Viking Line partners with Finlandia Ski Marathon and Nordic Walking World Championships to promote sustainable sports travel to Lahti

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The partnership makes travelling to two major international sporting events in Lahti easier and more sustainable, particularly for participants arriving from Sweden and Estonia.

Finland’s largest mass cross-country skiing event, the Finlandia Ski Marathon in February 2027, and the Nordic Walking World Championships, taking place in Lahti in September 2026, have partnered with Viking Line to promote more sustainable travel to sporting events.

The new partnership combines Viking Line’s ferry connections with Finland’s extensive rail network, creating a convenient travel option for international participants travelling to Lahti from Sweden and Estonia. The collaboration supports the events’ shared ambition to develop responsible sports tourism while strengthening Lahti’s position as an accessible international sports destination.

Ferry and rail create a sustainable travel chain

The Finlandia Ski Marathon and the Nordic Walking World Championships attract participants from Finland and abroad. International participation in the Finlandia Ski Marathon has grown steadily, with Estonia currently representing the largest international participant group.

Participants from the United States also regularly combine the Finlandia Ski Marathon with the Tartu Marathon in Estonia, travelling across the Baltic Sea as part of their Worldloppet ski experience.

"Event and sports travellers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their travel. Combining ferry and rail offers an easy and more sustainable way to reach Lahti, particularly from Sweden and Estonia," says Markku Levanen, Event Director of the Finlandia Ski Marathon and the Nordic Walking World Championships.

"Lahti is exceptionally well connected and offers an excellent setting for international sporting events. This partnership makes arriving here even easier for international participants."

Shared commitment to active lifestyles

The partnership is based on shared values: promoting physical activity, wellbeing and responsible travel.

The Finlandia Ski Marathon brings together around 4,000 participants each year to ski through the unique landscapes of the Salpausselkä ridge. The Nordic Walking World Championships, meanwhile, showcase an accessible form of exercise suitable for people of different ages and fitness levels.

For Viking Line, the partnership offers a natural opportunity to support active lifestyles and public health.

"We want to encourage people to be active and make it easy for them to participate in major sporting events. Both the Finlandia Ski Marathon and the Nordic Walking World Championships represent accessible forms of exercise that everyone can enjoy," says Minna Tuorila, Commercial Director for Finland and Estonia at Viking Line.

Viking Line also hopes the partnership will encourage its employees to participate in sporting events in Finland.

"We have a long tradition of our employees taking part in Sweden's Vasaloppet, and we hope this partnership will inspire our staff to participate in sporting events here in Finland as well," Tuorila adds.

International growth is a key goal

For the Finlandia Ski Marathon, increasing international participation is an important strategic objective. International skiers currently account for approximately 17 per cent of participants, with the goal of increasing this share to more than 25 per cent in the coming years.

"Sweden has its own major cross-country skiing event, but we see strong potential for attracting more participants from our western neighbour. Lahti is an easily accessible destination, and the combination of ferry and train provides a smooth travel experience," says Levanen.

"We want international participants to see Lahti not only as a great place to compete, but also as an easy and responsible destination to travel to."

Participants arriving in Finland by ferry will receive special benefits through the Viking Line partnership. Details of the benefits will be announced through the Finlandia Ski Marathon newsletter and other communication channels during autumn 2026.