Join the happy captain Arto on a private safari by his unique electric Ecoboat. Experience the beauty of lake Saimaa and spot rare Saimaa Seal in Puumala, without worrying about eventually cold or rainy weather. May and early June is the best time to spot Seals.
Tour Details
Price 66€/person (children 1-11 years old 55€). Minimum payment six adults
When Can I Go? departures from Okkola in May and early June
Duration 3 hours
Meeting/End location Ylössaarentie 35, 52200 Puumala, Finland. Leave your car at parking of Okkola holiday cottages. Follow the signs to the shore 250m (open in Google maps).
Group Size 1-10 persons. This is a private tour for you
What´s Included Professional English speaking guide (guide also speaks some German and French), Coffee, tea and a home-made sweet bun, Weather-proof comfortable Ecoboat, Warm blankets during cold days, Use of binoculars
What to Bring Seasonal outdoor clothing, Camera and personal items
Tour Highlights
Comfortable, All-weather Ride
Leather seats, roomy, covered boat is comfortable on all weather conditions. The young and the old will feel safe and comfortable. The big windows of the boat will be opened for your photos and to adjust the temperature in cabin
Friendly, experienced guide
With over 17 years of experience and after hosting over 10.000 guests, you’ll experience finnish hospitality at its best with your local guide mr Arto! You’ll enjoy engaging stories, interesting facts and a deep passion for lake Saimaa region
A Wildlife Experience Like No Other
With our silent eco-boat you’ll be able to have closer and more intimate experiences with our rare seals, fish eagles, etc. The chances to spot a Saimaa ringed seal are very good especially in early summer
Locally Baked Snacks & Coffee
There’s no better way to enjoy a day on the water than with locally baked sweet buns … and a hot "Kuksa" mug of coffee or tea. Coffee is served during tour
Travelling responsibly
By choosing our environmentally friendly, electric boat tour, you’ll be helping us preserve this incredible natural landscape for generations to come. Eco-boat runs by solar-power
Visit the heart of lake Saimaa
Puumala archipelago is beautiful. You´ll be amazed by the fantastic landscapes and views from the boat
What Our Guests Are Saying
Beatiful summer morning Arto’s tour on a quiet ecoboat is a must thing to do when in Lake Saimaa. We spotted a Saimaa seal and learned a lot about nature and animals in Saimaa region. It was a beatiful morning and will be remembered for a long time.
Saimaan norppa cruise plus more nature The tour was amazing. It was a sunny, not windy, day. We saw 4 of the most endangered animals lying on stones. This is really unusual. The boat is really good since it is ecological and does not make noise. Arto can explain plenty of things also in German and English.
Top notch nature experience A great trip with a super knowledgeable guide! We saw three Saimaa seals, enjoyed the serene ride on the electric boat and Arto’s expert stories and Saimaa seal wisdom. Highly recommend!
Click to read more reviews in Tripadvisor
Cancellation Policy
Full refund if cancelled not later than 7 days before departure.
75% refund if cancelled not later than 48 hours before departure
50% refund if cancelled not later than 24 hours before departure.
No refund if cancelled less than 24 hours before departure or no show
Change of day is possible when made latest 18h00 local time the day before departure. All changes cost 10€ extra and are subject to availability
Book With Confidence
The Lowest Price. Period. Book directly on lakelandgte.fi to get the best price on our tours. Find it cheaper? We’ll refund the difference!
Great Tour Guarantee Guide Arto has been hosting Seal safaris for 17 years and you will allways have a great nature experience
What’s Included
3 hours cruise by the Eco-Boat. Available 1.5-9.6.
Professional English speaking guide (guide also speaks some German and French)
Coffee, tea and a home-made sweet bun
Weather-proof comfortable Ecoboat
Warm blankets during cold days
Use of binoculars
Not Included
Transfers to departure location
What to bring
Seasonal outdoor clothing
Camera and personal items
Additional info
After booking you will get instant confirmation and instructions on departure location to your email.
Starting point during 1.5-9.6. is in Ylössaarentie 35, 52200 Puumala, Finland. Leave your car at parking of Okkola holiday cottages. Follow the signs to the shore 250m (open in Google maps).
Please arrive to Boat latest 5 mins before departure time, and leave enough time for finding a parking for your car. Missing the departure time does not entitle you to a refund of the price paid for the services
Boat is weather-proof with a cabin. We recommend warm clothing according to days weather. On cold days we have warm blankets in boat for your comfort
Boat is safe and equipped by all necessary safety equipment. There are some small-size safety-vests for children too
The tour operates in almost all weather conditions (if there is a thunderstorm, we will wait untill it passes over and only then start the tour)
Captain Arto will entertain you with stories about Saimaa Seals and the nature, as well as show some multimedia during the cruise. For children there are some in-boat activities too
Coffee/tea service with home-made sweet buns is included, and for children there is juice too
You may buy Seal souvenirs from Artos small in-boat-souvenir-shop (soft toys, key-rings, magnets, pillow covers etc). We accept cash and credit cards
All our guides have undertaken our own training program and are highly qualified. Guidance is provided in Finnish & English, some of the other languages are available. We follow the guidelines of “Seal-friendly tourism” in all our activities
May and early June are the best times to spot seals lying on a rock sunbathing, as the adult seals are changing their fur during that period. Later in summer when weather is warm, seals may be seen in the water as they come breath to the surface. Nice nature experience and friendly service are guaranteed at all times!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see Saimaa seals? Best period is May and early June. Best times of the day are mornings and evenings, but we do see Seals also on day-time during early summer season
Where does the boat leave from? Early summer tours 1.5-11.6. depart from Niinisaari island a few kms from Puumala center, in Okkola holiday cottages peer. Address: Ylössaarentie 35, 52200 Puumala.
Can I book only one seat? No, not for a private tour. Minimum group size is six persons. There are open public departures for single travellers.
What if it rains? Do not worry. Ecoboat is weather-proof, the cabine keeps you dry and warm
Do you have safety vest for children in boat? Yes, there are some small-size safety vest for children. If you have many children with you, you should inform us in advance so that we will take more of small-size safety vests on the tour
Are pets allowed to travel with me? No, unfortunately not. We love pets but we do not allow them in the Ecoboat, because this might cause allergic reaction in other clients.
When is my booking confirmed? Immediately after payment you will receive confirmation email with instructions about the tour. If you think you have made the booking but have not received the confirmation email, then please contact us by email to sales@lakelandgte.fi and we will figure that out together
How do I pay for the tour? You can book in our online-store and pay by Credit cards, via European SEPA bank payment or Alipay. We require payment at time of the booking
Do I have to book in advance? Yes. You need to book in advance to guarantee a seat. For Seal watching cruise, you can book untill 61 minutes before departure time
Do I need cash to buy some souvenirs in Ecoboat? You can pay also by Credit card.
Can I find more information about the Ecoboat? Yes, have a look at our Ecoboat web-page for more info
I try to book but it does not work, what should I do? First make sure that you have checked the “accept conditions” box. If it still does not work, please contact us by email to sales@lakelandgte.fi and we will figure that out together
OTHER QUESTIONS? Please email to sales@lakelandgte.fi and we will answer as soon as possible
Stay overnight in Puumala ! Guide Arto recommends following accommodation
Sahanlahti Resort provides cosy accommodation in Puumala. Read more on Sahanlahti website
Okkolan lomamökit provides Cottage accommodation in Puumala. Read more on Okkola website
Nestorinranta holiday cottages. Read more on Nestorinranta website
more options at visitpuumala.fi/en/sleep-tight/
