The next Karelia-Rowing Tour will be organized 28.7. - 2.8.2013

Traditional wooden small boats and canoes start their tour from Ilomantsi to Joensuu ( 203 kms) on sunday 28.7.2013 (6 days to Joensuu).
Wooden church boats with 14 rowers and a cox, start their journey from Lieksa to Joensuu (146 kms) on tuesday 30.7.2013 ( 4 days to Joensuu).

Rowing with nice people and enjoying the lake and river landscapes, not to forget entertainment and sauna!

We wish you welcome either as a team or single rowers. There are single rowing places available in the church boats, as well as meal packages. You may also combine rowing in the small boats and church boats. The accommodation is organized; you may choose between a summer hotel accommodation or camping on the stop over places. There are also transfers organized by bus.

You just come and enjoy rowing!

Karelia-Soutu (Karelia Rowing Tour) is the biggest long-distance rowing event in Finland. It has been held annually 28 times, each year attracting over 1000 participants. The course lies through the heart of the North Karelian Lakeland.

There are classes for all kinds of rowers: solo, pairs, families or even teams. These are divided along two separate routes, one for small boats ( 203 km) and the other for so-called Church boats, with a crew of 14 rowers plus cox (146 km). The average speed of the church boats is 9,2 kms per hour.

The first Karelia Rowing Tour was organized in 1985. The organization team also included the father and inventor of this rowing tour - Niilo Komu from Liperi, representatives from the municipalities that are along the route as well as personnel from 'P-K:n Matkailu', which used to exist at the time. The number of participants in the first rowing tour was quite modest, but it was considered to be very interesting with potential to become a significant event.

Ahoy Skipper!

This is the Skipper's Handbook of the Karelia Rowing Tour. It has been compiled by Tiina-Riitta Kortelainen and Tuire Parviainen from the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences as their dissertation in the field of tourism. The aim of this book is to increase interest in rowing and the natural beauty of the North Karelian scenery. At the same time this book will provide additional travel information to the rowing teams of church boats.

The Skipper's Handbook presents in short and concise manner all the points of interest during the rowing tour. It is meant to arouse conversation and entertain your rowing team. While reading the book the rowers will get a better picture of route that they are travelling. You will also find safety and first aid instructions in this book. Please make yourself familiar with them in advance.