Forest Tales & TrailsHelsinki · Espoo
Echoes of the ice age
The land the glaciers carved, and the stories we told about them. Two routes through landscapes the ice left behind — an easy ridge in Helsinki, or a longer coastal trail in Espoo.
From €189 per personSee all group sizes →
© Anneliina Sipiläinen
The experience
This is where geology meets mythology — walk with me where ice age glaciers once roared back and forth forming a ridge, or where giants were once said to throw boulders.
We meet at your hotel and drive out to Kallahti ridge in Helsinki, or Hanikka in Espoo — you choose which.
Out there I show you how the glaciers shaped the ground under your feet, and the erratic boulders the ice carried and dropped where it stopped. Then I tell you what people believed about them before anyone could explain them.
We stop for a Finnish break with juice and pulla I’ve baked that morning, walk on a while, and I drive you back to your hotel.
For a 7–8 hour option including the Giant’s pots (Askolan hiidenkirnut), see Treecreeper’s day trip.
Where we go
- Kallahti ridgeHelsinki
A sandy ice age ridge with sea on both sides and bright pine forest along the spine. The land here is still rising out of the sea: ground that was seabed two centuries ago is coastal meadow now.
Easy - HanikkaEspoo
A coastal trail where we may visit Bronze Age burial site and a birdwatching tower over the bay. Difficulty depends on the group and can be adjusted to more and less challenging..
Medium
What’s included
Included
- Private transfer from your hotel or an agreed pick-up point, and back
- Four hours of guiding, just your group
- The vehicle stays with us throughout, so we can change plans with the weather
- A guided, hands-on walk where you hear, feel, see and smell the forest, not just pass through it
- A break with Finnish berry juice and homemade pulla, the sweet cardamom bun
- Ice age landscapes, and how to read them
Not included
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Additional meals or snacks
Before you come
What to bring
- A bottle of water per person
- Weather-appropriate clothing and a hat
- Sturdy shoes
Who it suits
Easy in Kallahti, medium to demanding in Espoo. Suitable for ages 7 and up.
Before you book
We go out in all weather, unless I judge it too harsh. Some rain gear is available to borrow or buy.
Weather, kit and who a trip suits — see the frequently asked questions.
Every trip is guided by Anski. More about your guide
Pricing
Every price is per person and covers everything listed under What's included above.
- Just you€495per personTotal€495
- Two of you€255per personTotal€510
- Three of you€210per personTotal€630
- Best valueFour of you€189per personTotal€756
- Five or moreLarger vehicle neededAsk about your group
Sundays on request, 30% more per person.
No payment now — we confirm the date and details with you first.
What a lovely hike at Hanikka nature trail! It was fascinating how the Ice Age has left its mark on the trail. I came away with a great feeling and noticed so many things in nature that I probably would have missed on my own. I highly recommend it!
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Treecreeper’s day trip
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