Information
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PRICE LIST 2025
Check in/ check out are available any day of the week! Minimum stay - 3 nights. All the houseboat ranges have different prices and it will depend on how long you would like to to rent a houseboat. Remember to select the houseboat you are interested in. The prices quoted are per houseboat, not per person! ☸ Enjoy our special offer – 20% off on all bookings more than 7 days and 50% off on all additional equipment on all bookings more than 7 days ☸ Follow our news, hot offers and promo codes in instagram #houseboatfinland.
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1. Where do the houseboats depart from?
All our houseboats are based in Heinola and all hires must depart from and return to our marina at Heinola harbor.
Harbor address: Hevossaarentie, 6, 18100, HEINOLA
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2. Where is Heinola?
Heinola is a resort town of 18,349 inhabitants located in the eastern part of the Päijänne Tavastia region, Finland.
Heinola is located halfway between Helsinki and Jyväskylä (140 km from each) on highway 4 (E75), some 40 km north of Lahti, and 100 km south-west of Mikkeli.
There are good coach connections especially along highway 4.
Magnificent nature and beautiful Lake Pajanne! Paradise for all fishers!
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3. How to arrive?
By car:
Drive road Е75, to get in Heinola. Turn at turn No. 23 in the direction of Heinola city center onto road No. 140 and at the first intersection turn left in the direction of "Hevossaari". Cross the bridge and after the Neste gas station (on the left next to K-Citymarket) turn right on the sign “Houseboat.fi AquaVillage”.
The harbor Houseboat.fi is located 270 meters from the turn along a forest road. You can park in the harbor short-time to unload your suitcases and then move your car to the parking. You can park your car for free on the parking near the entrance to the harbor or nearby K-Citymarket (400 meters from Houseboat.fi). Also near the K-Citymarket it is available fast charging for your electric car.
Link to see our location on the map: https://goo.gl/maps/xNZz3MD5hMHVUdUP6
By plane:
From Helsinki:
Arrive to Helsinki Airport and take a bus to Heinola (tickets and bus schedule www.matkahuolto.fi ). The busses have a direct connection between Helsinki Airport and Heinola. If you prefer train, take an airport bus or train to Tikkurila train station. After that, take a train to Lahti (train tickets www.VR.fi ). From Lahti to Heinola you can get by bus, by taxi (~70 euro) or by train. Also you can order in advance an individual transfer with us.
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4. Do I need a special license to rent a houseboat?
No, you just need to be over 18 years of age.
You also won’t need any prior experience in boating, as controlling the houseboats is very easy. All you need to do is to gather your crew, choose the skipper and participate in our skipper’s course, before heading out to the adventure! This is a unique opportunity to experience the skipper’s life at its best.
Before you’ll arrive, we’ll send you our Captain’s Handbook, which you can study to get familiarized with your houseboat beforehand. This manual also always travels with you on your boat, so you can count on having the instructions with you all the time. In case of any trouble, our harbor staff will be only a phone call away – we’re here to make sure everything goes smoothly on your holiday!
Our trained harbor staff at our base are experienced in boating and are well familiarized with the Finnish lakes. During the skipper’s course, you will learn how to operate the houseboat, how to moor and anchor, what are the specialities of this type of boat and how to operate the technical items of the boat. We’ll also teach you and your crew the principles of safety on water, make sure everything functions well in your boat and instruct you on special types of boating, such as going through a lock. Our skipper will also give you the best insights of Lake Päijänne and surroundings, so you can be sure to find the finest places to escape to your own peace, find the finest fishing spots or places of interest for visiting: museums, shops, exhibitions, sport resorts (for example golf), national park, natural and historical objects (for example, cave paintings over 6,000 years old).
A Houseboat Holiday is great fun for all ages! Nature’s closeness provides great possibilities for exciting summer activities to share with your family.
In a houseboat, children have adequate space to play while the houseboat travels along the clean waterways of Finland. Even small children can enjoy the relaxing lake environment! Houseboats are equipped with all necessary security devices and messaging systems.
With elder crew members, we recommend to pay attention to possible medical conditions and the general strength, have all the necessary medicines with you, make a route not far from the shore with transport accessibility.
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5. Can I travel alone?
We strongly recommend at least two persons per houseboat (preferably one who’s more than 15 years old) as it’s much easier to control the houseboat with helping hands.
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6. Can I bring pets on board?
Yes, this option is available in case of booking in advance, and it needs to be paid extra.
Since all our houseboats are safe for allergy sufferers, after the pet is on board, we will have to do an expensive hypoallergenic treatment of the houseboat.
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7. Is there a security bond?
Yes. When you board the houseboat you will be required to pay a damage deposit of €2500 by cash or card. From the damage deposit, we will deduct possible damages. The damage deposit will be returned after the houseboat has been returned, and our team has checked it.
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8. What’s included in the rental price?
The houseboat with all the equipment mentioned in its description.
- Introduction of the houseboat (including one-hour Captain’s training course and introduction for houseboat’s and safety equipment, rules of conduct on Finnish waters).
- Easy-to-use navigation system as well as electronic and paper lake maps.
- Planning the routes and giving recommendations based on your preferences.
- It’s also possible to program the selected route in the navigator (Navionics).
- A small inflatable Dinghy boat (3 m long) for free for easy landing, max for 4 people. Optionally, you can rent a boat with a 2.5 hp engine
- Customer support by phone (WhatsApp, Telegram).
- End cleaning
- VAT 24%
- The rental price excludes transportations, or other additional services. (unless ordered beforehand). After the rental, the consumed fuel also has to be paid by filling up the tank according to usage.
- A houseboat is provided for rent with full fuel tanks, at the end of the lease, it must be returned with a full tank (refueling is available at Heinola harbour).
Our employees can refuel the houseboat for an additional fee of 25 Euros (+ the cost of fuel).
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9. What additional activities and services can I include to my holiday?
If you need additional services, such as bed linens and towels, or taxi transfers from airport or railway station, let us know and we’ll take care of everything.
If you feel like having an active holiday – this is your change to experiment with several water-based activities! Would you like to try paddling through the lakes with a kayak? It is definitely an experience to remember, as you’ll almost become one with the pure waters. If you feel like trying some SUP-boarding or sail boarding, challenge yourself and train your balance. The equipment travels easily with you on your houseboat!
You can also rent mountain bikes with you and make the most of them by visiting national parks and nature trails. Biking is also the best way to reach the attractions on your route!
We also offer a selection of fishing gears for rent, if you’ve ever wanted to try your luck with fish catching. A houseboat is an excellent way to travel to the best spots for fishing. The best of all is that you can easily prepare a delicious meal after the end of the day at your houseboat kitchen or on a gas barbecue grill!
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10. When and where can I check in and out?
The houseboats are located in Heinola. Your houseboat will be available to you on the day of arrival starting from 3 to 6 pm (earlier check in can be requested in advance at extra fee and depends on houseboat availability). Our staff will be waiting you at your houseboat.
The check-out time is at 10.00/10 AM on the departure date (later check in can be requested in advance at extra fee and depends on houseboat availability). The houseboat should be returned back to base with a full fuel tank, which our staff is glad to help you with.
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11. Where should I go with my houseboat? What could I see and experience?
The average speed of movement of a houseboat is 6-7 kilometers per hour, while the fuel reserve even on the smallest of them (144 liters) will be enough for a trip of up to 250 kilometers without additional refueling. Large houseboats are equipped with tanks for 350 liters of fuel
Routes are offered based on your preferences and needs.
The Finnish lakes of Central Finland offer endless possibilities for exploring undiscovered islands, sailing through the blue labyrinth of the pure waters and finding the peace like nowhere else. If you feel like you are needing a take-off from the everyday life, head out to the uncrowded waters of Lake Päijänne.
Päijänne National Park is located in the center of the Finland's second largest lake. The heart of the park, Kelvenne is one of the largest and most impressive islands in Finland. As a place for hiking, Kelvenne is a real treasure trove of nature. Tourists can enjoy pure water, beautiful sandy beaches, beautiful bays that offer boaters protected natural harbors in addition to scenery.
Also in the park you can find Stone and Bronze Age landmarks, barrows and cave paintings over 6,000 years old.
National parks are protected areas, managed by Parks & Wildlife Finland, so there are certain rules that our employees will familiarize you with.
Päijänne National Park is also part of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark.
Another significant and famous landscape landmark of the park is the row of ridge islands Pulkkilanharju that serves as the southeast gate of the national park. The park also includes part of the island Paatsalo, from the highest point of which there is a magnificent view of the largest ridge of Päjänne, Tehinselkä.
Along the route there are museums, exhibitions, several restaurants and bars, supermarkets, a zoo with local and exotic animals as well as farmers' products. An old farm in the village of Kalkkinen offers its visitors not only to try local products and berries, as well as liqueurs and sparkling wines made according to traditional Finnish recipes.
In addition, along your route you can visit museums of local culture and life, as well as historical sights of the region.
Special public places for recreation on the islands deserve special mention. They are equipped with piers, wood-burning grills with a supply of firewood, shelter from rain and wind, and often an outdoor toilet.
But taking into account the peculiarities of our houseboats, you can park to almost any of the islands you like (available islands are marked in the navigation equipment of the houseboat) and pick mushrooms and berries yourself (no license is required in Finland).
For sports enthusiasts, we offer a large selection of equipment for rent (kayaks, bicycles, SUP), you can also play golf at the Vierumaki Sports Center, on world-class courses. Golf equipment can be cheaply rented directly from the sports center. The sports center is located 4 kilometers from the possible parking lot of the houseboat (20 minutes by bicycles along forest trails).
Along the route in the direction of Kouvola, you can go through a unique lock with a water drop of 12 meters, and then swim along the canal through a tunnel 80 meters long, cut through a rock.
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12. What is provided on the houseboat and what do I need to bring?
Packing for a houseboat holiday is very easy – we offer mostly everything, you’ll need on board! All of our houseboats have the needed amenities for comfortable living on waters.
Along the equipment and boating items, the kitchens of the houseboats are well-equipped with plenty of cooking supplies and cutlery, so there’s no need to reduce your usual cooking habits. The boats also have cleaning equipment and -fluids, toilet paper and hand soap, pillows and blankets, gas and one bag of wood for sauna.
The rental excludes bed linens and towels, which can be easily rented from us at the base, or in advance. If you need additional bags of wood, you can easily buy them from us at our base.
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13. Do the houseboats have electricity and hot water? Do I need an adapter?
The houseboats have a modern equipment and have full electricity and heating. The power used is 230V, so depending on the origin country, an adapter might be needed. The taps have cold and hot water. The houseboat takes the water straight from the lake, and it goes through a filter first, so it can be used/boiled for tea/ coffee and cooking. Drinkable water we recommend buying.
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14. How about Wi-Fi?
Almost a whole lake area is covered by a WI-Fi-connection, so internet can be accessed anywhere you go. This applies also to mobile phones.
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15. Packing list for your holiday:
Food: All the ingredients for the meals you’re planning to prepare on your journey
Coffee or tea, if you prefer, coffee filters
Spices (salt, pepper, anything else you’re used to use)
Cooking oil, or olive oil
If you’re planning to stay for a long time, don’t worry about shopping the groceries all at once – there are several markets on your way, in which you can have the supplement needed!
Toiletries and necessary clothes for a comfortable trip (the temperature on the water may be less comfortable than on the shore)
We provide eco-friendly biodegradable shampoos, shower gels as well as dishwashing products as well as insect protection.
Fishing gear (you can also rent them from us) and if necessary, we will help to issue a fishing license.
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16. How’s fishing in Finland? Do I need licenses?
Finland is paradise for all fishers. The country is covered in numerous kinds of clean freshwater lakes: one tenth of Finland is made up of lakes, rivers and ponds. All in all, there are 187 888 lakes and 647 rivers in Finland. Finland has about 1100 kilometers of sea shoreline without including the countless inland islands and little inlets along them. Renting a houseboat gives you a perfect access to these vast waters!
Lake Päijänne a excellent place for fishing. Lake Päijänne is Finland’s the second largest lake. The Finnish lakes and shores covered with reeded bays, beaches and shallow waters are perfect for fishing.
The most abundant fish in the Finnish lakes are pike, perch, pike-perch, whitefish, burbot, and bream. In the spring and fall when the lake water is colder, trout and salmon are more easily caught. In the summer the trout and the salmon swim in much deeper water.
In Finland, having the age between 18-64, means that fishing with anything other than a hook and line, the national fisheries management fee has to be paid. We’re glad to help with the license.
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17. What am I allowed to do in the nature?
In Finland, we have a concept called “Everyman’s rights”. Everyman’s rights refer to everyman’s right to spend time in nature regardless of who owns the area.
Everyman’s rights and Finland’s lush forests and watercourses offer the ideal setting for actively enjoying nature. The use of nature under everyman's rights therefore does not require the permission of the landowner and using the rights does not cost anything. Different laws may grant, guide or restrict everyman’s rights.
Everyman’s rights mean that you can:
- Walk, ski and cycle in nature, including in forests, natural meadows and water bodies.
- Go horse riding in nature provided that you do not harm the environment.
- Stay and set up camp temporarily in areas where access is otherwise allowed.
- Pick wild berries, mushrooms and plants provided that they are not protected species.
- Swim and go boating in waterways and move around on frozen waterways.
- Catch fish by hook and line fishing or ice-fishing.
Everyman’s rights do not give you a right to:
- Light a fire on somebody else’s land.
- Violate the privacy of other people’s homes, for example by camping too close to their houses or making noise.
- Cut down or damage growing trees.
- Drive a motor vehicle off the road.
- Walk in private gardens or planted or cultivated fields.
- Collect dry wood or fallen trees.
- Firewood for saunas cannot be taken from equipped places for making fire. These firewood are only for use at the campfire site.
- Collect moss or lichen.
- Disturb or harm birds' nests or chicks.
- Disturb animals.
- Interfere with a landowner's land use.
- Fish and hunt without the appropriate permits.
- Allow your dog to go to a public beach, a playground for children, a maintained ski track or a sports field.
- Let your dog off the leash in a built-up area, or on an exercise track or someone else’s land.
- Keep your dog unleashed between 1 March and 19 August.