Experience the unique charm of Lake Saimaa with Mikkeli Music Festival’s On the Move! This combined bus and cruise journey takes you from Mikkeli straight to the heart of Saimaa, to the impressive Astuvansalmi rock paintings. The cruise is crowned by Jenni Hanikka’s enchanting “Roots and Wings” performance – a musical journey where Finnish roots and global soundscapes meet in the midst of Saimaa’s most beautiful lake scenery.
This bus and cruise excursion to the Astuvansalmi rock paintings begins with a charter bus from Mikkeli. We board the boat at the Varkaantaipale Canal, from the pier of the Varkaantaipale summer restaurant.
You can hop on the bus at Mikkeli Travel Centre, the market square charter bus stop, Mikkeli harbour, or in Ristiina opposite the gym (Brahentie 11). From there, we travel by bus to the Varkaantaipale Canal, where we board the M/S Aino.
The cruise takes us across Lake Someenjärvi, past the Kallioniemi villa built in 1896, and through the historic Kirkkotaipale Canal to Lake Saimaa’s Yövesi and the Astuvansalmi rock paintings, which offer a glimpse into life thousands of years ago. Astuvansalmi is the largest collection of rock paintings in the Nordic countries, with around 80 figures discovered.
We will spend approximately 45 minutes at the rock paintings, followed by a short cruise on Yövesi. Come along and enjoy a wonderful day on Lake Saimaa!
Jenni Hanikka – “Roots and Wings” – Music from Around the World
Jenni Hanikka is a flutist and singer who has participated in numerous national and international projects across several continents. Her roots lie in Nordic and Finno-Ugric music, but her musical journeys have taken her to Russia, Mongolia, China, Borneo, Nepal, India, Mali, and Denmark.
In her solo concert “Roots and Wings”, Hanikka combines traditional melodies with her own compositions, using live looping and improvisation. The performance offers a musical journey where Finnish roots travel along as Hanikka soars from one continent to another. Her instruments include various flutes from around the world, the kantele, the bowed lyre (jouhikko), and diverse vocal techniques ranging from traditional styles to throat singing.
Schedule
11:15 Departure from Mikkeli Travel Centre
11:20 Departure from the market square charter bus stop
11:25 Departure from Mikkeli harbour (next to the playground)
11:50 Departure from Ristiina bus stop (market square)
12:10 Arrival at Varkaantaipale Canal
13:15 Departure for cruise on M/S Aino
13:30–14:15 Visit to Astuvansalmi rock paintings
15:30 Cruise ends at Varkaantaipale Canal
16:00 Return journey via Ristiina to Mikkeli (harbour, market square stop, and final stop at Travel Centre), arrival approximately 16:50
Please note
You can also board the bus in Ristiina instead of Mikkeli. It is also possible to arrive at Varkaantaipale by your own car and purchase a cruise-only ticket. Cruise tickets (Varkaantaipale – Astuvansalmi – Varkaantaipale) can be bought onboard from the café for €50 per person (children €25). Limited availability.
Children aged 3 and under travel free of charge.
Ticket information
The ticket includes: round-trip transportation from Mikkeli by charter bus and a cruise on Lake Saimaa.
Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be used for other cruises.
In case of cancellation due to serious circumstances (e.g. illness), the ticket seller will deduct 50% of the purchase price to cover refund costs.
We reserve the right to make changes to schedules, prices, and programme.
We recommend travel insurance that includes cancellation cover.
If no bookings have been made by 9:00 on the day of the excursion, the trip will be cancelled.