saimaa canal

The Saimaa Canal was opened originally for traffic in 1856 and it connects nowadays small south-eastern Finnish town Lappeenranta and Russian town Vyborg (about the same size as Lappeenranta). Part of the canal is in Finland and Russia has leased the Russian section for Finns. The length of the canal itself is 43 km and the cruise from Lappeenranta to Vyborg takes about five hours. There is a height difference of 76 m between the levels of the Gulf of Finland and Lake Saimaa. So there are locks (eight) in the canal to level this difference. The height difference is by the way about the same as the height of the tower of Vyborg Castle. The Saimaa Canal is best experienced on a cruise from Lappeenranta to Vyborg when you can see the whole canal. It is a journey worth while to take. m/s Carelia, which is the only cruise ship cruising from Lappeenranta to Vyborg regularly, is oldish but nice, cozy, clean and safe choice to visit Russia especially for the first timers. The ship's staff is friendly and speak many languages. There are restaurants in the ship - and I recommend to have lunch or dinner there. The food is quite nice. I have taken this cruise about 10 times and every time the locks amaze me. It is quite impossible to describe the feeling when a ship goes to lock and the gates are closed and depending whether you are going or coming ship starts going down or raise up ...I have taken the cruise with friends but also with kids and at least my children liked the cruise. On a sunny day it is very nice to relax on sun deck and enjoy the scenery and zip some sparkling wine. But if you are expecting huge villas or gardens etc on the route - you will be disappointed. Even tough there are more and more of those near Vyborg built by rich Russians. Mostly it is the canal, small lakes, woods and of course the archipelago of Lappeenranta and Vyborg. I also recommend to stay at least one night in Vyborg so you have time to see the town. State Hermitage Museum has a small museum there, worth while to see is also the Vyborg Castle as well as Alvar Aalto's Library. There is also nice cafes and restaurants in Vyborg. Cruises to Vyborg are by the way visa-free and organized by Saimaa Travel. You can also start you visa-free cruise trip to St. Petersburg or to Valamo Monastary with this Saimaa Canal Cruise. I have done that too. And I also recommend that after cruise take the sight seeing tour organized by the cruise company. It takes about 40 - 45 minutes and they tell you lot of greats stories about the city of Vyborg.

It was very exiting experience to see and feel, how the boat is taken 13 meter up or down. And the lake itself with small islands are beautiful too.

take a relaxing cruise down the saimaa canal. it offers a really nice tour of Finland's natural beauty. Takes about 2 hours and it's a perfect way to just sit back and relax in the afternoon

Intresting and nice view to the " blue highway" to Russia. Big canal from lake Saimaa to Russia. You can see many boats and ships.

Very nice place to make a bike trip. We came by bike from Russia and made almost all way along this channel.

For the finnish people great opportunity to experience something different in Finland. Unfortunately there are only a few cafeteria or small shoplets along the canal sites. Canal museum and its cafeteria are interesting in the beginning of canal - go there and don't besquare!

Unlike with the gates to Netherlands or through Kiel canal, there one does not to have to wait to be lifted down or up for hours. It was thirteen meters in a few minutes at the first Malkia (dots omitted) pool. The vessel m/s Camilla floated easily. The prices of food and drinks are on the upper quadrant but so is the service and served with equal charm for non eaters. Jack Daniels with soda was eight Euros, while the two hours cruise was 13 Euros for a retired person.

A nice cruise on Lake 'Saimaa on baord ship m/s Camilla offers beautiful views and a bit of a special show when going through the Saimaa Canal.

Saimaa Canal looks better in the summer, but in winter it is not bad either. Snowy expanses surrounded by fluffy firs. Winter's Tale.

Possibility to make nonvisa travell to Russia. See the Old Finnish town Viipuri. TAka a combo boat/bus from Lappeenranta

There is couple different boat operators leaving from Lappeenranta port, there is not huge difference, just price and time schedules. Other boat is just little bigger. The canal has big impact of the industry and therefore living in southern carelia area, mostly Lappeenranta. It is still in use. If you are lucky, you might see a glimpse of ringed seal which is rare.

At Saimaa Canal it is possible to make a short trip, which will take place just behind the first lock and the return trip along the same route. Height difference is dazzling: when approaching the canal I saw the water behind the lock; it was unbelievable that after a while we would be down there. The difference across the lock is about 10 meters. If you suffer from claustrophobia, high canal wall on both sides of the boat all that time the water is running off, may seem unpleasant. A short round behind the first lock, however, gives a good idea of ​​how the trip would continue until Vyborg, behind the border.

It's a very nice for a bike trip to and from the russian border. Or take a cruise from Lappeenranta harbour for just 14 eur.

a bit long (5.5 hours to Vyborg), but pleasant - entertaining musician, nice views along the way (lake, 8 locks, etc.)

If you want to travel to Vyborg visa free, this is the way to go. Take ms Carelia by Saimaa Travel to Vyborg. It takes 5.5 hours each day (so if you are coming back the same day, you'll be spending 11 hours on the canal a day...it is worth stopping overnight in Vyborg). There are 8 locks along the way. Unless you are into canals and locks, it gets rather boring after a while and 16 locks a day is definitely too much...However, if the weather gods are on your side, this is a wonderful trip to nostalgic Vyborg (and even more beautiful back as you can really see the difference with the water levels better on the way back). The upper deck of the boat is the place to sit and marvel the views....but it is a long trip! Make sure to book lunch AND dinner at the boat!