“Active Autumn” Finland and Estonia trip
Finland
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Sep 8 - Sep 16, 2024
Our “Active Autumn” Finland and Estonia trip was perfectly planned by Emerson. It was just the eight amount of “active “ for us ( active seniors) with guided - hikes , city explorations and a bogshoe hike ! The knowledgeable guides were the best part of our adventure - Kieto from Green Cap tours gave us several hours of detailed Finnish history and culture while exploring the city center and ferry to Suomenlinna Island. We also had a food tour with him later in the week and discovered my favorite delicious Salmon soup ( Lohikeitto) . Christopher from Est Adventures provided an amazing amount of fascinating history and current lives of Estonians pre and post Soviet Union occupation. Berit was our naturalist and guide on perhaps our favorite adventure hiking in a beautiful bog an hour outside of Tallinn. Another highlight was our small group Archipelago Excursion with Jeff from Taiga Times . We hiked in yet another gorgeous setting through woods and along the granite shoreline and enjoyed our tasty lunch prepared on site by Jeff.
The hotels chosen by Emerson were charming and well located and the arranged drivers were always exactly on time and also so helpful with local suggestions. One of which was to visit Helsinki’s new Odi library which was amazing - filled with people of all ages and they let out tools, guitars for use in their studios and trailers!
All in all a well planned, wonderful nine days in Finland and Estonia.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fabian in Helsinki was our favorite stay during the trip. The hotel has a special designation on TripAdvisor, and it did not disappoint. The rooms were cozy and the service was excellent. Highly recommend!
The Hotel Kakola, located in Turku, wasn't to my taste. It's an old prison converted into a hotel, so it had a rather gloomy atmosphere with dark gray walls and barbed wire patterns on the curtains. The whole theme was quite unsettling. On a positive note, the service was good, and the staff at the desk were friendly and helpful. The breakfast had a variety of options, but it wasn't as good in quality as the other places we stayed.
Activity Reviews
The Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna was just okay for us. The ferry ride was enjoyable and our guide did their best to make the tour interesting, but the historical aspects of the old fort on Suomenlinna didn't quite capture our interest. It might be more appealing to history buffs, but it wasn't entirely to our taste.
The Bogshoe Hiking Tour in Estonia was an absolute highlight! The nature and scenery were stunning, and it was a unique and enjoyable experience. We would definitely recommend this to other nature lovers.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review!
I'm thrilled to hear that your "Active Autumn" trip to Finland and Estonia was such a memorable experience. It was my pleasure to help plan the perfect balance of activity and relaxation for you both. I'm especially glad to hear that the knowledgeable guides and unique experiences, like the bogshoe hike and food tour, stood out for you. Your feedback means a lot, and I'm delighted that everything from the excursions to the hotel choices contributed to your wonderful adventure!