Stopover in Finland launches this spring

Finland, a Nordic country tucked away in the Arctic region, is home to more than 188,000 lakes, earning it the moniker of The Land of a Thousand Lakes. Also, 70 per cent of the northern European country boasts natural forests, covering an area larger than the UK. Its capital, Helsinki, sits proud on a peninsula and coastal islands in the Baltic Sea since 1550, when it was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden as the town of Helsingfors.

STOPOVER FINLAND

Christmas is an obvious time to spend in the snow-covered archipelago, however, starting from the spring of 2016, Visit Finland and Finnair will provide round-the-year opportunities to enjoy the country. The Stopover Finland programme will boast 50 easy-to-reach packages and experiences, catering to travellers stopping off in Helsinki, whether just for a few hours or for several days. From the Midnight Sun to Finnish forests, lakes and saunas as well as the numerous art and design events, Stopover Finland promises unique experiences.

Mari Rouvi, communications manager, Finnair, gives further insight into the development of the stopover programme. 'Finnair has seen passenger numbers grow over the years, registering 9.4 million in 2014 and we are expecting about 10 million passengers by end of 2015.'

'In anticipation of the growing passenger numbers, Finnair is growing its fleet with the addition of the new Airbus A350 XWB, making us the first European operator of the aircraft,' she adds.

'We took our first delivery in October and are expecting three more this year. We will receive the next seven A350s next year and the complete total of 19 by 2020.'

Anssi Partanen, head of Travel Products, Finnair, says, 'Our focus is on the Asian tourist market to Finland, which has steadily increased over the years – from 400,000 hotel nights in 2010 to 600,000 hotel nights in 2014.'

The Stopover Finland menu will be first launched for tourists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

FINNISH SPAS

Also in 2016, the new Löyly design sauna will open in spring 2016 just a short distance from the city centre on the southern tip of the Helsinki peninsula and Hernesaari cruise pier. The modern complex will feature three saunas, one smoke sauna and two wooden heated saunas with a total capacity of 600 people. The complex will also house a restaurant serving Finnish cuisine, which visitors can enjoy while admiring stunning views from the large terrace that stretches out over the sea.

Originating in Finland, saunas are an integral part of the Finnish culture. There are probably as many variations of a sauna as there are words for snow in Finnish. From traditional smoke saunas to more exotic ice saunas, visitors can expect to experience something unique.

ADVENTURE TOURISM

For the adventurous traveller, Helsinki offers a range of activities that include ice swimming, skiing, sledding, ice fishing and much more.

To truly experience Finland, get out of the city into the great outdoors. Finland provides 100 days of Polar night magic, offering outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the wonders and challenges of winter in a truly unique way.

An expert-led expedition will offer travellers a once-in-a-lifetime experience, from forging the necessities for the Arctic life to climbing frozen waterfalls and the incredible journey in between.

Part of the journey is chasing down the Northern Lights, which is an unmissable spectacle for those travelling to Finland. The Aurora Borealis dancing up above is such a powerful and unique natural phenomenon that promises to make the journey out in crispy winter worthwhile.  

By Nikita Philip