Day 1 Arrive Mikkeli 18 miles .

When you arrive in Helsinki you will collect your bikes from a bike shop near the railway station. Take a train from Helsinki to Mikkeli, a typical Finnish market town in the heart of the Lake District. Begin your ride from Mikkeli railway station to your country hotel for your first overnight stay with dinner.

Day 2 Mikkeli to Puumala 25 or 31 miles.

Head east today into the remote but beautiful lake area. Tonight you will stay in a fabulous lakeside hotel with dinner in an old wooden restaurant.

Day 3 Puumala to Pihlajalahti 35 or 47 miles.

Head north today, you can stop for a lunch at the village of Puumala. There is a local ferry crossing on the day’s ride, a short ferry going back and forth acting like a bridge to link the local communities. Overnight in charming farmhouse with dinner in stone barn converted to a restaurant.

Day 4 Pihlajalahti to Savonlinna 22 miles.

A short ride today into the lakeside market town of Savonlinna. Free time to explore the town further or ride more at your leisure. Overnight in town centre hotel in Savonlinna. The opera festivals are held between 26th June and 26th July.

Day 5 Savonlinna to Punkaharju 37 miles.

Head yet further east today along backroads to the village of Kerimäki. Take a look inside the church, the largest wooden church in the world. Stock up on picnic food from the village stores before heading south. Begin riding the magnificent Punkaharju Ridge, a narrow strip of land surrounded by water on both sides, and one of Finland’s most stunning cycle routes. Overnight with dinner in country hotel close to the ridge.

Day 6 Punkaharju to Parikkala 18 miles.

Leave the hotel and continue riding the Punkaharju Ridge. There are shops in Punkaharju village to buy refreshments. Continue south to the village of Parikkala where the tour ends at the rail station. From there it is a direct connection to Helsinki where you can extend your holiday to look around the EU's most northerly capital city.