Join the happy captain Arto on a privat Seal safari by his unique electric Ecoboat. Highly recommended summer experience for all visitors at lake Saimaa. Experience the beauty of lake Saimaa and search rare Saimaa Seal in Puumala, without worrying about eventually cold or rainy weather. This private safari departs from Sahanlahti Resort.

What Our Guests Are Saying

Perfect éco experience Amazing eco boat trip with a multilingual guide, who knows what to see where to see. I would recommand that for families with children or couples. You can go with folded eyes ??

Wonderful seal safari on Lake Saimaa In August 2023 we joined a seal safari by ecoboat. We spent three wonderful hours on Lake Saimaa and felt really close to this piece of paradise. Arto is a very hospitable person (we even had a little coffee/ tea break :). He gave us insight into the life of the Finnish Norppa, the bird species and the region in general. Fortunately, we even spottet a Norppa, some Fisheagles and Swans. We were impressed by Arto‘s knowledge and enjoyed peaceful Lake Saimaa a lot!

Amazing experience Great experience, our guide tell us lots of stories and informations about Finland and finnish nature. I recommand !
The lake is beautiful.

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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 nature. The chances to spot a rare Saimaa ringed seal are 50% in warm summer time
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
Tour Details
Price 75€/person (children 1-11 years old 60€). Minimum payment six adults
When Can I Go? departures in August-October
Duration   3 hours
Meeting/End location Sahanlahti resort. Address: Lietvedentie 830, 52200 Puumala (See in Google maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFp41NErMxWKCeXL9 )
Group Size  1-10 persons. This is a privat charter 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

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 18 years and you will allways have a great nature experience

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 from Sahanlahti resort boat harbor. Address: Lietvedentie 830, 52200 Puumala (See in Google maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFp41NErMxWKCeXL9 )
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 bun 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

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to see Saimaa seals? Best period is May and early June. Later in summer when weather is warm, seals can be seen in the water as they come breath to the surface. Note that there is no guarantee to see a seal. Nice nature experience and friendly service are guaranteed at all times!

Where does the boat leave from? 30.7.-30.10. Sahanlahti resort. Address: Lietvedentie 830, 52200 Puumala (See in Google maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFp41NErMxWKCeXL9 )

Can I book only one seat? No, you may not. Privat charter is for minimum six persons. We recommend that you check our public open departures

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
more options at visitpuumala.fi/en/sleep-tight/

2.1.1. Syksy

Private Seal safari from Sahanlahti by Ecoboat (autumn 1.8-30.10)