Stories of the borderland: War history and Hiitolanjoki

For groups For those hungry for culture For groups of friends

STORIES OF THE BORDERLAND: WAR HISTORY AND HIITOLANJOKI

Monday–Tuesday 14.–15.9.2026

Welcome to the heart of Saimaa and the history of the borderland.

This trip is organized as a special pre-tour (Pre-Tour) for participants of the 18th International European Geoparks Conference held on September 16–18, 2026. The trip serves as a perfect introduction to the conference themes, but we warmly welcome all others interested in history and nature to this departure.

The trip takes us deep into the history of the borderland and the unique sites of Saimaa Geopark. We will learn about the legend of Simo Häyhä, experience the freed rapids of Hiitolanjoki barrier-free, and relax on the waves of Vuoksi.

Do you want a trip for your own group at another time? This trip can be ordered for groups year-round – we will tailor the program to suit your specific needs.

Imatra – Rautjärvi – Simpele – Parikkala – Imatra – Lappeenranta

Monday 14.9. Whispers of history and the roar of the rapids

10.00 Departure. The bus picks up from in front of Imatra Valtionhotelli.
10.30 Arrival in Rautjärvi. Guided tour at the Kollaa and Simo Häyhä Museum. We will hear about the miracle of the Winter War and the life of sniper Simo Häyhä.
12.15 The journey continues towards Simpele. Along the route, we will catch a glimpse of the Russian border.
13.00 Lunch at the idyllic BB Hiitolanjoki. A traditional salmon soup, Karelian pies, and coffee/tea are served.
A vegan option and food allergies are taken into account with advance notice – please mention these in the additional information when booking.
14.00 Guided nature tour on Hiitolanjoki. We will explore the landscapes of Kangaskoski, Lahnasenkoski, and Ritakoski (see video of the freed rapids here).
The route is barrier-free and easy to navigate, with a bird tower and restrooms, making it suitable for everyone.
16.00 Transfer by bus to Parikkala.
16.15 Visit to Parikkala Sculpture Park. We will independently explore the world-famous and mystical concrete sculpture collection of ITE artist Veijo Rönkkönen.
17.15 The return journey begins towards Imatra.
18.00 Arrival at Imatra Valtionhotelli. Check-in and some free time.
19.00 Shared dinner at the hotel restaurant. A single menu is served, with special dietary needs taken into account.

Tuesday 15.9. Refreshing on Vuoksi

08.00–09.30 Breakfast at the hotel.
10.00 Check-out. Luggage will be stored at the hotel. We will walk (approx. 1.3 km) with the guide towards the shore of Vuoksi.
10.30 Sauna raft cruise on Vuoksi. Opportunity to use the sauna and swim in the current.
Additional charge: sauna towel and/or an unforgettable dry suit floating in the Vuoksi current.
12.30 The sauna raft docks.
12.45 Shared lunch at Restaurant Sula.
13.45 The bus picks up the group from in front of the restaurant. We will make a detour via the Valtionhotelli to pick up luggage.
14.30 Arrival in Lappeenranta, in front of Hotel Lappee.
The trip ends here. Accommodation in Lappeenranta and any onward connections are self-arranged.

PACKAGE PRICE AND INCLUDED SERVICES

Price: 355 €/person in a double room. Single room at an additional cost of + 40 €/person

Included in the price

Bus transfers from Imatra Valtionhotelli to the sightseeing destinations and return to Valtionhotelli in the evening.
Guided tours at Kollaa Simo Häyhä Museum and on the rapids of Hiitolanjoki.
Independent exploration of Parikkala Sculpture Park.
Lunch + coffee at B&B Hiitolanjoki.
Dinner and accommodation with breakfast at Imatra Valtionhotelli.
Guided walk approx. 1.3 km from Valtionhotelli to Restaurant Sula/sauna raft.
Bus transfer from Restaurant Sula via Valtionhotelli (luggage pick-up) to Hotel Lappee in Lappeenranta.

Additional charge

On the sauna raft, dry suit floating in Vuoksi (70 €/person) and towels (5 €/person) are available for an additional charge.
Accommodation in a single room in Imatra

Important information for travelers

Meals and allergies: Please inform us of all food allergies and special dietary needs (e.g., vegan) when booking. At BB Hiitolanjoki, vegan soup is prepared only by advance order.
Accessibility: The Hiitolanjoki excursion site is designed to be fully accessible, and movement with aids is also effortless there.
Accommodation in Lappeenranta: Please note that the end point of the trip is Hotel Lappee. If you require accommodation for Tuesday in Lappeenranta, please book it yourself. Hotel Lappee serves as the main hotel; please note its limited capacity.

Booking and Cancellation Terms

The booking fee is paid at the time of booking and is 25% of the total amount. The remaining 75% is paid 60 days before the start of the trip.

Trips are organized if at least 15 people have booked the trip. The realization of the trip will be announced after the sales period ends. If the trip does not take place, the booking amount will be fully refunded to customers.

Simmes Oy / Rajamailla acts as the responsible tour operator. The trip forms a package tour, which secures the customer's receivables in case of cancellation. With the package tour, Simmes Oy retrospectively pays the margin tax on the trip. If you wish to receive a receipt with the tax specified, please send an email to myynti@rajamailla.fi.

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

Additional services

Accommodation in a single room in Imatra
Towel for the sauna raft
Drysuit Floating in the Vuoksi current

355 € / person (accommodation in a double room) + 40 € / person (single room surcharge)

Note! Trips must be booked at least 60 days before the start of the trip!

⚠️ Important about the price
The amount shown below is the total price of the package. When paying in two installments, only a booking fee (25%) is charged during the ordering process.

The price is final: Simmes Oy is responsible for all taxes and costs of the travel package, and no additional fees will be charged to the customer later.