Kahden kansallispuiston kierros is a long-distance gravel-and-road bike tour of about 235 km in South Savo’s Lake Saimaa lake district, listed under Enonkoski and linking Linnansaari National Park and Kolovesi National Park by quiet roads, village lanes, and lake shores. SaimaaHoliday Oravi publishes a full narrative o...
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks+
Description
Kahden kansallispuiston kierros is a long-distance gravel-and-road bike tour of about 235 km in South Savo’s Lake Saimaa lake district, listed under Enonkoski and linking Linnansaari National Park and Kolovesi National Park by quiet roads, village lanes, and lake shores. SaimaaHoliday Oravi publishes a full narrative of the round tour, including Oravi canal village, cable ferries, Heinävesi, the Kerman Canal, and Kolovesi’s rocky lake country. Bikeland summarises the same product with about 234 km length, roughly 1,750 m of ascent, and a highest point near 150 m.
The ride mixes peaceful asphalt with rolling gravel between small rural centres. Typical highlights along the public-road alignment include lean-to breaks at Soinilan laavu and Toson laavu, Juppitupa shelter, and picnic areas before larger water crossings. Tappuvirran lossi is a cable-handled lake crossing of the kind still found in small numbers on Saimaa. Heinävesi and the Kerman Canal corridor bring open-water views where larger vessels use the canalised channel. Kolovesi National Park is known for motor-free zoning over much of the water area, steep rock shores, and hiking or paddling access from Kirkkoranta and nearby services. Near the eastern part of the circuit, Hanhivirran lossi is another lake crossing before you return toward Enonkoski’s shore roads. The Kolovesi nature information hut area beside Enonkoski’s rapids is called out in touring copy as a natural service and orientation stop before the last kilometres toward Kirkkoranta camping, canoe launch, and shore facilities.
Regional visitor materials stress that Kolovesi is largely an island archipelago park where motorboating is restricted and many visitors arrive by canoe or on foot from roadheads such as Kirkkoranta; Visit Savonlinna summarises driving and public-transport access from Savonlinna and Enonkoski, optional safaribus links, and canoe rental options at Kirkkoranta. For booking packaged outdoor services across the region, Visit Savonlinna’s Lake Saimaa Shop aggregates advance reservations. The same long-distance idea overlaps much of the mapped Haukiveden kierros cycling line through shared shores—useful if you want to compare shorter link stages.
Length & route
The tour is about 234.7 km as one continuous line on our map (GPX from Finnish open-data sources). Bikeland quotes 234 km, about 1,750 m total ascent, and a highest elevation near 150 m for the same named tour. Published touring descriptions present the ride as a multi-day circuit through Savonlinna region municipalities; two optional return variants toward Savonlinna—via Ihamaniemi and Kolovesi’s western side (adding roughly 50 km) or via Timonmäki and highway 471—are described by the operator narrative. Our stored geometry is not a closed loop flag; plan navigation as a linked circuit rather than a single signed venue loop.
Getting there
Pick your start to match how you arrive. Visit Savonlinna notes Kolovesi roadheads such as Käkövesi and Kirkkoranta are commonly reached by car from Savonlinna (about 50 km) or Enonkoski (about 22 km to Kirkkoranta per their guide text), and you can combine train or bus access to Savonlinna or Enonkoski with onward cycling. The same guide mentions pre-bookable safaribus transfers toward Kirkkoranta from Savonlinna or Oravi for people who want to shorten water-side approach legs. For parking-oriented starts on our line, Hannolanpelto and later Kirkkoranta offer surfaced lots near the mapped route; match the place names when you load GPS. If you begin from central Savonlinna services, build extra kilometres into the first day compared with an Enonkoski start.
Good to know
Linnansaari and Kolovesi both have nature-protection rules for landing, fire, and motorised water use—check Metsähallitus park pages before lighting campfires or landing boats away from designated spots. Lake Saimaa Shop links advance bookings for regional hire and experiences. If you combine the ride with a boat trip to Linnansaari’s main island from Oravi, treat timetables as weather- and season-dependent and book through the operator offering the crossing.
Itinerary
Below is one possible multi-day split using kilometre bands along our measured line (adjust to your pace and sleep stops):
Day 1 (about 0–55 km): Roll out from the Enonkoski-side start through Hannolanpelto parking, pausing at Soinilan laavu and Toson laavu, then work toward the Tappuvirran lossi lake crossing and shore roads toward Savonlinna-direction countryside.
Day 2 (about 55–110 km): Continue across rural Savonlinna sub-region shores toward Heinävesi-side roads; incorporate Viljolahti and Säynetkoski sports-shore clusters mainly as navigation cues rather than mandatory stops.
Day 3 (about 110–155 km): Cross into Heinävesi town services near Kerman kanava, Kermanvirran nuotiopaikka, and adjacent shore sauna facilities; climb toward Ihamaniemi-side roads where the touring description places optional Kolovesi western variants.
Day 4 (about 155–215 km): Re-enter Enonkoski approaches past Hanhivirran lossi, pass Enonkoski sports and harbour-side roads, and aim for Koloveden luontotupa and services beside Enonkoskenkoski before the final push to Kirkkoranta camping, keittokatos, tent field, and launch spots.
Day 5 (about 215–235 km plus logistics): Final short connectors along Kirkkoranta lanes; many riders instead treat Kirkkoranta as an overnight hub and return to Savonlinna or Enonkoski stations by local transport on a rest day.
Where to rent bikes
Visit Savonlinna runs Lake Saimaa Shop, an online booking hub for regional hire products such as fatbikes, boats, and guided outings that you can reserve before travelling. Independent bike shops in Savonlinna city centre also advertise standard and e-bike hire; confirm opening hours and pick-up address on the shop’s own rental page when planning a Savonlinna start.
Guided tours & Experiences
SaimaaHoliday Oravi packages boat transfers to Linnansaari, paddling access toward Kolovesi, and safari-style bus links from Savonlinna or Oravi toward Kirkkoranta—use their programme pages for timetables and seasonal availability rather than assuming daily departures.
Touring descriptions sell the ride as a circuit with clockwise or counter-clockwise planning left to the traveller; choose the variant that matches ferry and accommodation bookings.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks
Activities allowed
Bike
Activity
Terrain & conditions
234.7 km
Distance
Most riders spread the tour over 3–5 days depending on luggage, ferry waiting times, and side trips into the national parks; fit riders covering high daily distances might compress it further, but boat links and service hours still control pacing.
Est. Time
Mixed quiet asphalt village connectors, moderate-traffic link roads near Heinävesi, and longer gravel and forest-road sections through forests and lake shores as described in touring summaries.
Surface
Wide Track
Route Type
Light Traffic
Traffic
Moderate Traffic
Traffic
Partial Shade
Shade
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks+
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Enonkoski, 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.
Kahden kansallispuiston kierros is a long-distance gravel-and-road bike tour of about 235 km in South Savo’s Lake Saimaa lake district, listed under Enonkoski and linking Linnansaari National Park and Kolovesi National Park by quiet roads, village lanes, and lake shores. SaimaaHoliday Oravi publishes a full narrative o...
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks+
Description
Kahden kansallispuiston kierros is a long-distance gravel-and-road bike tour of about 235 km in South Savo’s Lake Saimaa lake district, listed under Enonkoski and linking Linnansaari National Park and Kolovesi National Park by quiet roads, village lanes, and lake shores. SaimaaHoliday Oravi publishes a full narrative of the round tour, including Oravi canal village, cable ferries, Heinävesi, the Kerman Canal, and Kolovesi’s rocky lake country. Bikeland summarises the same product with about 234 km length, roughly 1,750 m of ascent, and a highest point near 150 m.
The ride mixes peaceful asphalt with rolling gravel between small rural centres. Typical highlights along the public-road alignment include lean-to breaks at Soinilan laavu and Toson laavu, Juppitupa shelter, and picnic areas before larger water crossings. Tappuvirran lossi is a cable-handled lake crossing of the kind still found in small numbers on Saimaa. Heinävesi and the Kerman Canal corridor bring open-water views where larger vessels use the canalised channel. Kolovesi National Park is known for motor-free zoning over much of the water area, steep rock shores, and hiking or paddling access from Kirkkoranta and nearby services. Near the eastern part of the circuit, Hanhivirran lossi is another lake crossing before you return toward Enonkoski’s shore roads. The Kolovesi nature information hut area beside Enonkoski’s rapids is called out in touring copy as a natural service and orientation stop before the last kilometres toward Kirkkoranta camping, canoe launch, and shore facilities.
Regional visitor materials stress that Kolovesi is largely an island archipelago park where motorboating is restricted and many visitors arrive by canoe or on foot from roadheads such as Kirkkoranta; Visit Savonlinna summarises driving and public-transport access from Savonlinna and Enonkoski, optional safaribus links, and canoe rental options at Kirkkoranta. For booking packaged outdoor services across the region, Visit Savonlinna’s Lake Saimaa Shop aggregates advance reservations. The same long-distance idea overlaps much of the mapped Haukiveden kierros cycling line through shared shores—useful if you want to compare shorter link stages.
Length & route
The tour is about 234.7 km as one continuous line on our map (GPX from Finnish open-data sources). Bikeland quotes 234 km, about 1,750 m total ascent, and a highest elevation near 150 m for the same named tour. Published touring descriptions present the ride as a multi-day circuit through Savonlinna region municipalities; two optional return variants toward Savonlinna—via Ihamaniemi and Kolovesi’s western side (adding roughly 50 km) or via Timonmäki and highway 471—are described by the operator narrative. Our stored geometry is not a closed loop flag; plan navigation as a linked circuit rather than a single signed venue loop.
Getting there
Pick your start to match how you arrive. Visit Savonlinna notes Kolovesi roadheads such as Käkövesi and Kirkkoranta are commonly reached by car from Savonlinna (about 50 km) or Enonkoski (about 22 km to Kirkkoranta per their guide text), and you can combine train or bus access to Savonlinna or Enonkoski with onward cycling. The same guide mentions pre-bookable safaribus transfers toward Kirkkoranta from Savonlinna or Oravi for people who want to shorten water-side approach legs. For parking-oriented starts on our line, Hannolanpelto and later Kirkkoranta offer surfaced lots near the mapped route; match the place names when you load GPS. If you begin from central Savonlinna services, build extra kilometres into the first day compared with an Enonkoski start.
Good to know
Linnansaari and Kolovesi both have nature-protection rules for landing, fire, and motorised water use—check Metsähallitus park pages before lighting campfires or landing boats away from designated spots. Lake Saimaa Shop links advance bookings for regional hire and experiences. If you combine the ride with a boat trip to Linnansaari’s main island from Oravi, treat timetables as weather- and season-dependent and book through the operator offering the crossing.
Itinerary
Below is one possible multi-day split using kilometre bands along our measured line (adjust to your pace and sleep stops):
Day 1 (about 0–55 km): Roll out from the Enonkoski-side start through Hannolanpelto parking, pausing at Soinilan laavu and Toson laavu, then work toward the Tappuvirran lossi lake crossing and shore roads toward Savonlinna-direction countryside.
Day 2 (about 55–110 km): Continue across rural Savonlinna sub-region shores toward Heinävesi-side roads; incorporate Viljolahti and Säynetkoski sports-shore clusters mainly as navigation cues rather than mandatory stops.
Day 3 (about 110–155 km): Cross into Heinävesi town services near Kerman kanava, Kermanvirran nuotiopaikka, and adjacent shore sauna facilities; climb toward Ihamaniemi-side roads where the touring description places optional Kolovesi western variants.
Day 4 (about 155–215 km): Re-enter Enonkoski approaches past Hanhivirran lossi, pass Enonkoski sports and harbour-side roads, and aim for Koloveden luontotupa and services beside Enonkoskenkoski before the final push to Kirkkoranta camping, keittokatos, tent field, and launch spots.
Day 5 (about 215–235 km plus logistics): Final short connectors along Kirkkoranta lanes; many riders instead treat Kirkkoranta as an overnight hub and return to Savonlinna or Enonkoski stations by local transport on a rest day.
Where to rent bikes
Visit Savonlinna runs Lake Saimaa Shop, an online booking hub for regional hire products such as fatbikes, boats, and guided outings that you can reserve before travelling. Independent bike shops in Savonlinna city centre also advertise standard and e-bike hire; confirm opening hours and pick-up address on the shop’s own rental page when planning a Savonlinna start.
Guided tours & Experiences
SaimaaHoliday Oravi packages boat transfers to Linnansaari, paddling access toward Kolovesi, and safari-style bus links from Savonlinna or Oravi toward Kirkkoranta—use their programme pages for timetables and seasonal availability rather than assuming daily departures.
Touring descriptions sell the ride as a circuit with clockwise or counter-clockwise planning left to the traveller; choose the variant that matches ferry and accommodation bookings.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks
Most riders spread the tour over 3–5 days depending on luggage, ferry waiting times, and side trips into the national parks; fit riders covering high daily distances might compress it further, but boat links and service hours still control pacing.
Est. Time
Mixed quiet asphalt village connectors, moderate-traffic link roads near Heinävesi, and longer gravel and forest-road sections through forests and lake shores as described in touring summaries.
Surface
Wide Track
Route Type
Light Traffic
Traffic
Moderate Traffic
Traffic
Partial Shade
Shade
SaimaaHoliday Oravi – Cycle tour through two national parks+
Be the first to write a review for "Two National Parks bike tour (Saimaa)"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Enonkoski, 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.