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  Houseboat holidays in Finland: what our guests say

  09/10/2026

  Since 2018 we have welcomed more than 1,000 guests from all over Europe aboard our Nordic Season houseboats in Heinola. On Google our guests rate us ★ 4.7.

  In their own words

  “One of the most memorable weeks of our lives, thanks!” – Juha S., Sweden
  “Nature at its best: lonely beaches and stunning moorings. Excellent, very helpful hosts. We will come again.” – Gerhard D., Germany
  “The wooden sauna, with the option of jumping directly into the water to cool down, was especially great.” – Gerhard M., Germany

  What guests praise most

  • The peace and quiet: empty bays, lonely beaches, hardly any other boats.
  • The sauna on board: straight from the sauna into the lake.
  • The captain’s course: even first-timers feel confident at the helm after an hour.
  • The team: help by phone and WhatsApp throughout the trip.

  Good to know before you book

  • Prices per boat per day including 25.5 % VAT, from €465.
  • Fuel is not included: the boat is handed over with a full tank and returned full.
  • Bring your own bed linen and towels, or rent them from us.
  • Dogs are welcome on request (cleaning €140 per booking).

  Our houseboats · Book now

  We reserve the right to change offers and terms.
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  Houseboat routes on Lake Päijänne: ideas for your trip from Heinola

  09/10/2026

  At 6–7 km/h a houseboat is the perfect speed for the Finnish Lakeland: one hour on the water is roughly 6 km. Plan 3–4 hours of cruising a day and keep half a day spare for the weather. The rest of the time is for the sauna, swimming and the islands.

  Every trip starts in Heinola

  All rentals start and end at our harbour at Satamatie 4, Heinola – about 140 km north of Helsinki on highway 4 (E75). One-way routes are possible on request (the return transfer of the boat is charged separately).

  Idea 1: Päijänne National Park and Kelvenne island

  The heart of the national park is Kelvenne, a long ridge island with sandy beaches, sheltered bays and hiking trails. The chain of ridge islands at Pulkkilanharju forms the south-eastern gateway to the park, and from the highest point of Paatsalo you look out over Tehinselkä, the widest open water of Päijänne. The area is part of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark, with Stone Age and Bronze Age sites along the way.

  National parks have their own rules, which our team explains before you set off.

  Idea 2: The Kalkkinen lock and the old farm

  On your way to Päijänne you pass through the Kalkkinen lock – a small adventure for the whole family. You operate it yourself, and it is supervised remotely from the Vääksy canal. Allow 15–30 minutes. Nearby, stop at the old farm at Kalkkinen for local berries, liqueurs and sparkling wines.

  Idea 3: Golf and nature at Vierumäki

  The renowned golf courses of Vierumäki are only about 4 km from a possible mooring spot.

  Idea 4: Quiet bays, fishing and sauna

  Lake Päijänne is one of the best fishing waters in Finland: pike, perch, pike-perch, whitefish and burbot. Fishing with a simple rod and line is free; for lure fishing, people aged 18–69 pay the national fisheries management fee. We’re happy to help you get the right licence.

  Your route, ready on the tablet

  Tell us what you love – beaches, nature, farm shops, fishing or the canals – and we load a ready-made route onto your boat’s Navionics tablet, even before you arrive.

  See our houseboats · Check availability

  We reserve the right to change offers and terms.
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  Houseboat hire without a licence: how it works in Finland

  09/10/2026

  You don’t need a boating licence – or any experience – to rent one of our houseboats in Finland. All you need is a sense of adventure.

  How it works

  At handover in our harbour in Heinola (Satamatie 4) you get a one-hour captain’s course: engine, steering, mooring, anchoring and Finnish channel markers. Then you take the helm.

  • The skipper and the deputy skipper must be at least 18.
  • Our houseboats are stable catamarans with outboard engines and cruise at a gentle 6–7 km/h.
  • Every boat has a tablet with Navionics charts, and we load your route onto it in advance.
  • Our harbour team is a phone call or a WhatsApp message away for your whole trip.

  Why Finland?

  • Space: Lake Päijänne is Finland’s second-largest lake – you won’t share your bay with dozens of other boats.
  • Sauna on board: every boat has a wood-fired sauna on the back deck, with the lake right next to it.
  • Moor almost anywhere: with their shallow draught, our boats can moor at nearly any island. Many islands have public rest areas with jetties, fire places and firewood.
  • Everyman’s right: you may pick berries and mushrooms freely.
  • White nights: in June it hardly gets dark.

  What does it cost?

  Prices are per boat per day, not per person, including 25.5 % VAT: from €465 for the NS 21 Eco-Wood (2–4 guests) up to €810 for the NS 42 DeLuxe (up to 8 guests). Minimum stay 3 days. Season: 1 May – 31 October.

  FAQ

  Is it really legal without a licence? Yes. No boating licence is required in Finland for leisure boats of this kind, and our captain’s course is included in every rental.

  What if the weather turns? We give you clear rules: normal cruising up to 6 m/s of wind, sheltered water only at 6–8 m/s, and above 8 m/s you stay moored. You should be moored by 9 pm at the latest.

  Can we bring children? Yes – there are lifejackets in children’s sizes on board.

  See our houseboats · Book now

  We reserve the right to change offers and terms.
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  Season 2027 is open – book your houseboat now!

  01/10/2026

  Online booking for season 2027 is open!

  Season: 1 May – 31 October 2027. Check-in any day of the week, 15:00–18:00; check-out by 10:00.

  Prices from €465 per boat per day – not per person, incl. 25.5 % VAT. Minimum rental 3 days.

  Every houseboat has a real wood-fired Finnish sauna on board – and no boating licence is needed: a 1-hour captain's course is included.

  Book online at houseboat.fi or contact us: info@houseboat.fi · +358 40 164 6168 (also WhatsApp).
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  Try & Buy

  15/01/2025

  Experience Before You Own! Rent a premium houseboat and if you decide to purchase your own, Nordic Season will deduct your rental cost from the price of a brand-new houseboat. Start your journey today!

  Discover More at NordicSeason.fi

  Discover Nordic Season houseboats →
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  Book your summer houseboat holiday in Finland

  08/12/2023

  
  📆 Our online booking is open now!
  We invite you to explore one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world! This holiday is all about lakes, nature and adventure!
  Rent a Houseboat and conquer the Päijänne Tavastia region by your own - you are the captain, only you decide where and when you want to go! Houseboat accommodates 2-8 people, depending on the model. On the back deck of the boat, you can relax in an original Finnish wood-heated sauna.
  All our houseboats are based in Heinola and all hires must depart from and return to our marina at Heinola harbor.
  Visit our web site for more details or contact us: info@houseboat.fi! @finlandhouseboat
  #visitfinland #houseboating #summer #fishingtrip #adventureawaits
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  Our new base in Heinola!

  14/06/2023

  Our houseboats are now based in Heinola, about 140 km north of Helsinki. The harbour lies in a naturally sheltered bay at Satamatie 4 and is the gateway to the unspoilt islands and nature of Lake Päijänne.

  The nearest K-Citymarket is just a few minutes from the harbour, so it is easy to stock up before you set off, and parking is free.

  Our experienced team supports you throughout your trip – from the captain’s course to route planning.

  Welcome to Heinola!
  Team Houseboat Finland