Tour Overview
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Åland Islands — The Nordic Archipelago (Finland Autonomous Region) |
| Price From | $1,620 per person (twin share, ~£1,295 / ~€1,510) |
| Tour Style | Nordic Island Explorer |
| Operator | Baltic Travel Company | Data: 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Helsinki — Design Capital of the North
Arrive at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Transfer to the 4-star Sokos Hotel Torni, a 1931 Art Deco landmark whose rooftop Ateljee Bar offers the best views over Helsinki. Evening exploration of the Design District — Helsinki’s creative heart of galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Dinner: try Finnish classics like lohikeitto (creamy salmon soup) and karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies). Overnight in Helsinki.
Day 2: Helsinki Discovery
Free day to explore Finland’s capital. Suggested route: Senate Square and the gleaming white Helsinki Cathedral (1852), the Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) carved directly into solid granite, and the Sibelius Monument — 600 hollow steel pipes that sing in the wind. Visit the extraordinary Oodi Central Library, a wooden ship-shaped building that’s more community living room than library. Take the ferry to Suomenlinna, the 18th-century sea fortress spread across six islands — a UNESCO World Heritage site and perfect picnic spot. Overnight in Helsinki.
Day 3: Helsinki to Åland — Overnight Baltic Cruise
Morning free for last Helsinki explorations. Afternoon: board the overnight cruise ferry at Helsinki’s South Harbour. Settle into your high-quality cabin with a window overlooking the archipelago. As the ship glides past thousands of granite islands — skerries with single red cottages, lighthouses, and the occasional seal — you’ll understand why this is one of the world’s most beautiful ferry journeys. Dinner on board. Overnight on the ferry.
Day 4: Arrive Mariehamn — Welcome to Åland
Morning arrival in Mariehamn, Åland’s only city (population: 11,000). This autonomous, demilitarized, Swedish-speaking region of Finland has its own parliament, flag, stamps, and license plates — a Nordic nation in miniature. Check into your hotel. Afternoon orientation: walk Mariehamn’s linden-lined esplanade, visit the Åland Maritime Museum with its collection of ship figureheads and the stunning four-masted bark Pommern (1903), permanently docked in the harbor. This is the last remaining windjammer of the grain race era. Overnight in Mariehamn.
Day 5: Kastelholm Castle & Bomarsund — Åland’s History
Cycle or drive to Kastelholm Castle, a medieval fortress on a lake island first mentioned in 1388. This was where the Swedish king Gustav Vasa and his family lived during the 16th century. The castle’s blood-red walls and round towers seem transported from a fairy tale. Continue to the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum, where traditional Åland farmhouses show life on the islands before modernization. Afternoon: visit the ruins of Bomarsund Fortress, built by Russia in 1832 and destroyed by a combined Anglo-French fleet in 1854 during the Crimean War — the very reason Åland remains demilitarized today. Overnight in Mariehamn.
Day 6: Åland Archipelago Cycling
Åland is a cyclist’s paradise: flat terrain, quiet roads, and ferry connections between islands. Today’s route (40-60km, easily adjustable) explores the islands east of the main island. Cross by small cable ferry to Vårdö, then cycle to the Sandvik and Lövö island villages. Stop at the Sältingskär nature trail through ancient spruce forest to a bird-watching tower overlooking the archipelago. Picnic lunch at a secluded cove. The bicycle ferry network makes island-hopping surprisingly easy — these tiny ferries have been the archipelago’s lifeline for centuries. Overnight in Mariehamn.
Day 7: Tjudö Vineyard & Maritime Crafts
Visit Tjudö Vineyard, one of the world’s northernmost wineries, producing berry wines from lingonberries, sea buckthorn, and apples that thrive in the long Nordic summer days. Tasting session overlooking the sea. Continue to the maritime quarter of Mariehamn to watch traditional boat builders at work — Åland still produces some of the finest wooden boats in the Nordic region. Afternoon: visit the Åland Museum of Cultural History for an understanding of this unique autonomous society. Explore Mariehamn’s Torggatan shopping street. Overnight in Mariehamn.
Day 8: Return Cruise to Helsinki
Morning free to explore Mariehamn or cycle one last island route. Afternoon: board the overnight cruise back to Helsinki. Farewell dinner on board as the archipelago islands slide past in the golden Nordic light — in summer, the sun barely sets, and the horizon glows with that unique Baltic twilight. Overnight on the ferry.
Day 9: Depart Helsinki
Morning arrival in Helsinki. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 2 nights 4-star Helsinki hotel (Sokos Hotel Torni or similar)
- 4 nights Mariehamn accommodation
- 2 nights cruise ferry (outside cabin)
- Daily breakfast
- Return flights London-Helsinki (can be excluded for self-arranged flights)
- Åland Maritime Museum & Pommern entry
- Kastelholm Castle entry
- Tjudö Vineyard tour & tasting
- Bicycle rental (Day 6)
- 24-hour emergency support
- ATOL protection
