Day 1. Individual arrival to B&B Västergård on the island of Nagu (Nauvo in Finnish). You can access Nagu from Helsinki by train or bus to Turku, travel time 2 hours and further to Nagu by bus, travel time 1,5 hours. Alternatively you come by car from Helsinki in 3 hours.

Day 2. Nagu – Merimasku, 40 km. 
After a good nights sleep and breakfast you will start your tour by cycling to Nagu village and catch the ferry to Rymättylä at midday. The ferry ride takes one and a half hour including a short stopover at the island Själö. Soon after arrival at the island you can visit the WW2 air surveillance tower for a view over the islands. You tay overnight at the Farm Taattisten Tila. Its history goes back to the 16th century. It is located on a small lake and nowadays it grows new potatoes, crops and sugar beet.

Day 3. Merimasku – Iniö, 45 km. Todays cycling takes you via Velkua and Kustavi  to the remote island of Iniö. The first part covers some rolling hills but you are in no hurry to your first ferry of today which departures in the afternoon, only once per day. From here you have about 25 km across some bridges with magnificent views. Your accommodation is at a beautiful and eco-friendly B&B. Fine possibilities to swim in the sea or enjoy a sauna bath.

Day 4. Iniö – Korpo, 35 km.
 Shortly after your start in the morning you will pass a marked nature trail with breathtaking views worthwhile visiting. After a ferry ride with m/s Antonia you will be cycling through Houtskär island and over to Korpo island. At Houtskär you may visit the small village with a boat museum and the wooden church.

Day 5. Korpo – Nagu, 30 km.
 After breakfast you will take the short ferry back to island of Nagu and follow the winding road to Nagu village – in many ways the centre of Turku Archipelago with a lively marina. For the last night accommodation and dinner we will welcome you back at B&B Västergård. Being in Finland you can, of course ask for the possibility for a sauna bath even every evening.

Day 6. Individual departure from Nagu.

Season: 1.6.-30.9.2012
Tour operator rate: on request
Hint: Luggage transport is available on tours starting on Mondays, or for groups.
Services: Overnight in double rooms, 5x breakfast, last night dinner in Nagu, bike with helmet and and panniers, 
storage of excess baggage, required ferry tickets as mentioned in the programme, route itinenary with map, transport to bus stop or parking log
Accommodation: Västergård
Bed & Breakfast in Nauvo Village, 4 cosy rooms with shower and WC, 2 rooms sharing one bathroom, lounge, sauna, Hot Tub and barbeque in the yard, beach for bathing and rowing boat 600 m

Contact and reservation
Bed & Breakfast Västergård
Västergård Outdoors
Gyttjavägen 29
FI-21650 Nauvo

Tel. +358 40 5861317
vastergard [at] nagu [dot] net
www.nauvo.net/vastergard

Throughout the year programme will present some 300 events, exhibitions and projects, which makes World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 the most extensive design programme ever realised in Finland and one of the largest in the world. Developing the city through design and inspiring everyone to participate in a joint effort to improve the environment is one of the most important goals for the whole year.

Many of the projects have already got underway in 2011 and are set to jumpstart long-term projects such as the Tukkutori Wholesale Food Market, located on an area formerly known for its slaughterhouses, now in a process of transforming itself into a centre where food meets design. Tourists visiting Helsinki in January can already enjoy special Helsinki Design Menus in various restaurants around the city, get acquainted with the developing design district Arabianranta or make an excursion to the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in the neighboring city of Espoo.

Events for tourists and people of Helsinki represent about one third of the programme. They are summarized under the topics “Year of the Events” and “Exhibitions”.

Throughout the year of Design Capital many important personalities of the world of design from all over the world will get together at various meetings in Finland. The range of events is rich in variety. Almost every day starts something new. From January to March there are more than 80 events planned.

The programme can be viewed on the website as well as the mobile app WDC 2012.

A summary of the programme as a pdf-file gives an overview about the whole programme and the highlights show the 30 most important projects.

The Word Design Capital 2012 website presents news, blogs and columns about Design from Finland. Special video portraits present Finish Designers.

The World Design Capital is an initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). WDC’s designation is unique as it aims to focus on the broader essence of design’s impact on urban spaces, economies and citizens.

You find further information and schedules on wdchelsinki2012 as well as on this video.

On a single-trip between Germany and Finland it means a discount of 120 Euro. Two persons travel from 284 Euro in a double inside cabin, per person and trip. The offer is valid for vehicles with a maximum height 2,1 m and a maximum length of 6 m long. No more than one vehicle per cabin.

Finnlines departs daily from Lübeck-Travemünde to Helsinki and three times a week from Rostock to the Finnish capital. It’s the only shipping company with direct ferry connections for passengers between Germany and Finland.

The early-bird offer is Available only through our call centers.

Call centers:
Finland +358 (0) 10 343 4500
Germany +49 (0) 451 1507 443

Limited offer. Can not be combined with other discounts (return trip discount -20% is included in the offer). This offer in non-refundable after 29.2.2012.

Contact
Finnlines Passagierdienst
Einsiedelstraße 43-45
23554 Lübeck
Tel.  0451 / 1507 -443
Fax: 0451 / 1507 -444
passagierdienst [at] finnlines [dot] com
www.finnlines.com

Day 1: After your arrival at the airport of Oulu you will meet your finnish birdwatching guide, who takes you to the hotel. This takes only five minutes. If there is enough time that day you might go on an excursion to see some native species. Diner and overnight: Hotel Vihiluoto

Day 2-3: The region of Oulu is well-known for owl species such as eagle owl, Ural owl, great grey owl, boreal owl, short-eared owl and Eurasian Pygmy Owl that reed here. Most years northern hawk owl and long-eared owl have also been seen. We will spend much time in the forest and have many great opportunities to watch the owls at close range. Other possible birds we might see are black grouse, wood grouse, black woodpecker and Eurasian three-toed woodpecker. Depending on the breeding situation all mentioned species live in the region of Kuusamo, too, if we miss them in Oulu.

We will visit Finland’s most important wetland, the bay of Liminganlahti. It is an ideal place for special water- and coast species such as spotted redshank, ruff and caspian tern. “Foghorn calls” of the bittern are hearable. Plenty of migrating birds come here to rest, jung cranes and whooper swans spend their summer here. Seven watching towers offer best views over the bay of Liminganlahti. The surrounding fields are hotspots for the observation of migrating birds and other special species such as the Lapland longspure. The pallid harrier was a regular species during the last years.

The Botnian Bay offers a good route for migrating ducks and wading birds. If you wish we may watch the migration early in the morning from the peninsula. There good possibilities to see many grebes and sea ducks such as common scoter, velvet scoter and long-tailed duck. Even the yellow-billed diver comes here in swarms of red and black-throated divers. Diner and Overnight: Hotel Vihiluoto

Day 4: Today we will drive to the East to Kuusamo. Kuusamo is a small town close the Russian border. The route takes us through one of the most beautiful northern landscapes covered with forests and wetland, lakes and rivers. On the way there is time for bird watching. Diner and overnight: Sokos Hotel Kuusamo

Day 5: In Kuusamo a real treat for the eyes awaits us – the wide conifer forest of the north with very special species: Red-flanked bluetail, rustic bunting, pine grosbeak, Siberian jay, Siberian tit, black woodpecker, Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, black grouse, willow grouse, hazel grouse, wood grouse, red-necked grebe and little gull, all of them breed here.

To watch the red-flanked bluetail we have to climb up the steep hill Valtavaara is steep, but there is never a garuantee that the birds will sing. Though, the view is stunning. Mainly it is an easy walk with a fews steeper ascents. Therefore the tour is suitable for those with good physical condition. Then we will visit the untouched taiga of Oulanka National Park. It was founded in 1956 and extended in 1982 and 1989. Nowadays it covers an area of 270 km2. Oulanka is located in the very north of the conifer forest region. We will enjoy lunch in a comfortable, quaint restaurant. Diner and overnight: Sokos Hotel Kuusamo

Day 6: Today we head back to Oulu. Before the departure and during the trip you have the chance to watch birds. Diner and overnight: Hotel Vihiluoto

Day 7: Middle of may is a very hectic time for migration. Some species might have reached the region of Oulu while we were staying in Kuusamo. Before the flight back home we can have a look for species that we have not seen yet.

Service: 6 overnight stays in double room (double bed or two single beds) with bathroom/shower and WC, half board: 3 nights at Hotel Vihiluoto in Kempele, Finland. 3 nights at Sokos Hotel Kuusamo in Kuusamo, Finland. Meals at the hotel: breakfast, lunch and diner. Transport during the stay by VW 4WD minibus driven by Finnature guide and your tour guide (7 paying participants), 2 VW 4WD minibus (8-14 paying participants). Finnature guide is a local ornitholog during the whole stay, one group tour guide is for free.

Contact and reservations
Finnature Oy Ltd
Jari Peltomäki
P.O.Box 42
FI-91901 Liminka

Tel. +358 8 345 737
info [at] finnature [dot] fi

www.finnature.fi

Service
We are running this company, Hotel Iso Syöte & Safaris, as a DMC where the total concept of accommodation, hospitality, activities, restaurant services and unique tailor-made programs are combined, always making use of the peace, space and possibilities of our natural surroundings and wild nature.

Located in the triangle of the three main airports of Lapland (Rovaniemi, Oulu and Kuusamo) means that Iso Syöte is always within easy reach.

The hotel
There are 30 double rooms mostly with a splendid view over the forest and valley below, 20 real Finnish kelo cottages made of full round pine-logs and 16 big family cottages on the very top of the hill. All cottages are fully equipped and clients can enjoy the warm comfort of their own sauna and fireplace in the cottages.

Nature & Activities
Our safaris take you on adventurous trips to discover the area. In winter, when all is heavily covered under a thick layer of glimmering snow you can enjoy snowmobile tours, ice rally drives, husky and reindeer sledge rides, snowshoe hikes, ice fishing trips or downhill and cross country skiing straight from the hotel or the cottages. In summer we explore nature by hiking, canoeing on lakes and rivers, quad bike tours through the forest, reindeer farm/husky farm visits and campfire diners in the open air under the midnight sun.

Contact and reservations
Hotel Iso Syöte & Safaris
Iso Syötteentie 246
FI-93280 Syöte

www.experience-isosyote.fi
www.experience-isosyote.fi
Tel: + 358 201 476400

The tour also familiarizes the visitor with Russian architect Carl Ludvig Engel and his monumental empire- centre of Helsinki, the buildings designed by young jugend-architects that were inspired by the finnish national identity and the architectual golden age of Finland: Modernism.

During the tour a guide with cultural expertse will tell about the turns of history and the goals of the architects and artists.

Customers own equipement needed: Comftortable shoes
Participants: 1-10
Service languages: English.
For groups on request also available in
Swedish,
German,
Russian,
French,
Italian,
Spanish and Finnish
Starting place: Senaatintori, Helsinki
Duration in hours: 2
Season: Summer
Price: on request

Contact:

Archtours Ltd
Sami Heikinheimo
Administrative director
sami [dot] heikinheimo [at] archtours [dot] com

Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 13 B 17
FI- 00260 Helsinki, Uusimaa
Finland
Phone: + 358 (0)9 4777 300
Fax: + 358 (0)9 4777 3010
Website: www.archtours.com

Five touristic services or products were nominated by a jury and up to election in each category.

The winners of the five categories are:

Category “Best of  Nordic Oddity”
Kallen Torstait / Kaarle XII “Thursday Nights”

Category “Best Northern Exposure”
Weekend-partypack im Cumulus Hotel

Category “Best Family Resort & Fun”
Finish Museum of Natural History

Category “Best Helsinki Event”
Flow Festival

Category “Best MICE Experience”
Fregatti Oy

Another prize was awared to Eeva Liisa Hannukainen in the category “Favourite Travel Professional”. She is a popular tour guide from Helsinki Tourist Guides and has been very active in promoting the city as an incentive destination

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pentti Kivinen, Managing Director of the Finnish Fair Corporation who retired earlier this year, and Martti Tyynismaa, Managing Director of the Restaurant Lasipalatsi.

Contact
Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau
Pohjoisesplanadi 19
FI-00099 CITY OF HELSINKI

Tel. +358 (0)9 3101 3300
Fax +358 (0)9 3101 3301

tourist [dot] info [at] hel [dot] fi
www.visithelsinki.fi

The City of Helsinki reserves all rights to the picture, so it can be freely used for non-commercial purposes and for marketing.

On the website www.tallinksilja-erlebniswelten.de you will experience different combinations of mini cruises and hotel overnights in the metropolises of Scandinavia and the Baltic states.

Furthermore you may posh up your journey by booking beauty and wellness treatments as well as the catering according to your wishes in advance.

The huge extra: Your personal CityCruise can start from any city integrated in the journey itinerary. True to the motto: Hop in wherever you like!

City Cruise 01
Triangel City Cruise
Stockholm – Helsinki – Tallinn

City Cruise 02
Baltic City Cruise
Stockholm – Tallinn – Riga

City Cruise 03
Nordic City Cruise
Stockholm – Turku – Helsinki

City Cruise 04-07
Tandem City Cruise
Stockholm – Riga
Stockholm – Helsinki
Stockholm – Tallinn
Stockholm – Turku

City Cruise 08
Helsinki – Tallinn

Order our new brochure – free of charge!

New: Our image brochure “Heavenly Passages & CityCruises“ (in German only) takes you into the versatile worlds of experiences 2012 in an attractive and charming way.

In addition to all Tallink Silja Passages we offer a combination ticket in cooperation with Stena Line. It allows you to use a connection from Germany (Kiel-Goteborg) in combination with our routes Stockholm – Helsinki, Stockholm – Turku and Stockholm – Tallinn. Two partners that would like you to enjoy the best possible cruise experience! Please also use our advanced booking opportunities for our beauty and wellness offers. So you can design your cruise according to your wishes. You find all information in our brochure “Schedule & Prices” (in German only).

Order your Tallink Silja brochures here!

Again in 2011 you will have the chance to win a great journey for two persons. The „Triangel CityCruise“ is an unforgettable experience. It takes you and your partner in 4 days to 3 cities. Discover culture as well as vivid city life and relax on board our ships. Of course we arrange a flight to and from Stockholm for the winners.

Draw you lot here! – Good luck!

Contact
Tallink Silja GmbH
Zeißstraße 6
D-23560 Lübeck

Tel. +49 (0)451 58 99 222
Monday-Friday 08:30 am – 05:00 pm
Fax +49 (0)451 58 99 203
info [dot] eu [at] tallinksilja [dot] com
www.tallinksilja.de

Company: Tallink Silja is part of AS Tallink Grupp that has positioned itself as market leader in the passenger- and cruise traffic between Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Germany as well as important partner in freight traffic on the Baltic Sea. The company offers variety of cruises and services with its fleet of 19 ships.

The valley of River Oulujoki and ridges of Rokua are a part of the unique geological spots network protected by UNESCO. Our 6-hour long safari drives through this world´s northernmost Geopark. In the course of the safari we will make a stop by an open fire to enjoy tasty picnic lunch with hot drinks. After the break we will continue our journey to marvellous dunes and ridges of Rokua and terminate our program in Rokua Health&Spa, relaxing in the bubbles and steamy saunas. The evening will culminate in a tasteful dinner.

Participants: Up to 15 persons
Duration in hours: 6
Season: 15.12. – 31.3. Depending on the snow conditions.
Including:

• Lesson how to drive a snow mobile ca. 10 min
• Snow mobile safari ca. 6 hours
• Picnic lunch, coffee / tea
• Swimming and using saunas in Rokua Health & Spa
• Dinner (excluding alcoholic drinks)
• Introduction and guidance

For extra fee

• Accommodation and other services in Rokua
• Transportation to Oulu € 30,00 per person

Equipment

• Winter boots and woollen socks
• Winter overall
• Balaclava and helmet
• Winter gloves

Insurance: Go Arctic Ltd has organizer´s liability insurance.
Price: on request

Contact
GoArctic!
Kirsi Eskola
Nahkatehtaankatu 6
FIN-90100 Oulu

Tel. +358 44 022 40 60
Fax. +358 8 703 1335
kirsi [dot] eskola [at] goarctic [dot] fi
www.goarctic.fi

Café, bar and high-quality à la carte restaurant on board serve Nordic cuisine and international classics. The Helsinki Archipelago has more than 300 islands!

Starting place: Helsinki Market Square
Time: daily 11:30 and 14:00, and Mon-Sat at 16:30 and *19:00
Duration in hours: 1 ½ (*at 19:00 2 ½ hours)
Season: 05.05.2012-30.09.2012
Service: Helsinki Cruise
Price: on request
Languages: English, German, French, Swedish, Finnish

No reservation is needed for sightseeing, except for groups over 20 persons.

Check-in and boat tickets by the ship, m/s Doris & m/s Doris II, Helsinki Market Square, 30 minutes before the departure.

Contact
IHA-Lines Ltd Helsinki Cruises
ihalines [at] ihalines [dot] fi
Meritullintori 6
FI-00170 Helsinki

Reservierungen:
Tel.+358 (0)9 6874 5050
www.ihalines.fi