Finland: Savonlinna Opera and the Kuhmo Festival

Savonlinna Opera & the Kuhmo Festival
Summer Walks in Finland’s Forests and Lakeland

The midsummer Opera Festival at Savonlinna in Finland is internationally famed, not just for the calibre of the performances, but for its magical setting in a mediaeval castle rising dramatically out of the lake. Further north, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival attracts artists and audiences from all over the world – it has consistently been ranked amongst the world’s top music festivals. Our visit features forest walks and boat trips to explore this idyllic region of silver birch forest and tranquil lakes, 3 chamber music concerts, plus 2 opera performances:

VERDI: LA TRAVIATA ~ MACBETH

In Kuhmo we encounter the vast forests of the archetypal Finnish landscape and between Savonlinna and Helsinki we travel along the old King’s Road, where the brightly painted wooden houses reflect both 17c Swedish and 18c Russian architectural influences.

We finish the trip in the lively and very attractive capital, Helsinki. In summer the city enjoys long hours of sunshine, pavement cafés flourish and impromptu art shows and street theatre entertain passers-by. It is delightful to wander the wide, tree-lined avenues admiring the beautifully preserved Art Nouveau facades, Alvar Aalto’s contemporary architectural masterpieces, and the fine Neo-Classical buildings which line the busy quaysides. During the week we sample Finland’s summer specialities including reindeer steak, fabulously fresh seafood, wild forest mushrooms and tangy Arctic cloudberries.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

D included

We meet at Kuopio airport in the late afternoon and transfer by road (2.5 hrs) to Kuhmo, close to the Finno-Russian border. We have a light supper on arrival at our hotel, a contemporary Finnish wooden design idyllically situated on a lake.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

A gentle walk from the hotel after breakfast introduces us to the lakeshore and surrounding forest and we visit the Winter War Museum which documents a campaign little-known outside Finland. We attend a short morning concert (programme published January 2013) in Kuhmo’s handsome yellow wooden church and then there is an opportunity to walk a typical forest trail and have a picnic. There is time to relax, or swim in the lake, before attending our late afternoon concert.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

This morning we attend our third Festival performance in Kuhmo church, before setting off for the drive south cross-country: 2 hours before lunch, then 3.5 hours in the afternoon, arriving at our small new, family-run hotel (where we stay in spacious apartments) in time for a swim in the lake or a traditional sauna. Dinner on the terrace overlooking the harbour is a typical Finnish ‘Robbers Roast’, elk cooked very slowly with herbs and served with a chanterelle sauce, perhaps followed by cloudberries marinated in cognac.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

A boat takes us across the lake in the Linnansaari National Park and if we are lucky, we may see the endearing Saimaa ringed seal on the way to the island. We walk on a nature trail where the deciduous forests, the bare rocks parched by the sun, and the open meadows offer a good habitat for many rare plant and animal species, and visit Linnansaari Croft to see the traditional self-sufficient way of life of the inhabitants in the old times. After driving to Savonlinna, we have an early dinner before attending our first opera performance, Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’, an unforgettable experience with the floodlit castle reflected in the still waters of the lake.

DAY 5

B, L, D included

After breakfast outside on the terrace we drive to the Punkaharju esker, one of Finland’s natural wonders, and walk along this sand ridge, a remnant of the Ice age, before visiting the excellent Museum of the Forest. After a light lunch we visit the Retretti Arts Centre which annually hosts a major international exhibition. We travel to Savonlinna by traditional ferryboat, enjoying the peaceful scenery and sparkling water, before attending the second opera in the castle, Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

Today we travel west on a day’s drive through a classic Finnish landscape of forests and lakes, pausing en route for lunch in a small restaurant in the old town (the Fortress) of Lappeenranta - there are opportunities to shop here for ceramics and Finnish handicrafts. We also look around Hamina, with its unique circular town plan dating from the early 18C Russian period, before arriving at our hotel (4 star, a converted Manor house set in ten acres of grounds leading down to the sea) in time to swim, use the spa facilities, or go for a short walk before dinner.

DAY 7

B, L, D included

In nearby Porvoo, once an important mediaeval trade centre and now a picturesque small town, we walk the cobbled lanes and along the river to admire the red ochre painted grain warehouses. In Ainola, we visit Sibelius’ delightful former country home, full of evocative mementoes of Finland’s greatest composer, and have a light lunch before driving on to Helsinki where our 5 star hotel (a recently refurbished historic hotel, now a member of the Luxury Collection) is perfectly situated for exploring the historic city centre. We begin with an orientation walk from our hotel, visiting Senate Square, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the picturesque waterfront before returning to prepare for our farewell dinner of Finnish specialities in an elegant restaurant.

DAY 8

B included

The day is free for exploring Helsinki, perhaps visiting the National Museum of Finland, the art collection of the Atheneum, the Finnish Design Museum or taking the ferry over to Suomenlinna island, an 18C Swedish fortified complex, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our visit to Finland concludes with a late afternoon transfer to Helsinki airport.

Note: The Savonlinna Opera and Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival events described in the itinerary are subject (rarely) to change by the organisers. Actual performances or their order may therefore vary from those described in the itinerary.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 8 on a double shared basis

All meals with wine at lunches and dinners, other than those excepted in the daily notation

All land and water transportation as described except during free periods

All entrance and sightseeing fees except during free periods

Tickets for 2 opera performances and 3 chamber music concerts

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU and the US currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Finland. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Finland.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Finland. Residents of countries in the EU can claim free (emergency) medical treatment in Finland by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is issued in the UK by the Department of Health. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the FCO.

Insurance

It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.