Experience the Rugged and Beautiful Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park
Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park - hundreds of islands, islets, islets, reefs and herring rocks.
Wide open spaces and sheltered coves. Evenings on the cliffs and watching the sunset on the horizon. Rare birdlife and good opportunities for encountering seals. Experience and relive thousands of stories, the cultural heritage of fishing villages and feel the power of nature - all this you can experience on an Eastern Gulf of Finland kayak trip.
The fishing villages of the archipelago, the magnificent siliceous cliffs carved by typhoons, the barren desert islands, the steep-walled red-granite shelves, Ulko Tammio island, brimming with history and diverse nature, or Suuri-Pisi island rising from the sea as a granite ridge - these are some of the most typical features of the 100 islands and islets of the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park. The strong presence of natural elements and a certain sense of being on a global scale is constantly strong in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park.
The National Park is known not only for its beauty and ruggedness, but also for its magnificent seabirds in the area. The great spotted eagle and the more demanding open sea birds such as the reed and the wagtail, can also nest in the protected coves. The Spotted Wigeon, which has declined sharply in other parts of Finland, still breeds in the park, and other rare seabirds include the Southern Gull, White-fronted Goose and White-tailed Godwit. In addition to the birdlife, the seals and the grey seal have also found a safe haven on the National Park's rocky shores.
Ulko-Tammio is one of the magnificent rocky islands of the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, where you really are in the south-eastern corner of Finland, just a few kilometres from the eastern border. The magnificent Ulko-Tammio is one of the main destinations on the hike, and we reserve time on the hike to explore the islands of Ulko-Tammio, Tammio and Suuri-Pisi, for example. While walking around the islands of the Gulf of Finland, our thoughts alternate between admiring the rugged beauty and reminiscing about the history and cultural heritage of the area.
Itinerary
Day 1: The trip starts on Tuesday on 16th of July at 9 am from Kotka, Kuusinen on the ferry to idyllic Haapasaari: address Juha Vainion katu 95. From Haapasaari we paddle in the evening towards Ulko-Tammio where we camp for the night. Ulko-Tammio has a deserted house, a fireplace, a wooden lake, camping areas, cooking stoves, fireplaces and a lookout tower.
Day 2: Day trip to the charming fishing village of Tammio with a short tour of the idyllic island's rich cultural heritage. In the evening, we paddle back to Ulko-Tammio, touring and possibly stopping at some of the cliffs of the nearby Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park. The second night of the kayak trip will also be spent in the magnificent Ulko-Tammio.
Day 3: Paddling from Ulko-Tammio via a few of the smaller islands in the national park to the spectacular rocky island of Suuri-Pisi, a granite cliff rising out of the sea. Camp for the third night near the King's Harbour of Suuri-Pisi and explore the island, winding around the silica cliffs and taking in the scenery from the high cliffs. Suuri-Pisi is also very well equipped with camping facilities such as a wood-fireplace, a fireplace, a cooking shelter and a camping area.
Day 4: The fourth day's paddling stage from Suuri-Pis towards Klamila fishing harbour, winding around the cliffs and small islands. Lunch on a suitable rocky outcrop or in the shelter of a small island. We will be at Klamila fishing harbour by 16:00, from where we will have a shuttle bus included in the price back to the starting point of the kayaking trip in Kuusinen, Kotka.
Please note: the itinerary is flexible and may well change depending on weather conditions or other variables.
Paddling skills and experience requirements
Participants must be over 18 years of age - however, those under 18 may participate if accompanied by an adult guardian and if they have sufficient strength and paddling skills. Participants must have adequate swimming skills and preferably have completed the basic Paddler 1 course or equivalent. It is a good idea to practice paddling in waves before taking part in the Eastern Gulf of Finland paddle trip.
The instructor will ensure and be responsible for a calm paddling pace. The paddling speed will be adjusted according to the group. The aim is to admire the nature and enjoy the unique environment by paddling peacefully and occasionally landing on islands. Daily distances are approximately 15-20 km. We will paddle about 60km over the four days, plus on calm evenings everyone can paddle around the camp island and nearby islands as much as they feel comfortable. :)
The price of the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park paddling trip is 389€/person and includes guiding at sea and on the islands, sea kayak rental with paddling and safety equipment, ferry trip to Haapasaari island, bus transfer from the end point back to the starting point, route plan, maps, liability insurance and taxes. If you wish, you can also use a dry bag and a mosquito net hiking bib for the duration of the hike. :)
You can either pay for the kayak trip all at once or pay 50€ now and the rest on the spot when you leave.
If you choose the latter, use the code ITL24 at the checkout. Both payment methods are binding.
