Borderland Stories: Military History and the Hiitojanjoki River

STORIES OF THE BORDER REGION: WAR HISTORY AND HIITOLANJOKI

Monday–Tuesday 14–15.9.2026

Welcome to the heart of Saimaa and the history of the border region.

This trip is organized as a special pre-tour for the 18th International European Geoparks Conference participants. The trip serves as a perfect introduction to the conference themes, but we warmly welcome all other people interested in history and nature to this trip.

The trip takes us deep into the history of the border region and the unique sites of the Saimaa Geopark. We will learn about the story of the legendary Simo Häyhä, experience the turbulent waters of the liberated Hiitolanjoki River without any obstacles and relax on the waves of the Vuoksi River.

Would you like a trip for your own group at a different time? This trip is available for groups all year round - we will tailor the program to suit your needs.

Imatra – Rautjärvi – Simpele – Parikkala – Imatra – Lappeenranta

Monday 14.9. History's slush and rapids' roar

10.00 Departure. Bus picks you up in front of Imatra State Hotel.
10.30 Arrival in Rautjärvi. Guided tour of Kollaa and Simo Häyhä Museum. We hear about the miracle of the Winter War and the life of sniper Simo Häyhä.
12.15 The journey continues towards Simpele. Along the way we catch a glimpse of the Russian border.
13.00 Lunch at the idyllic BB Hiitolanjoki. Traditional salmon soup, Karelian pies and coffee/tea are served.
Vegan options and food allergies are taken into account when ordering in advance - remember to mention these in the additional information when booking.
14.00 Guided nature tour On the Hiitolanjoki River. We will explore the landscapes of Kangaskoski, Lahnasenkoski and Ritakoski rapids (see a video of the released rapids here).
The route is barrier-free and easy to navigate, including a birdwatching tower and toilets, so it is suitable for everyone.
16.00 Transfer by bus to Parikkala.
16.15 Visit to Parikkala Statue Park. We will explore the world-famous and mystical concrete statue collection of ITE artist Veijo Rönkkönen on our own.
17.15 The return journey begins towards Imatra.
18.00 Arrival at Imatran Valtionhotelli. Accommodation and some free time.
19.00 Dinner together at the hotel restaurant. A uniform menu is offered, which takes special diets into account.

Tuesday 15.9. Refreshment on Vuoksi

08.00–09.30 Breakfast at the hotel.
10.00 Check-in. Luggage is taken to the hotel storage. We set off on a walk (approx. 1.3 km) towards the shore of Vuoksi, led by a guide.
10.30 Sauna raft cruise on Vuoksi. Possibility to use a sauna and swim in the stream.
For an additional fee: sauna towel and/or an unforgettable drysuit float in the Vuoksi stream.
12.30 The sauna raft lands.
12.45 Lunch together Restaurant Sula.
13.45 The bus picks up the group from in front of the restaurant. We will pick up our luggage at Valtionhotelli.
14.30 Arrival in Lappeenranta, in front of Hotel Lappeen.
The trip ends here. Accommodation in Lappeenranta and possible onward connections are on your own.

TRAVEL PACKAGE PRICE AND INCLUDED SERVICES

Price: €355/person in a double room. Additional price for a single room + 40 €/person

The price includes

Bus transport from Imatra Valtionhotelli to sightseeing attractions and return to Valtionhotelli in the evening.
Guided tours of the Kollaa Simo Häyhä Museum and the Hiitolanjoki rapids.
Self-guided exploration of Parikkala Statue Park.
Lunch + coffee at B&B Hiitolanjoki.
Daily and accommodation with breakfast at Imatra Valtionhotelli.
Guided walk approx. 1.3 km from Valtionhotelli to Restaurant Sula/sauna raft
Bus transport from Restaurant Sula via Valtionhotelli (luggage pickup) to Lappeenranta hotel To Lappeen.

For an additional fee

For an additional fee, drysuit floating on the sauna raft in Vuoksi (€70/person) and towels (€5/person)
Accommodation in a single room in Imatra

Important information for travelers

Meals and allergies: Please notify us of any food allergies and special diets (e.g. vegan) when booking. At BB Hiitolanjoki, vegan soup is only prepared upon pre-order.
Accessibility: The Hiitolanjoki excursion destination is designed to be completely accessible, and it is easy to move around even with assistive devices.
Accommodation in Lappeenranta: Please note that the end point of the trip is Hotel Lappee. If you need accommodation for Tuesday in Lappeenranta, please book it yourself. Hotel Lappee is the main hotel, please note limited capacity.

Booking and cancellation terms

The reservation fee is paid upon booking and is 25% of the total amount. The remaining 75% is paid 30 days before the start of the trip.

The trips will be arranged if at least 15 people have booked the trip. The trip will be announced after the end of the sales period. If the trip does not take place, the customers will be refunded the reservation amount in full.

The responsible tour operator is Simmes Oy / Rajamailla. The trip consists of a travel package, which secures the customer's receivables in the event of cancellation. With the travel package, Simmes Oy pays the marginal tax retroactively for the trip. If you would like a receipt with the tax itemized, please send an email to myynti@rajamailla.fi.

The responsible tour operator is Simmes Oy / Rajamailla. KKV registration number: 1392/21/Mj

Additional services

Accommodation in a single room in Imatra
Towel for sauna board
Drysuit floating in the Vuoksi River

€355 / person (accommodation in 2 bedrooms) + €40 / person (supplement for 1 bedroom)

Note! Travel must be booked at least 30 days before the start of the trip!

⚠️ Important information about the price
The amount shown below is the total price of the package. When paying in two installments, only the booking fee (25%) will be charged at the time of ordering.

The price is final: Simmes Oy is responsible for all taxes and expenses of the travel package, and the customer will not incur any additional charges later.