Day 1: Savonlinna - Lake Saimaa Flight to Savonlinna airport (SVL), to be met for a 45 minute guided transfer to your spa hotel. Check-in hotel rooms / villas (twin rooms with own bathroom/toilet). Half board dinner at restaurant (buffet or 3 courses menu).
Day 2: Flying Squirrel Excursion After breakfast, take a 4 hour excursion to spot a flying squirrel. Lunch will be served during the day. In the afternoon heading back to the hotel. Before dinner we will see a documentary about the Saimaa ringed seal (53 min), which is produced by wildlife researcher Mr Juha Taskinen. Half board dinner at restaurant.
Day 3: Saimaa Ringed Seal & Osprey Watching Safari (Linnansaari National Park) After breakfast, enjoy a four hour Saimaa Ringed Seal and Osprey Watching Safari. The Saimaa Ringed Seal is an endangered, endemic animal. The beginning of the summer is the best time to spot the seal, as they are often laying on the rocks, but our professional guides will give you a good chance to see the seal during the open water season. The wooden boat cruise take you to the Linnansaari National Park to spot the Saimaa Seal lives, plus, the Osprey nests to try to observe the birds too. Lunch will be served on an island. In the early evening, you have the possibility to visit the local spa, open until 20:00h, before your half board dinner.
Day 4: Wolverine & Bear Watching (Lieksa) After breakfast and check-out, a guided transfer (3.5 hours) to Lieksa for a wolverine and bear watching. Lunch will be served on the way to the wildlife observatory lodge. Today, you have the possibility of seeing wolverines, bears, foxes and various birds. With extra luck you can also spot beavers, lynxes, wolves, swans and various waterfowls. In the afternoon we arrive in the wilderness lodge, where a welcoming coffee / tea with a snack is served. The rest of the day until the next morning will be wildlife watching. Sauna will be heated also for the guests and dinner will be served. Each guest has a possibility to sleep also in a wilderness lodge, if they wish to increase their wildlife spotting opportunities.
Day 5: Joensuu Departure Breakfast at the wilderness lodge. Guided transfer to Joensuu (JOE) airport (transfer time 1,5 hours) for your return journey home.
