Is it possible to spend one’s vacation in a four-star hotel, in close contact with beautiful, constantly changing nature, and while at that, not give up one’s sailing pleasures? Hard as it is to imagine – it is possible. All you have to do is (although this is hard too) give up for once taking your Tango or Sasanka to the Mazury, docking in Mikołajki or maneuvering at the entrance to Królewski Róg – and instead, go to Finland. Where to start? The Saimaa* lake system will be a great starting point. It offers to the eager sailor 3000 kilometers of sailing routes, 14 000 islands and a multitude of charming, well-equipped harbours.

What boat to use? I would strongly recommend overcoming the ever-popular dislike of motorboats and trying out the pleasure of traveling on the Saima yacht with a 120-horsepower engine. Two luxurious bedrooms, a living room with huge windows, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a fully equipped bathroom, all 2 meters high, plus two sunning decks and a walkway encircling the yacht – doesn’t that live up to the promise of a four-star hotel?

The landscapes change very dynamically. The waters are surrounded by magnificent forests, the like of which you can only see in Poland in Puszcza Białowieska. The charming islands tempt into becoming their only inhabitants, even if only for a while. The weather is better than in Mazury – I know that both from my personal experience and from the research into meteorological data covering many years. That fulfills the promise of contact with the nature at its best.

You will also get the pleasure of sailing. Navigation is very important. First of all, you need to be careful not to get lost in the maze of lakes, islands and channels. Secondly, you must look out for the underwater rocks, which abound in the Finnish waters. Your compass and locating equipment will be in use all the time. It is however not difficult: the maps are fantastic and is enough to have one sensible team member at the navigation deck for the skipper to be able to enjoy the steering stress-free.

This paradise is easy to get to, too. You can board a ferry to Nynashamn and then another, much more luxurious one, from Stockholm to Helsinki, and then it is only a few hours by car along the great Finnish Savonlina road. Another option is to take the Via Baltica through Vilnius, Riga and Tallin. From Tallin a ferry goes every few hours to Helsinki – and from then on, again, take a car to Savonlina. There you are only 23 kilometers from your destination. With your charter documents you will have received a very handy map. Use it, and without any difficulties you will arrive at the tiny forest harbour where the yachts are docked. Now all that’s left is fifteen minutes of instruction, moving the luggage from the car (which you can leave parked safely by the harbour) and off you go – but where? So many kilometers of waters, and the only choice is between beautiful and beautiful.

*The Saimaa lake system is described in more detail in the article “The Saimaa maze of lakes”