Packraft and Wildcamp in Finland's Thousand Lakes

The following are not included in the trip cost:

• Travel to/from Finland
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance that covers rafting
• Tips for your guide (optional)

This trip will run a maximum of 8. There is no minimum group size for this trip.

Sure can! Lots of people do it and it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our Epic Weekends are very social in nature and we’ve seen lots of new friendships born out of them. Expect a mix of solo travelers and very small groups of 2 or 3, all with a shared appreciation of escaping the city for the great outdoors to try something new and meet new people.

Packrafting is a combination of paddling in light inflatable boats, then packing them up and hiking with them to access a new area. This trip has more paddling than hiking. Originating from wilderness travel in Alaska, packrafting is a bit of a niche sport but is gaining popularity fast. The whole paddling kit (raft, paddle, PFD and helmet) weighs under 5kg and packs down small so it’s easy to carry, yet packrafts are very capable boats, certainly not to be mistaken as pool toys. They are durable, stable and easy to paddle.

You do not need any paddling or hiking experience for this trip. Your guide will give you full instructions and a safety briefing at the start. You’ll just need an average level of fitness to handle approx 20km of relaxed paddling and some hiking.

While we are not packrafting, we are carrying all the stuff with our backpacks, but as we provide the tents, backpacks and sleeping bags, the overall weight is only about 10 kg including the packrafting gear. The guide and companions will also help with the gear as this is a group effort, so this is aimed to be very easily approachable tour to anyone who has a basic skills in swimming :)

Finnish cuisine blends traditional and modern continental foods for delicious and varied dining opportunities. Dishes commonly include fish, pork, beef or reindeer, but also involve lots of vegetables and mushrooms. Typical meals include cabbage rolls, hearty stews, meatballs, a fish prepared in a number of ways.

While camping the food will be simple, hearty, healthy and fresh.

Absolutely! Just let us know at booking.

From May to early June daytime temperatures are around 20°C. From mid-June to mid-September temperatures range from 15-25 °C. At the end of September the temperatures start to decline again.

Summer nights are very short and not really dark at all. From mid-August onward the nights get darker, revealing starry skies and sometimes even auroras—if you’re really lucky.

Not much! All packrafting, backpacks and camping equipment is included, so you’ll only need to bring:

• Lightweight, breathable clothes for paddling and hiking
• Sun protection (sunglasses, hat, sunblock)
• Thermal top and bottom
• Waterproof top and bottom
• Warm fleece, sweater or puffy
• Swimsuit and towel (if you’re brave!)
• Water bottle
• Packable camp pillow (optional)
• Shoes that can get wet, like Crocs, neoprene socks or “barefoot shoes”. No flip-flops.
• Sturdy, supportive hiking shoes (waterproof is ideal)
• Head torch
• Personal items

Children should be over 12 years of age and know how to swim. Prices for children are the same as for adults.

Start point?
You will be met at Tampere Airport. Your transfer will meet all flights scheduled to land by 16:45 or earlier. Your host will be in touch before the trip to finalise details.

End point?
You will be dropped off at Tampere Airport. You are free to book any flight that departs after 17:00. Your host will be in touch before the trip to finalise details.

Getting there and away?
Tampere–Pirkkala Airport (TMP) can be reached via a short internal flight with Finnair from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL). HEL is served by frequent, inexpensive flights from most major cities in Europe. You can get any flight that suits you, but make sure they fit the times above to take advantage of the included transfers.

For extra financial protection against unforeseen situations such as erupting Icelandic volcanoes, we recommend you book your flights using a credit card.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.