Saimaa Archipelago route

You can start the route, for example, from Lappeenranta harbor or Imatra town center. When cycling counterclockwise from Lappeenranta, you first cross the Saimaa Canal towards Joutseno, and early on the cyclist can learn about the history of the Saimaa Canal at the canal museum (Saimaa Geopark site). Essential services can be found in Joutseno, as well as in Imatra. Imatra has Finland's oldest tourist attraction, Imatrankoski (Saimaa Geopark site), which visitors have admired since the 18th century. The Vuoksi River, which leads the waters of Saimaa to Lake Ladoga, cuts through the cityscape. The Imatra State Hotel, repeatedly voted Finland's most beautiful building, is along the route. The cycling route follows about seven kilometers along the Vuoksi shore. The route passes by the Imatranajo, IRRC race track and its starting point. The trip offers many museums and monuments.

Next, you arrive at Vuoksenniska, which is Imatra's second city center, created by industry. There is the Church of the Three Crosses designed by Alvar Aalto, which is a significant attraction. The Kaukopää factory is one of the world's largest and most modern paper mills, with a view from the dam road leading to Salosaari.

From Salosaari, you cross the Ukonsalmi bridge to the church of Ruokolahti (Saimaa Geopark site). The church is known from Albert Edelfelt's painting "Old Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill." The church, built in 1854, the old bell tower from 1752, and the cemeteries with war graves provide a peaceful environment for resting. On the church hill you will also find the Ruokolahti museum and the Ruokolahti house, whose yard area includes old outbuildings moved from Ruokolahti. Rasilassa has shop and restaurant services as well as a beach. Accommodation services for cyclists are also available in Ruokolahti.

The journey continues along the Puumala road, where you must stay carefully to the side of the road since the shoulder is narrow and there is a lot of traffic, such as timber trucks. Stop by the Syyspohja Salpa station, where you can see fortifications related to the Salpa Line built during the Second World War, including completed bunkers, unfinished and collapsed pillboxes, water-filled pillboxes' bases, and a substantial stone anti-tank line.

From the Puumala road, turn towards Utula. Utula road goes through the Second Salpausselkä (Saimaa Geopark site), characterized by flat, barren pine forests. From there, there are beautiful views southward towards Saimaa and the village of Utula as you approach it. Utula has a shop where you can restock supplies.

Leaving Utula, about five kilometers away is Huuhanranta, one of Saimaa’s longest sandy beaches. The beach is about one kilometer from the main road. Huuhanranta is also a Saimaa Geopark site. There is a lean-to shelter, fireplaces, and a possibility for self-organized camping.

The Second Salpausselkä continues to Kyläniemi, which is now an island. Southern Saimaa was divided in the 18th century between the Russian and Swedish kingdoms, and to secure movement, the Russians built the Suvorov canals under the command of Generalissimo Alexander Suvorov, one of which turned Kyläniemi into an island. The canal has since been widened and is now crossed by a ferry. The ferry ride takes a few minutes and offers stunning views. The scenery is also impressive on Kyläniemi: the ridges of the Second Salpausselkä, the stone quarries left by the Ice Age, and the varying elevations of the ancient Saimaa shore are visible throughout the route. At the tip of Kyläniemi is the pleasant Rastinniemi recreational area (Saimaa Geopark site) with a grill shelter. Camping is allowed there.

From Kyläniemi, you can reach Sarviniemi by bike ferry. After the ferry crossing, landing is at the Sarviniemi recreational area, which is again a Saimaa Geopark site. It is advisable to rest there before cycling towards Taipalsaari, but overnight stays are not allowed in Sarviniemi.

Shortly after Sarviniemi, cyclists can set off to explore the landscapes of Savitaipale. The Savitaipale loop is ridden through rural scenery, partly along paved roads and partly on gravel roads. The views consist mainly of traditional Finnish countryside idyll. Highlights of the Savitaipale loop include the Kärnäkoski fortress area at Partakoski, the old Partakoski mill and its cultural surroundings, as well as the Hakamäki museum area.

Taipalsaari offers accommodation services along the way and restaurant services in the town center. Near the church and town hall is the historical Röyty local heritage house, which has served as a military official's residence and an inn. It has a café open in summer.

Between Taipalsaari and Lappeenranta is one of the most beautiful scenic roads with a safe bike lane. On the way to Lappeenranta, you will find the prehistoric castle hill of Kuivaketvele. In Lappeenranta, it is worth stopping by the fortress built by Generalissimo Suvorov, which is part of the fortress chain known as Suvorov's fortresses dating from the late 18th century. Both the castle hill and the fortress are Saimaa Geopark sites.