Ready, Set, goSaimaa! It is Saimaa, but not as you know it

By John Weston | Photos: goSaimaa

In the Lappeenranta and Imatra region of southeast Finland, Lake Saimaa is famous for its silence, saunas and scenery. But nowadays, this pearl of the Finnish lake lands has a second identity as a hub for active travellers, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.

The eastern lake region of Finland is calm and spacious. In high summer, cyclists trace the shorelines of its lakes and archipelagos, and paddleboards cut across the still water. A heron stands poised on a reed bed, watching as a kayak glides past a sunlit bay. Stillness and motion weave together seamlessly.

The 15,000-kilometre shoreline of Lake Saimaa stretches across Lappeenranta, Imatra and multiple other cities and smaller communities. It is known for its clean air, cottage culture and the endangered Saimaa ringed seal, unique to Finland’s largest lake. But the region is now also becoming known for its growing network of sports and outdoor activity options. “There’s a growing movement here in Rauha-Ukonniemi,” says the team at goSaimaa, the region’s destination marketing organisation. “We’re becoming a recognised base for sports and outdoor activity. The infrastructure is already here – now we’re building the identity to match.”

Ready, Set, goSaimaa! It is Saimaa, but not as you know it

A year-round base for active travellers

The area offers a wide mix of facilities. Within the Rauha-Ukonniemi area alone, visitors find stadiums, cross-country ski tracks, an ice rink, tennis courts, mountain biking trails, indoor gyms, a pump track, a beach and two large spas – all within a walk or short drive.

In winter, a first-snow ski track attracts national athletes for early training, using snow stored from the previous winter to get a head start before the weather turns (look out for a winter focus on Saimaa in Scan Magazine later this year). In summer, the 150-kilometre Saimaa Archipelago Route draws cyclists from Finland and beyond, with bike hire available on-site. Families might stay for a weekend, others come for training camps, trail running, or to play padel and footgolf before winding down in a lakeside sauna. “You can be physically challenged and completely restored in the same day,” says Katri, who manages regional projects. “That’s what keeps people coming back.”

Nowhere else brings you closer to Hans Christian Andersen

Nature at your doorstep

Nature is never far away. “You walk out of your hotel, and you’re in it,” adds Katri. “You can step from your balcony into the forest, or swim before breakfast in the lake.”

Saimaa’s trails crisscross wooded islands, past open-sided kota shelters and campfire spots where you can grill sausages over open flames. At Lammassaari, a four-kilometre loop-through old-growth forest, Katri pauses. “This is where I feel I can breathe again,” she says. “You come out as a better version of yourself.”

Accessibility matters here, too. Many trails and spas cater to wheelchair users or those with additional mobility needs, reflecting a regional ethos that outdoor life should be open to everyone.

Saimaa by taste and temperature

Wellness in Saimaa also comes by way of heat and food. There are sauna boats and raft saunas, lakeside smoke saunas and daily rituals at the region’s two main spas. There are over 70,000 summer cottages in the wider Saimaa area, and none without a sauna.

Local ingredients define the menu. Get your omega oils in the form of lightly breaded and pan-fried muikku (vendace), and your antioxidants from sweet forest berries ripened under the midnight sun. For a heartier summer bite, choose ahven (perch) or the nation’s favourite Karelian pies (thin rye-crust filled with rice or potato), served the traditional way with creamy munavoi (egg butter), or with a diverse range of cold and hot locally sourced toppings. The region holds the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2024, with its culinary identity drawn from both Finnish and Karelian traditions. For the full native experience, try the Vety & Atomi lihapiirakka – a hot savoury doughnut pie snack stuffed with meat and rice – or sample smoked reindeer with a glass of chilled lingonberry or elderflower fizz.

Nowhere else brings you closer to Hans Christian Andersen

A rough diamond in the making

goSaimaa’s current project, funded through EU and municipal support, aims to unite previously separate businesses under a single brand. “Until now, a lot of good things were happening – but independently,” they explain. “We’re now shaping a coherent destination, not just a collection of activities.”

But this is not just a marketing and branding exercise. There is still room to grow, with an emphasis on slow and sustainable development. The region’s tourism once relied heavily on Russian visitors crossing the nearby border – now quieter due to geopolitical tensions. That shift has prompted a reorientation and diversification to appeal to visitors from elsewhere in Europe.

Ready, Set, goSaimaa! It is Saimaa, but not as you know it

For the traveller, the appeal lies in how these layers overlap. You can go trail running or cycling in the morning, then lower yourself into a hot sauna as the sun sets over the lake. Saimaa supports both activity and rest, without forcing a choice between the two. This dual identity has always been there, but now it is bolder, clearer and more intentional. The famously quiet Finns are starting to say the quiet part out loud – and you are invited!

The Rauha-Ukonniemi development project has received funding from the Regional Council of South Karelia through the Sustainable Growth and Vitality of Regions (AKKE) programme.

Nowhere else brings you closer to Hans Christian Andersen