Monastery Route Valamo - Lintula - Valamo (40 km)

The Monastery Route connects Finland’s only Orthodox monasteries: the Valamo Monastery and Lintula Convent. The route is 21 km one way. The route includes a variety of narrow paths, with a suitable amount of transfer sections along gravel roads. At Lintula there is also a beautiful footbridge crossing Koskijärvi Lake.

Starting from the gates of Valamo Monastery, it is advisable to look for the blue markings of the route. There is also a shorter Prayer Trail starting at the gate, whose orange marks partly run together with and partly cross the Monastery Route. If you want an extra kilometer of narrow path at the beginning, you can follow the orange-marked trail for the first two kilometers, then continue along the blue route.

Overall, the Monastery Route is a relatively clearly marked route. The blue route signs are supported by graying wooden signposts. However, it is advisable to have a GPX file or route map with you in case some signs are missed.

After crossing Heinämäki ridge and Kansalantie, the route descends towards Varissuo and the most challenging terrain sections of the hike. The nearly 2 km long swamp section can mostly be crossed along boardwalks. The condition of the boardwalks varies from poor to good, so this section is partly adventurous!

The route crosses the beautiful Taivallahti Canal, which is part of the Heinävesi waterway route, one of Finland’s national landscapes.

There are parking spaces at Valamo Monastery.

The route has been updated with signposts, which are blue in color. The route is relatively well signposted, but it is advisable to have a gpx file and/or route map with you just in case.