Summer Fam trip to Lake Saimaa

NordicMarketing on the road with nine tour operators in the Lappeenranta & Imatra region

The European Region of Gastronomy 2024 was the destination of a FAM trip in May, which we organized and carried out in cooperation with goSaimaa. Back in autumn 2023, we already had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful region around Lake Saimaa together with tour operators; this time, nine tour operators from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands joined our colleague Pia. In fantastic summer weather, the Lappeenranta and Imatra region showed itself from its most beautiful side and the participants were able to get a lasting impression of what Lake Saimaa has to offer in terms of tourism in one of the most beautiful seasons.

The program with a mixture of culinary highlights, accommodation visits, activities on and in the water was already promising in advance and so the group started the trip by flying to Helsinki full of excitement. From there, they travelled by minivan to Lappeenranta, around 2.5 hours away, where their host Laura from goSaimaa welcomed the group to the restaurant for dinner and a first get-together before the participants moved into their rooms for the first night at Holiday Club Saimaan Rauha.

Workshop with suppliers from around Lake Saimaa

After breakfast, a 3-hour workshop was on the agenda for the first day on site: as it is often not possible to visit all the suppliers in a destination and get to know their products on a 4-day fam trip including arrival and departure days, some other companies from the Lappeenranta and Imatra region had the opportunity to present their services to the tour operators and exchange ideas in personal discussions. The feedback from the participants was consistently positive and new contacts were made.

Diverse accommodation options

The choice of accommodation options at Lake Saimaa is huge - the participants could convince themselves of this. The villas belonging to the Imatran Kylpylä Spa with direct access to the lake were particularly impressive, as was the boutique Hotel Lähde with its day spa and charming little café offering a fantastic view of the lake.

An absolute contrast is the unique castle hotel Scandic Imatran Valtionhotelli, located directly on the rapids in Imatra. Some of the rooms with a historic ambience are located in the castle building and some have a direct view of the rapids.

Must-Sees - popular attractions at Lake Saimaa

Two popular tourist attractions in Finland are located in the Lappeenranta and Imatra region. The first is the spectacular Imatrankoski rapids - Finland's oldest tourist attraction. A visit is particularly worthwhile in summer, as ‘rapid shows’ take place there several times a week (Wed.-Sun.) in July and August.

The other notable attraction is the historic Lappeenranta Fortress, which is also part of the Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark. Nowadays, the fortress offers visitors a range of historical attractions and events all year round, including various museums and craft shops.

"Taste of Saimaa" - culinary extra class

How could it be otherwise, the European Region of Gastronomy 2024 also impressed in culinary terms. Several excellent restaurants in the heart of Lappeenranta catered for the participants during the tour: the stylish Restaurant SUMU, the lively The Kitchen, where flavors from all over the world are brought to the plate, and the atmospheric Angus Steak & Wine, which is known for its quality wines and beers from local microbreweries. As different as the three multi-course dinners were, they all scored with authentic flavors, first-class quality and regional products. 

Summer at lake Saimaa: on and in the water

Two highlights of this fam trip were the two activities on the water. On Saturday, the program included a trip on the sauna boat Saunalautta-Imatra on the Vuoksi River. The time on board was very relaxing, the participants enjoyed the sun on deck, tried floating in dry suits and some jumped into the river for a swim afterwards. A small tasting of local beers and a liquorice liqueur typical of the region rounded off the experience 😉

On Sunday, the M/S Saimaa Margareta set off on a short discovery cruise on Lake Saimaa in bright sunshine to observe the rare Saimaa ringed seal. The participants got a good impression of how the locals spend the summer on Lake Saimaa and the importance of the Finnish holiday home ‘Mökki’, especially in this bright season. A delicious salmon soup was served on board at lunchtime. The excitement grew as the participants looked out for the Saimaa ringed seals. With a bit of luck, they were finally rewarded with the sight of four seals 😊 The cruise was an impressive experience and the beauty of Lake Saimaa and its wildlife left a lasting impression on the tour operators.

At Salpalinjan Hovi, the guests experienced another special adventure: they travelled by boat to a nearby hut, followed by a hike through the forest. The warm hospitality of the owners was particularly remarkable and made the experience very special for everyone.

On the day of departure, the group makes a short stopover on the way back to Helsinki at Pulsan Asema - a beautifully situated former railway station that now houses a charming café and B&B accommodation. The perfect place for the final day to reflect on the fam trip over a delicious, freshly baked cake and a cup of coffee 😊

Very positive impression of the fam trip

FAM-Trips with NordicMarketing

The fam trips with NordicMarketing are organised together with the partners and clients from Finland, Sweden or Norway. They are aimed exclusively at selected tour operators from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands or Belgium who already offer the Nordic countries in their product portfolio or would like to offer them in the future. If you are interested in our fam trips, find more information here: