Did you know that Lake Pielinen is the fourth largest lake in Finland or that there are twelve bridges crossing the Pielisjoki River?
Did you remember that the general speed limit on the canals is 9 km/h?
Please prepare for the changing road conditions in Pielinen well in advance of your trip.
Boater services in North Karelia
Along the narrow channels of Heinävesi to Valamo
Heinävesi's many old canals, winding waterways, archipelago lakes and Valamo Monastery offer a wonderful experience for boaters.
You can set off from the Heinävesi guest marina, for example. It is worth taking a look at the beautiful Kerma Canal and visiting the guesthouse and beach café Wirran Wietävä, where you can easily land. From there, you can continue your journey to the Karvio Canal, where you can also stay overnight at Camping Karvio and have your boat serviced at the boat service harbour. The route to unforgettable Valamo passes through the narrow canals of Varistaipale and Taivallahti. The boat can be easily moored at the monastery's guest pier.
Relaxing on the waves of Pyhäselkä
Pyhäselkä seamlessly connects the best places to visit in Joensuu, Liperi and Rääkkylä around one lake. Pyhäselkä is also part of Lake Saimaa, so arriving by water is possible almost from the Baltic Sea.
Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Joensuu at Jokiasema, stop by for a pizza at Liperi Summer or Saariston Puoti and explore the services of the Paksuniemi during summer in Rääkkylä. It is also worth visiting to admire the unique estuaries of the Höytiäinen Canal.
Splashes of Lake Pielinen
From Joensuu, it is easy to head north along the Pielisjoki River towards Pielin. Along the way, you can stop for a bite to eat at the Cafe Kakkulaitur in Paihola, admire the Jakokoski museum canal, or stop by to explore the center of Eno. You can continue your journey from Ahveninen all the way to Koli, Lieksa, and Nurmes.
There is plenty to see around Pielinen for several days. You can stay and land, for example, in Koli, Bomba in Nurmes, or Lieksa. The center's services are within walking distance from the Retulahti harbor in Juua.
Pielinen also has several unique islands that you can visit on a day trip. The largest island in the Pielinen region and also the highest island in Finland is Juua's Paalasmaa, which consists of three separate islands. The easiest way to land in Paalasmaa is via the pier at Paalasmaa Camping. Other destinations worth visiting include the Koli Sand Islands, Iso-Korppi, and Pieni-Korppi. In the northern part of Lake Pielinen, the Nurmes and Bomba areas with their diverse services await boaters.
Other Boater's Gems
Orivesi
If you just want to admire the scenery and enjoy the beautiful summer days, you can turn the boat towards the back of Orivesi. You can arrive at Orivesi from both Savonlinna and Joensuu. During the trip, you can stop for a meal or stay at Ruoke Holiday Village in Kitee Kesälahti. You can explore the history of the area at the Myllyniemi guest marina, Kitee Puhos.
Höytiäinen
Höytiäinen also offers excellent facilities for boaters. You can easily launch from the Kontiolahti or former Huhmari Holiday Centre harbours, for example. Höytiäinen has several different islands, including Hanhiluoto, also known as Hiekkasaari, which is an excellent day trip destination due to its unique nature.
