I love the North! Every time I’ve been near the Arctic Circle it’s been a highlight of my life, which is why I was so excited to explore kayaking in Lapland, Finland.
Lapland is a region in the northernmost part of Finland. Quite remote and sparsely populated, Lapland is known for its stunning natural landscapes, vast forests, and pristine waterways. It’s a very popular winter destination because it’s one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Despite the long, dark days, there are also amazing outdoor activities to enjoy, like cross country skiing, dog sledding, and reindeer safaris.
Lake Inarvijarvi
Lake Inarvijarvi is the third largest lake in Finland, and with over 3000 islands there are countless routes to choose from. Thanks to the midnight sun, we started our trip at 6pm, and didn’t finish until 1am, which provided stunning sunset colors the whole time. I was joined by Emil from Melker Kayaks, who brought a Melker Rodloga sea kayak for me to use. A sea kayak is a great choice for Lake Inari, because it’s such a large lake. If the wind had picked up, the water could get wavy and choppy very quickly. But the weather couldn’t be more pleasant on this night.
Lutto River
Our next paddling trip in Lapland took us to the Lutto River – one of the most peaceful river sections that I’ve ever experienced. The Lutto River is an ideal river for canoes or kayaks and some sections have class 1 and 2 whitewater. I flew to Finland with my portable Trak sea kayak to use on this trip. I was joined by Tommi from Oulangan Taika, and Jussi from Outdoor Passion Finland, who offer different types of outdoor trips in the region.
Ruka-Kuusamo Region
After paddling the Lutto River, I headed about 4 hours south to the Ruka Kuusamo region of Lapland, which boasts Finland’s most popular ski resort and the beautiful Oulanka National Park. My plan was to explore a 2-day section of the Oulankajoki River in the Park, and I flew to Finland with my portable Trak sea kayak to use on the trip. I was joined by Tommi from Oulangan Taika, and Jussi from Outdoor Passion Finland, who offer different types of outdoor trips in the region.
The Oulanka River in the Oulanka National Park is in the south eastern Lapland. The Oulanka River is an ideal multi-day river that can experienced by kayak, canoe or SUP. When you’re in the Kuusamo region, a bear watching trip is something that you should make time for.
Reindeer were plentiful along the riverbanks as they took advantage of any breeze that came down the river valley to keep the bugs at bay. I was surprised by how few bugs there were this far north. I never felt the need to put on bug repellent at any point in Lapland.
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