I Fell in Love with FINLAND | KOLI NATIONAL PARK 🇫🇮
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- I stayed on an authentic Finnish farm deep in the forest of Koli National Park & inside spectacular Finnish Lakeland. Join me as I discover one of Finland‘s finest landscapes!
🇫🇮 See more of my travel vlogs from Finland here → bit.ly/mwt_finland
Koli National Park (Kolin Kansallispuisto) is a remote and rocky forest on the western shoreline of Lake Pielinen about 50 km north of Joensuu. The island and lake view has been immortalised by generations of painters and photographers turning this magnificent scene into a much loved national landscape.
My adventure in Koli National Park started on a historic farm called Kolin Keidas. I ended up sleeping in one of the wooden outbuildings of Mattila’s Farm - the site's original name. It was a unique experience and saved me some money along the way.
By mid morning I was back on the road heading for the car park of Koli National Park. From there I rode the Koli railcar (Kolin Kiskohissi) up to the nature centre and starting point for a plethora of hiking trails and walking routes. Excited and ready for some exercise I set off on the red route which would pass the highest point in the national park.
In the 19th century talented painters such as Eero Järnefelt would roam the hills of Koli looking for inspiration and enchantment. The hills, lakes, forest and islands would rarely let them down and from this very spot some of Finland’s most striking paintings would be painted.
As I explored the wonderful hills of Paha, Ukko & Akka I found the scene painted a century before my visit, and one that literally took my breath away. As I stood on a large white quartzite peak I was genuinely blown away by the stunning landscape right in front of my eyes. Nothing, not even the most detailed and vibrant of paintings can prepare you for seeing the real thing.
I enjoyed my day in Koli National Park so much that after summiting Ukko-Koli I returned to my car and set off for a lakeside road I had spotted whilst flying my drone. I wasn’t disappointed as the road led me to a couple of scenic beaches and a pretty wooded area on the hillside.
My day just kept getting better and I was lucky enough to end it at the top of the lofty Rasavaara Observation Tower (Räsävaaran Näkötorni) overlooking a seemingly endless landscape of forests, lakes, islands & the setting sun.
📖 CHAPTERS:
📖 00:00 Intro
📖 01:07 Staying on a Farm in Koli
📖 04:43 Koli National Park is Amazing!
📖 05:17 Walking in Koli National Park (Red Route)
📖 10:16 Finland’s Most Incredible View?
📖 12:48 Highest Peak in Southern Finland!
📖 13:44 Skiing in Koli National Park
📖 14:22 Koli’s Lakeside Road
📖 15:15 Rasavaara Observation Tower
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Soundtrack
🎵 Wandering Nomad by Cody Francis
🎵 River Wide by Max Kershaw
🎵 The Fairies by Ramin feat. Adilynn
🎵 Awake by Megan Wofford
🎵 The Light in You by Pastis
🎵 Where Kings Walk by Jon Sumner
🎵
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound. Get a FREE month here → bit.ly/2LB53FZ
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@@MattWhitingsEurope respect…once I looked at the travel map.
Thank you!
Thank you. That is our soul scenery. 🇫🇮
I can understand why it's considered a national landscape, truly a wonderful place. Thanks for watching! 😃
He's gonna come back in november and regret ever stepping foot there. Dark, cold, rainy for 9 months out of the year.
Thanks for this video Matt, what a brilliant place. I was there last summer and that view is probably the best in Finland.
A bonus of the place is , no admission fees, parking charges, charge for the lift etc.
I’m in Finland now on a motorcycle trip and will definitely be going back to Koli !
Thanks for watching! You're right about the fees for parking, admission etc - there are none! I didn't think about that very much at the time but in hindsight it's quite remarkable. It's open to all because you could take the family to Koli and not spend a penny. Great to hear you're in Finland, I hope you make it back there - what a magnificent place! 😍
Finnish taxpayers: you're welcome 😂 Thanks for the video!
I always try to take a trip to Koli when I'm visiting the area.
I think I would do the same! Spectacular place!!
Hello! Great video. I was in my 30's when I went to Koli. I spent my childhood in Etelä-Pohjanmaa and had no relatives in eastern parts of Finland so never really went there. It was because all of these Finnish artists and it's reputation to be the one of the most beautiful places in Finland. I only took the straight trek to Ukko-Koli from the hotel. But the View... It reminded me of bible verse: "And God saw that it was good." It made an almost religious impression. Later when I saw Grand Canyon first time felt the same way. Keep on going and all the best for you!
Thanks for your words of encouragement, glad you enjoyed the video. Loved Koli - definitely one of my favourite places in Finland! Like you said, so peaceful and spectacular.
I visited Koli two summers ago. The National Park is breathtaking and truly the most iconic landscape in Finland. 10/10 highly recommend to visit Koli!
It certainly is a spectacular place, enjoyed my visit very much and would definitely recommend.
awesome National Park. I like the way the Finns preserve their historical Past.
Finns are the best
It was great to be there and see it all with my own eyes, loved everything about the day.
Greetings from Finland =) Thank you for your high-quality video and the well-structured content in it. Nice to see how Finland and its clean nature has gained interest on international social media channels.
I would also like to emphasize a few things that are required of those who are active in nature in Finland. 1. All rubbish etc. will be taken away, nothing may be left or burned on a bonfire. 2. Open fire is prohibited in nature parks everywhere, and in addition, on privately owned land, a separate permit must be obtained. During dry weather, it is also limited by fire places, which can be built at resting places on nature trails. It is ALLOWED to use a stick burner or something similar, which is certainly isolated from the environment and the fire cannot spread, not even a spark.
P.s The rules and recommendations are intended for the protection of all of us and to protect our common "property", even for the next use.
Good morning! Glad you like the videos, I really enjoyed my drive around Finnish Lakeland and it certainly opened my eyes to the wonders of Eastern Finland - what an incredible region. Thanks for the additional information, very useful and interesting to read. All the best! 👍
Good afternoon Matt
Don’t the weeks fly by..
Wowzers (not a word)…Finland becomes more attractive each week.
Even their “long drop” outdoor toilet appears upmarket. Loved the interior of the log cabin. Looked cozy.
And of course the scenery. Seemingly endless forest. And more and more lakes. I’m certain a road trip of several weeks would be required to cover the vast expanses that the country has to offer. Or preferably frequent return trips. (Care for a return trip?)
What a splendid view. Support Ukraine indeed. Couldn’t agree more.
You can ski in Finland. Wow.
Nearly missed commenting on the watch tower. That’s crazy high.
Lastly, what a great result on Thu. A much needed change …
Wishing you a good week ahead. Until next week
Zoltán
It's crazy isn't it?! How time flies!! I am sure I will return to Finland at some point but I already have other plans this summer and I try to vary the places I visit a bit. I was amazed to see the ski slopes too, I didn't think there would be any hills big or long enough in the Lakeland but I was wrong - mind you, in the winder the temperature gets down to -40 so that might not be the best skiing experience, I guess you've got to time it right. Yes indeed, that watch tower felt mighty high once I was three quarters up - when I got to the top though I think the views made me forget about how high I was. 😂
Outstanding video for sure 👍 Thank you Sir for documenting our beautiful country on your channel! 🇫🇮
Thank you! Really appreciate your comment. Really enjoyed my trip to Finland so thanks for having me!
Koli Nationalpark is my favorite😍😊I love it👌😍
Gorgeous views. Really makes me want to go there even though I'm not much of a hiker. Thanks for the video again!
You can make it almost all the way up to the top of Ukko-Koli with a car! 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
You are most welcome to Finland
You really don't need tobe much of a hiker to get there if don't want to. The highest summit is like 200 meters from the hotel. The place is also an hour ride from Joensuu, decently sized city. You can literally do a short hike there at noon and end your day in a nightclub.
That's a fair point. If I'd had done the circular hike the other way around I would have found that viewpoint a lot faster. However it's best to leave until last if you're walking the long thing - as they say, always leave the best 'til last!
What a fantastic film once again. I've enjoyed watching your journey through Eastern Finland very much.
As a geologist it's nice to hear you talk about rocks too :)
One thing though, the older granite gneiss bedrock in Koli is almost 3000 million years old not 300 million. Too many zeros 😄
Thanks for the info, Matias. Much appreciated. Now that is old!! As a geologist I'm sure you know your stuff when it comes to rocks - those ones in Koli are mighty special right?
Easily the best place to go hiking and see the lake view. I try to visit Koli every year. A big recommendation for everyone.
Yes I agree, it's right up there on my list of favourite places to visit in Finland! Thanks for watching.
The building you stayed in has a specific name in finnish "aitta". Traditionally used in the winter time for storage and sleeping in the summertime!
Thanks for the information, that's really helpful. I knew there was a name for it and was trying to find it when editing and uploading to RUclips but with no luck. Thanks for mentioning it here! Staying in there during the winter would be brutal! Thanks for watching. 👍
@@MattWhitingsEurope Many families had an aitta (as it was also used to store/dry goods), and during summertime a maiden might have invited you to hers, to roll around in the hay. 🤭 Unlike many other countries, Finns were never obsessed with one's "purity" (excluding nobles and upper classes of course). Now getting pregnant was another ordeal 😅, but in generally, youth were expected to have fun.
😮 Now I finally understand what those aitta's were for! 😆. Thanks for the info!
Next you'll have to come over in january/february and fall in love with winter Finland.
.... or fall out of love because its -28°C and the snot is freezing on your upper lip and the sauna is still 2km's away and no one has done any firewood.
(Maybe autumn would be better for next visit lol)
I think I would have to build up to the winter time out there, it sounds like it gets seriously cold. Love your description of it 😂. I think I would need to make sure the sauna is closer than that. Autumn or spring does sound a tad more manageable!
@@MattWhitingsEurope autumn is awesome if you time it well with the ruska, the time when the leafs change colours.
I'd love to see it. Sounds wonderful.
Amazing footage with that drone of yours. I thought that it was something you had found online and that you just used it, but i could see that you had a drone of your own. Amazing 🙏
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the drone shots. I'm quite proud to say that all the video is mine - I don't use any stock footage to make my vlogs.
Thank you Matt! That view on lake Pielinen was special. I need to visit and take my family to see it.
I'd definitely recommend it, like you say the view is something very special. I could have sat on that quartzite rock all day!!
I'm finnish and this is on my list to do. Great videos. You made us look really good. Thank you for that. Good people are always welcome here.
Thank you, hope you make it there - it's spectacular!
Great, relaxing video again, thank you! To me, the most beautiful shot on your trip to date has got to be the one at 11:55.
Finland is forests and lakes, but the forgotten aspect is the granite rock shaped by the ice ages. Most of us have played on, walked and foraged on these formations, they are, to me, a key part of our nationality.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah I like that moment too, really does show the landscape and the part those granite rocks play in making it all so spectacular. Great to hear your thoughts - it's a wonderful place for sure!
Thank you for showcasing this beautiful place! I can't wait to visit it someday. The scenery looks breathtaking.
You're welcome, thanks for watching! Hope you make it there at some point, I'm certain you won't be disappointed! 😁
Beautiful area, in the army we skied through it during one day of training, the snow was quite deep and the forest pretty dense. The entire trip took 18 hours and 75 km with all the luggage we hauled with us. Never have slept better afterwards.
Ha yes I bet you slept perfectly after that experience!! Wonderful area though!
Another great video where you show the reality of Finland. Well done. However, Matt, you should warn your viewers that you're supposed to bring your own sheets and duvet covers.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. I know where you're coming from with the blankets etc but here they were provided as part of the room so no need to bring your own. I double checked before booking as I knew I wouldn't be able to bring my own.
Thanks Matt once again for a great video!
Glad you have enjoyed Finland and nice to see familiar places (for myself) seen from your point-of view.
Really enjoy your storytelling style and especially the way you edit & think about your music choices. You clearly have a vision what music and views to show us all. And it really works.
The drone-shots with you sitting by the rock was especially amazing.
All the best mate, have a nice time and also a great summer! 😎
Thanks very much, it's always good to read comments like this one. Glad you enjoyed the video, it was a pleasure to visit such an incredible spot! Have a great summer too!
I'm glad you're enjoying eastern Finland!
Thank you! Wonderful place 👍
Lapland is beautiful, you need to see it Matt! Well done once again.
It's definitely high on my priority list for when I return to Finland but we'll see. Looks like a fascinating landscape! Thanks for watching!
The Koli Relax Spa at the top of Koli is worth a visit if you are in the area, even if you are not staying in the hotel itself.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'm no longer in Koli but will make a note of it in case I go back. Thanks.
❤😊Thanks again for a great video! Just love these. Very good subjects and amazing knoledge. Thank you❤😊
Thanks for watching, glad you’re enjoying the videos! Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Finland! 😀
koli is beautiful i love fishing in Pielinen Lake
What do you catch in there?
I live in the Finland but what I love about is that you can take any city or village, set up an heading to the wilderness and find all these amazing spots anywhere you go! I spent my whole childhood in the forests of my birthplace, I tried to leave many times but always I somehow end up back here, walking the paths I took when I was a child.
There's just something about this part of Finland that makes walking/hiking a real experience. It feels so wild and raw, I really enjoyed spending some time in the forests and lakes of Finland's east and it sounds like you do to! Thanks for tuning in!
Absolutely brilliant, once again; love to watch !!!
Thanks so much, really appreciate your support! 😀
Quite interesting! I'd love to visit these places at some point.
Hope you make it there! Some wonderful places for sure!
Fascinating sightseeings through the entire Koli National Park. Great trip. Thanks for sharing 🙏😊
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching, it was a very enjoyable day and I'm glad I was able to do the hike and see those wonderful views.
seen your videos for a year or two since you visited Tampere. Keep it up brother!
Thanks so much Alexandros, really appreciate you saying. I have great memories of my trip to Tampere, really appreciate you tuning in!
Thank you, once again, for a great video! You are really doing us honor with your footage. 😊
My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in 😀
Great filming !
Thanks very much!
Great shot at 11:35
Yeah that was crazy, weird nobody else commented about it. Shows you the size of the place much better if you zoom out like that.
Thanks, glad you like it.
I have spent a lot of time there during my childhood and adulthood. My mother's place of birth (mummola), is approx. 20 km from Koli. What can i say. World’s best place.
Got to say I agree with you - spectacular place & I really enjoyed my visit!
Nice video again👍🤗🇫🇮
Thanks very much! 😀
What a cool accommodation. Toilet was interesting. Think you're supposed to leave the car in the woods, not the car park. WHAT A VIEW!
You just can't beat a good old fashioned view! I knew I was doing something wrong with the car - I will try harder next time 😆
7:15 those kinds of boulders (or "glacial erratic blocks"(?) according to dictionary from finnish word "siirtolohkare") that the (last) ice age left behind exist quite numerously through Finland. There's actually at least five near where I live, even here in Helsinki area. Some of them are even in the middle of streets and buldings, and left as land marks of sorts, thankfully. They always facinate me because it is a reminder of a time far away but they are still just there sitting in the place the thawing glacial ice left them :)
I'm glad that you have enjoyed your trip in Finland. Since you are there, why not to drive to Paalasmaa island in the middle if lake Pielinen that you just watched? It's the highest island in Finland and there's a watchtower too
Thank you for the suggestion, I just had a look on Google Maps and that island looks really interesting. I wasn't aware of it until you said. Unfortunately I won't be able to stop by on this trip but I'll definitely keep a note in case I return to Finnish Lakeland at some point in the future (I hope so!).
Ps that watchtower's got my name on it!
Such cool video :) Thank you.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching 😀
KOLI!! Visited there several times since I was just a small kid! My dad put me to sit down on this highest place 13:04 and maybe bc of that I still am afraid of high places ;) . Just HAVE to see these landskapes there with lake Pielinen and islands! My Filipina wife also falled in love, not only me but this Koli area in Northern Karelia! Great visit you had and enjoyed, thanks for sharing! Very nice that can find many others in Finland and England supporting brave Ukraine in their awesome fight against our all FREE EUROPE`s enemy of brutal and terrorist ruZZia! SLAVA UKRAINI! HEROYAM SLAVA UA!
Absolutely stunning and beautiful drone footage you managed to capture 😍
Oh and the view from the watchtower, just gorgeous and breathtaking. I wish you all the best on your travels and you showed me some parts of my country that I haven't seen or experienced yet.
Thank you very much for the feedback, glad you like the drone shots and the aerial views of Koli - it's a very special place and I'm so pleased I was able to stop by. Thank you for watching and I hope you can make it to some of these places at some point.
Epic views! The chair lift does usually operate in summer too ;)
That's interesting to know, there was no sign of activity when I was there but maybe they had closed for the day. Thanks for tuning in 😁
Awesome video ❤❤❤❤
Thank you 🤗
Thank you for the video.👍. You have to be in good shape to be able to hike those terrains.
You got that right! Haha. Thanks so much for watching!
nice vid,i also suggest to visit our peaks at more north becouse lappland has mountains what are higher than 1km high and landscape starts lose forests and turn into large open areas with lot of high places what makes lappland very special compared to other areas in finland.
Thanks for the tips! Lapland is definitely stoking my interest, especially a summer visit. I guess most people tend to visit in the winter when snow covers the landscape.
Wow you made to Koli❤347meter high , highest place in Karjala,,,Halti is highest in Finland thanks to Ville for correction this to me👍(I was writing first that maybe highest in Finland) Matt spoke totally correct , sorry if I was excited to see Koli and mentioned wrong 😊...Once you visit Koli you always want to go back it's my opinion,,I standed there up on the Ukko Koli/male Koli called Ukko Koli heel (then there is Akka Koli/female heel and some other names as well.) as you standing when I was 12y of age, we went by bus school trip and climbed up all the way up ,,, there were not elevators those days as I was there...Love that views to Pielisjärvi/ Lake of Pielinen (pielisjoki /river of Pielis Lake is middle of Joensuu)..that is the most beautiful view in Finland ❤🇫🇮❤well done Matt 👍❤❤
Highest place in Finland is Halti, 1324 m.
@@villemartikainen9394thank you Ville , kiitos ajattelin , että ei Koli ole korkein, onpa Halti korkea ❤🇫🇮
He said the highest place in Southern Finland, not all of Finland.
@@abokickelyes Matt said so, I was writing wrong first that maybe highest in Finland then Ville corrected that highest is Halti, Matt spoke correct absolutely..thank you 😊
Thank you for watching, no worries about the highest point confusion - it's all good. Glad you enjoyed my visit and that it brought back a few good memories. It's a wonderful area for sure and I'm so pleased I got visit. I'm also very thankful the weather treated me kindly.
I have watched your previous videos about Finland. I have lived in Savonlinna, Mikkeli and Lieksa. Lieksa is a town near Koli, the Koli area is familiar to me. I think it's nice to see my old hometowns and what they look like today. I currently live in Imatra, and I feel like I saw you shooting one of your videos here. Thanks for the good videos🙂
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you're enjoying my trip around Finnish Lakeland. I did film a little in Imatra so that could have been me!
Great video again. That place is really spectacular and I've enjoyed it every time when I have been there. You may have noticed that very many place names end "-vaara" in there in North Karelia. Vaara is a word which means a large hill which is too big to be called as hill (mäki) but too small to be called as mountain (vuori). Funnily there's a homonyme, because "vaara" means also danger. Good opportunity to make linguistic jokes :)
That's really interesting, I've often thought there should be something in-between a hill and a mountain - it seems that the Finns have beaten me to it! Funny how the word also means danger - I wonder who thought of that! Thanks for watching and agree about it being a spectacular place!
@@MattWhitingsEurope It must be similar coincidence like English words light and light :)
That's very true, there's a few of them about.
@@MattWhitingsEurope We have also word "tunturi" which is a fell in English. Similar like "vaara", but north and high enough that there aren't trees on the top. They mostly exist in Lapland only.
Got it. Yes I'd forgotten about the word 'fell'. Very interesting, thanks for the info!
Good video!
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it! 😃
Awesome views!
Glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for watching 😄
Koli is so beautiful. I've wanted to go there for so long.. take pictures and make my own koli painting :)
Sounds like a great reason to go - I hope you make there, it's wonderful!! Thanks for watching. 😁
That first peak where you were sitting on is called Paha Koli ('bad Koli') where people who were found guilty of felony by the local jury would be thrown down to their death.
One of my colleagues, a Brit, too, first arrived in Koli in Finland 15 years ago, fell in love with the place, and has been living in Finland now for 10 years. She says that she got 'the Finland bug' in the Koli national park.
Ouch! I didn't realise that, thanks for the info! I can understand why your colleague ended up living in Finland - I've felt a little of that bug too and it was Koli that brought it on! Thanks for tuning in!
Imagine that in fall 🍂🍁😊
I’m trying to picture it in my mind. Amazing!
Hmm its 5 hours from my place, maybe sometime ill get there.
Please do it. It will be worth every minute of that five hour drive 😀
nice video :)
Thanks for the visit
I love my land : Suomi
Thanks for tuning in!
There is really beautiful wooden church and artists home (who made the church) other side of the lake. Paateri. Definitely worth of visit if you happen to be around there.
Thank you for the info, very interesting. I can't seem to find Paateri on a map though, is it on the mainland or an island? Thanks
It's in the main land other side of the lake than Koli is, I think it is probably 30-40 km from Koli by car. Paateri 21, 81560 Vuonisjärvi is the address. "Paateri Church and Artist's Home" to Google you should find the opening times and pictures. It's not very big place or as popular as Koli is, and as it is bit a side there is not very much people usually. It's very unique and beautiful place, and looks better in person than pictures. I recommend definitely visiting there.
That's great, thanks for sharing - very helpful. I won't get chance on this trip but have made a note on my map in case I return at some point. Thanks again.
Go to murtovaara talomuseo in valtimo next
Thanks for the suggestion, I won't be able to on this trip but will make a note of it for next time!
❤❤❤ upeeta
Kiitos 😀
❤thanks!
Thanks for tuning in😁
Not me being like "I WAS THERE" when he reached the highest point on the Koli (with the ukraine text)
Cool, it's always good to see the places you've been on the telly (or in this case RUclips) ☺️
8 years ago on that high spot I asked my future wife to marry me, time to visit again
It would make a great place for an anniversary - what an epic setting to ask the big questions.
Too cold.
It gets extremely cold in the winter time but I visited in Aug/Sept - would recommend!
woude there bee any blueberries
I didn’t see any I’m afraid.
Wow,that accommodation was AMAZING 😮...Would love to try that out 😉
It was a real experience and I enjoyed it very much. In a way it was a shame I arrived so late the night before because it would have been a cool experience to sit out on the porch and relax a little during the evening. At least I was there for a few hours in the morning!
I cant understand where that typical light blue paint that the outhouses doors was painted with comes from, because its so common in Finland and my grandfather had painted.his whole kitchen in that colour aswell.
I didn't realise it was so prevalent out here in Finland. Nice blue though!
Blue is a popular color for outdoor toilets, as it is believed to repel flies.Although there doesn't seem to be any scientific research on the matter
@@randomtubemies Interesting! Thank you.