We are delighted that you’ve come to stay with us in South Karelia. Thank you for coming! Our number one priority is allowing you to enjoy yourself and making your visit the best it can be.

There are a lot of good things in South Karelia, but we most treasure the nature of Lake Saimaa. We live in symbiosis with Lake Saimaa and its nature.

The natural environment of Lake Saimaa has been a source of well-being for people in South Karelia throughout the ages. We still get our livelihoods from the forests around Lake Saimaa. The lake itself has been crucial to providing livelihoods to people through the years in the form of fishing and the sawmill and paper industries. Lake Saimaa’s nature has also provided people with a way to calm down and relax: jogging, rowing, paddling, swimming and fishing in the summer; and skiing, skating, sledding and ice fishing in the winter. Today, of course, you can also enjoy the lake with a stand-up paddleboard or jet ski, or snowshoes in the winter.

Lake Saimaa is a feast for the senses in any weather: enjoy the spray of water in a storm, a gentle breeze and a sunbeam on a calm day, the crisp chill on a winter morning. When Lake Saimaa is frozen, it treats you to an expanse of pure white snow as far as the eye can see. The sunlight glints off the surface of the snow. The sounds of lake nature: birdsong, the creaking of snow under a shoe, the splash of water when an oar rises out of the water, the crackling of fire at a lean-to.

Saimaa also creates a sense of community. On lake cruises, you might find yourself in conversation with a stranger and come back to shore with a new lifelong friendship. At Midsummer, people gather on the beaches around bonfires to admire the midnight sun and enjoy its warmth. The protection efforts related to the Saimaa ringed seal bring people together. As soon as Café Satama-Sanni opens in the spring, the city gathers at the harbour marketplace to enjoy a traditional Vety meat pie.

Saimaa gives us a lot that we are happy and grateful for, and that is the culture we want to nurture and share with our guests, too.

Lappee supports WWF’s work to protect the Saimaa ringed seal.

We wish you a relaxing and refreshing visit to Lappee. We hope you enjoy your stay with us and fall in love with Saimaa, just like us!

Best regards, Lappee staff <3