KAINUU ORIENTEERING WEEK 2025
Arriving
Arriving in Finland and Sotkamo, Vuokatti for Kainuu Orienteering Wek 2025 is smooth. The nearest airport and train station to Sotkamo are located in Kajaani, about a 35-minute drive away. You can arrive in Kajaani by plane or train and continue your journey to Sotkamo by bus or car.
While in Sotkamo (and Kajaani), you can use public transportation.
You can conveniently travel by our race bus (competition bus) from Sotkamo town centre through Katinkulta, Vuokatti (Vuokatti Sport), and the KOW event centre to the competition centre at Heikkilän pirtti and back during each of the four stages. See the "Bus Transportation" section at the bottom of the page.
By air:
Finnair, among others, operates direct flight connections from around the world to Finland and Helsinki Airport. From Helsinki, you can continue your journey by flying directly to Kajaani, Kuopio, or Oulu, which are the nearest airports. From all these airports, you can rent a car, or alternatively, travel by train or bus from Kuopio and Oulu to Kajaani and forward to Sotkamo. From Kajaani Airport, there are public bus connections to Kajaani city centre and Sotkamo
Check here the direct flights from Helsinki to Kajaani for upcoming summer.
Book your flights on Finnair's website.
Nearest airports:
Helsinki - Kajaani (recommended)
Helsinki - Kuopio
Helsinki - Oulu
Helsinki - Kuusamo
Helsinki - Rovaniemi
From all the mentioned airports, there are daily bus connections to Kajaani and from Kajaani to Sotkamo. Additionally, from Kuopio and Oulu there are train connections to Kajaani.
By ferry:
Several international passenger and cruise shipping companies operate to Finland's largest ports in Helsinki and Turku. From Sweden, you can also reach Finland through the port of Vaasa.
By rail:
Several trains arrive at the Kajaani travel centre every day. From Kajaani train station (travel centre), you can conveniently continue your journey to Sotkamo either by bus or rental car.
By bus:
Several buses arrive at the Kajaani travel centre every day. From Kajaani bus station (travel centre), you can conveniently continue your journey to Sotkamo either by bus or rental car.
www.matkahuolto.fi
www.matka.fi
www.akyllonen.fi
Competition Bus:
During the Kainuu O Week, you can conveniently travel by our race bus from Sotkamo town centre through Vuokatti (Vuokatti Sport) and the KOW competition village to the competition centre at Heikkilän pirtti and back, during each of the four stages.
Ticket prices, timetables and routes from the competition instructions and our website: 2025 -> Spectators -> Arriving and bus transportations
By car:
Distances and driving times to Kajaani:
From Turku 645 km 7 h 55 min
From Helsinki 590 km 6 h 50 min
From Tampere 500 km 6 h 15 min
From Vaasa 400 km 5 h 00 min
From Rovaniemi 350 km 4 h 15 min
From Jyväskylä 350 km 4 h 15 min
From Kuusamo 250 km 3 h 00 min
From Oulu 200 km 2 h 30 min
From Kuopio 200 km 2 h 30 min
From Nurmes 90 km 1 h 00 min
From Vuokatti 40 km 35 min
Car rental:
Helsinki (airport)
Kajaani (airport)
Oulu (airport)
Kuopio (airport)
Kuusamo (airport)
Rovaniemi (airport)
Charging points for electric car
You can find charging points in Sotkamo (Vuokatti), Kajaani, Paltamo, Kuhmo and Suomussalmi. See electric car charging points.
BUS TRANSPORTATIONS
Race bus (COACH TRANSPORTATION)
You can conveniently travel by our competition bus from Sotkamo town centre through Katinkulta and the KOW Event Centre (Vuokatti Sport) to the Competition Centre at Heikkilän pirtti and back during each of the four stages.
Competition bus route:
See the competition bus route map (PDF file)
Departure route: 20 km, travel time 35-40 min (route map in Google Maps)
The Church of Sotkamo (Ristijärventie 1, Sotkamo) – Sotkamo bus station (Sotkamo town centre) – Kainuuntie – Pohjavaarantie – Katinkullantie – Holiday Club Katinkulta – Katinkullantie – Pohjavaarantie – Kuikkalammentie – Vuokatintie – Vuokatinhovintie – EVENT CENTRE (Opistontie 1, Vuokatti Sport) – Vuokatinhovintie – Nurmestie – Ohravaarantie – COMPETITION CENTRE (Otrantie intersection, approximately 700 m walk to the competition centre Otrantie 7 B from the final bus stop)
Return route: 20 km, travel time 35-40 min (route map in Google Maps)
COMPETITION CENTRE (Ohravaarantie and Otrantie intersection) – Ohravaarantie – Rekivaarantie – Nurmestie – Vuokatinhovintie – EVENT CENTRE (Opistontie 1, Vuokatti Sport) – Vuokatinhovintie – Vuokatintie – Kuikkalammentie – Pohjavaarantie – Katinkullantie – Holiday Club Katinkulta – Katinkullantie – Pohjavaarantie – Kainuuntie – Sotkamo bus station (Sotkamo town centre) – The Church of Sotkamo (Ristijärventie 1, Sotkamo)
The travel time from the starting point to the competition centre, including breaks, is approximately 35-40 minutes. The return journey, including breaks, also takes about 35-40 minutes.
From the competition bus stop at the competition centre (Ohravaarantie and Otrantie intersection), there is approximately a 700-meter walk to the competition centre (Otrantie 7 B).
Timetables
Sotkamo town centre – Katinkulta – Event Centre (Vuokatti Sport) – Competition centre
| Sun 29.6. | Tue 1.7. | Thur 3.7. | Fri 4.7. |
| 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 | |
| 06:45 | 06:45 | 06:45 | |
| 07:30 | 07:30 | 07:30 | 07:30 |
| 08:15 | 08:15 | 08:15 | 08:15 |
| 09:00 | 09:00 | 09:00 | 09:00 |
| 09:45 | 09:45 | 09:45 | 09:45 |
| 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 |
| 11:15 | 11:15 | 11:15 | 11:15 |
| 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| 12:45 | 12:45 | 12:45 | 12:45 |
| 13:30 | |||
| 14:15 |
Competition centre – Event Centre (Vuokatti Sport) – Katinkulta – Sotkamon town centre
| Sun 29.6. | Tue 1.7. | Thur 3.7. | Fri 4.7. |
| 11:15 | 11:15 | 11:15 | |
| 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| 12:45 | 12:45 | 12:45 | 12:45 |
| 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| 14:15 | 14:15 | 14:15 | 14:15 |
| 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| 15:45 | 15:45 | 15:45 | 15:45 |
| 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
| 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
| 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| 18:45 | |||
| 19:30 |
The organizer reserves the right to change the schedule.
Prices
Prices will be published in autumn 2024.
| One-way trip | Weekly pass | |
| Adult | 4 € | 20 € |
| Child (under 15) | 2 € | 10 € |
Tickets can be purchased:
- Weekly passes can be purchased from the KOW online store
- From the KOW info desk (card and cash payments)
- Directly from the bus (cash or online purchase only)
