This summer, Cimarosa Cultuurreizen returns to Finland for the fourth time. Not a standard music tour, but a unique expedition that brings nature, culture and music together in perfect harmony. Cimarosa is the only Belgian travel organization offering this experience. The journey combines vibrant Helsinki with the enchanting Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, one of Europe's most distinctive and beloved chamber music festivals.
Three reasons not to miss this trip
Nature
Finland is the land of a thousand lakes, endless forests and shimmering silence. In Kuhmo, where the journey culminates, you immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Finnish interior, on the shore of a lake, surrounded by taiga and sunlight that barely sets.
Music
The Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival is no ordinary event. Over three days you attend three concerts daily, performed by more than a hundred young, passionate musicians from across Europe. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, the repertoire original and surprising. Alongside iconic works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Jean Sibelius and Franz Schubert, you will also hear Scandinavian gems and contemporary compositions — from Zigeunerweisen to Living Room Music by John Cage. The journey begins in Helsinki, the design capital of the north. Art Nouveau districts, neoclassical palaces, modernist masterpieces by Alvar Aalto and contemporary art succeed one another in a harmony that is distinctly Finnish: clear, poetic and powerful.
The itinerary: from capital to concert village
Day 1: Brussels – Helsinki (19 July)
After the direct flight to Helsinki, you check in at the comfortable Scandic Simonkenttä Hotel (****), in the heart of the city centre. A first city walk introduces you to the neoclassical grandeur of Senate Square and the iconic Cathedral by Carl Engel. In the evening you dine at the hotel.
Day 2: Helsinki (20 July)
With an experienced guide, you discover the art and architecture of three centuries. From the Russian Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral to the work of Aalto, you experience Helsinki as a crossroads of history and design. The day concludes with an exclusive private cruise on the Finnish Gulf, including dinner — a romantic view of the city in the soft light of the barely setting sun.
Day 3: Helsinki – Kajaani – Kuhmo (21 July)
A final cultural highlight in Helsinki: the Ateneum Museum with paintings by Edelfelt and Gallén-Kallela among others. In the afternoon you fly to Kajaani, followed by a bus ride to Kuhmo. There you stay four nights at Hotel Kalevala (****), idyllically situated on a lake, with wellness facilities included.
The music in Kuhmo
From day 4 onwards you are immersed in festival life. Musicologist and tour guide Arne Herman guides you daily through the musical programme. The concerts take place in the modern Kuhmo Arts Centre and the intimate Lutheran church.
Some highlights from the programme:
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Cantate BWV 211 by Johann Sebastian Bach (the famous 'Coffee Cantata')
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Chamber music by Julius Röntgen, Amanda Maier-Röntgen and Carl Nielsen
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Atmospheric songs by Edvard Grieg and Armas Järnefelt
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Lesser-known works by Finnish composers such as Ilkka Kuusisto and Oskar Merikanto
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Virtuoso cello sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss
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Contemporary gems such as Nordic Utopia (2025) by Seppo Kantonen and Oceano by Sebastian Fagerlund
The musical experience is interspersed with moments in nature. On day 6 you take a forest walk with a local guide, following the tracks of bears and other wildlife. Under the midnight sun you unwind afterwards with a drink by the lake or in the hotel's hot tub.
A journey for the senses
This Finland trip is more than a vacation. It is an immersion in a culture that seamlessly weaves nature and art together. Helsinki surprises with its versatility and refinement, Kuhmo moves with its simplicity and intensity. By day you fill your heart and mind with music, in the evening with light and silence.
The journey takes place from 19 to 25 July 2025 and is led by Arne Herman, who with passion and expertise ensures a profound musical experience. The Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival offers you a rare opportunity to experience a cross-section of European chamber music talent in one place. For more information and registration, visit www.cimarosa.be