South Savo

South Savo has no coastline, but it does have Finland’s longest shoreline: the region encompasses most of the Saimaa lake system, the country’s largest lake. Around the cities of Mikkeli and Savonlinna, thousands of islands, national parks, and centuries-old estates dot the landscape.

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Nature in South Savo

The Saimaa Lake System forms the heart of South Savo: a maze of thousands of islands, bays, and open water, formed after the last ice age. This labyrinth is home to the Saimaa ringed seal, a freshwater seal found nowhere else in the world; with only a few hundred individuals remaining, it is one of the rarest seals. Three national parks protect the most important parts of the area: Repovesi, Linnansaari, and Leivonmäki, each with its own landscape of rock formations, marshes, or archipelagos.

Hiking in South Savo

The most beautiful hiking trails in South Savo are scattered throughout the national parks and the surrounding countryside. In Repovesi, the 24-kilometer Kaakkurinkierros trail winds past rock faces and a suspension bridge over the water. Linnansaari is best explored from the water, paddling a canoe between the islands and perhaps catching a glimpse of a ringed seal. Leivonmäki, with its boardwalks, is the most accessible option for families. Those who prefer to stay closer to Mikkeli will find rock carvings at Astuvansalmi that are about 5,000 years old—one of the oldest traces of human settlement in the region.

Where to Stay in South Savo

Near Mikkeli lies Landhaus Kekkola, an estate with five centuries of history on Lake Iso-Vuolinko. The Finnish-German couple Janne and Manuela combine their own cuisine with a lakeside sauna, within walking distance of the Saimaa Lake District. Book direct, with no middleman or commission.

South Savo : Nature stays in the countryside

“Nature is our greatest ally and inspiration.”
– Sir David Attenborough