Taiga Times — Local services in Helsinki sub-region

We joined 2 tours and they ended up being highlights of our Great Finnish Escape!

We had a short ride to Porkkalanniemi, which was absolutely stunning and peaceful. Hiking immersed in understated beauty of the Finnish wilderness on a crisp Saturday morning, basked in the beautiful winter's sun haze! ☺️Perfection! We were part of a small group along with guides Jeff and Christian. I've never hiked in snow and ice but they were on hand with shoe spikes and hike sticks. Jeff was enthusiastic about the local flora and fauna🐾. I'm sometimes a shy, quiet person but Jeff was really easy to chat to. We were looking out for deer and moose. Jeff gave us fun facts about the trees and little quizzes, we had time to wander before tasty salmon soup next to the fire on the water's edge, listening to stories about Finland. Seeing the Archipelago was fantastic, what a beautiful part of the world. ❤️

Our last day in Finland, we headed into foggy, mysterious Sipoonkorpi National Park. It ended up as a private tour as there was a no show. Jeff is a great guide, very friendly and informative. I felt safe and comfortable in the middle of the wilderness. We shared stories whilst taking in the sheer beauty of the misty Bisajärvi frozen lake 😍 The surrounding fog made it dreamlike👌🏾. A missed Curling or Ice Hockey opportunity (although I think we would lose the pebble / puck in the thick fog 😂 oops). We learnt about mushrooms and picked blueberries. Jeff prepped veggie sausages and potatoes and he gave me two gluten free chocolate cakes (I ate the other at work to help with holiday blues!). The best way to end the day was in the dark smoke sauna🧖🏽‍♀️. I was having so much fun I totally forgot about the cold. Jeff was really patient and positive, I even managed to take the ice water plunge as the ducks watched🦆👀😅.

I'm pleasantly surprised how much I adored Finland, it's now a cherished trip in our Nordic adventures! Nordic life seems to suit me well!

Thank you Jeff for being an absolute 💎 gem, we really enjoyed spending time with you. We hope to see you in a warmer season; maybe on a trip where I also make my way to Lake Saimaa, obviously the 🧌 trolls and 🦭 seals are awaiting me. God knows I'll miss the berries, smoke saunas, mustard and the smell of pine soon enough. (I still have the piece of pine you gave us, I'm sorry if I wasn't allowed to take it, too late, it's here with me.)

Start and end with 🌲 Taiga Times🌲 and you can't go wrong!

Love Saima...

TL;DR. We did the winter tides tour in the Salamajärvi national park with Taiga Times and I cannot thank Kiia and Jeff enough for this unforgettable experience.

I first met Jeff for a one-day hike on the Porkkalanniemi peninsula, which was amazing. Since I was struck by the beauty of the Finnish nature and because of the great experience I had with Jeff as a tour guide, I decided to come back to Finland with a group of friends for a multi-day tour in winter. I'm glad I did.

Leading up to our trip, Jeff and Kiia were extremely helpful and responsive. They tailored the trip according to our wishes, e.g., we added an overnight wilderness camp (which is quite an experience in the Finnish winter!). They helped us organize the necessary equipment and essentially took care of everything.

Our "base camp" during our trip was the Koirasalmi nature centre where we slept for three nights. Koirasalmi is a cozy place that we had for ourselves at this time of the year. Since Koirasalmi is well located, we could start skiing right from the front door of the camp.

We did a bunch of excursions during our trip. One day we crossed the frozen lake that is right next to Koirasalmi, cooked in a nearby hut, and returned for a sauna (ice-baths included, of course). The other day we went skiing in a nearby forest where we camped overnight. Now, being home and writing this review, I wish I were still in Salamajärvi and could do some more excursions like that.

Kiia and Jeff are outstanding hosts and tour guides. They're friendly, easy to talk to, funny, super knowledgeable -- or in other words: everything that you could hope for.

I'm hard-pressed to find anything that I didn't enjoy about this trip. Getting to the Salamajärvi national park from Helsinki takes some time but that's well worth it when you realize how stunning the park is and how quiet it is because it's a bit further away from a major city.

@Kiia, @Jeff, in case you ever read this: thank you very much, I wish you all the best and I hope to see you again on another...

My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of embarking on a Winter Wonderland Hike tour with Taiga Times, and it was nothing short of enchanting. The pristine landscapes and serene beauty of the winter forest left us awe-inspired, and the tour guide's expertise added an extra layer of magic to the experience.

From the moment we entered the forest, a hushed tranquility enveloped us as the snow-laden branches of tall evergreens sparkled in the soft light. The crisp air carried the tantalizing scent of pine, creating an atmosphere that felt like a scene from a fairytale. The snowy path beneath our feet crunched with each step, creating a soothing rhythm that echoed the peacefulness of the winter wonderland around us.

One of the highlights of the tour was the guide's deep knowledge of the local flora and fauna. Jeff shared fascinating facts about the unique adaptations of the forest's inhabitants to the harsh winter conditions.

As we ventured deeper into the woods, the guide skillfully led us to hidden gems. The interplay of light and shadow on the snow-covered landscape created a mesmerizing spectacle, and the guide's thoughtful explanations added depth to our appreciation of the natural beauty surrounding us.

The tour also featured a traditional Finnish kota, a cozy wooden hut where we took a break and indulged in hot beverages and local delicacies. The crackling fire and warm hospitality of the guide made the stop a delightful interlude, allowing us to savor the winter wonderland with all our senses.

This tour was a truly magical experience, and credit is due to the exceptional guide who turned a walk in the woods into an educational and awe-inspiring journey through Finland's winter wonderland. I highly recommend this tour to anyone seeking a blend of natural beauty, cultural insights, and the warmth of genuine...