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Retkisatamien reitti (excursion harbours route)

—•Kayaking Routes

42.6 km

Route

Description

Luontoon.fi – Retkisatamien reitti+

Description

Retkisatamien reitti is a long point-to-point paddle on Lake Saimaa between the Lappeenranta and Imatra urban shores, threading together retkisatamat—public landing places with shelters, fireplaces, and often saunas or service buildings maintained for small craft. The route is catalogued as a paddling trail on Luontoon.fi. On our map the line is about 42.6 km as one continuous geometry; treat that distance as the full harbour-to-harbour run along the chosen water corridor rather than a marked portage path on land. From Imatra’s Myllysaari and Kimpinen sports shore, the first kilometres pass busy beach and stadium edges before the line opens toward Karhusaari and Mikonsaari, where boat launches and a laavu managed by Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö (Ekvas) give early breaks on wooded islands. Mid-route, the Päihäniemi cluster brings several covered campfire spots and grill shelters along a forested cape—useful if wind builds on wider fetches. Around the twenty-six-kilometre mark, Muukonsaaren retkikeskus combines grill shelters, a nature-trail network, and booking-based accommodation that Ekvas promotes as a water-access destination. Farther along, Satamosaari’s pier and beach saunas, grill shelters, and harbour-side services sit in Lappeenranta’s city water—expect pleasure-boat traffic and plan crossings with care. The line then crosses toward Temoniemi’s launch and closes on Imatra’s Ukonniemi shore at Ukonlinna and Ukonlinnan uimaranta, where the sports and beach infrastructure mirrors the busy start zone. GoSaimaa frames South Karelia’s paddling offer as a mix of sheltered bays for beginners and longer lake legs for experienced paddlers, and points to Ekvas for up-to-date detail on individual retkisatamat. Visit Lake Saimaa summarises both cities as hubs for lake visitors—useful when you need accommodation or transport between put-in and take-out. For a plain-language introduction to what retkisatamat are and how independent paddlers describe visiting them, Patikka.net’s long-running notes remain a readable Finnish-language companion. On land, nearby walking routes such as Kimpisen ulkoiluteitti circle the Imatra stadium shore, while Rantaraitti, Lappeenranta follows Lappeenranta’s city waterfront—handy if you shuttle cars and want a short walk before or after the paddle.

Length & route

The mapped line is about 42.6 km as one continuous paddle on Lake Saimaa between the Imatra and Lappeenranta shore clusters. Expect long open-water legs, motorboat traffic near harbours and city bays, and wind exposure on broad fetches—pace the day for skill, weather, and rest stops at retkisatamat rather than a single flat-water speed.

Getting there

Treat the outing as a shuttle between Imatra and Lappeenranta: stage vehicles at public launches and beaches that match your planned start and end, or use local transport between cities. Karhusaari and Mikonsaari boat launches, Temoniemi launch, and the Ukonniemi beaches are practical names to align with parking and drop-offs on the route list. Luontoon.fi lists the route as a paddling trail—confirm seasonal access and any local rules before you commit to a single long day. For rental equipment, Drakkar Sport operates kayak and canoe hire from Lappeenranta’s harbour area with summer-season desk hours, and Tuplakasi-Action rents canoes in Imatra—both are referenced in regional tourism copy for South Karelia paddlers.

Good to know

Motor traffic is lively near Lappeenranta’s harbours and cruise quays; keep clear of fairways and swimmers off public beaches. Forest-fire and campfire rules apply at laavu and grill shelters—check warnings before lighting fires. Fishing from a kayak follows normal inland permit rules; confirm current licence rules from the regional seller network when you plan to fish from the craft.

Itinerary

At about 42.6 km, most groups plan a single very long day in calm conditions or split into two shorter days with an overnight near Muukonsaari or Satamosaari where services exist. A practical reading of the stop list clusters the first segment from Myllysaari through Karhusaari and Mikonsaari for short urban-to-island transitions; then the Päihäniemi shelters for a mid-morning break; Muukonsaari for a major lunch or overnight stop; Satamosaari for city services and sauna; and Temoniemi–Ukonlinna for the final approach to Imatra’s beach end.

Where to rent kayaks

Drakkar Sport (Lappeenranta region, including harbour-area kayak and canoe hire with seasonal hours) is listed through Visit Lake Saimaa’s equipment pages—contact +358 40 551 6996 or info@drakkarsport.com. Tuplakasi-Action in Imatra (Veneveistäjänkuja 2) rents open canoes and advertises guided paddling alongside hourly rates—+358 45 1967 296 and info@tuplakasi-action.fi.

Guided tours & Experiences

Tuplakasi-Action advertises guided paddling trips alongside canoe rental in the Imatra area.

Managed by

Lappeenranta

Official Maintenance

Trail info

The mapped geometry runs from the Imatra-side Myllysaari cluster toward the Lappeenranta archipelago and returns toward Ukonniemi—paddle either direction depending on wind and shuttle logistics; there is no mandatory downstream current on this lake section.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Lake

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Retkisatamien reitti

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

42.6 km

Distance

In calm conditions, fit groups sometimes complete the full 42.6 km in one long daylight push; regional paddling overview text describes South Karelia’s longer lake legs as demanding full-day or multi-day planning for most paddlers.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Lake Paddling

Water type

GoSaimaa – Melontareitit Saimaalla

Location

61.06880°N, 28.19991°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

South KareliaRegion

ImatraCity

Saimaa (Imatra–Lappeenranta waterway)Village

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Explore nearby

Kimpisen yleisurheilustadion

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Kahilanniemen telinevoimistelusali

476 m

Myllysaaren katukoripallokenttä

233 m

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Kimpisen pallokenttä

442 m

Karhusaari veneenlaskupaikka

681 m

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Mikonsaari- veneenlaskupaikka

358 m

Free

Temoniemi - veneenlaskupaikka

441 m

Free

Myllysaaren parkour-rata

340 m

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Lappeenranta, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland South Karelia Imatra Kayaking RoutesRetkisatamien reitti (excursion harbours route)