Helsinki&Porvoo Tour with Private Transportation & Personal Guide

Avoid this tour

I must say over a lot of tours and cruises, this is the worst trip ever undertaken. 6 adults in a small passenger van. The middle seat had to be folded down to enable 2 adults to get into the back. No visible sign of seatbelts there either. Front right seat immovable and no window working there. Our driver was hospitable despite going to the wrong location and only slightly late. When we saw the car we all commented on its small size. 6 people are very angry and despite communication with the supplier, they weren't in the slightest bit interested. Very disappointing. Framed up in the back we saw a lot of churches again. Not really interested. We declined. All had admission fees. We travelled around trying to see sights out of tiny windows. Hopeless. Onto Porvoo. 50k away. Would have been fine in a suitable vehicle but this wasn't suitable. The weather was poor and we stopped by the river to view the old buildings. The rest of the tour was done from the vehicle. We didn't get the opportunity to fully explore Poorvoo. We were given an hour for lunck, shopping etc but thar didnt give us the time to really explore. Not much point there. Back to Helsinki for one more stop. Tour over. Waste of money. Avoid!!! 2 other couples will be wrinting similar reviews on Viator as well.

Response from the operator: Thank you for your review. However, we strongly disagree with your portrayal of the experience and would like to clarify a few important facts. Our vehicle is a new, larger passenger van introduced following previous customer feedback about our former saloon car. It accommodates six passengers, and we have been using it for two months without similar complaints. All seatbelts are functional. While we understand that comfort is subjective, this does not automatically make the vehicle unsuitable. Secondly, this is a shared guided transportation service, not an exclusively private tour. This is clearly stated on our booking platform and ticket. Combining bookings allows us to offer a more affordable service. Regarding pickup, the address provided was incorrect, requiring our driver to request your location directly. Nevertheless, the driver arrived within the designated pickup time frame. When your concerns were raised, our driver contacted us, and despite the normal refund period having expired, we offered a refund as a gesture of goodwill. This offer was declined, and you chose to continue with the tour. Requesting a refund again after completing the tour does not change the fact that we attempted to resolve the matter at the time. We take legitimate feedback seriously, but we also believe reviews should reflect the full circumstances fairly. We regret that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we stand by the service advertised and the efforts made to address your concerns.

via Tripadvisor

Okay, if you enjoy cuddling up to people and spending time sitting on somebody’s lap

While the tour itself was ok , unfortunately the mode of Transport made it very uncomfortable for six adults. When we booked they said it was for a private tour, we then received a message to say it was for six people which was okay. We were happy to share, but when the vehicle arrived it was a small vehicle. Whilst they said it could accommodate seven that was not taking into account that two people had to climb over seats to get into the back and the front seat, accommodating a very tall man, could not be put back further without hitting the ladies behind in the middle row. The man in the front seat was a tall and his knees were forced into the dashboard the whole trip. Being older people it was a significant struggle to climb over seating to get in and out of the vehicle it was squashy and because it was just an ordinary van , if the seats were on the wrong side of the vehicle we couldn’t see the sites . I could not recommend this trip for any more than four people and trying to put six people in such a squishy vehicle making everybody uncomfortable and unhappy was not conducive to a pleasant day. I would suggest looking elsewhere for a company that is concerned for its customers comfort and well-being Instead of trying to make as much money as possible at the expense of the clients comfort

Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with aspects of your experience. However, we would like to clarify a few points to ensure that future customers have an accurate understanding of our service. Firstly, the vehicle used for the tour is a van designed to accommodate six passengers. We recently upgraded from a saloon car to this larger vehicle following previous feedback from customers who wanted more space. We have been using this van for approximately two months, and this is the first complaint of this nature we have received. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that comfort can vary depending on passengers. Secondly, we would like to clarify the distinction between a private tour and private transportation. Our service provides affordable transportation between Helsinki and Porvoo with a guide, allowing guests to explore both destinations without the inconvenience of public transport or the higher cost of booking an exclusively private tour. While some groups may enjoy a tour exclusively on their own(private) we occasionally combine bookings as part of our shared-tour arrangement. This distinction is clearly written on our platform and included in your booking ticket. Regarding the pickup, the address initially provided was incorrect. Our driver therefore had to request your location directly to ensure a successful pickup. Despite this inconvenience, the driver arrived within the designated pickup time frame. When concerns about the vehicle were raised, the driver promptly contacted our company. Although the usual refund period had passed, we offered a refund as a gesture of goodwill. This offer was declined, and the group chose to proceed with the tour. The tour was subsequently completed, including the visit to Porvoo. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were poor that day, and the group chose not to get out of the vehicle at certain points. We take all customer feedback seriously and always aim to provide a safe, enjoyable, and comfortable experience. While we regret that the vehicle did not meet your expectations, we believe it is important to present the full context, including the assistance provided, the refund offer made, and the decision to continue with the tour, and requesting refund even after completing the tour. We appreciate your feedback and will continue reviewing our service to improve the experience for future guests. We also encourage prospective customers to review the details of our shared transportation and guided tour arrangements before booking, so that the nature of the service meets their expectations.

via Viator

Excellent Tour!

EXCELLENT SERVICE AND KNOWLEDGE! A nice driving tour of Helsinki with stops, then off to Porvoo! Thanks Solomon! ;)

via Viator

This is a scam.

This is not a tour. The sites in Helsinki and Porvoo are closed when you arrive. What a waste of $600 for my friends and I.

Response from the operator: We respectfully disagree with the claim that this was not a tour. Our guide provided a guided sightseeing experience in both Helsinki and Porvoo, visiting the major landmarks and cathedrals in Helsinki, including an additional drop-off at Uspenski Cathedral. The guide also accompanied the guests through Porvoo Old Town, explaining its history and landmarks along the way. In Porvoo, the guests saw the famous red riverside houses and Porvoo Cathedral and had approximately one hour to explore the charming Old Town on foot. Throughout the journey between Helsinki and Porvoo, our guide provided historical commentary and explanations, ensuring the guests understood the places they were visiting. Our tour is a sightseeing and cultural experience, not a promise that every attraction will be open for interior visits. The guests were taken to the advertised destinations and had time to see and explore the major highlights. During the tour, they appeared happy, smiled, and gave the impression that they were enjoying the experience. We regret that the guests subsequently expressed dissatisfaction, but we believe it is important to clarify that the tour was delivered, the attractions were visited, and guided commentary was provided throughout. We therefore respectfully disagree with the assertion that the experience was not a tour or that the money paid was entirely wasted.

via Viator

Disappointing 😞

Extremely disappointing. I booked and paid for this tour then I received an email to say I was the only booking. The email asked if I was prepared to pay an additional 70 euro on top of the 105 euro I had already paid as I was the only booking and it would be a private tour. I said no. So initially I was told that I would be picked up at my hotel at 9.00. Next message said that pick up would be 10.30. Just after 10.30 I received a message to say that they still hadn't received any more bookings so they said that they would wait till 12.00 before deciding if my tour would go ahead. I was very angry as I had already wasted 1.5 hours waiting for a decision. I was not prepared to wait another 2 hours. My time in Helsinki was limited and I wanted to maximise my time. So I said please cancel my reservation and refund my payment. I ended up getting the local bus which was incredibly cheaper. I would recommend that people do this. Once in Porvoo it was very easy to walk around and to see the points of interest. I was not impressed. Wouldn't recommend you use this company. Disappointing that Trip Adviser is aligned with this tour company.

Response from the operator: Thank Our Helsinki & Porvoo tour is a shared small-group experience, not a guaranteed private tour. As you were the only confirmed participant, we offered a €70 upgrade to a private tour, while respecting your decision to retain your original booking. Operating a tour involves significant costs, including diesel, parking, vehicle maintenance and a professional guide. With diesel costs equivalent to approximately US$10.70 per US gallon in our calculations, operating the tour for one person at the shared-tour price would result in a substantial loss. We therefore tried to find additional participants before making a final decision. While public transportation is certainly a cheaper alternative, it does not include the direct transportation and guided historical commentary that our tour provides. We acknowledge that the changes in pickup time and uncertainty were frustrating, our intention was to make the tour possible at the original price, not to pressure you into paying more. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify our position.

via Tripadvisor