Kayaking trip from Valamo monastery to Kolovesi National Park
An unforgettable canoeing adventure awaits you on the Heinävesi Canal Route and in Kolovesi National Park, Finland’s national landscapes. The Heinävesi Route is a historic canal and lock system built in the early 20th century for the Saimaa Lake District, and Kolovesi National Park is a canoeist’s paradise.
Here, Rocky Cliffs rise above the narrow lake channels that form part of the vast, labyrinthine Saimaa lake system. Here you can get in touch with nature and experience how Finland’s early inhabitants lived here in harmony with nature thousands of years ago. Ancient rock paintings and rocky slopes make the landscape special. Those lucky enough to encounter the curious Saimaa ringed seal.
Wilderness adventure on Finland's most beautiful canal route of Heinävesi starts at the Valamo Monastery on the shore of Lake Juojärvi. On the way you will see cultural landscapes, rock paintings and the wild nature of the national park.
Valamo Monastery is an active center of the Orthodox religious life and culture in Finland.Valamo Monastery belongs to the Finnish Orthodox Church, which is an autonomous church under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Basic paddling skills and safe paddling practices are learned on the first paddling day so that everyone has the necessary skills for a smooth paddling trip.
We paddle through six canals: Taivallahti, Varistaipale, Karvio, Vihovuonne, Kerma and Pilppa canals. The Heinavesi route is a historic system of canals and locks built in the early 1900s in Finland’s Saimaa Lakes region.
After the historic Heinävesi Canal Route, we paddle for a couple of days in the wonderful scenery of Kolovesi National Park. It is a paddler's paradise! It is also possible to spot the playful and curious Saimaa ringed seal.
Beautiful colors of paddling.
Dates: 9.8.-15.8. 2025
Duration; 7 days, 6 nights
The length of the journey: max 75 km
Level: Easy
Group size: min 4 max 10 persons
Reservations no later than: 31.7.2025
Requirements: ability to swim, under 18 with parents
The Program of Kayaking Tour
Day 1: 9.8. Meeting at Valamo monastery
- Transfer from the airport to Valamo. Arrival at the monastery in the evening (18-21).
- Familiarization and review of the route plan, safety training on packing and paddling, and paddling technique review if necessary.
- Evening meal and overnight at Valamo monastery.
Day 2: 10.8. Valamo monastery – Varisniemi campsite
- Breakfast at Valamo monastery
- Shopping trip to Heinävesi at 9.30-12.30 by minibus. Return back to Valamo monastery at 12.30
- Lunch at the Valamo Monastery 12.30-13.00
- Starting kayaking trip from Valamo monastery, departure at 14:00
Route: The length of the trip: Valamo monastery – Varisniemi campsite 13 km
Kalliolahti/Huutoniemi (4 km) - Taivallahti (7 km) - Varistaival (10 km) - Varistaipale Canal - Varisniemi campsite (13 km)
Varistaipale canal connects Lake Juojärvi to Lake Varisvesi. The canal was built in 1911–1913 and has four locks. At Varisniemi campsite has a lean-to shelter, dry toilet and fireplace and firewood. It is beautiful place for camping.
Day 3: 11.8. Varisniemi campsite – Vasarasaari Island
Route: Varisniemi – Karvio Canal - Kellosalmi – Vasarasaari Island 10 km
The Karvio Canal connects Lake Karvionjärvi and Lake Kermajärvi. The 300 m long canal was built in 1895-96. There are the gas station's shop and restaurant and services of the campsite for an extra fee.
Karvion palvelusatama (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 62° 30.84' lon: 28° 38.58' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6932518, E: 584595)
Vasarasaari (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 62°28,26' lon: 28°39,61' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6927751 E: 585602) länsiniemi
Day 4: 12.8. Vasarasaari Island – Kerma Canal and camping site
Route: Vasarasaari Island –Heinävesi Kermanranta Harbour (5 km) – Martinsaari Island, (11 km) – Kerma Canal and camping site (17 km)
Heinävesi Harbour in Kermanranta has a restaurant and kafeteria. It is a 1.5 km walk from the beach to Heinävesi municipal center. There are campsites with fireplaces, lean-to-shelters, dry toilets and firewood on the Vasarasaari and Martinsaari islands.
- Lunch break in the Kerman ranta or Martinsaari island. The weather may affect route plans and the length of day trips, especially on Lake Kerma.
The Kerma Canal connects Lake Kermajärvi and Lake Joutsenvesi together with Vihovuonne and Pilppa Canals. Canal are built in 1903-05. There ate the kiosk and bridge and Kerma Rapids. We are not paddling throught the rapids. We use only canals.
- Forest Kitchen in the National Park.
Day 5: 13.8. The length of the trip Kerma Camping site - Pitkäsaari island
Route: Kerma Canal and camping site – Vihovuonne Canal – Väärä Open Canal – lunch break at Wirran Vietävä Cafe (6 km) – Pilppa (10 km) - Vierunvuori rock painting (15 km) – Pitkäsaari Island (17 km)
- We have a lunch in Wirran Vietävä cafeteria. Vierunvuori rock painting and Pitkäsaari campsite are already located in Kolovesi National Park.
- We make a camp on the Pitkäsaari island.
Day 6: 14.8. The lenght of the trip Pitkäsaari island - Kirkkoranta, Kolovesi National Park
Route: Pitkäsaari island - Ukonniemi rock Painting (7km) – Kirkkoranta, Kolovesi National Park 13 km
After cleaning and unpacking the kayaks, we take a car ride to the Kerman Keidas Guest house. There we have an group accommodation in the apartment or in tents and sauna.
If there is a lot of people at one camping site, we can easily head to the next one, because there are plenty of options for places to stay in the area.
- Fireplace in the Kolovesi National Park
- Camping in the Kolovesi National Park
Day 6: The lenght of the trip Pitkäsaari island - Kirkkoranta, Kolovesi National Park, 13 km
Route: Pitkäsaari island - Ukonniemi rock Painting (7km) – Kirkkoranta, Kolovesi National Park 13 km
After cleaning and unpacking the kayaks, we take a car ride to the Kerman Keidas Guest house. There we have a shared accommodation in the apartment or in tents and sauna.
Day 7: 15.8. Breakfast and transportation to the airport
On the last day, we enjoy breakfast together in the beautiful lake view of Kerman Keitaan Guesthouse. Possibility to go for a morning swim! Transportation to the airport.
Changes to the schedule and route are possible. The itinerary always depends on the weather and the skills of the participants. Sometimes the kayaking trip may be less than planned. For example, we don't paddle during a thunderstorm.
Price: 1300€/person (incl. accommodation 1 night in Valamo monastery (2-4 hh), 1 x eveningmeal and breakfast in Valamo Monastery, rental of canoeing equipment and guided canoe trip and food supplies as well as recipes and guidance, food is prepared together, sauna on the last evening, overnight stay Kerman Keidas.
INFO:
What kind of kayaking skills do I need?
- You must have enough paddling experience that you know the basics of paddling and know that you can paddle at least 25 km a day. The most important thing is that you have good swimming skills and your balance is normal. Normal fitness is a requirement for participation.
- If you have diseases or medication that affects your balance, then the conditions for participation must be discussed in more detail. Back problems can also be an obstacle if sitting with your legs straight is painful.
What kind of equipment for a kayaking trip?
Paddling equipment included in the price of the paddling trip: kayak, sprayskirt, paddle, paddling vest. For an additional price, you can rent a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and camping stove.
Bring the following equipment for the trip: change of clothes, wind and rain resistant outdoor suit, personal medicine, headgear, sunglasses, towel, cutlery, camping stove, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent, sunscreen, swimsuit, paddling shoes that can get wet and are not slippery on wet surfaces. Other footwear such as sneakers. If you have glasses, bring a small piece of string that you can use to tie the frames of the glasses together so that the glasses do not fall into the lake.
Kayaking equipment: paddling vest, sprayskirt and paddle. A hat with a cap is a very important piece of equipment so that the sunlight reflecting off the surface of the water does not damage the eyes.
All other equipment is packed inside the kayak except the water bottle and the map. You should not pack anything extra on top of the kayak deck. All items that are packed inside the kayak are packed in waterproof bags.
For an additional fee:
- Additional days guided in Kolovesi National Park
- Additional price: rental of hiking equipment (tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, sleeping pads,etc.)
- Extra nights in a monastery
