Canoeing/kayaking tours on Võhandu

Canoe/Kayak Tours. 4-day tour on the Võhandu River.
Võhandu is the longest Estonian river (162 km) which empties into Lake Lämmijärv in Põlvamaa (South-Estonia). Along the way it gets narrower in some places to create small valleys and runs through a breathtaking scenery.
The canoeing tour takes you from the vicinity of the town of Võru to the town of Räpina. The tour includes around 80 km of relaxing canoeing and three short land transports.
Keep a lookout for wild animals. The forests of South Estonia are a home to elks, roe deers,
foxes, wolves, bears and lynx, and if you keep quiet and still at dusktime, you may spot a beaver in the river.
Please note that this is not a guided tour! This is a discovery of your own, taken at your own pace and you will choose your own camping spot each night. You will be given detailed guidance and advice before the start of the tour by the Matkajuht team.
Watch our 50 second video:



The Tour.
(we will send you detailed information you will need for your experience, including a description of the route, once the full payment has been received by Matkajuht)
Your tour starts in the vicinity of Võru (from Kirumpää). You will now receive your equipment, instructions on paddling and all other necessary information about your route. You can now buy a fishing licence for the tour if you wish. Our team member will help you mark down the places on the map where you have to launch and take the canoe out of the water and some good camping spots.


View Võhandu river. South-Estonia. (Võhandu jõgi) in a larger map

You will be taken to the starting point of your tour. A short distance east of the start is a beaver hides.  Early morning or evening is the best time to see or hear beaver.  The wildest and most interesting stretch of the river—from the dam of the Paidra watermill until the bridge of Reo is under nature protection. At the beginning of the protected region, the Võhandu River flows fast. The primeval valley of the river is narrow and in places up to 30 m deep. A number of rapids and outcrops of the base rock, Põdramüür as the most picturesque of them, are wonderful sights and cause excitement for a paddler. The central part of the reserve attracts with pristine forests and fascinating views from meadows and cliffs (called 'walls'—'müür' by local people).
Follow the Võhandu River up to the first power plant Leevaku. The easiest way around the plant is to go ashore and walk about 125m. The tour includes three short lifts (Paidra, Leevi and Leevaku power plants).
When you reach the furthest point north of the tour, the river guieten again and flowing calm to Räpina.

Dates for the 2011 spring/summer season.
05 May - 19.September 2011
Start: Tuesdays and Fridays at 2pm, Other start days and times possible by arrangement (see below).

Non-standard Start Days: Min. 4 adults required for custom start days/times. Smaller groups are possible (for safety reasons must contain min. 2 adults), charged at the full rate for 4 adults due to logistics.
Meeting: Kirumpää bridge along road 64.

Groups.
Every 14th participant free. We reserve the right to assign groups to certain camp sites.
For groups of min. 14 other departures outside the above-mentioned season are
available. It is possible to book this tour for larger groups. Please contact us for a quotation.

Price of a 4-day tour:

Price €/person	Adult	Child 6-15yrs
Basic canoe package	84 EUR	42 EUR

The Price Includes.
Equipment. Canoe equipment: 2-person canoe/2-person kayak, paddles, life jackets, water can, topographical map, cleaning sponge and rubbish bags.
Please be careful with the canoe and the rest of 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.
Instructor. Services of experienced and knowledgeable instructor before your tour starts.

What The Price Does Not Include.
Food, tent, sleeping bag. There is no food included. There are opportunities to shop in Võru before you leave.

Equipment/clothes needed.
To make your canoe/kayak trip more comfortable, pack all your equipment in waterproof bags. Packing list (recommended):
Toiletries. Soap, toothpaste, plasters, moisturiser, sun-cream, painkillers, blister tape, mosquito repellent. Please ensure that items such as soap and toothpaste are fully
biodegradable. A hat with mosquito netting or similar face covering can also be useful in
the evenings at times when mosquito numbers are highest.
 
Clothes. Take clothes you are not afraid to damage. Quick-drying materials are best. Bear in mindthat jeans and sweatshirts are difficult to dry. Pack rainwear (jacket and trousers), boots, shoes, a pair of warm socks, something to cover your head in case of heat or rain, a pair of gloves/mittens, a warm sweater, sweatshirt, T-shirt, shirt, trousers, long underpants,
a pair of shorts, beachwear, underwear, anorak (or similar) and something to sleep in. Footwear for use in water.
Equipment. Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, towel, tent.
Additional. Compass (GPS), sunglasses, matches, knife, camera, binoculars, sufficient food and a good book.

Health requirements/experience.
Swimming ability required by adults. All participation at own risk. Minimum 2 persons. You should be in good health and have a reasonable level of fitness and strength, but you
need no previous knowledge or experience. However we recommend you to be used to
outdoor life.
The tour involves 3 short liftings and numbers of unclassified, easy rapids. However, during dry summers you may have to step out of the canoe/kayak and drag the canoe/kayak next to you for short distances.

Information about the area.
The people of Põlvamaa are known for being friendly and helpful. Hospitality and obliging
manners are also typical characteristics for a person from Põlvamaa.
Põlvamaa is a rich mixture of primeval untouched nature and semi-natural landscapes shaped by human activities over the centuries. Hillocks and slopes are topped with farmhouses, valleys nest charming and shimmering lakes. Vast forests and clean bogs, as well as splendid lakes and rivers, welcome wanderers from Estonia and abroad. The nature of Põlvamaa offers something for every month of the year.
Springtime, shortly after the ice cover breaks up on rivers, provides the opportunity for memorable impressions of the rapid rivers flooding through the high sand banks. On a sunny day in spring you can take a canoe trip on Ahja or Võhandu River to enjoy the silent awakening of nature after the long and gloomy winter.
In summertime the nature of Põlvamaa is in full bloom. The primeval valley of the Ahja River with its sandstone outcrops, called Suur Taevaskoda (Grand Heaven’s Hall) and Väike Taevaskoda (Small Heaven’s Hall), awaits those looking for spectacular sceneries. Piusa sandstone caves invite thrill seekers and lakes and rivers welcome swimmers. Summer is the best season for hiking, be it on foot or by bike. Keen nature-lovers might be interested in bogs, wetlands and wooded meadows or perhaps admire the distinctive dry sandy dunes of Setumaa.

Getting there:
By car.
By bus to Võru (schedules: www.bussireisid.ee).

What to do next:
If you are interested in this experience, please make sure that you understand exactly
what the experience entails and are confident that you will be able to take part fully in all
activities included in the trip. If you have any doubts or questions, please discuss the
matter with us and we will be happy to advise. Similarly, if you have any particular
health or dietary requirements that we need to be aware of, please mention these at the
time of booking.
If you feel confident that you will be able to take part, then download and read our
TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Then, please contact us to make sure that your chosen dates
are available, and feel free to ask us anything else you like: we are keen to ensure that
your trip is an enjoyable and memorable experience for you – we love Estonia and we
want you to too!  

For more information on how to book this trip please send e-mail to info@matkajuht.ee, or call us: +372 566 78 113
Matkajuht - Outdoor and adventure holidays for independents, families and groups