Six kayakers complete 8,000km adventure through Lapland in the Dacia Duster

A team of six extreme kayakers have completed an 11-day expedition into the frozen Lapland in Finland, with the help of the Dacia Duster.

Built for adventure, Dacia's iconic SUV proved the ideal vehicle for the challenge as the team traversed nearly 8,000km to reach the wild waters in the North Cape region of Norway. With kayaks secured on the roof and bivouac tents and equipment stored in the boot, the team were set for an adrenaline-packed expedition after more than a year of living in lockdown.

The group met up in Grenoble in the southeast of France, where they set off in a Dacia Duster on their road-trip. Rugged and robust, the Duster is built for adventure and met all the requirements of their expedition.

The Duster's generous boot volume of up to 1,574 litres also meant there was enough room for all the gear they needed. With the boot loaded and kayaks secured on the roof, the six athletes took to the road.

And once in Lapland, the Duster proved perfect for dropping off the kayaks in the water and picking them up at the other end, thanks to its proven off-road capabilities. The SUV also assisted the team in uncovering and exploring idyllic locations to pitch their tents.

Temperatures stayed below five degree Celsius with intermittent snowfall throughout the trip. Out on the turbulent Lake Vastenjaure, the kayaks were set to cover more than 32km of 1.5m-tall swells against constant headwinds. It was a challenge that elated the athletes.

With its rich network of waterways, numerous national parks, and large areas of untouched wilderness in northern Scandinavia, Lapland is an ideal playground for extreme kayakers looking for an adventure out of the ordinary. "We paddled down every type of river a kayaker could ever hope to encounter," the team said.

The versatility offered by the Duster meant it "delivered on its promise as a comfortable, robust and spacious car," said Eric Deguil, four-time extreme kayak world champion and three-time winner of the Green Race, on completing the challenge.

In addition to the fun the team had whilst in the Duster, it was an ideal scouting vehicle that came into its own when moving between kayak points. No matter how dusty, rocky, or steep the path ahead, it was always up to the challenge.

Having been recently updated with refreshed design elements, advanced features and technology, the new Dacia Duster remains true to its roots by continuing to offer the same versatility and value-for-money it is acclaimed for. With high ground clearance and four-wheel-drive versions offering a 4x4 Monitor, the Duster truly is at home on both the road and off the beaten track.