Magical Taiga Forest Hike With Lunch And Transportation

Gorgeous forest walk led by terrific friendly knowledgeable guide and driver , with delicious salmon or mushroom soup and fixings. SO worth while. Be able to walk uneven paths with a positive attitude.

A very magical hike through the woods. Great group of folks, great food and beautiful woods. Alex was a great guide!

I loved this tour because it took us to a peaceful national park outside Helsinki, introduced us to Finnish culture and the joy of foraging in a beautiful forest. We enjoyed our berries and mushrooms at lunch. It was perfectly paced for exploring, foraging, and conversation. The guides were informative and welcoming. I highly recommend any tours offered by Taiga Times and I personally enjoyed the "Magical Taiga Forest Hike" and "Archipelago Excursion".

We learned so much on our Taiga Times hosted hike, especially about mushrooms and local wildlife. Our guides were amazing, as was the backwoods lunch they prepared. We highly recommend this tour - it was one of the highlights of our visit to Helsinki

This hike was more like a walk through the forest, which was exactly what I was looking for. Emma was very knowledgeable and you could tell she loves being in the forest. This was a great activity to do as a solo traveler.

An authentic Nordic experience. Emma was a fantastic guide!

What a great experience, foraging for porchini and Chanterelles mushrooms, as well as blue berries and the occasional ripe elderberries. Our guide cooked us a fantastic traditional salmon soup which we ate next to a lake. She was very knowledgeable and fun to spend time with. We came back with great memories and amazing photos from the forest. Highly recommended

Lovely forest walk, the weather was balsamic, the group was great company and the guide was amazing

A wonderful day in Finland’s nature setting. Enjoyed the hike, the identification of various mushrooms, fungi/ lichen and trees. The soup and rye bread with dessert and blueberry juice- mmm good! The guide (Mari if I have that correct) did a wonderful job….

The Taiga Forest hike was truly magical. The pickup was on-time and the vehicle was clean and comfortable. Our tour leader Alex was very friendly, cheerful and shared lots of interesting information with us. He was very attentive to everyone in the group. Walking in Liesarvie Forest was a pleasant experience, with tall trees and fresh crisp air around. Alex was carrying all the essential stuff for making a delicious lunch in a forest hut. That was an unique experience of having food in the forest hut and with thundering and lightening outside. Overall it was a wonderful tour.

It was a perfect Sunday hiking in Liesarvi National Park. The travel from Helsinki was a comfortable drive. Our tour leader Alex was awesome. He greeted all the travelers cheerfully and made us feel comfortable all the time. He was attentive to all the details and to the needs and comfort of everyone. He shared all the interesting information about the forest. He prepared a delicious lunch for us. Overall it was a wonderful tour.

Great trip with our enthusiastic guide, Anette. We saw flora and fauna, including the mythical Paranvoi (look it up). Lunch was great. I wanted to see Finnish wilderness while I was there, and this was perfect.

This hike is far enough from Helsinki to skip most of the crowds, but close enough that you’re not losing half the day just getting there. The drive itself was actually pretty interesting, you get to see parts of rural Finland you’d never run into otherwise. Liesjärvi National Park itself was beautiful. Quiet lakes, dense taiga forest, and stillness you don’t get in the city. The hike was a good length. It was long enough to feel like you did something, but not so long it wears you out. It’s mostly flat with just a few small hills, so it’s manageable for anyone with average fitness. Even though we went on a holiday weekend, the trails and rest areas weren’t crowded at all. There’s bathroom access along the way too. Quintus, our guide, was great. Personable, easy to talk to, and clearly knew a lot about the area. We learned a good amount about the local plants and animals just from listening to him along the way. Lunch was a real highlight too, salmon soup cooked by the lake. Overall a relaxing, well-run day trip that doesn’t require any real hiking experience. Good option if you want to see something outside Helsinki without much hassle.

It was wonderful to get out of the city and into the countryside and national forest. Our guide led us on an easy path through the forest with frequent stops to explain the plants and geology. She provided a delicious hot traditional soup for lunch. The forest and lakes were breathtaking. We definitely enjoyed this outing.

This is a unique and wonderful way to experience the nature and beauty of Finland complete with traditional meal prorated over campfire. The description is 100% accurate. We had the best day with our guide “Annie”. We learned so much about the forest, about the connection of the Finnish people to nature and some great stories. The soup was exceptional and cooked over campfire just added to the experience. Important to add she is a great driver as well as chef. Very thoughtful to special dietary needs in group and making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. No issues with distance or pace - perfect. Highly recommend!

I appreciated the opportunity to get to a park a bit further out. It was very peaceful. The guides were so enthusiastic about sharing their love of the forest. The only reason I gave it a 4 is I was looking for a bit more of a hike

The sights in the forest were enchanting and Annette embellished the trip by providing insight into the area in which we were hiking. Lunch was delicious and the crisp air was fresh.

Great experience. We just tried the Salmon soup recipe you gave us and it was excellent. Thank you.

Had a lovely day out with a small group, led by Geoff, who was really knowledgeable about all the flora and fauna of the national park, as well as Finland more generally. The lunch stop with a campfire was very atmospheric. The soup, rye bread and hot blueberry juice were all delicious - glad I have the recipe for the salmon soup! Overall a really great, relaxed walk, with lots to see and hear about along the way.

What a fabulous guide!! I’m not sure of her name so sorry, I think it was Maria - if that’s wrong. But today we were hosted by a brilliant human. She was passionate about her work, the forrest and nature. The chat was flowing, the salmon soup and pastry yummy!! And they catered for our allergies. Thanks.

Jeff did such an amazing job giving us a personable one-of-a-kind experience. He made sure everyone was comfortable and prepared for a day outdoors in chilly weather. The hike was beautiful and filled with discussions on local plant and animal life, Finnish traditions, and experiences. We had the opportunity to try local berries and he cooked a traditional lunch for the group. I would HIGHLY recommend making this a part of your Helsinki experience. Thank you Jeff and Taiga Times!

I loved my first Taiga Tour so much I came back for seconds……Alex our amazing Guide shared his informative knowledge with our little group as we explored beautiful Liesjarvi National Park. The park itself was very beautiful and we were blessed to have a nice dusting of snow the night prior which made this a magical experience with incredible scenery, an amazing salmon soup lunch cooked on the campfire, and we also met one of the locals who was incredibly tame - Great Experience, highly recommend Alex and Taiga Tours

This was a wonderful day with Alex. Walking through the woods he pointed out the mushrooms, lichen, and birds around us. He shared information about Finland which is helpful in learning about a country and their culture. He made a delicious Finnish lunch by the lake, salmon and potato soup. The walk back to the vehicle was just as enjoyable-the ground looked like various shades of green carpeting. The nice part is also that the weather cooperated-no rain. No wind either until the end. Perfect day and a wonderful way to spend a day in Finland. Thanks Alex!

The day trip was a - if not the - highlight of my Estonia/Finland trip: The national park was absolutely beautiful and the hiking route allowed for a picturesque overview over various facets of the forest while still having more than enough time to experience everything at a leisure pace and take everything in. Our guide Jeff was exceptionally well-versed in the local flora and fauna and told us many interesting facts about the park as well as hands-on tips for foraging mushrooms! He made sure to chat to everyone in the group so that nobody would feel left out, prepared some delicious lunch, and gave his best so that we would all have an amazing, memorable day in the breathtaking Finnish nature.

Jeff was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable about the forest’s flora and fauna. Especially mushrooms. He made us an amazing lunch after our hike and mushrooms collection. The hike was easy but beautiful! Highly recommend!

The trip was great! Jeff was a fantastic guide, and I learned a ton about mushrooms and the Finnish forest. The weather was a bit gray, but the forest was so beautiful that it didn't matter.

Our hike and lunch in the national park with Alex was wonderful. Alex was very informative, kind, and helpful, including about dietary restrictions. His love of and knowledge about the natural history of Finland was very apparent. It was great to spend the day with him. I highly recommend this tour to those who love nature and want to experience something beyond the sights in Helsinki.

Jeff, our Tour Guide, was a very pleasant Guide and super knowleadgable about mushrooms, tress and birds. The National Park we visited wasnt overrun by Tourist which made it even more Special. All in all an amazing Trip. The lunch was amazing as well. Would do a different Tour again.

Our trip to the Taiga forest was a wish fulfilled. I had for many years looked forward to walking under the tall trees of Finland. Our guide, Jeff, enhanced that experience with his knowledge of the forest ecosystem and expertise on the huge varieties of mushrooms popping up everywhere. We picked blueberries, lingonberries, and mushrooms along the way and had a delicious lunch cooked over a fire. It was a really great day!

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip! Jeff provided everything needed for a comfortable hike in the Taiga forest. It was a bit rainy and we had no raincoats but Jeff provided them for us. We learned a lot about the mushrooms and berries and other plants in Finland. We actually collected edible mushrooms and cooked them over the fire along with a tasty Finnish lunch. Delicious!!! We gained a great appreciation and respect for the Finland forests and for the traditions and ways of the Finnish people. Jeff was extremely knowledgeable about the wild country of Finland! I would highly recommend this trip!

A brilliant day with a great guide, Didi. We were collected in central Helsinki at 09:00 and travelled by minibus to Liesjarvi National Park. We hiked for two hours, foraged for mushrooms and various berries and then enjoyed a super lunch by the fire which Didi prepared. We then hiked back to the bus and returned to Helsinki for 4pm. A truly memorable day. Highly recommended.

I had really nice moments on this trip. Very profesional guide, nice hike and tasty food. Highly recomend!! Do not miss it!

Pleasant 5km stroll. Out guide Alex very attentive and friendly. Enjoyable day in the woods. Managed to eat good amount of berries and linga berries.

An excellent day trip with our warm, friendly and knowledgeable guide, Didi who made us all feel very welcome. We foraged for mushrooms and berries and enjoyed a peaceful walk through the national park forest. Didi then prepared a delicious Finnish lunch in a hut by a lake before we hiked back to our van to return to Helsinki. A really great day!

Truly one of the most lovely tours I did on my trip! Jeff, our guide, was super friendly and knowledgeable. The hike was beautiful, and everyone could go at their own pace so I had time to take all the pictures I wanted. They also provided a vegan lunch at my request which was greatly appreciated. When I’m back in Finland I would definitely try out one of their other tours.

We were chauffeured 100km N of Helsinki to a very pleasant forest walk. I wouldn't call it a hike since it was more of a stroll perhaps due to the heat. Our guide Didi was great; she introduced many local plants, including berry picking. The food and location were great.

2nd hike with Taiga Times! Alex was our tour guide and we had folks of all ages in our group. We did this excursion on our last trip to Finland a few years ago and the first time was indeed magical, so we knew we'd have to do it again when we returned with some of our family. Highly recommend as always!

Didi was such an enthusiastic guide! She was well informed and answered so many questions. I really enjoyed the hike. It was great to get out in nature but not overdo it. Would definitely recommend. The lunch was very nice.

This was a wonderful day out in the forest with friendly and informative guides and an enjoyable lunch. The scenery was lovely and the hike at an easy pace. Highly recommended

A perfect day in a Finnish forest! A really wonderful experience, our guide Ronja was excellent in every way, sharing her love of the outdoors as well as giving interesting information about the local flora and Finnish customs. Wild blueberries were growing along the trail which we enjoyed picking and eating. Ronja prepared a delicious lunch of salmon soup, rye bread, and blueberry juice, with some pulla for a sweet treat. We had a leisurely pace with not much elevation change so a very relaxing walk in the woods, thank you Ronja!!! 🌲🌲🌲

Loved this quick little escape to a national park 90 minutes away from Helsinki city centre. Helsinki is already peaceful and therapeutic enough as it is, but this day trip to a Finnish forest is the cherry on top the cake. Beautiful trees, immersive experience and impressive lunch prepared by our easygoing guide Ronja. Ronja really made everything move like clockwork, from driving to guiding to preparing lunch - kudos to her for making everything look easy. This will likely be the highlight of ur Helsinki trip if you’re not planning to venture anywhere else besides the capital!

We had an amazing time on this hike! Deedee (not sure of the spelling!) was our guide, and she explained so much about the forest and the plants in Liesjarvi. There were wild blueberry bushes EVERYWHERE—I was picking blueberries every few steps and snacking on them during the hike. The lunch that Deedee prepared was delicious—really good salmon cream soup, and she built a fire to toast the bread. This hike was one of the highlights of our two week trip in the Nordics!

Didi was an exceptional guide who provided a very pleasant forest hike and camp fire lunch. Also she was a good driver and was consistently charming and helpful.

The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The soup for lunch was wonderful! We were also lucky to find blueberries near the trail. The drive to/from the forest was also interesting and we got to see parts of Finland that we otherwise would not have.

My wife, my son and I had a very memorable time in the Finnish forest a few days ago. The fresh air and tranquility from walking in the forest were just lovely, made you forget (temporarily) about the day to day trouble/worries. The salmon soup (prepared by Helena) and the pulla were delicious. Helena was also very patient with all the questions asked by my son. I would love to return to the Finnish forest and experience it in a different season.

Jeff is highly knowledgeable and patient, helping us understand the flora and fauna of the Taiga forest. He is warm, open and friendly, sharing with us various aspects of the Finn life. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable trip.

It is fantastic way to experience nature at its best, in its most pristine condition. The walk itself is pretty easy and at a gentle pace, giving plenty of scope for observing all the little plants, ant hills and massive trees, most enthusiastically named and described by Jeff. Then you get a fabulous lunch too with a lake view. What more could one want?

The walk was an easy stroll through beautiful forest. Alex, our guide included Finland's ecology programs

We had an amazing tour. Jeff was our guide and he took us on an amazing hike in the park through the forest areas and lakes. He was so knowledgeable about the trees, plants, and fruits growing in the park. He also showed us mushrooms and explained the various types. And he made us an amazing linch of mushrooms soup and bread. The hike to the lake was lovely and easy for most everyone