Registration for the main marathon race opens on January 1 at 00:00:01 (Estonian time).

A maximum of 1,500 teams will be allowed to start.
Note: The RAFT class has 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 is not possible under any circumstances), or

  • 1,500 teams have registered, or

  • 3,200 participants have registered.

If you want to experience untouched nature and spend one powerful athletic day on the river, this marathon is for you. Every kilometer you later recall on the sauna deck is pure pleasure. You’ll want it again and again — it won’t let you rest until you see your name on the start list. 🙂 See you on April 18, 2026 in Võru.

Time until the marathon starts

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.

Maps

The Võhandu Marathon is guaranteed to surprise you.

This 100 km paddling marathon runs along the Võhandu River, from Lake Tamula to the Võõpsu boat harbour in southern Estonia.

It is everyone’s story about the river — about beauty and pain, suffering and pleasure.
At the finish line, every finisher can say with pride:
“I’ve paddled the whole river in one day.”

This is your 100-kilometer story.
The story of a small Estonian river, where one of the world’s greatest paddling challenges began.

Join us as a participant, or support your friends along the riverbank.
Train well, believe in yourself, and see you at the start.

Remember: You can do more than you think.

Your five-year paddling plan in Estonia

21st VM 2026 April 18
22nd VM 2027 April 24
23rd VM 2028 April 22
24th VM 2029 April 21
25th VM - JUBILEE! 2030 April 20

What is the Võhandu Marathon like? Look at the photos, they will give you an idea of its scale.

 

The nature of the Võhandu River is breathtakingly beautiful and pristine.

 

Hands that have paddled 100 kilometers

 

Võhandu marathon photogalery
Võhandu marathon photogalery
GALLERY
  • Võhandu marathon uses Google Photo photobank. 
  • You will be guided to Google photo albums where you can:
    • see photos
    • comment photos
    • share photos
    • download photos
  • The filenames contain the author's name as well as activity and time information.
  • The files are in original size and good quality.
  • The entire Võhandu Marathon Photo Bank is for free use.
  •  Võhandu marathon owns all the rights.
  •  In commercial use of photos please contact us first.
Erply on Võhandu maratoni
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Kaitseliit toetab Võhandu maratoni
Coop Võru toetab Võhandu maratoni