The Finland Kayak Adventure 2023
Challenge level: 3 out of 5
Challenge level: 3 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
| 29 June - 3 July 2023 | On Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days |
Join us in the Land of the Midnight Sun on an amazing kayaking challenge for the charity of your choice. In five days, we'll get the best of the Arctic summer and kayak over 40km on the pristine Lake Livojärvi. We’ll experience the peace of Finland’s beaches, the magic of its evergreen forests and the refreshing embrace of its waters, immersing ourselves in nature and escaping life as we know it.
No kayaking experience is needed for this challenge, but you need to be able to swim and feel comfortable in the water. We'll feel the sweet burn in our arms from the get-go and test our minds by learning key wilderness survival skills.
We’ll kick off with training and adventure preparation with our expert local guides, even practising what to do if we capsize - prepare to get wet! Then, we'll head our compasses West and kayak as a team across the lake. Carrying all the gear we need in our kayaks, we’ll navigate our way across the crystal waters and soothe our aching muscles with a dip under the late-night sun.
We’ll wild camp on secluded beaches, learn to cook with an expedition cooker and wake to magnificent views across the lake. We’ll even tuck into dinner in a Finnish tipi and meet the reindeer at a local farm.
Most importantly, we’ll conquer an extraordinary challenge and make a meaningful difference for the charity closest to your heart.
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 Kayaking Adventure do everything they can to ensure the lakes, forests and natural beauty can be enjoyed and preserved now and for generations to come.
Pay the registration fee (£249) and challenge costs (£1,550) + airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £250).
$2,325
Pay the balance
Pay the registration fee (£249) and airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £250), and fundraise £3,100 or more for your chosen charity.
$4,650
Minimum sponsorship target
No previous kayaking experience is required for this challenge, as we will go through the basics with our local experts, but you need to be able to swim in cold, open water and to have a reasonable level of fitness. On Day 2, you'll have a short swim in the lake so we can be confident that you can swim in open water. We will also practice capsizing our own boats and learning how to rescue ourselves and others from a capsized kayak. This is not very likely to happen during our expedition, but it is an essential skill to learn and will help you feel more safe and confident in your kayak.
Practicing kayaking ahead of your challenge is by no means required; but if you get a chance, the more comfortable and familiar you feel in a boat, the more you're likely to enjoy the challenge. Why not also boost your strength and stamina with these fun indoor workouts?
This charity kayaking challenge is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
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. Why not boost your strength and stamina with these fun indoor workouts?
No previous kayaking experience is required for this challenge, as we will go through the basics with our local experts, but you need to be able to swim in cold, open water and to have a reasonable level of fitness. On Day 2, you'll have a short swim in the lake so we can be confident that you can swim in open water. We will also practice capsizing our own boats and learning how to rescue ourselves and others from a capsized kayak. This is not very likely to happen during our expedition, but it is an essential skill to learn and will help you feel more safe and confident in your kayak.
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 2023.
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.
Excellent-quality kayaking and camping equipment is provided and included in the challenge costs, such as kayaks, paddles, safety vests, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mattresses, cooking gear and utensils.
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 wardrobe, our local team 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 (90€) includes:
Personal summer gear rental package: 90€
Your registration fee of £249 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
Your challenge costs of £1,550 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:
The group size is likely to be around 15-20 people.
Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome to join our adventure. 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 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 on a case by case basis. Email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 431094 during our office hours (9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday) and we'll be happy to help.
We'll spend our first and last night of the challenge (nights 1 and 4) at a cosy lodge that used to be a village school, now renovated to a modern guest house.
We'll sleep in bunk beds with 2-6 people per room. Each room has its own private bathroom with a modern toilet and shower. Bed linen, towels and access to the traditional wood-heated sauna are all included.
During the challenge, on nights 2 and 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.
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 upon registering for this challenge, covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise that you arrange personal travel insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge itself.
Dream Challenges has a provider detailed in the Welcome Pack, you will receive shortly after booking your challenge. This provides appropriate cover for your challenge and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. You can also call us for details on 01590 646410 during our office hours (9am, 5pm, Monday - Friday).
You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a charity kayaking 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, British citizens don't need a visa for Finland, but we'll let you know if this changes.
Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay, please let us know at least 17 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)
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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