Discover Packrafting in Helvetinjärvi National Park (Finland)

Starting with evening barbecue on the beach, your tour takes in beautiful canyons, the Helvetinkolu Gorge and Helvetinjärvi Lake. If water levels are high enough, a trip down the Haukka river is also possible to extend the distance a little.

Each evening you make camp at a suitable spot to enjoy dinner and campfire as the sun sets. Full camping equipment is provided, as well as rucksack to carry your equipment on the packraft. You will also have the opportunity to learn a great deal about the natural and cultural heritage of the area from your guide.

At the end of your tour, sauna (an essential ingredient of any trip to Finland!) in Tampere is included along with farewell meal before returning to Helsinki.

Packrafting is a fun way to travel the waters of Helvetinjärvi

Located just 50km from Tampere, Helvetinjärvi National Park is a rugged and remote region of gorges, canyons, lakes and sandy beaches. Packrafting offers the perfect way to explore the park, giving a very different perspective to that available on a hiking tour.

A packraft is a lightweight, inflatable raft (a 1-person raft weighs approx. 2.5kg) that can be easily inflated for paddling and deflated for land transports or short hikes. Packrafting combines the flexibility and tranquility of canoeing with the added portability of an inflatable craft and the chance to try something new.

Rucksack and all camping equipment are included. Photo: WH.

Tranquil tours from May to September

Public tours are offered in the spring and in late summer/early autumn. This adventure is the perfect way to experience the tranquility and beauty of Finland in the cool of the spring (May-June) and autumn (September), while August tours make the most of the last of summer.

The early and later parts of the season are wonderful and very quiet times to be outdoors in Finland (be prepared for some chilly nights!). August will normally offer the warmest water temperatures for a swim in the lakes.

This packrafting tour is accessible to anyone (min. age 15 for public tours) with general good level of fitness and interest in the outdoors and makes an ideal introduction to paddle adventures. No previous experience is required and all equipment, including camping equipment, is provided.

You will be using a combination of one-person and two-person rafts on the tour, which can be easily inflated/deflated and carried during the land portages during the trip.

Day 1 - Arrival and Transfer to Start

Transfer from Helsinki Airport at 15.00 (if you are staying in Helsinki city before your tour, please travel to the airport for pick-up). Transfer time to the National Park approx. 3 hours.

You will make a stop along the way to purchase additional snacks or other items you may need for your tour.

On arrival at Helvetinjärvi, you will make camp at a lovely beach spot on the lake shore for your first night around the campfire. Dinner will be a barbecue over the fire, with a few extra "treats" that won't be possible for the rest of the expedition.

Then it's time to retire for your first night under canvas in the wilderness.

Day 2 - The Canyon Lakes

After breakfast, you begin your packrafting adventure, paddling through a network of narrow lakes flanked by cliffs and ancient forest. Today combines easy-going paddling with some short land transports between the lakes.

You'll make a stop for lunch along the way before continuing to your second camping spot for the night, surrounded by pristine forest and wetlands. The evening offers good opportunities for wild swimming.

Day 3 - Helvetinkolu Gorge and Helvetinj&aum;rvi Lake

The day begins with a short portage to Helvetinkolu Gorge, a dramatic area and one of the most impressive landscapes in the National Park. From the gorge, you paddle along the long lake of Helvetinjärvi, taking time to enjoy its peaceful coves and interesting rock formations.

If water levels are suitable, the afternoon offers the possibility to extend the route a little with a paddle on a calm river section, before continuing to your last campsite for the night.

Day 4 - Sauna and Transfer for Departure

Your adventure comes to a close, but not before a breakfast around the fire (and optional swim!) before breaking camp. Before returning to Helsinki, it's time for a traditional Finnish wood-fired sauna and dip in the lake at the public sauna in Tampere - the perfect way to end your adventure!

You then have lunch at a local restaurant in Tampere (included, usually an artisan pizza restaurant or similar) with your guide before onward transfer to Helsinki Airport. You will be at the airport around 16.00-17.00, suitable for flight departures from around 18.30 onwards. If you are staying in Helsinki after your tour, it is straightfoward to travel independently from the airport into town.

Included

• Packrafting equipment: One-person/two-person packrafts, paddle, buoyancy aid/
• Camping and cooking equipment: Tents (shared one per 2 persons - solo travellers will share with other same-gender participant), sleeping bag* (cotton liner is provided, but guests are recommended to bring their own liner if possible), sleeping mat (closed-cell foam), cooking equipment/eating utensils. You are of course welcome to bring your own sleeping bag (should be rated to limit zero degrees C) and/or sleeping mat if you prefer.
• Rucksack: Waterproof rucksack (60 litres). You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer, but if doing so please advise in advance and ensure rucksack is waterproof with at least 60 litres capacity.
• Meals: All meals from dinner on arrival day to lunch on departure day. Apart from dinner Day 1 (barbecue on open fire) and lunch Day 4 (restaurant in Tampere), normally dehydrated camping foods** are used.
• Sauna: Use of public sauna in Tampere on departure.
• Transfers: Transfers from/to Helsinki Vantaa Airport at fixed times as per itineary.
• Guide/instructor: Services of experienced local guide during the tour.

*Sleeping bags provided may be down. If you have an allergy to down, it is essential to advise us of this well in advance so that alternative equipment can be offered.

**As dehydrated camping foods are often used during the tour, common dietary requirements such as vegetarian, etc, can be easily accommodated, but opportunities to accommodate more restrictive diets (such as gluten-free, vegan, particular allergies) may be limited. Please advise any dietary needs in advance and contact us to discuss your requirements.

Please be careful with your equipment! If some part of the equipment should break as a result of misuse or carelessness, you may be charged for the damage caused.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Min. age 15 years for public tours. For private tours, younger children may be possible by arrangement (parents may need to carry some of the child's equipment if doing a tour with younger participants - please contact us to discuss your requirements).

This experience is suitable for a wide range of participants. You should have a general good level of health/fitness, enjoy camping and the outdoors and be prepared for portages of approx. 3km carrying backpack and packraft. Each person will carry own equipment - where 2-person rafts are used, weight will be shared. A 1-person raft weighs approx. 2.5kg + buoyancy aid approx. 0.3kg and paddle 1kg. A 2-person raft weighs around 4kg. The required portages are short and not particularly demanding. During portages, the rafts can be attached to the rucksacks that are provided as standard.

For tours taking place during spring and autumn, temperatures can vary between +20 degrees C and zero degrees. For tours at this time, you should be prepared for cool evenings and that the water can also be very cold (typically around +10 degrees C).

No previous experience of paddle tours is required.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

The tour is guided with full equipment provided. As a 4-day/3-night tour (2 days' rafting), the tour will have a lower level of challenge compared to paddle tours of longer duration. Some portages are required and, and for tours in the early/late part of the season, conditions will typically be cool.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

Total minimum 2 persons required for public tours to be confirmed to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following:

• Log Cabin Getaway in Päijänne Tavastia (8 days, 2.5 hours by car)
• Romantic Cabin with Hot Tub in Päijänne Tavastia (8 days, 2.5 hours by car)

Groups

Max. group size 8 persons.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy.