Canoeing

Ilomantsi waterways offer beautiful and fairly easy canoeing routes for self-guided paddlers. From our rental cottages you can even paddle the Koitajoki River in both directions, as the current is not very strong. We rent out single kayaks for cottage renters. 

If you want to paddle on your own for a day or more, why not get into a canoe or kayak on the shores of the small Petkeljärvi National Park and paddle all the way to Koitere, the pearl of North Karelia, with its hundreds of islands? Or would you like to enjoy the downstream on Finland's easternmost, charmingly quiet river route? We offer canoeing maps and route descriptions for these and other routes.  

Canoeing equipment in Ilomantsi is rented by Petkeljärvi National Park and Möhkön Nature Service. 
When spring arrives early, you can usually paddle from May and the season usually continues until October. 

Before setting off on a trip, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Hiking Etiquette and everyone will have a great time on the trips.

Welcome to enjoy the diverse and peaceful waterways of Eastern Finland!

We are here to help you to exprience nature adventure in the North Karelien diverse, pure and beautiful nature by paddling - using canoes or kayaks or SUP-boards. Just arrive to Joensuu (the nearest town) or Ilomantsi (the nearest centre with shops) and we will get you going, and safely back, you having many new memories and relaxed mind to bring home. You can enjoy paddling tour packages lasting from one day until over week in the rivers and lakes in Ilomantsi. Nature around the tours range from Petkeljärvi National Park with pine ridges until Patvinsuo Natural Park with open marchlands. The whole area resides in the North Karelia biosphere reserve. 

The stunning and peaceful surroundings of the river Koitajoki and lake Koitere are great places for both short and long canoeing trips. The distance from Petkeljärvi or Möhkö in south, until the northern section of Koitere, edge of Patvinsuo, the other end of this waterway route, is about 90km by canoe. Koitajoki meanders peacefully around the rare bog-like edges of Kesonsuo. These waters are suitable even for the more inexperienced paddlers. The most eastern Koitajoki and rivers running to Koitere offer you also more challenging paddling routes. In addition, many rivers and lakes are next to hiking routes, thus providing you an option to combine both paddling and hiking to your nature adventure. The longer, more challenging, canoeing routes require several days to complete and allow for the opportunity to stay over in the nice camping sites in nature. 

Combine your holiday travels in North Carelia with a couple of hours or even a full day of canoeing or SUP (Stand Up Paddling), or you can even spend some time in nature by spending a night at the camping sites along the canoeing route. The departure and pick-up points are at the shores of Koitajoki and Koitere or elsewhere when needed. Our transportation service will take you to and from your destinations. You can go canoeing from around mid May to October-November depending on how early spring begins and when the waters freeze in the autumn.

Below you can find information about our paddling packages from a day trip with 13 km to a week long and over 100 km of canoeing. All canoeing/hiking packages can be booked directly through the product page. You are also most welcome to ask for more details and book via email and phone. Step into the world of adventurous canoeing experiences!