Packrafting and Wild Camping in Finland
Explore the ‘Land of a Thousand Lakes’ and camp among beautiful boreal forest over a wild long weekend
What's Included?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Journey through the rugged Helvetinjärvi National Park in lightweight packrafts, wild camping on remote lake shores
Paddle the length of Helvetinkolu Crevasse, an ancient rift that cuts through the forest, to Lake Haukkajärvi
Enjoy a crackling campfire at the unique Haukanhieta dune beach, and relax in a traditional lakeside sauna
Key Information
Day 1
The 'Land of a Thousand Lakes'
Travel deep into the aptly named 'Land of a Thousand Lakes'. Set up camp by Lake Kovero, review the plan for the weekend and enjoy a delicious dinner around a flickering campfire.
Day 2
Get to grips with packrafting
Packrafting
Hiking
After a safety briefing, spend the day paddling the scenic Lake Kovero – surrounded by dense forests and pale rock formations. At one point you'll deflate your craft and portage it across a narrow isthmus to the adjacent Lake Luoma. Set up camp on the shoreline and enjoy a peaceful evening exploring the area, before lighting the fire and settling in for a well-earned meal.
Day 3
Lake Haukkajärvi
Packrafting
Hiking
Wake up in the heart of the Finnish wilderness, then paddle and hike along a chain of small lakes to Helvetinkolu – an ancient crevasse that splits open the forest. Cook up lunch around the campfire before paddlng the length of that water-filled crevasse, ending on the shores of serene Lake Haukkajärvi. Enjoy a final campfire on a dune beach, then watch the sun set over one of the best views in the park.
Day 4
Lake shore sauna
Start the day with a traditional Finnish sauna right on the lake shore. Relax, take a refreshing dip in the clear water, clean up and then enjoy lunch in the adjacent restaurant, before heading back to Tampere Airport in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Tampere Railway Station or Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP)
15:30 at the railway station, or 16:30 at the airport, on Day 1
Ends
Tampere Railway Station or Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP)
16:00 at the railway station, or 16:30 at the airport, on Day 4
Transfers
A shared group arrival transfer will firstly collect anyone waiting at Tampere Railway Station at approximately 15:30 on Day 1 and will then continue to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to collect anyone waiting there at approximately 16:30.
A shared group departure transfer will drop off those with onward travel arrangements by train at Tampere Railway Station at approximately 16:00 on Day 4 and will then continue on to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport for approximately 16:30 for anyone who is flying out.
Travel options
It is possible to fly into Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (usually via Helsinki - HEL) and this is a good option if the flight times are okay, however they are often at unsociable hours or don't maximise your time. If this is the case from your departure point, we recommend getting a flight to Helsinki and catching a train from Helsinki Airport to Tampere Railway Station (via Tikkurila Railway Station). Whether flying or arriving by train, please ensure that your arrival and departure times coincide with the shared group transfers as private transfers are not available. Please see the FAQs for further information on taking the train.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Finnish cuisine blends traditional and modern continental foods to create delicious and varied dining opportunities. Dishes commonly include fish, pork, beef or reindeer, as well as lots of vegetables and mushrooms. Typical meals include cabbage rolls, hearty stews, meatballs, and fish prepared in a number of ways. While camping, the food will be simple, hearty, healthy and fresh.
Vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements can all be catered for: just let your host know before arrival.
What is the accommodation like?
The wilderness
You'll wild camp in twin-person tents in remote and serene locations. High-quality tents, sleeping bags and sleeping mats are provided. If the weather is nice you can also choose to forego the tent and sleep under the stars!
Upgrades
If you are a solo traveller, you can get a guaranteed solo tent for greater privacy on request. See Optional Extras for pricing.
thus is a great trip for enjoying the splendour of the Finnish lakes and forests.... just magical carrying a featherweight pack raft through the forestsurrounded by birdsong and the scent of forest plants. we enjoyed clear blue skies and all water. Perfect
Beautiful scenery and true Finnish camping and sauna experience. Man or woman Vs bog then trees whilst carrying the raft!
I went with my husband packrafting and camping for 4 days and it was amazing. The guides (Joose and Chris) were really knowledgeable and we learnt so much about Finland, it's flora and fauna, its culture and food. On top of that we had a great time paddling and camping seeing some absolutely amazing views!
This trip completely surpassed my already high expectations - I couldn't recommend it enough! Joose & Chris were exceptional hosts and I learnt so much about Finnish culture, the environment we were in, and of course new skills from the activities involved! The group were all lovely and I had a great time getting to know everyone. I'm already looking into further MBA trips I can line up and look forward to :)
Excellent experience for a group keen to dip their toe into wild camping. The scenery is some of the best you can see and after a few days of vigorous activity you leave surprisingly rested.
The last trip of the year, on the first weekend of October, was quite something. No matter it was -4 degrees; no matter it snowed - the autumnal (for that, read Finnish summer) colours were a stunning array of reds, golden yellows, browns and greens. This land of boreal forests and mirror-glass lakes provided a backdrop like no other to a brilliant few days packrafting and camping. And the silence was something else! Joose was an excellent guide, with heaps of wilderness and paddling experience to pass on. The food was simple, but hearty, and the crackle of the open fires (and possibly just a drop of whiskey) kept us warm well into the night. Really impressed with the quality of the kit - the packrafts were so good I think I'll be getting one myself next year! And the sauna and lake dip on the final morning was a fun little insight into Finnish culture. If ever I was going to do a MBA adventure twice (and I've done a few), this'd be it.
The location and experience were great.
The level of preparation from the host, Joose, was great. Great logistics, carefully selected equipment, a challenging but achievable plan and a well-organised trip.
Finland is a beautiful country, our guide Joose was great everything planned well for the pack rafting and camping sites. He was extremely well knowledgeable of the area we explored and of the country itself. He wanted to show off his country and history and was proud of Finland. This was shown throughout our time with him. The last he planned out for the sauna and a restaurant meal was a great way to finish off the trip.
Joose was a knowledgeable, friendly host - fantastic guy. All the equipment was in great condition, so no problems there either.
The host was brilliant, knowledgable, fun and helpful. Beautiful scenery and well-maintained kit and clean and tidy campsites. Would certainly recommend this trip!
All of it was great. Awesome from start to finish. The perfect balance of activities & introduction to Finnish life.
Best tour I've ever been on, top to bottom.
Friendly, knowledgeable, happy to go at whatever pace the group wanted to. Just very well planned.
Campsites and scenery were great, overall good balance of being challenging and enjoyable.
The countryside and the campsites were amazing.
The rafting and the overall planning were great.
The experience was great. Our guide Joose was very knowledgeable and was very experienced in packrafting and setting up camps etc. The forests were very spectacular and relaxing.
Tranquility was great.
Joose was a brilliant guide, so interesting and informative and took excellent care of us in really challenging conditions! The scenery was gorgeous, even if it was freezing cold the snow made it really magical!
Joose was a great guide! Fantastic trip - really well planned. Great mix of hiking, pack rafting and being in the wilderness.
This was a wonderful few days of escapism in the Finnish forest. Joose was a great host and the itinerary was a great balance of rafting, hiking, fires and sauna. It was the perfect mini-adventure :)
Joose is a great guide, very experienced and had the same mentor as Ray Mears! Therefore we learned so survival skills along the way. Incredibly well organised and a great way to spend a long weekend.
Amazing scenery, really knowledgeable and friendly host, fun new activity to try!
Our guide Josse was great! He was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. He provided all the necessities... Keeping us warm, full and entertained. Also, ending the trip with the amazing Finnish sauna next to the lake was just what was needed!
It was an amazing trip. Joose was a brilliant host full of information and advice about being in the wilderness. The packrafts were easy to use and all the equipment was of high quality
I had fantastic time packrafting with Joose. The trip was well-planned, with everything neatly organised and carefully chosen. The food was great and all equipment was provided – all ‘tried and tested’ by Joose, based on his vast experience of camping in the Nordics. He was flexible in how the trip was run (e.g. pick-up and drop-off times) and offered various choices (e.g. where to camp and eat). The scenery was fantastic, and the area peaceful – a mix of forests, lakes and gorges – all very unspoiled and with very few people around. As it was my first time packrafting, Joose patiently and clearly explained everything, and all the equipment was easy to use and well-designed. I would definitely recommend giving it a try! Joose added to this with his expert knowledge covering history, geology and nature – meaning that the trip wasn’t just about packrafting but also included an understanding of Finnish culture and landscape. The trip to the sauna at the end was great fun (including cooling off in the lake!) and the final meal at the pizza restaurant was a welcome luxury after a few nights in the forest.
Incredible scenery, perfectly planned with good group sizes great food and little touches like the sauna at the end that made this a great experience. The guide used great quality equipment which really made a difference to the enjoyment of the trip.
It was mine and my boyfriend's first-time pack rafting and it was easy to get the hang of. The trip was adventurous and relaxing at the same time. Joose was a great host, very informative and his trainee Yani was a great companion. The surroundings were beautiful also.
Joose was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about wilderness survival. He was great at explaining the pack rafts and how to navigate the hikes. We lucked out with amazing weather and had an incredible time.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I 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 (if you’re feeling brave!)
- Travel towel
- 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
Solo Tent Occupancy
Payable Before Departure
Solo Tent Occupancy
… Per Person
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 39kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Packrafting involves paddling in light inflatable boats, then packing them up and hiking with them to access new areas. Originating from wilderness travel in Alaska, packrafting is a bit of a niche sport but rapidly gaining popularity. The whole paddling kit (raft, paddle, PFD and helmet) weighs around 5kg and packs down really small so it’s easy to carry, yet it's also durable, stable, easy to paddle and certainly not to be mistaken for a pool toy.
Remember that you will add the weight of the packraft to your personal items when hiking, so you will have to be prepared to carry around 10kg on your back.
Unfortunately it is not possible to leave luggage behind on this trip. We recommend that you pack light and follow the kit list to make this trip as enjoyable as possible.
If there are no suitable connecting flights to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to coincide with the group transfers, we recommend flying in and out of Helsinki and taking the train between Helsinki Airport and Tampere. This is an easy and relatively cheap option, with trains costing roughly €10 each way. You should book a flight that arrives in Helsinki by 13:00 on Day 1, and departs Helsinki no sooner than 19:00 on Day 4. There are usually two trains per hour of approximately 1h 35m to 1h 50m in duration. You will need to take the commuter train from Helsinki Airport to Tikkurila Railway Station (about eight minutes) and change onto the train to Tampere. This can be booked online, or on the platform or train itself. If travelling by train, please ensure to arrive at Tampere Railway Station by 15:30 on Day 1 and depart Tampere Railway Station no sooner than 16:00 on Day 4 to coincide with the group transfers.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
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