Packraft on Karasjohka

A wilderness adventure!

Norway
Northern Norway
Packrafting
Off the beaten path
International group

Packraft on Karasjohka

A wilderness adventure!

From USD 2601

- Reviews

The Karasjohka River stretches all the way from the border to Finland and back again to civilization at Assebakti, a small settlement located near Karasjok. The river is the largest in Finnmark and measures a total of 166 kilometers in length. We will be paddling large parts of the river and most of the stretch which is off the beaten track. It will be us and nature. It will be wild, it will be beautiful, it will simply be a memory for life.

Highlights

Remote wilderness
Transport by seaplane to the starting point of the trip
Very good fishing opportunities
River paddling on one of Norway's most beautiful rivers
Long bright evenings in our tent camp
An experience far off the beaten track

In the flat, extensive border areas with Finland, the tributaries of the Tanavassdraget have their sources. Karasjohka is one of these. From Øvre Anarjohka National Park, the river flows through some of the most desolate areas on the Finnmarksvidda. With packraft as means of transportation, we embark on the journey down the river and back to civilization. This is one of the finest wilderness expeditions in the country and a trip for all the adventurers out there who prefer the simple life where only a few elements are in focus.

On arrival in Alta, we will be transported to Lake Vouttasjavri where, in turn, we will be flown into Lake Buolžajávri. The plane only takes two people plus luggage per trip and takes 40 minutes round trip. When everyone have arrived at the lake, we set up camp for the evening. We go through the equipment and get ready for the journey down Karasjohka which starts early the next day. The next eight days will be spent paddling, fishing, some hiking for variety, as well as setting up camp each afternoon. Get ready for an unforgettable week in the northern Norwegian wilderness!

Days

10

Participants

6-10

Language

NO/EN

Physical level

4/6

Risk level

4/6

Private tour only

This trip is only offered as a private tour. Order by contacting us through the form.

Request private tour

Opening hours Phone

Mon-Fri : 08-20

Sat-Sun : 14-17

Opening hours Chat

Mon-Fri : 07-23

Sat : 10-18

Sun : 13-21

CET

Chat

(+47) 67 79 24 79

(+1) 929 470 3469

Contact us

Safety

24 hour emergency standby team
Guides with training in first aid
First aid equipment available
Cooperation with Turlegen.no for medical advice while in the field

Safety and grading of trips

Physical level

4/6 Physical

Here you have to be ready for a real challenge! The trips are often longer than at lower levels. Along the way, it will be both physically and mentally demanding, and that requires you to be prepared for this. You should engage in targeted training well in advance of departure, and you must prepare well.

Risk level

4/6 Risk

Activities/trips with significant risk. Incidents may occur, and they can be of such a nature that they require professional help.

Training and preperations

Parts of the river are relatively easy paddling, but we will also encounter several both easy and more demanding rapids along the way. We have to carry the pack power past certain rapids where we find it too challenging to paddle.

We expect to paddle 6-8 hours each day, but this can of course vary depending on the weather and wind, in addition to the group's preferences along the way. To take part in this trip you must be comfortable paddling on water as well as having previous experience in this.

We fly in by seaplane and start the trip at the border of Øvre Anarjohka National Park. We paddle to Assebakti near Karasjok, this is a distance of approx. 130 kilometers. We expect to spend 8 days on the actual journey down the river and thus have plenty of time to both take some detours on foot or to try our luck at fishing along the way. We paddle most of the stretch, but have to carry packraft and equipment with us past some rapids that can be difficult to get down. It is not required that you be an expert in paddling, but it is a prerequisite that you have paddled before. Specific experience with packraft is not necessary.

Accommodation and food

We live in a tent every day on this trip, except for the last night, when we stay in a hotel/mountain hut. Note! Participants must bring their own tent. We recommend several people stay in a tent where there is limited space on the packraft for transporting luggage.

If you are traveling alone but want to share a tent with another participant, we can assist in organizing this.

The meals during the trip will mainly consist of oatmeal for breakfast, and Real Turmat for lunch and dinner. We bring some fresh produce that we can use for the meals on the first two days. Hopefully we will also be able to supplement the dinners with some fish. Those who wish to try their luck at fishing are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. This is not a fishing trip, although of course there will be time to both fish and do other things than paddling along the way. We provide the necessary equipment to prepare the food. This will be done in a primus/storm kitchen. Note! Remember to bring your own dining set. This is also mentioned under the equipment list.

Note! If you want to buy snacks for the trip, this must be done before the trip starts, as we do not have the opportunity to do this in Alta.

Other information

The easiest way to get to the meeting place in Alta is to take a flight from one of the cities in Norway (Oslo, Bergen, etc) with airlines such as Norwegian, SAS or Widerøe.

Note! Remember and be careful when going through the equipment list. You will find this further down on the tour page. It is very important that everyone understands the restrictions on both size and weight of bags. If you have any questions about this beyond the information you find on the website, of course just contact us.

Highlights

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Day by day

Day 1:Meet up in Alta

We meet at the airport in Alta at 11 a.m. From here we are transported on to Vuottasjavri where our seaplane is waiting. The drive from Alta to Vuottasjavri takes about two hours. We load up our seaplane with the necessary equipment before two of us are transported into the wilderness. When everyone has arrived at Lake Buolžajávri, we find a campsite for the evening. We cook a tasty dinner together before getting ready for the paddling trip that starts tomorrow morning.

Accommodation

Tent

Meals

-,-,D

Transportation

3 hours

Day 2-8:Packrafting on Karasjohka

From Buolžajávri the paddling trip down Karasjohka begins. We spend a lot of time on the river every day, while also making time for other activities such as fishing, hiking, a good lunch, etc. Every afternoon we find a suitable place where we camp for the evening. We enjoy relaxing hours around the fire in the evening before repeating the program the next day. We get into a good routine and get to know real wilderness life during these days.

Accommodation

Tent

Meals

B,L,D

Duration

6-8 hours

Packraft på Karasjohka@EngholmHuskyLodge (3)

Day 9:Arrival in Assebakti

Today is our very last day on the river. We paddle the last leg down to Assebakti and on to Engholm Husky Lodge where we disembark. Tonight we hit the big drum so we check into this unique accommodation so that we have the opportunity to take a well-deserved shower after a week in the wilderness. We enjoy a tasty dinner in the evening while reminiscing about the wonderful week we have just been through.

Accommodation

Engholm Husky Lodge

Meals

B,L,D

Duration

6-8 hours

Day 10:Going home from Alta

After breakfast, approx. at 12.00 AM we are transported to the airport in Alta for our return journey. We arrive at Alta Airport in the afternoon between 15 and 16, so make sure to book flights that depart after this. We hope that the trip with us will give you memories for a lifetime and dreams of new adventures in the future!

Meals

B,-,-

Transportation

3 hours

Day 1: Meet up in Alta

Accommodation

Tent

Meals

-,-,D

Transportation

3 hours

Day 2-8: Packrafting on Karasjohka

Accommodation

Tent

Meals

B,L,D

Duration

6-8 hours

Day 9: Arrival in Assebakti

Accommodation

Engholm Husky Lodge

Meals

B,L,D

Duration

6-8 hours

Day 10: Going home from Alta

Meals

B,-,-

Transportation

3 hours

What's included in the price

Included

Not included

Changes may occur

We reserve the right to change prices. The day by day program is a guideline and changes may occur. You can refer to our general travel conditions for more information.

Travel insurance

On all our trips, we require you to have full health and accident insurance which will also cover any emergency transport home. Read more about travel insurance.

Equipment list

This list is intended as a guideline, so that we have what we need regardless of the weather we get on the trip. Remember that you can also get used hiking equipment that works perfectly. Get in touch if you have any questions. TIP: We recommend that you have the most important hiking equipment in your hand luggage, for example hiking boots and gore-tex jacket/trousers.

Obligatory

Clothing

2 sets. Not too thick, wear multiple layers if necessary.

Wool or synthetic. Avoid cotton. Remember to allways bring dry socks with you, to prevent chafing.

We recommend thin wool.

Fleece or wool.

Down or primaloft.

Gore-Tex or similar. Must have a decent hood, and hold out wind and rain. Should have space for midlayers underneath. Ventilation under the arms is recommended.

Waterproof jacket and pants.

To keep warm on your hands while packrafting.

Footwear

Equipment

Avoid bringing a suitcase, they are more difficult to transport between hotels.

80 liters or larger for men and 70 liters or larger for ladies. You must be familiar with this so you are sure that it fits well on your back with a weight of up to 20-25 kg. Feel free to bring some extra straps to attach equipment to the outside of the bag. On the way down from the mountain, it will be a real struggle to get everything back down.

Personal medicines and, for example, band-aids, blister plaster, sports tape, throat lozenges, nasal drops, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen, stomach regulators, etc.
We need to know about all medicines you are taking, in case something happens.

Tooth brush, tooth paste, small towel, ear plugs, wet wipes, biodegradable soap, etc.

Toilet paper, antibac and waste bags for the paper.

You should be able to bring 2-3 litres of water.

Preferably a spoon with a long handle if you are going to eat freeze dried food.

For head/face protection.

A small, lightweight summer tent. We recommend to sleep more than one person in each tent because of the limited space in each packraft to carry equipment.

Life jacket for use in packrafts, adapted to your own height and weight. Practical with extra pockets for storage.

Very important! To attach the backpack to the packraft under the paddle laps. Bring 2 large straps and 1-2 short straps.

Useful

Footwear

Equipment

Nuts, chocolate, energy bars, etc.

As this is an expedition trip, we recommend packing as lightly as possible. Feel free to pack several times before departure so that you can exclude any redundant articles that will not be necessary to bring with you. The equipment list you will find further down is also adapted specifically for this trip, so it is important to bring everything that is required.

Note! It is very important not to pack your bag completely before departure. Calculate approx. 25 liters of free space. This is because each participant must also have space for their own food and other communal equipment, which is distributed to the participants at the start of the tour. Snacks must be purchased individually before the trip starts. It will not be possible to purchase this after arrival in Alta.

Note! There is also a weight limit of 140 kg per person, including own weight, on this tour. This is because the plane that takes us to the starting point cannot exceed 280 kg with two passengers + luggage. If you exceed your own weight limit, you must leave equipment behind so that you achieve the correct weight. Extra equipment we do not need for the trip will be taken to Engholm Husky Lodge so that we can use it after the packraft trip is finished.

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Testimonial

"Quite a tough trip in harsh surroundings! Raw wilderness life! An enormous feeling of mastery when you succeed in paddling through the rapids, when you light the fire in the rain, succeed in fishing from the boat or enjoy the sunrise from the tent opening! Great experiences, great togetherness, great nature!"

– Hanne, 2021

Testimonial

"Had a wonderful experience. Morten was a super guide!"

– Svein, 2021

USD 2852

USD 2729

USD 890

USD 2852

USD 364

USD 2852

USD 2729

USD 890

USD 2852

USD 364

Highlights

10

6-10

NO/EN

4/6

4/6

Private tour only

Opening hours Phone

Opening hours Chat

Chat

(+47) 67 79 24 79 (+1) 929 470 3469

Contact us

Safety

Physical level

4/6 Physical

Risk level

4/6 Risk

Training and preperations

Accommodation and food

Other information

Rated

See all reviews

Tent

-,-,D

3 hours

Tent

B,L,D

6-8 hours

Engholm Husky Lodge

B,L,D

6-8 hours

B,-,-

3 hours

Day 1: Meet up in Alta

Tent

-,-,D

3 hours

Day 2-8: Packrafting on Karasjohka

Tent

B,L,D

6-8 hours

Day 9: Arrival in Assebakti

Engholm Husky Lodge

B,L,D

6-8 hours

Day 10: Going home from Alta

B,-,-

3 hours

Included

Professional nature guides

All accommodations during the trip

All meals as described in the itinerary

All transportation within the itinerary

Common equipment (such as the food mentioned above and first aid equipment)

Packraft, paddle and pump

Not included

Transportation to the meeting point in Alta

Personal equipment (including own fishing gear)

Travel insurance

Drinks and snacks

Accommodation before/after the trip

Tent (participants must bring their own)

Life jacket (remember that this needs to be suited to your height and weight)

Unforeseen expenses due to delays due to weather or safety considerations

Fishing license at Finnmarkseiendom (Can be purchased at www.fefo.no. Price: 795 NOK)

Travel insurance

Obligatory

Clothing

Underwear

Wool-/synthetic baselayer

(+47) 67 79 24 79

(+1) 929 470 3469