Gravel trip in Finland in the Salpausselkä Geopark

Gravel in Finland: Guided Group Tour in Salpausselkä Geopark

Discover the beauty of Salpausselkä Geopark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Finnish Lakeland, this guided group tour offers the breathtaking natural beauty of pristine landscapes alternating between forests, lakes and ridges.

This guided excursion with 4 days of Gravel, takes you on beautiful roads and trails. Cover approximately 450 km with 4,000 meters of elevation gain during a unique adventure. The average daily distance of 115 km requires good physical condition. The small group size (minimum 6 to maximum 10) ensures personalized service and experience. It is also an opportunity to ride with a group and participate in an atmosphere of camaraderie, in an international setting.

Highlights of the tour:

• A unique playground, the Salpausselkä Geopark, offering varied terrain and typical landscapes:
• Ridges
• Eskers
• Ice Age Valleys
• Vääksy Canal
• Evo National Park
• Finnish Lake District: nature with pristine lakes and forests as far as the eye can see

Tour organization:

• Focus on the pleasure of riding thanks to the accompanying vehicle:
  • Transports your luggage every day from one accommodation to another
  • Takes care of lunch at noon if there is no possibility to eat on the way
• Accompanied by a local guide who pedals with the group:
  • With years of experience in the region
  • Carefully selected the best routes to discover
• Possibility to rent a high-quality Gravel bike

Day 1: Arrival at Lahti,

Overnight in Lahti.

Day 2: Lahti to Pajulahti (100 km)
Meet the guides and get your bike fitted. On the first day, you cycle through picturesque farmland and forest paths. This is a gentle introduction to the Lahti region. 75% of the route is on gravel and forest paths with limited elevation changes. In Pajulahti, you are rewarded with a swim in a beautiful lake and a Finnish sauna.

Day 3: Pajulahti to Vierumäki (110 km)
Head south and 45 kilometres on gravel roads as an introduction. After the introduction, the ride becomes a roller coaster ride on forest paths. The stage ends in style with 400 metres of elevation change over the last 16 kilometres. 85% of unpaved roads. Night in Vierumäki. Possibility to enjoy the hotel's sauna and spa in the evening (€12 / adult).

Day 4: from Vierumäki to Vääksy (95 km)
How about a little roller coaster ride for breakfast? Starting from Vierumäki, follow the guide and the route that alternates between climbs and descents. After a few kilometers, turning west, you take paths that go through the middle of the lakes. The day's cycling ends along the Vääksy canal, which connects Lake Vesijärvi and Lake Päijänne. 70% of unpaved roads.

Day 5: from Vääksy to Lahti (125 km)
The last day takes you through one of the most beautiful parts of this circuit: Evo National Park. Beautiful and long forest paths alternate once again with agricultural landscapes. No long climbs, but you will still accumulate more than 1000 meters of positive elevation gain over the day.

Day 6: Lahti
End of the circuit after breakfast.

General information:

• 7 days and 6 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 3/4* (local standards)
• Child rates: contact us for more information.

Dates:

• Departures from the end of May to August
• 31/05, 07/06, 14/06, 21/06, 12/07, 13/07, 19/07, 20/07, 26/07, 27/07, 02/08, 09/08, 16/08, 23/08

Included:

• Self-guided loop tour
• 6 nights in a hotel
• 6 breakfasts
• Luggage transport between accommodation
• Welcome and briefing in English (day 2)
• GPS tracks of daily routes
• Route book with tourist attractions
• Telephone assistance service in case of problems

Not included:

• Transport to the departure point
• Personal expenses
• half-board
• Anything not specified in included

Options:

• Electrically Assisted Bicycle or VTC rental
• Guarantee flight
• Cancellation-multi-risk insurance

Levels:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:
The terrain is mainly flat. Only one stage has a little bit of elevation.

Climate:
Summers are mild. In June, July and August, temperatures between 15° and 20°c.

Technicality:

• 37 to 59 km per day or 3 to 6 hours of cycling.
• Unmarked route on all little-used roads

Meals:

• Breakfasts: copious
• Lunch: not included
• Dinner: not included

The bike:

Rental bikes (VTC or VAE) are equipped with a helmet, front/rear panniers and a smartphone holder

Assistance:
Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except for punctures for which we do not intervene).

Luggage:
They are transported by a courier or by our correspondent and limited to one piece of luggage per person. (max. 23 kg)

Travel diary:
A welcome documentation with all the practical information is sent before your trip. You can download the GPS tracks on your smartphone.

Transport:

We advise you to go there by plane. Turku has its airport but Helsinki is better served. Train from Helsinki to Turku.

Cancellation insurance:
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.