Time until the start – April 18, 2026
⚠️ The start of the 21st Võhandu Marathon will take place at three different times!
7:00 AM
SUP / BOAT / WTB / BACKRAFT / UNK
7:30 AM
RAFT MEN / WOM / MIX / MIL
7:45 AM
KAYAK / CANOE – all kayaks and all canoes
Race Number Pickup
RACE NUMBER PICKUP takes place at the Võhandu Marathon office, address Põllu 4, Võru – https://g.page/vmkontor
Race Number Pickup
THURSDAY April 16, 16:00 – 22:00
FRIDAY April 17, 12:00 – 24:00
SATURDAY April 18, 05:00 – 07:45
NB! Please do not leave picking up your race number to Saturday morning.
On Thursday and Friday, paddling equipment and Võhandu Marathon souvenirs will be available for purchase. If possible, please pay in cash!
Boats should be brought to the start area on Friday and race materials collected. From Friday 8:00 PM, security will be organized at the lakeside and in the start areas.
Follow the signs in the city.
A WK 525 Sport will be raffled among all participants.
At the 21st Võhandu Marathon in 2026, the raffle prize is provided by the Estonian kayak manufacturer World of Kayaks.
This kayak, crafted with care and attention, offers good speed and maneuverability and weighs approximately 28 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, it won 1st place in the K1WOM class with a time of 9:58:02.
The WK 525 will be raffled among all starters. The draw will take place electronically at the finish race center. The lucky winner can collect their WK 525 from the finish information tent.
Raffle Prize Winner – 20th Võhandu Marathon 2025
In 2025, the WK 525 Sport kayak, offered as a raffle prize by World of Kayaks, was won by VEIKO, who received his new boat immediately after finishing.
In 2026, we look forward to seeing Veiko back at the marathon with his new kayak.
See how the 21st Võhandu Marathon medal was made.
We have put a great deal of care and heart into this medal, so it can hang proudly on your wall and remind you of an adventure on a small Estonian river — a place where a great paddling story began.
Try it yourself. We are waiting for you for up to 24 hours to capture the moment you cross the finish line as a winner.
99% of the Võhandu Marathon is the feeling born from the power we create together!
This is a powerful feeling — being part of a great and incredible community. It’s the feeling of chasing your competitors on the river. The feeling when you have nothing left, yet you keep pushing forward. It’s the feeling when, at the finish, you straighten your back and shout at the top of your lungs, “DONE!” It’s the feeling on the sauna bench, sharing fresh emotions. This is the Võhandu feeling — carrying you forward to new adventures!
Võhandu 5-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
The Võhandu Marathon is an approximately 100-kilometer paddling marathon that started in 2006 and takes place on the Võhandu River. The race begins in the city of Võru on Lake Tamula and finishes at the Võõpsu boat harbor in Põlvamaa. It is everyone’s story of the river — of beauty and pain, struggle and joy. At the finish, all participants receive a proud medal and can say with confidence: “I have paddled an entire river in one day!” This is your 100-kilometer story. Come, join as a participant or support your team from the riverbank. Either way, it’s an incredibly worthwhile experience that leaves no one untouched 🙂
