Kyyvesi and Puula

Kyyvesi and Puula are part of the Kymijoki waterway system, forming a section of the Mäntyharju route.

The more northerly of the two lakes, Kyyvesi, covers an area of 129 square kilometres, with a shoreline protection programme zone of 72 km. Kyyvesi has nearly 1,400 islands and 857 km of shoreline. There are several landing spots with dry toilets and campfire sites, and overnight camping is permitted under everyman's rights. It is worth noting, however, that the area also has a significant number of holiday cottages whose privacy should be respected.

Kyyvesi drains into Puula via the Läsäkoski rapids, where canoes and kayaks need to be portaged a short distance.

The more southerly Puula, or Puulavesi, covers 331 square kilometres and is home to an estimated 1,659 islands with 1,776 km of shoreline. The Puula shoreline protection programme zone covers 166 square kilometres. Puula also has numerous landing spots with supporting facilities. Most of the islands are rocky and boulder-strewn, but sheltered, shallower shores can also be found. The diverse character of Puula is showcased in its broad open stretches, long narrow passages and intricate island clusters. Camping on the islands of Puula is also possible under everyman's rights, keeping in mind both the holiday cottages and the permanent residents found on the larger islands.

Puukonsaari is the largest permanently inhabited island on Puula, with no road connection to the mainland. During the open-water season, a car ferry serves Puukonsaari — and the ferry ride itself is well worth the trip.

One of Puula's most distinctive features is its raukit — mushroom-shaped rock formations created by water erosion, which emerged when the water level was lowered in the 19th century. In Finland, raukit can also be found on the Åland Islands and near Kotka, in addition to Puula.

You can set out onto Puula's waters right from our home village of Otava, either from the swimming beach or the harbour. There are also a few lean-to shelters nearby, perfect for a rest stop on a shorter outing.

Luonteri

Located between Anttola in Mikkeli and Juva, Luonteri is a wild and labyrinthine expanse of Lake Saimaa, quite unlike the rest of Saimaa.

The crystal-clear waters of Luonteri make it an excellent destination for water-based adventures, with numerous excursion harbours throughout. It is one of the most renowned paddling lakes in South Savo — if not in all of Finland. With a surface area of 108 square kilometres, Luonteri ranks as Finland's 41st largest lake. The waterway has 579 islands, and a few Saimaa ringed seals also call these waters home.

The lake area is also one of the Saimaa Geopark sites — while out on the water, you may encounter sheer cliff-faced islands, and the northern part of Luonteri is dominated by Neitvuori. Its summit rises 110 metres above the surface of Luonteri, and it's approximately one kilometre from the Hiidenlahti excursion harbour to the top.

Although the islands of Luonteri are largely Natura and protected areas today, there is still a comprehensive and well-maintained network of excursion harbours. A variety of paddling routes and waterways are also available to suit different preferences. There are launch and landing points all around Luonteri, and of course the waterways connect to the broader Saimaa region as well.

From Otava, it's only about half an hour to Anttola harbour — less than 40 km away. The journey to the foot of Neitvuori is a little longer, but still reachable within an hour at around 50 km.

Hirvensalmi - Mäntyharju - Repovesi

Hirvensalmi has more to offer than just Lake Puula, and from Mäntyharju you can paddle all the way to Repovesi.

Between Hirvensalmi and Joutsa lies Lake Suontee, which drains into Lake Päijänne and covers an area of 143 square kilometres. The narrowest isthmus between Puula and Suontee is only about 5 km wide. Suontee has several trail harbours, a number of landing spots and public boat launches.

From Puula, you can also head by water through Suonsalmi to Liekunee and then past the Kissakoski power plant towards Lake Tuusjärvi. Along the way there are a couple of rapids that can be challenging when water levels are high, but the trickiest sections can be portaged around. From Tuusjärvi, the route continues towards Vihantasalmi and Miekankoski, where you join the Mäntyharju–Repovesi route. The official starting point of the route is right in the centre of Mäntyharju, at Kurkiniemi. You can practically step off the train and start paddling — it's only a few hundred metres from Mäntyharju railway station to the put-in point.

The Mäntyharju–Repovesi route is easy paddling across open lake waters, with just one portage of around 700 m at Voikoski. The total length of the route is approximately 50 km, and there are several camping spots along the way as well as accommodation options such as Linkkumylly and Orilampi Lodge and Holidays.

Kurkiniemi in Mäntyharju also serves as the starting point for the Keisarinlähde Loop, a roughly 50 km wilderness circuit through five lakes. The route features three open shelters and a rest stop, along with two portages of 500 m and 200 m.

The starting points for the Mäntyharju routes are only about half an hour's drive from Otava. We are happy to deliver your gear to Mäntyharju and move your car to wait for you at Repovesi.

Saimaa

Saimaa is Finland's largest lake and the fourth largest in Europe.

The Saimaa lake system stretches across a roughly 200 km long and 100 km wide area. Its surface area is approximately 4,400 square kilometres, with nearly 15,000 kilometres of shoreline. Some of Saimaa's waters flow in from across the Russian border, and they also drain back that way — through the Vuoksi river into Lake Ladoga, from where the Neva river carries the waters through St. Petersburg and out into the Gulf of Finland.

For now, though, we won't venture quite that far — let's take a closer look at Saimaa in the Mikkeli and South Savo region. Saimaa is more than just rocky cottage shores or the wild, secluded corners of Luonteri, which we've already mentioned. Saimaa is also a lake of towns and village centres — or rather, those towns grew up along its shores. From within the Mikkeli area, there are plenty of options for exploring Saimaa by paddle. Similarly, Savonlinna — whose town centre sits on an island — offers a lively urban setting for a different kind of paddling experience in summer. The centres of Ristiina and Anttola are also gateways to Saimaa, as are Puumala and Sulkava.

Paddlers are also well served by the many trail harbours and landing spots that can be found through the links on this page. There are several official paddling routes as well as more informal routes recorded by enthusiasts themselves.

The Saimaa Island Route and Astuvansalmi Rock Paintings is a circular route of about 60 km, starting from Lotjansaari in Anttola, heading south via Väätämönsalmi all the way to Lake Yövesi. There, as the name suggests, you pass the Astuvansalmi rock paintings before turning north again through the Varkaantaipale canal, across Louhivesi and then back to Anttola via Paljasvesi and Vitjanen.

If you want to paddle to Astuvansalmi and Yövesi from Mikkeli, the distance from the harbour is about 35 km. South of Mikkeli there are also numerous put-in points, swimming beaches and boat launches available. Do keep in mind, however, that between Mikkeli and Ristiina there is a high density of summer cottage residents whose peace and privacy should be respected — for this reason, overnight spots may be hard to find without planning ahead and studying the map carefully.

You can also get on the water in Ristiina right from the town centre, at the harbour or from the swimming beaches. From Ristiina, it's about 20 km to Yövesi and Himalansaari. Continuing further south — or more precisely, southeast — from Himalansaari and Yövesi, you reach the Liittokivi open water, which historically marked the border between Karelia and Savo, and was once also the boundary between Sweden and Russia. From Liittokivi it's about 25 km to the centre of Puumala, and slightly less to Pistohiekka.

Heading southeast brings you to the main body of Saimaa, and from there you can continue on to either Imatra or Lappeenranta. If cities don't appeal, you can turn southwest from Liittokivi towards Lake Kuolimo, either through Kärnänkoski and its fortifications or via Partakoski. About 3 km north of Partakoski is also Orraintaipale, where you can cross into Kuolimo with a 300 m portage.

Mikkeli, Anttola, Puumala, Sulkava and Savonlinna are also well known for the Veskansa Routes, which comprise several routes for both paddling and boating.
Along the Veskansa Routes, the waters open up into broad lake stretches, chains of lakes, wide and narrow straits, and above all, a stunning archipelago. The Hurissalo Loop connects Yövesi, Luonteri and Lietvesi. The Lietvesi Loop takes the paddler south from Puumala, winding through the straits between Luukkolansaari, Liehtalansaari, Niinisaari and Liimattalansaari and out onto the open waters of Lietvesi. The third route area is known as the Saimaa Wilderness Routes. It winds through the nature and Saimaa ringed seal protection area of Katosselkä, and further on through the historic Kukonharju and Käyhkä canals back to Puumala.

In Sulkava, you can also paddle the Grand Row Route, which, true to its name, follows the competition course of Sulkava's legendary Grand Rowing Race. The route is about 60 km long, starting from the rowing stadium and returning there after completing the circuit around Partalansaari.

The largest national park in the Saimaa area, Linnasaari, is located on Lake Haukivesi near Rantasalmi. It offers several maintained camping sites and harbours for outdoor enthusiasts. You can set off from Poronsalmi, which also has a wonderful holiday village and spa, from the centre of Rantasalmi, circling around Vaahersalo, or directly from the guest harbour at Mustalahdentie. From the east, you can also put in at Oravi.

All in all, the Saimaa region — even just the South Savo portion of it — is so vast and varied that no brief overview can do it full justice. It's well worth investing time in planning your route in advance and exploring all the possibilities on offer.

Other Destinations

Here are a few more great options for paddling adventures.

Leivonmäki National Park offers tranquil waterway exploration across its lake areas, with several lean-to shelters and camping spots along the way. You can put in at Harjulahti or Haapalahti, among other access points. Between paddling sessions, you can explore the surrounding nature on marked hiking trails.

The Kuolimo Loop, straddling the border of South Savo and South Karelia, offers a 40–60 km paddling route depending on your starting point and route choice. The route winds through Lake Kuolimo in the areas of Suomenniemi and Savitaipale. With a short portage, you can also cross over to the Saimaa lake system.

The Squirrel Route (Oravareitti) is a canoe trail running from Juva to Sulkava, also serving as a water nature trail complete with interpretive signage. It makes for a wonderful family-friendly paddling destination. Water levels are at their best in early summer, and depending on your pace and fitness, the journey typically takes 2–3 days.