Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A lake spa was being built at last visit.
Information
Oskari
( 020-564-5916;
www.outdoors.fi
;
Rantasalmi; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri mid-Feb-mid-Jun &
mid-Aug-Oct, 9am-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug)
in Rantasalmi is the visitor information centre for
the park and village, and also has an environmental display and a film about a Saimaa seal
pup (adult/child €3/1.50). It rents canoes too.
Nestori
in Savonlinna is another good spot
for information.
Getting There & Around
Buses run to Oravi and Rantasalmi from Savonlinna. From Rantasalmi, it's 7km to the
turn-off for Porosalmi (Varkaus-bound buses can drop you here), and a further 3km walk
down to the accommodation complex. The Savonlinna-Kuopio cruise stops at Oravi.
Scheduled boat services run to Linnansaari island from Oravi (adult/child €9.50/4.50,
four daily mid-June to mid-August, 15 minutes), as well as on-demand water-taxi services
from Oravi and Porosalmi, run by Saimaaholiday.
Kolovesi National Park
forested islands. There are high hills, rocky cliffs and caves, and prehistoric rock paintings.
Saimaa seals, as well as otters and eagle owls, call Kolovesi home.
The park's a paradise for canoeing, the best way to explore the fantastic scenery. Motor-
boats are prohibited. There are several restricted areas, and the islands are out of bounds
all winter to protect the seals, whose pups are born in February.
The gateway town is pleasant Enonkoski, with a bright stream and rapids dividing it in
two. There's a
park information cabin
(Enonkoski; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sun Jun
& early Aug, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat-Sun Jul)
here. The park starts a further 12km
north. A free ferry north of Enonkoski crosses the narrows between two lakes on Rd 471.
fitting and multiday journeys for all abilities. Simple campgrounds dot the park. You can
head from Kolovesi to Oravi and thence Linnansaari National Park by canoe; Saimaaholi-
day will deliver canoes to Kolovesi for you if you want to do this.
