Challenge level: 3 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
4 July - 8 July 2024 | On Sale | |
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Duration | 5 days |
Join us in July 2024 for an awesome canoeing challenge in Finland.
Lapland is renowned for its mystical winters, but we’ll get the best of the Arctic summer. Shining sun, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches and acres of ancient woodland, ideal for wild camping!
No canoeing experience is needed and we’ll kick off with training and gear preparation. Then we’ll canoe for three days in the Oulanka National Park, where northern, southern and eastern nature collide.
Together with our awesome local experts, we’ll carry all the gear we need in our canoes and canoe over 37km on the Oulankajoki river, with two people per canoe. Canoeing by day, we’ll rest by night in rustic cabins and tents by the riverside, cook our meals together and swim under the late night sun.
Our challenge will not only teach us literal life lessons, like how to canoe, set up a secure wild camp and make tasty meals with an expedition cooker; it will also give us chances to look out for an amazing amount of wildlife.
Surrounded by hundreds of rare species, we may spot wild orchids, butterflies and all sorts of elusive animals, from birds to reindeer!
Conquering the challenge in a small group, you’ll form strong bonds with your teammates, make lifelong friendships and get fit, but the best part is that you’ll achieve an incredible feat for the charity of your choice.
Sustainable travel
Both Dream Challenges and our local experts believe nature is the most important thing on this planet.
Our amazing local challenge leaders for the Finland Canoeing Adventure do everything they can to ensure the lakes, forests and natural beauty can be enjoyed and preserved now and for generations to come.
Can't wait until 2024?
There's still time to join us in 2023! Find out more and secure your place here.
Pay the registration fee (£249) and challenge costs (£1,695) + airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £250).
£1,695
Pay the balance
Pay your registration fee (£249) and airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £250) and fundraise £3,390 or more for your chosen charity.
£3,390
Minimum sponsorship target
No previous canoeing experience is required, but you do need to be able to swim in cold, open water.
If you do get a chance to practice canoeing, the more comfortable and familiar you feel in a boat, the more you're likely to enjoy the challenge.
This trip is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
No previous canoeing experience is required, but you do need to be able to swim in cold, open water. If you do get a chance to practice canoeing, the more comfortable and familiar you feel in a boat, the more you're likely to enjoy the challenge.
We do not recommend this challenge if you suffer from back pain, epilepsy or heart problems. By the time the challenge comes around, you'll need to be reasonably strong in order to set up camp. Once you have signed up, we send you a realistic training programme, which gradually builds up as the challenge gets closer.
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up for this challenge on their own. Once you've registered, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone taking on the Finland Canoe Adventure.
Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow challengers on your training and fundraising.
You may also want to reach out to your fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.
We'll supply you with a comprehensive list of everything you will need to take on the challenge well before your departure date.
Some adventurers prefer not to buy personal outdoor summer clothing. If you are travelling light or just prefer not to add to your closet, our ground handlers in Finland are happy to offer a summer clothing gear rental package that will help to keep you warm and dry.
Preliminary booking is required to ensure appropriate sizes are available. The gear package (50€) includes:
Personal summer gear rental package: 50€
Your registration fee of £249 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
Your challenge costs of £1,695 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:
The group size is likely to be around 30 people.
Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about the Finland Canoe Adventure is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special.
Like the majority of our challenges, the Finland Canoe Adventure is for people aged 18+. However, 16-year-olds may be permitted to take part under the supervision of a responsible adult.
Please get in touch to discuss this with us.
The accommodation on the first and last night is at standard level summer cabins in Oulanka National Park. Bed linen, towels and access to the traditional wood-heated sauna are included.
During the challenge, on night 2, you'll be divided into small teams to share tents, with proper sleeping bags and sleeping mattresses in the tents. You'll also cook your own dinner with an expedition cooker, under the supervision of our local guides.
We organise our accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, which is included in the challenge cost.
However, if you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room/tent to yourself, please get in touch and we can arrange this for you.
Certainly. Our accommodation is included in your challenge cost on a twin-sharing basis.
However if you would prefer to have a room/tent to yourself and pay for a single supplement, we'll be happy to arrange this for you at an additional cost. Please note, this is NOT included in your challenge cost).
If you would like a single supplement, please get in touch by emailing us at customercare@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).
Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay, please let us know at least 14 weeks before our departure date and we can arrange this for you.
The easiest way to get in touch is by emailing us at customercare@dream-challenges.com or calling us on 01590 646410 (9am - 5pm Monday - Friday)
In addition to paying your registration fee of £249 and either self funding or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target, you will need to budget for:
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation.
We have found an insurance policy provider that covers you for this type of activity and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19 and we will send you the details once you register for the challenge.
You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a canoeing challenge in Finland.
Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate cover for your challenge.
Currently, UK nationals don't need a visa to visit Scandinavia. We'll let you know if this changes.
As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.
We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.
NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home
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