Best "natural landscape" Route to take in Finland in summer?
 

Best "natural landscape" Route to take in Finland in summer?

I'm not sure if I should explore the interior of Finland on my trip to Scandanavia this summer. I know Finland is a flat country, and I'm a landscape photographer. I know there are lakes, and forests, but Finland distances are great, and my time in the country is limited to 3-4 weeks, and I want to know Helsinki well. My question is what can I expect to find If I go hitchiking, exploring the heart of Finland?

What route should I take that will lead me back to Umeo, or Stockholm, Sweden (my next destination after Finland)? I've heard the archipelego around Turku is the nicest area of the country. I don't have time, resources to go all the way to Lapland, but I heard for example rt. 62 around Pumaala is the nicest area of the country for photography, nature, and untouched wildernesss.

What do you think?

3-4 weeks should be quite nice to see Finland. our country may not have such stunning scenery like Norway, for example, but it is beautiful in its own way. I know a few Italians, that come here every year, and they are so excited about the nature (which to me, as a Finn, may not be so exotic at all!)

The archipelago is nice and worth seeing, so is the lake district (around Puumala). Im actually doing a trip by motorcycle to the north after June 20th, but I´ve only got 1 week off from work, and will go from Helsinki to the east, where the lakes are, and then find my way north along the curvy minor roads, all the way up till Rovaniemi or Sodankyla (Lapland).

I think this eastern side of the country has the most beautiful nature, and further north you go, it is not so flat at all. But in Lapland the mosquitoes can eat you alive (although that´s usually later in the summer, and varies from year to year). The midnight sun in the north right now is also wonderful, and there´s a big difference between the south and the north. The days are long in Helsinki, but they´re about 3 hours longer in the north, so its almost like daytime in the nighttime as well.

I´ve lived in Helsinki almost all my life, but if I came here for 3-4 weeks as a tourist, I´d probably spend a maximum 3-4 days here, then go to the countryside, as its surely more beautiful and relaxing, and the ´real Finland´, too.

I was thinking the same thing, to include East Finland (route 62, and the national park? Koli? In order to make it to Turku (and archipalego) however, I won't be able to head north.