Hey Finland! If there is one country that took my breath this year, it must be Finland. It is sufficient to say that my visit to Finland is one of the best trips I have experienced this year. I know what you’re thinking – That must have been good. That’s certainly true!
However, regarding Finland, which caught my attention, I found the heart and soul, the buds of eyes and taste, thoughts and emotions… In other words, What did not attract my attention in Finland? ?
I will never forget to say the least.
After experiencing a Finnish sauna and visiting a reindeer farm, I was excited to spend the third day here in Finland at Oya. Hiking and canoeing Oranca National Park.
Explore Olanca National Park
Coming on a trip to Finland, I had little thought about what to expect. Certainly, I was hoping to see reindeer, snow, a tree or two…but I certainly didn’t expect to come intimately and personally with reindeer.
That’s where Olanca National Park is coming.
If you find yourself in this part of Finland (the simplest reference: Finland’s “middle”), you will need to visit Olanka National Park. The park features stunning natural scenery, steep torrents and Foggy Forest. If you’re lucky, you can even spot bears on the trail.
But we weren’t here just to observe nature.
Instead, we wanted to be a part of it. My guide Suzi said the best way to do this is not just to hike the trail on foot, but also to hike canoes through the river heading towards the Russian border (of course not over that!).
Along the way along the river, we stopped for a deserved break to enjoy some hot chocolate and pastries, then set off again below the river.
It was a perfect introduction to how Finn lives during the summer and how he shows himself outdoors with nature. It was a bit chilly during the fall, but it was still an extraordinary day. You will never forget it anytime soon. If you want to enjoy the Finnish wilderness, we recommend that these activities be suitable for summer. However, if you find yourself in the park during the winter, you will be delighted with a snowy winter wonderland that welcomes you and so many hikers each year. Certainly the next day I revisited the park for a longer hike, and to my surprise, the forest was completely covered in snow – I will share those photos tomorrow!
World of Wanderlust visited Finland as a guest of Finland. Thank you to Susi at Era Susi for this incredible day exploring the Finnish wilderness! My opinion, as always, is myself.