5 Lake Saimaa Cruises in Finland to Plan a Day Around

1.Cruise in Puumala by Lake Saimaa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $96Our pick

Join guide Arto for a gentle three-hour evening cruise on Lake Saimaa from Okkola Holiday Cottages and Restaurant Niinipuu in Puumala. The small group, limited to 10 people, makes it easy to ask questions about the lake and Saimaa ringed seals. Coffee, tea, afternoon tea, and live entertainment are included, but seal sightings are never guaranteed.

“We did not see any seals, despite the fact, that conditions were almost ideal: early June, sunny weather. The main reason for that failure is probably the nature of the boat- it is a slow Eco-Boat with a small range such that we were looking for the seals at only one spot where usually only two seals live. The guide was nice and knowledgeable. The landscape was really beautiful.”

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2.Lake Saimaa Small-Group Cruise with Stories and Music

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42Best value

Join a small group of up to 10 people for a 90-minute cruise through Puumala’s Saimaa archipelago. Guide Arto shares Finnish culture, plays music, shows photos and videos, and points out the 800-meter Puumala bridge and strait. Coffee, tea, WiFi, and an English presentation are included.

“It was our first trip to Finland. Our boat guide Arto was knowledgeable and friendly. He shared interesting information about Finland. A very pleasant experience”

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3.Puumala: Lake Saimaa Seal Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

Join captain Arto for a three-hour cruise through the Puumala archipelago aboard a quiet, covered electric boat. Use onboard binoculars to search for endangered Saimaa ringed seals, listen to local stories in English, Finnish, French, or German, and enjoy coffee, tea, and wide lake views in a small group of up to 10 people.

“Everything was very good. A nice trip we will never forget. We saw two fish-eagles, and at the end of the trip we saw a seal in the water. Fantastisk.”

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4.Arctic Ice floating in Puumala

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $72

Meet guide Arto at Niementie 3 in Puumala for a 75-minute winter outing on Saimaa Lake. Hear local stories, learn the safety steps, put on a waterproof floating suit, and ease into the icy water with your guide. Afterward, warm up with a hot drink. The private tour runs in English.

“Arto ist ein sehr freundlicher, geduldiger und lustiger Guide! Er war sehr flexibel bei seinen Angeboten (Ice Floating und Ice Scooter). Er hat interessante Dinge über Finnland und Umgebung erzählt und Tipps gegeben. Zwischendurch hat er Fotos und Videos zur Erinnerung gemacht. Klare Empfehlung!”

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5.Lake Saimaa story cruise by Ecoboat in Puumala

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $44

Cruise Lake Saimaa for 90 minutes aboard a quiet, weather-proof electric Ecoboat with Captain Arto. Hear stories about Finnish life, Saimaa seals, and local nature in Finnish, English, French, or German. Coffee, tea, binoculars, and live accordion music are included. The small boat carries up to 10 people.

“Organizzata molto bene, un buon modo per rilassarsi e conoscere la cultura finlandese”

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