This village received city status from the Swedish Queen Christina in the 17th century. To protect the Swedish borders, a fortress was erected on a cape that jutted into Lake Saimaa. Hastily erected ramparts could not protect the city, the fortress was captured by Russian troops. Already at the end of the 18th century it was rebuilt by Count Suvorov. Not only we, but also the Finns, who diligently preserve the heritage of bygone times, are rightfully proud of his work. The city itself is also charming: we will see Art Nouveau buildings, one of the largest wooden churches, the unique Mother Karelia monument, and even the Saimaa seal.
• Departure by bus to St. Petersburg.
• Arrival in St. Petersburg to the station. metro station "Chernaya Rechka" approximately at 05:30.

Attention:

• To participate in this tour, you must have a valid visa and medical insurance.
• The excursion program does not include visits to water parks, shopping malls and fish shops.
• In late autumn, winter, early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visiting some of the objects declared in the program may take place at night.
• The Organizer is not responsible for queues at border points, delays on the way due to customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.
• If the weather conditions on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low / high air temperatures, mudflows, showers, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the excursion program: replace one object to another, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.
• Seats on the bus are distributed by the organizer as the group is recruited.

The Saimaa Canal connects the Gulf of Finland with Lake Saimaa. It is 43 km long and has 8 locks, 3 of which are in Finland and 5 in Russia. The first canal was inaugurated in 1856. After reconstruction, it was reopened in 1968. This unique historical building turned 150 years old in 2006.

Tour program:

ATTENTION: Departure time indicated INDICATIVE.

1 day

10.30 - Departure by bus from St. Petersburg, from the station. Metro Black River.

Moving to Vyborg.
Sightseeing tour of Vyborg.
Vyborg is a small corner of medieval Sweden in the north of the Leningrad region. During the sightseeing tour we will see
The clock tower and the ruins of the Cathedral, the church of St. Hyacinth and houses of wealthy citizens of the XIV-XVI centuries, the Round Tower on the Market Square and, of course, the Vyborg Castle with the tower of St. Olaf. The castle is located on an island in the Gulf of Finland, the first mention of it dates back to the 13th century. We will walk along the narrow streets of the old town, admire the squares and parks of Vyborg. Those who wish can climb to the top of the St. Olaf to look at the panorama of the city from above.

• Free time.
• Registration for the ship "M / S Carelia" at the pier of the Vyborg Castle.
• Departure for a cruise.
  On board the ship we will be met by a Finnish crew led by the captain. During the five-hour cruise, we will pass along the Saimaa Canal, through all eight locks that raise the ship to a height of 80 meters, we will see unique rocky landscapes. On the boat, we have a restaurant where we will have dinner from Finnish culinary specialists ("buffet": meat or fish dish, 2 types of potatoes and 2 salads), a bar and an entertainment program.
• Arrival in Lappeenranta.
• Accommodation at Sokos Lappee hotel.

2 day

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Sightseeing tour of the city of Lappeenranta with a visit to the fortress.
  This village received city status from the Swedish Queen Christina in the 17th century. To protect the Swedish borders, a fortress was erected on a cape that jutted into Lake Saimaa. Hastily erected ramparts could not protect the city, the fortress was captured by Russian troops. Already at the end of the 18th century it was rebuilt by Count Suvorov. Not only we, but also the Finns, who diligently preserve the heritage of bygone times, are rightfully proud of his work.
• Moving to the town of Lemi.
  We will go to Lemi, first of all, in order to try sarya - a specialty of these lands. This is lamb stewed in a wooden trough, it is cooked according to a special technology for at least 9 hours. Särä is considered an integral part of Finnish cuisine.
• Departure by bus to St. Petersburg.
• Arrival in St. Petersburg to the station. metro station "Chernaya Rechka" at approximately 23:00.

Attention:

To participate in this tour, you must have a valid visa and medical insurance.

To participate in tours to the Republic of Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Turkey, a visa is not required.

The tour program does not include visits to water parks, shopping malls and fish shops.

In late autumn, winter, early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visiting some of the objects declared in the program may take place at night.

The Organizer is not responsible for queues at border points, delays on the way due to customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.

If the weather conditions on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low / high air temperatures, mudflows, showers, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the tour program: replace one object to another, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.

Seats on the bus are distributed by the organizer as the group is recruited.

The cost of the Saimaa Canal tour with a hotel for 2018:

08.06, 30.06, 12.07, 28.07, 17.08

Additional services *:

* Optionally, additionally paid at the office (in rubles at the rate of the Central Bank + 3%)

The tour price includes:

Transfers on a comfortable bus,
- Cruise along the Saimaa Canal on the motor ship "Сarelia",

fuel surcharges,

Accommodation in a hotel of the selected category,

Services of a guide-escort.

Additional charges (prices are indicative):

• dinner on the ship ("buffet"): 24 euros / adult, 10 euros / children - payment upon purchase of the tour;
• port dues (for the summer season of 2018) - 10 euros, mandatory payment when buying a tour in rubles at the rate of the Central Bank + 3%;
• lunch at the Säryapirtti restaurant (särä dish) - 33 euros - adults, 16.5 euros - children (9-12 years old), 12.5 euros - children (4-8 years old), unlimited number of approaches. The särä dish includes: särä, rieska, butter, sweet soup, water and kvass.

Listening to the silence, inhaling the air saturated with spruce and pine aromas, watching the reflection of clouds floating on calm water, and participating in traditional Finnish entertainment - all this will give you a short but extremely eventful trip along the Saimaa Canal.

Journey through the Saimaa system

Half a thousand years of history

The age of the Saimaa Canal, which connects the Vyborg Bay with Lake Saimaa, is just over 150 years old. But attempts to create it began almost half a thousand years ago. For the first time, this was thought about back in 1499 by Eric Turesson Bjelke, commandant of the fortresses of Vyborg and Olanvilinna. The fact was that the Saimaa lake system was connected with Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland only by stormy and narrow rapids rivers. They were great for fishing, but, alas, they were not at all suitable for transporting goods. In order to bring salt, matches and products from Sweden to the inhabitants of Suomi, it was necessary to drag the ships along the land for 50 miles. This not only hindered trade communication, but also significantly increased the prices of goods. Eric Turesson Bjelke enthusiastically set about creating a canal, drew up a work plan, hired workers ... Unfortunately, the result of the efforts was only a ditch 118 meters long and 5.3 meters wide. After that, the work had to be stopped - it became clear that digging the canal would take too long and cost too much. After this, attempts to connect Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland or Lake Ladoga were made many times, but they were not successful. Everything changed at the beginning of the 19th century. By that time, Finland had become part of the Russian Empire, and construction technologies had gone far ahead. In 1826, the Finns sent a deputation of peasants to Nicholas I with a request to finally connect Lake Saimaa and the Gulf of Finland by water. The emperor approved the idea, but, alas, the amount needed for the construction was not found in the treasury at that moment. Work on the creation of the canal began only in 1845 and lasted about 11 years. This project cost an astronomical amount for those times - 12 million silver marks - but thanks to the high efficiency of the canal, the costs paid off in just 25 years. Now the total length of the Saimaa Canal is 57.3 km, of which Finland owns 23.3 km, and Russia - 34 km. Suomi leases another 19.3 km of the canal. The rental price is 1.22 million euros per year plus 18 euro cents per gross tonnage unit. Now, about 11.5 ships pass through the canal annually, carrying 4.6 million tons of cargo.

5 hours of silence

Despite the loud name "cruise", the journey along the Saimaa Canal from Vyborg to Lappeenranta lasts only 5 hours. But do not rush to be disappointed - during this time you can see a lot.

Locks - special devices that allow ships to overcome a large drop in water - one of the most interesting moments of traveling along the canal. In total, they will have to overcome eight: five on the Russian side, and three on the other side of the border. Be sure to go on deck to admire the speed and accuracy of the locks. On the Saimaa Canal, unlike cruises on navigable Russian rivers, the boat does not stop in front of the sluice gates, waiting for them to open. Here, the locks open automatically when a ship approaches, similar to the doors in a supermarket. It takes just a few minutes to fill the lock with water and raise the boat 10 meters. In total, during the journey along the Saimaa Canal, the ship rises by as much as 80 meters.

The Vyborg - Brusnichnoye - Nuiyama - Lappeenranta road runs along the bank of the Saimaa Canal, along which experienced travelers must have traveled to Finland many times. Sailing on a boat, it is rather curious to look at this road from the water.

Near the fourth (if you go from Russia to Finland) lock called "Ilistoe" (Finnish name - Lietjärvi) is the old canal bed, which was used before the reconstruction of the 1960s. Now it is kept in working condition for those cases when an emergency spillway of water from the canal is needed.

After the lock called Pälli, the boat enters the open lake Nujämanjärvi. Here it is good to look at the blue water surface with small crests of waves and seagulls flying over the days. The lake is also interesting because it is the official border between Russia and Finland.

After the last Mälkiä lock, the ship enters the famous Lake Saimaa, the largest and most beautiful water system in Finland, whose magnificent views can be admired endlessly.

Related material

Lake District

7 important rules for traveling along the Saimaa Canal

So that a trip along the Saimaa Canal does not cause any problems, but brings a lot of pleasure, it will not be superfluous to remember a few simple rules:

You should not expect the same picturesque landscapes from this trip as from a cruise, for example, along the Volga. The canal was created primarily for the transport of goods, so there will be no colorful villages with golden church domes and picturesque boats moored to steep banks. But when traveling along the Saimaa Canal, you can enjoy the views of dense spruce forests along the banks and the endless sky reflected in the still water.

Do not expect sharp turns and turns from the cruise. The ship moves at a speed of just over 10 kilometers (57 kilometers of the Saimaa Canal, it takes about 5 hours). But such a leisurely voyage is the best fit for the character of the Finns who do not like haste, so you can usually see a great many of them on the ship.

Don't forget about the border control that awaits you upon arrival in Lappeenranta. Oddly enough, customs officers here are often more picky than at “earthly” checkpoints. Bags and suitcases are checked quite often, ruthlessly seizing dairy and meat products that have been launched for import to Finland,

Duty Free shops operate on passenger ships plying the Saimaa Canal from Russia to Finland. Prices for alcohol and cosmetics here are several times higher than in border Duty Free shops, but lower than in Finland. Do not forget that alcohol is prohibited if you enter Suomi for less than 72 hours.

Traveling is good in all seasons, but it is best to ride along the Saimaa Canal in summer. The point is that it is better to admire the beauty of the canal from the open upper deck, since the interior spaces on the boats are quite cramped and do not provide a good view. And in the windy Finnish autumn or spring, it is almost impossible to withstand longer than 15-20 minutes on the open deck.

On the boat plying the Saimaa Canal, a buffet dinner is offered at a cost of 19 euros. At first glance, this is expensive, but keep in mind that you will have to pay about the same for a couple of sandwiches and ice cream in the ship's buffet. While the price of the buffet includes a salad bar, several hot dishes with side dishes and coffee. In addition, karaoke is usually arranged in the restaurant on the ship. And the songs are usually heard here in Finnish, it is very interesting to watch how the inhabitants of Suomi sing in chorus.

If you find yourself on a ship at dusk, do not forget to admire the spectacular reflection of the coastal lights in the dark water of the canal.

How to get there?

There are two ways to go on a trip to the Saimaa Canal - with a travel agency or on your own.

• with a travel agency. Usually the travel agency offers a two-day trip with an overnight stay in Lappeenranta. The cost of such a tour is 200-250 euros per person.
• On one's own. You can buy tickets for the boat yourself, plying between Vyborg and Lapeenranta. This can be done at the St. Petersburg office of Saimaan Matka verkko Oy or on the website www.saimaacruises.fi. The cost of the trip will be about 50 euros per person one way.