In Northern Saimaa, you can enjoy winter sports and the peace of nature.
In Liperi, you’ll find ice swimming, winter cycling, and the ski trails of Pärnävaaran Sports Center.
In Rääkkylä, you can go snowshoeing or help create snowdrifts for the endangered Saimaa ringed seal.
In Heinävesi, the slopes of Pääskyvuori invite you to ski and relax.
Ice fishing and winter fishing are perfect family activities – no permit needed.
Local guides are happy to share the best fishing spots. After an active day, stay in a cozy guesthouse,
a lakeside cottage, or a monastery hotel. Start your mornings with local delicacies from cafés,
restaurants, and catering services.
Winter joys in Northern Saimaa come without crowds or stress – just tranquility and nature.
Cross-country ski tracks
Pääskyvuori Ski Center
Pääskyvuori in Heinävesi is a relaxed and family-friendly ski center where even the youngest skiers can happily spend the whole day.
Café Pääskynpesä serves homemade doughnuts, pizzas, and a hearty soup lunch. The café is well worth a visit even if you’re not heading to the slopes.
Mountain biking trails
Snowmobile routes
Ice Swimming & Sauna
In Northern Saimaa, each village center has a sauna and an ice swimming spot maintained by a local association. Ice swimming is becoming increasingly popular, and there’s nothing more refreshing than stepping from a warm sauna straight into clean, natural water.
Feel free to ask about visiting hours – there’s often room on the sauna benches for travelers as well.
Vom Angeln gepackt – Mit Kossu aufs Wasser
Juha „Kossu“ Kosonen entdeckte seine Leidenschaft fürs Angeln bereits im Alter von fünf Jahren. Während seiner Laufbahn als Lehrer nahm er viele junge „Fisker“ aus Liperi mit ans Wasser und begeisterte sie für das Angeln.
Angler sind sich unabhängig vom Alter sehr ähnlich.
„Der schönste Moment ist, wenn sich die Schnur spannt und die Augen zu leuchten beginnen – diesen Augenblick vergisst man nie“, erzählt Kossu.