Christmas Journey – The Silence of Valamo & the Glow of Kuopio
Christmas Journey to Valamo Monastery and the Kuopio Christmas Market!
Experience a Christmas journey that combines the peaceful atmosphere of a monastery with the lively charm of a traditional Christmas market. This festive trip takes you to the spiritual tranquillity of Valamo Monastery and the warm, inviting Christmas spirit of the Kuopio Christmas Market — the perfect combination of relaxation, experiences, and traditional Finnish Christmas celebrations.
Matka Mäkelä’s Christmas journey will guide you on a visit to Valamo Monastery, one of Finland’s most significant Orthodox cultural sites. The monastery and its surroundings create a serene atmosphere that invites visitors to pause and embrace the spirit of Christmas. During the day, we will also visit the Kuopio Christmas Market, one of the most atmospheric Christmas markets in Eastern Finland. Its warm and cosy ambience makes it the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit.
Join us on this unforgettable Christmas journey to Valamo Monastery and the Kuopio Christmas Market — let the magic of Christmas carry you away!
Christmas Journey 12.12.2026
- Charter transportation by Matka Mäkelä Oy
- Lunch from the delicious Christmas buffet at Restaurant Trapesa, Valamo Monastery
- Christmas-themed visits and shopping destinations mentioned in the itinerary:
- Valamo Monastery
- Kuopio Christmas Market
- Services of Matka Mäkelä tour leader
- Administrative costs and VAT
Price of the trip
- 119 € / person
Club offer: 10€ discount per person valid until 10 November 2026!
Departure Date
- Saturday, 12 December 2026
Schedule
Bus Schedule – Sat 12 December
07:00 Keuruu, bus station
07:20 Petäjävesi, Kyläseppä bus stop
08:00 Jyväskylä, Travel Centre charter coach platform
Break during the journey.
11:00 Arrival at Valamo Monastery
13:00 Lunch at Restaurant Trapesa
14:00 Journey continues towards Kuopio
15:30 Kuopio Christmas Market
17:00 Return journey begins
Break during the journey.
Approx. 19:30 Arrival back in Jyväskylä
Approx. 20:30 Arrival back in Keuruu
Bookings
Bookings:
By 10 November 2026 at the latest! The trip requires a minimum of 30 participants to take place.
Free cancellation:
Until 10 November 2026.
Club Mäkelä:
Read more about our club, Club Mäkelä, here! Joining is easy — even at the time of booking!
The personal data provided for this trip will be transferred to cooperation partners and authorities essential for the booking and operation of the trip, both within and outside the EU/EEA. The processing of personal data complies with the principles of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). More information available here.
Premilinary programme
We will depart in the morning according to the schedule above towards our first Christmas destination: Valamo Monastery. There will be a break during the journey.
After lunch, our journey continues towards our second Christmas destination: the Kuopio Christmas Market, which has even been called the most beautiful Christmas market in Finland. The Kuopio Christmas Market places special emphasis on creating a festive atmosphere and decorative lighting; the entire market area is covered by a canopy of lights that creates a magical Christmas ambience.
In addition to the festive atmosphere, you can enjoy traditional Christmas delicacies, discover unique gifts, and experience the true joy of Christmas at the Kuopio Christmas Market.
You can read more about the Kuopio Christmas Market event and explore the vendors, which will be updated closer to the opening of the event, here.
