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Scenic family rafting on the Oulankajoki River. From Juuma bascamp Oulanka to the Russian border.

A dream to be able to bring the family to visit one of my favourite rivers.

By Packrafting.cat

July 29^th, 2025

Oulanka Rafting Basecamp

If you are planning a rafting adventure in Oulanka National Park, Basecamp Oulanka is definitely the best company to choose. Located in one of the most beautiful corners of the park, Basecamp offers you to paddle the mythical Kitkajoki River, a unique combination of nature and adrenaline with the best rafting in Finland.

Basecamp is strategically located next to a small beachwith sauna and firecamp from where we start rafting! This beach is ideal for relaxing after a day of rafting.

Scenic family rafting on the Oulankajoki River. From Juuma bascamp Oulanka to the Russian border.

Las rutas de rafting

The only complication with basecamp Oulanka, will be which route to choose!

You have 3 options:

🔵 Family route: 3-hour route combining scenery and thrills for the whole family with rapids suitable for the whole family. 59 € for adults and 32 € for children between 5-12 years old. More information about this route can be found at T4 Packrafting Kitkajoki Upper part of the park .
🔴 Wild route: 2 hours route through the most famous section of the whole national park, For over 18 years old, short but intense route with the 2 heaviest rapids in Finland, the Millikoski and the Aallakoski. Only available for over 65 € adults.
🟢 Scenic route: 5 hour route, which is not long at all because the first few kilometres run through continuous class I-II rapids between walls and breathtaking scenery.85 € adults and 49 € children between 5-12 years old. Details of the route T5 Packrafting Kitkajoki Juuma - Millikoski rapids - Aallokkokoski rapids

Scenic rafting ending at the Russian border 🇷🇺💦

After doing thewild rafting with friends, I joined my family just past the spectacular and dangerous Jyrävä rapid. The same guide that took me with my friends will now take us to the Russian border following the final stretch of the Kitkajoki river until it joins the other mythical river of the area, the Oulankajoki.

This is a gentle adventure, but full of postcard-perfect scenery where we paddle peacefully through endless forests, rock cliffs and the pure silence of Lapland. Make the most of these moments of contact with nature and wildlife in this special place near Finnish Lapland, just outside the Arctic Circle.

A quiet but unforgettable experience, with a touch of adrenaline, ideal to connect with the wildest nature and have a few laughs in good company. 🌲🛶🌍

A gentle adventure with an epic ending: scenic rafting in Oulanka 🌊🌲

You leave from Basecamp Oulanka where all the pre-activity preparations are made, and set off walking along the beautiful Piene Karhunkierros trail , and we will be able to observe the famous Millikoski rapids, where the bravest (or those who are old enough to do the activity) throw themselves, addicted in need of adrenaline shots, face first into the white waters while being observed by the walkers of the famous Karhunkierros trail.

Once you reach the foot of the Jyrävä waterfall, you understand why its name is so literal (it means "roar" in Finnish). An impassable pass, very dangerous to do in any kind of floating contraption, a narrow waterfall of 10 metres, divided into two parts with deadly overhangs. The guide explains to us that at the reception of the final jump, there is a depth of 30 metres of water, if the current takes you into this hole of epic proportions you will never get out of there again. If one day the Oulankajoki is emptied, I don't even want to know what you might find in this piece of hole.

The starting point of the route at the foot of the impressive Jyrävä waterfall

We start by practising the instructions received in the previous preparations, taking advantage of the backwater (suvanto in Finnish) that is created at the foot of Jyrävä. "All paddle" and the whole family paddles forward together, "break left" and turn left or "break all" and we all brake. Along the way the guide tests us by bumping into a rock and shouts "Hold on!", and we all obediently grab the lifelines and hide our bodies towards the safe area inside the rafting.

Once ready, no rush, just paddle and enjoy the scenery. A perfect route if you want nature, relaxation and lots of laughs. No need to be a pro paddler, but with all the essence of the wildest north.

The first section runs fast along a continuous current between majestic walls, always full of trees in the typical boreal forest landscape where the colours of the water, the green of the fir trees and the grey of the rocks contrast. An ideal section, where you just have to surf and watch the waves go by. If you also catch a heat wave like us, you can do the route in your swimming costume or bikini and cool off every time a wave hits the bow of the rafting boat and splashes us.

After this area of rapids we reach Harrisuvanto, a haven of peace and cross under the photogenic bridge that marks the return of the circular route of the Piene Karhunkierros.

The photogenic bridge that marks the return of the Piene Karhunkierros circular route.

And right in the middle of this experience, one of the great existential questions of rafting was resolved for me: how on earth do the boats get back to the camp if there are no roads or access? Well... Surprise! In a corner of the river, we came across one of the guides, navigating in ninja mode with 8 loaded raftings! Her paddle, a smile and a mini outboard motor that she used only on the quiet stretches between rapids, as if she were the captain of a secret fleet. All this to take the boats to the only jetty accessible by car, right on the Russian border - logistics worthy of a film!

During the route our guide told us a lot of anecdotes and some jokes related to the Russians and the fact of being so close to the border, like for example that there is a type of fish in the river called "smart" that never crosses the border or comments about the dreaded Russian mosquitoes, "they bite more, suck more blood, in short, they have more bad blood" 🦟.

Just when you start to get tired of paddling, suddenly... bam! 💥 the Oulankajoki river appears quietly, with that Coca-Cola colour of the water so typical of the north, with dreamy beaches where you are sure to see the odd reindeer drinking and cooling off on the shore. It's time to rest, to let yourself be carried away by the current between endless forests, sand dunes and a calm that restarts your brain.

Beautiful sunset captured from the tranquil sandy beaches that form in the meanders and backwaters of the Oulankajoki River.

And just when you think you've seen it all... Surprise! Disembarking a few metres from a sign hanging from some keys announcing the beginning of the border area with Russia, paddling to the Russian border is an experience, literally, an attraction in itself that requires an obligatory selfie.

The feeling of "I've reached the end of the world", unlocked. Yes, yes, that epic moment when you can say you've reached the end of Finland... without a passport but with paddle in hand.

Between strokes, the guides will tell you their classic jokes about the Russian mosquitoes - "tougher than the Finns", they say-, but don't worry, the fun will scare them away.

Beastly nature, calm pace, crazy views and guaranteed laughs. Rafting is more of an experience than a sport. I would repeat with my eyes closed.

Rafting in the landing area in front of the Russian border.

Video

Before getting into the water, the guides will explain how to control the rafting team with instructions and basic paddling operations that will allow us to move forward avoiding the obstacles that we will find along the way as well as how to proceed in case we swim and fall out of the rafting (which does not usually happen). We are also provided with all the material for the activity.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Packraft

If you are looking for an even more direct contact with the waters of the rivers and the landscape of the Oulanka National Park, your best option is to rent a packraft and perhaps the services of a guide to visit the countless routes through the national park.

At basecamp they offer a packraft rental service as well as introductory courses and guiding services throughout the national park.

Details of our rafting route can be found in the route T5 Packrafting Kitkajoki Juuma - Millikoski rapids - Aallokkokoski rapids - Russian border.

See the map with all the routes in Oulanka National Park.

In the park you can see an infinity of wildlife, if you go with friends who are passionate about ornithology they will point out the number of birds they saw for the first time in this area, but seeing the most sought after is a lottery: the bears and the moose. There are some, but they see us, not the other way around.

Only the lucky ones will be as lucky as we were to see a moose in a packraft 😉:

Joking aside, what you are sure to see in the area are reindeer as impressive as the one below:

As always... See you on the river!

The river is a living environment, changing and subject to permanent development. The publishers of the river sketches and the creators of this website cannot be held liable in any case of inaccuracy, omission or error in the river sketches. The topos editors and website creators disclaim all liability in case of any accident that may occur on the rivers described in this guide.