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The Finland Kayak Adventure 2022

Challenge level: 3 out of 5

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When can I go?

7 July - 11 July 2022 On Sale
Duration 5 days

What does it cost?

Registration fee (payable today) Info $75

flexible payments on all 2021 and 2022 dream challenges

For the whole of February, instead of paying your full registration fee at once, you can break it down into two easy installments:

  • Today: Secure a place on your challenge for £100.
  • 28th February: Pay your remaining registration fee balance of £99.

You can then choose to self fund the challenge costs or raise a minimum sponsorship target for your chosen charity up until 12 weeks before your departure.

Alternatively, you can pay your whole registration fee and challenge costs right away and enjoy a fantastic 5% off your challenge costs. Simply call us on 01590 646410 to get in on this special offer.

Remaining amount
Total commitment Info

Please note the total commitment amount listed above doesn't include the second instalment of your registration fee (£99) due on 28th February.

The Finland Kayak Adventure 2022

flexible payments on all 2021 and 2022 dream challenges

For the whole of February, instead of paying your full registration fee at once, you can break it down into two easy installments:

  • Today: Secure a place on your challenge for £100.
  • 28th February: Pay your remaining registration fee balance of £99.

You can then choose to self fund the challenge costs or raise a minimum sponsorship target for your chosen charity up until 12 weeks before your departure.

Alternatively, you can pay your whole registration fee and challenge costs right away and enjoy a fantastic 5% off your challenge costs. Simply call us on 01590 646410 to get in on this special offer.

The Challenge

Join us in the Land of the Midnight Sun for our short and sweet kayaking escape!

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 fairy tale forests, ideal for wild camping!

No kayaking experience is needed and we’ll kick off with a day of training and wilderness preparation. Then we head our compasses East and navigate as a team across the pristine waters of Lake Livojärvi.

Together with our awesome local experts, we’ll carry all the gear we need in our boats and conquer over 40km in three days. Kayaking by day, we’ll wild camp by night, learn to cook with an expedition cooker and swim under the midnight sun. We may even spot reindeer!

Your itinerary

Day 1
London – Rovaniemi - Posio, Lapland

We first meet at the airport in London for our flight to Finland. Touching down in Rovaniemi in the late afternoon, we’re welcomed to the Arctic by our fab team of local ground handlers. From there, we transfer to the adventure camp in the countryside. Nestled in the rolling green hills and forests of Posio, we become immediately immersed in the magic of the Arctic summer.

Once settled, our ground handlers serve us a homemade welcome dinner – and then the excitement begins!

Together with our experienced instructors, we review our route and safety plan and go through the gear we’ll use throughout our adventure. We make sure we know how to use the equipment and that we have everything we need to stay warm, dry and happy.

Now buzzing for the challenge ahead, we end the day with a traditional Finnish sauna, followed by a swim in the Lake Livojärvi! We sleep tonight in the adventure camp cabins.

Day 2
Adventure Camp, Posio - Lake Livojärvi | approx. 12km/ 7 miles

Now our challenge prep begins in earnest. Commencing the day with a hearty homemade breakfast at camp, we head to the lake and hop in kayaks for a brief intro to the sport.

No previous kayaking is necessary for this challenge, as we’ll go through the basics now, paddling forwards, backwards and sideways. We also have some fun capsizing our own boats and learning how to rescue both ourselves and each other. If you’re already a keen kayaker, you can perfect your stroke and get used to the boats we’ll be using throughout our challenge.

After lunch, we split into pairs to prepare our gear and food for the challenge ahead. Together with our challenge experts, we then head our compasses East and start our expedition.

Clambering back into our kayaks, now packed with all our challenge gear, we push off into the clear waters of Lake Livojärvi and just keep paddling. Once we reach our first longer rest stop, we catch our breath, stretch our legs and learn how to build an open fire, with guidance from our challenge experts.

Then it’s back in the boats to conquer a second stretch to our night’s camp. Arriving in the late afternoon, we will pitch our tents by the lakeside. This evening, we cook our own dinner with an expedition cooker, under the supervision of our pro wilderness chef.

Day 3
Lake Livojärvi | approx. 12km/ 7 miles

Waking up to breakfast at our beautiful lake-side camp, we pack up and leave no trace behind us. We then continue kayaking westward until we reach one of Lapland’s most beautiful roads. This gives us a break from the boats as we will have a longer break on a sandy beach, hoping to spot reindeer enjoying the sunshine along the way!

After lunch, we clamber back into our kayaks and paddle still westwards, stopping for lunch along the way. We reach a tranquil, sandy beach, known as “the Lappish Riviera” in the late afternoon: a stunning place to set up camp.

We end the day making our dinner, with a view of the crystal waters, fringed with golden sand and pine forests. Tonight, we have the opportunity to wind down and connect with nature under a midnight sun, with a mindfulness-style relaxation exercise, led by our local guides.

Day 4
Lake Livojärvi | approx. 17km/ 10.5 miles

It’s our last and longest day on the lake and we are raring to go! Leaving the Lappish Riviera, as always with no trace, we set our compasses East and paddle back towards the base camp in Posio. We conquer a whopping ten miles today, but the fairy tale scenery enchants us all the way.

Making the most of our final day in sparkling waters and wild forest, we stop for a long, lake-side lunch. Then it’s one last stretch to our finish line! We reach the adventure base camp in the afternoon and after gear maintenance, you’re free to relax. Why not soothe those muscles with a well-deserved sauna and swim in the lake?

This evening, we meet back up for our celebration dinner and award ceremony. There’s no cooking or pitching tents for us tonight and we enjoy a good night’s sleep in the comfortable cabins.

Day 5
Posio – Rovaniemi - UK

After breakfast, we bid goodbye to the land of the Midnight Sun and transfer to the Rovaniemi airport for our flight home. We part ways at the airport in London, free to make our own way home.

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Funding options

Self Funded

Pay your registration fee and your challenge costs yourself.

$2,249

Pay the balance

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £199 when you book, which is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
  • Pay the challenge cost of £1,499 yourself 12 weeks before the challenge starts.
  • The challenge costs cover flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, approx. £120), your food, accommodation, transfers, specialist canoeing and camping equipment hire, guides and medical support, including two doctors and canoeing/kayaking instructors.
  • Choose to fundraise as much as you can or make a personal donation to the charity, hospice or animal sanctuary of your choice.
  • Please also remember to budget for airport taxes and fuel surcharge (approx. £120).
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Sponsorship

Pay your registration fee and raise the minimum target for your chosen charity.

$4,497

Minimum sponsorship target

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £199 when you book, which is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
  • Fundraise the minimum sponsorship target of £2,998 for a charity, hospice or animal sanctuary of your choice.
  • Your charitable funds must be paid in 12 weeks before your challenge starts.
  • Providing you have raised the funds, the charity you are supporting will pay the challenge costs (£1,499) on your behalf.
  • The challenge costs cover flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, approx. £120), your food, accommodation, transfers, specialist canoeing and camping equipment hire, guides and medical support, including two doctors and canoeing/kayaking instructors.
  • Please also remember to budget for airport taxes and fuel surcharge (approx. £120).
  • Please note that not all charities are happy to commit to the minimum sponsorship option. If you choose this option, we contact the charity you want to support on your behalf. If they are not happy with the minimum sponsorship option, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
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FAQs
The Finland Kayak Adventure 2022

As we hope you know, the health and safety of our participants is always - and has always been - our highest priority.

Our team of experts here at Dream Challenges has created a brilliant 14-step initiative, to minimise the risk of coronavirus and maximise your safety. Please click here to see our ground-breaking plan and rest assured that you're safe booking with us.

With even the government unsure how exactly the coronavirus situation will eventuate, we can't make any guarantees; but we can promise you that we will always put your health and security first and will always be just and flexible in any decisions we have to make, regarding postponements and transfers.

 

Absolutely! As part of our amazing 14-step initiative to minimise the risk of coronavirus and maximise your safety on all our challenges we're delighted to have found a fantastic travel insurance policy, which covers you for COVID-19.

You can see the insurance policy here or click here to check out the full 14 actions we're taking to keep you safe.

No previous kayaking experience is required, but you do need to be able to swim in cold, open water.

If you do get a chance to practice kayaking, 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 kayaking experience is required, but you do need to be able to swim in cold, open water. If you do get a chance to practice kayaking, 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 The Finland Kayak 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 the 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: 

  • One set of thermal underlayer (trousers and shirt)
  • Woolen socks (if needed)
  • Fleece or heavy sweater 
  • Wind and waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Down jacket (if needed)
  • Sandals (Crocs or similar)
  • Cap
  • Paddling gloves
  • Buff
  • Sun glasses
  • Waterproof sacks for personal clothing (large and small)

  • Personal summer gear rental package: 50€

We'll also send all participants a free Travel Safety Kit ahead of the challenge and it's essential you bring this with you to minimise both your own and your fellow participants' risk of COVID-19.

Your Travel Safety Kit will include hand sanitiser, anti-bac wipes and face masks for each day of the challenge. Please note, you do not have to wear face masks while kayaking.

Your registration fee of £199 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.

Your challenge costs of £1,499 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:

  • Your flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, approx. £120)
  • Meals throughout the challenge
  • Accommodation and all camping equipment
  • Special outdoor sports gear rental, such as kayaks, paddles, wetsuits, safety vests, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mattresses, first aid kit, cooking gear and utensils, etc.
  • All transfers in Finland
  • A team of awesome, first-aid trained and COVID-19 trained Finnish/English speaking kayaking instructors and our fab Dream Challenges staff 
  • Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead up to and during your challenge
  • Medical support, including two doctors for groups of over ten participants, who will accompany us throughout the challenge and call all participants for a COVID-19-symptom check prior to departure
  • Your Finland Kayak Adventure medal and t-shirt
  • Extra protocols taken to protect you from COVID-19 - please see our ground-breaking 14-step action plan here.

The group size is likely to be around thirty people.

Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about the Finland Kayak Adventure is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. 

Like the majority of our challenges, the Finland Kayak 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 on a case by case basis.

The accommodation on the first and last night is at standard level summer cabins in Livohka in the countryside of Posio, Lapland. Bed linen, towels and access to the traditional wood-heated sauna are included.

During the challenge, on nights 2-3, 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 (£100 per person, NOT included in your challenge cost) 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 of £100. 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 events@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 events@dream-challenges.com or calling us on 01590 646410 (9am - 5pm Monday - Friday)

In addition to paying your registration fee of £199 and either self funding or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target, you will need to budget for:

  • Your airport taxes and the fuel surcharge (currently £120 but subject to change – up or down)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Optional - Summer outdoor gear hire (50€ per person, to be booked and paid for in advance - we will let you know when bookings for this are available) - this will include all the outdoor summer gear needed for the challenge.
  • Gratuities & personal expenses
  • You may also choose to pay £100 for a single supplement at our accommodation

 

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 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 kayaking challenge in Finland.

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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