Võhandu Marathon
Võhandu Marathon began in 2006 as an approximately 100-kilometre paddling marathon held on the Võhandu River. The start is given in the town of Võru on Lake Tamula, and the marathon finishes at the Võõpsu boat harbour in Põlvamaa. It is everyone’s story of the river – of beauty and pain, endurance and joy. At the finish line, all participants receive a proud medal around their neck and can say with confidence: "I have paddled an entire river in a single day!" This is your 100-kilometre journey. Come and join as a participant or support your team from the riverbank. Either way, it is an incredibly rewarding experience that leaves no one untouched 🙂
Registration for the 21st Võhandu Marathon is open!
A maximum of 1500 teams will be allowed to start.
Note: In the RAFT class, there is a separate limit of up to 150 teams.
Registration closes as soon as one of the following conditions is met:
- March 31 (after this date, registration will not be possible under any circumstances), or
- 1500 teams have registered, or
- 3200 participants have registered.
If you want to experience untouched nature and spend one powerful sporting day on the river, this marathon is for you.
Remember: “You are capable of more than you think.”
Every kilometre you later recall on the sauna terrace is pure enjoyment. You will want it again and again – it won’t let you rest until you see your name on the starting list. 🙂
99% of Võhandu Marathon is the feeling born from shared strength and unity!
It is a powerful feeling to be part of something truly extraordinary. It is the feeling that comes from chasing competitors down the river. The feeling when you think you have nothing left, yet you keep pushing forward. It is the feeling when you straighten your back at the finish line and shout at the top of your lungs, "DONE!" It is the feeling that returns as you share raw emotions on the sauna bench. That is the Võhandu feeling – the one that carries you forward to new adventures!
Võhandu Five-Year Paddling Plan
| 21st VM | 2026 | April 18 |
|---|---|---|
| 22nd VM | 2027 | April 24 |
| 23rd VM | 2028 | April 22 |
| 24th VM | 2029 | April 21 |
| 25th VM - Anniversary! | 2030 | April 20 |
Võhandu Marathon Medal
A medal worth coming for.
The medal of the 21st Võhandu Marathon is ready. Every paddler who finishes the marathon will earn the right to wear it.
The design draws inspiration from the past 20 Võhandu Marathons — a history shaped by contrasts. It was the warmest marathon ever held, with temperatures reaching 28°C. At the same time, the race witnessed its first powerful thunderstorm, with lightning tearing across the sky.
The medal also marks the collapse of a sandstone riverbank, which forced approximately 300 boat crews to complete an additional portage.
This marathon becomes your 100-kilometre story — on the river, beautiful and painful.
A story of discovering that you are capable of more than you believed.
See how the 21st Võhandu Marathon medal was created. 
We have put great care into this medal so it can hang proudly on your wall, reminding you of an adventure on a small Estonian river — the place where a great paddling story began.
Give it a try.
We will be waiting for you for up to 24 hours to capture the moment you cross the finish line as a winner.
The WK 525 Sport will be raffled among all participants.
At the 21st Võhandu Marathon in 2026, the prize draw kayak is provided by the Estonian kayak manufacturer World of Kayaks.
This carbon/kevlar kayak, worth over €2500, offers excellent speed and manoeuvrability and weighs approximately 22 kg, making it ideal for river marathons.
On the Võhandu course, this model has delivered fast times and strong results over the years. In 2018, first place in the K1WOM class was won with a WK 525 in a time of 9:58:02.
The WK 525 will be raffled among all starters. The draw will take place electronically at the finish competition centre. The lucky winner can collect their WK 525 from the finish information tent.
Winner of the Prize Draw – 20th Võhandu Marathon 2025
The WK525 Sport kayak, offered as a prize by World of Kayaks in 2025, was won by VEIKO, who received his new boat immediately after crossing the finish line.
In 2026, we look forward to welcoming Veiko back to the marathon with his new kayak.
