Canoe Tours in Bergslagen

Overview

Duration: 7 days/6 nights or 14 days/13 nights.

Accommodation: Wild camping.

Required: Swimming ability for adults, good health, reasonable fitness/strength. Suitable for children 10 or over. Some land transports can be physically demanding.

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Canoe Tours in Bergslagen is the ideal canoe trip for those looking for a paddle adventure combining a beautiful landscape of quiet forests and lakes with an element of challenge. Surrounded by marsh and woodland, Canoe Tours in Bergslagen runs in a remote area through a series of lakes and small rivers.

You will be camping wild each night, planning your days and distance to cover each day as you wish. A fishing licence can be purchased for fishing along parts of the tour.

Depending on your chosen route and duration, the total distance covered for Canoe in Bergslagen is between 85 and 105km. If you would like to increase the level of challenge, the total distance can also be extended by the addition of a number of detours into side lake and river systems.

This canoe tour also requires about 10 land crossings, the longest transport needed being 4-9km depending on water levels. A canoe trolley is included as part of your equipment to assist with land transports. The land transports required during the canoe trip and the remote nature of much of the area makes Canoe in Bergslagen the most challenging of our canoeing tours in the Värmland area. No previous experience of canoeing is required, but you should be used to and enjoy the outdoor life.

Bergslagen, the name given to the old mining areas reaching over Västermanland, the southern parts of Dalarna and the east of Värmland, is wonderful canoeing country. The natural surroundings in Bergslagen offer a beautiful area of connected lakes and rivers superb for paddlers. The flora and fauna of Bergslagen, where the north and south of Sweden meet, is a cross-section of Swedish species.

Canoe Tours in Bergslagen is suitable for adults and also for families with older children who are used to the outdoors - a fairly challenging but very rewarding paddle adventure that will leave you with a host of memories and stories to tell!

Canoeing for odd-numbered groups

Canoes used are 2-person Canadian canoes but can also accommodate three persons. For odd numbers, you can choose to have three persons in one canoe or to have one person paddling solo. This does not affect the price – please let us know when booking which option you prefer. Having three persons in one canoe reduces the level of challenge but leaves less space for packing. Taking two canoes increases the level of challenge, especially during land transports or in windy conditions. Note that land transports for the Bergslagen can be quite challenging.

Itinerary

Detailed information you will need for your experience, including a description of the route, is sent out once full payment has been received.

Start Day

You meet at the canoe centre in Gunnerud, where you will receive your canoe equipment, some instruction on paddling technique other information for your tour. You can also now buy a fishing licence for the tour if you wish. Together with the canoe centre staff, you take some time to mark the places on the map where you have to launch and take the canoe out of the water and note some suitable camping spots. Together you load the canoe equipment onto the minibus head for the starting point to begin your canoe tour.

The Rest of the Tour

Launching your canoes into Västra Sundsjön, you paddle south. At the southern end of the lake, you take the canoes out of the water and make your first land transport, about 700m, to launch into Östra Sundsjön, heading north through a beautiful labyrinth of floating islands.

Your canoe tour continues through lakes, canals and creeks with a total of 10 land crossings, the longest being 4-9km depending on water levels. In normal water conditions, it is possible to step out of the canoe and drag it alongside for much of the distance during the longest transport.

At one point you have the choice of two different routes. You can take your time and consider your strength and the time you have left when deciding which route to choose.

We recommend that you take all food needed for the tour with you from the start - there are opportunities to purchase food only during the very last section of the tour.

End Day

Your canoe tour ends 7 or 14 days later. You will be met at the end point for return transfer to the canoe centre. Tours beginning on a Saturday will end with pick-up on Friday at 14.30.

You have the option to do the canoe tour in 7 or 14 days. If you choose 14 days, you will have time to build in rest periods or plan detours and hiking days on land.

The tour has two standard lengths: 85km or 105km. The longer route is suitable for the 14-day tour or, if you feel you have the energy and time, this route is also possible in 7 days.

For the 14-day tour, it is also possible to combine our Canoe in Bergslagen and Canoe on Svartälven experiences into one extended canoe tour (giving a standard distance of around 180km with additional extensions possible). Prices as for 14-day Canoe on Svartälven tour. Please mention when booking if you wish to choose this option.

Dates & Prices

Dates

High season:

• 23.06-11.08.12. Start days Saturdays, check-in between 13.00 and 14.00 (latest start day 11th August).

Low season:

• 01.05-22.06.12 and 12.08-30.09.12. Start any day/time (except Sundays) by arrangement for a minimum of 4 adults. Smaller groups are also possible, charged at the full rate for 4 adults (for safety reasons, must contain min. 2 adults). NB: No starts/ends 14.06 or 15.06.12.

The Price

Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.

Basic package includes canoe and kitchen equipment.

	7-day tour	14-day tour
Adult	£163	£245
Child 3-15	£82	£123

What The Price Includes

Maps are essential for this tour. Maps can be ordered independently or as an optional extra - please see "Optional extras" below.

• Canoe equipment: 2-person Canadian canoe, paddles, buoyancy aids, pack cylinder, water can, canoe rope, canoe trolley, toilet spade, cleaning sponge and rubbish bags.
• Kitchen equipment: Trangia hurricane stove* with methylated spirit, cups, plates, cutlery, carving-knife, cutting board, spatula, cheese slicer, whip, butter knife, can/bottle opener, potato peeler, bowl, dish brush, washing-up liquid, kitchen roll, matches and storage box.
• Instructor: Instruction meeting before your tour starts.
• Transfers: Transport by minibus for participants and equipment from the meeting point to/from the start/end points of the tour.

*Exact contents may differ from example shown

Please be careful with the canoe and the rest of your equipment! If some part of the equipment should break as a result of misuse or carelessness, you may be charged for the damage caused.

What The Price Does Not Include

Please see "Optional Extras" below.

• Food: This tour runs in a remote area with no opportunities to buy food along the way until the last part of the route. We recommend you bring all food with you from the start.
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Maps

Optional Extras

	Sleeping bag package	Tent*	Set of Maps*	Provisions**
7 days: Adult	£18	£77	£27	£106/person
7 days: Child 3-15	£18			£97/person
14 days: Adult	£27	£115	£27	£106/person (7 days only)
14 days: Child 3-15	£27			£97/person (7 days only)

*Price given is per tent or per set of maps.

**If choosing provisions, please note that for organisational reasons all persons travelling together must choose food packages (i.e. it is not possible to split packages or to purchase for only some members of a group). You are also welcome to bring your own provisions for your tour if you wish.

• Tent (see image below): High quality 3/4-person Hilleberg tents. Please note that, like all tents rated 4 persons, the tents are most comfortable for 3 adults.
• Food: You can choose to add a food package for up to 7 days. The food provided is that eaten by a typical Swedish family. At the start of the tour you will be given a provisions box with the food for the trip (if you have specific dietary requirements, please let us know so that arrangements can be made). The exact contents of the package may change depending on the season and availability. The food is purchased from small, local countryside shops. Typical contents include: bread, butter, cheese, juice, milk, yoghurt, muesli, coffee, tea, salami, jam, meatballs, fishballs, Swedish beef stew, ham, sausages, pork loin, mashed potatoes, onions, carrots, vegetables, beetroot, apples, biscuits, tomatoes, cucumber, rice, macaroni, asparagus soup, cauliflower soup, salt and pepper.
• Sleeping Bag Package: Includes sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner and foam sleeping mat.
• Maps: Maps required are 626 Hagfors and 636 Äppelbo. Maps can be purchased independently through The Map Shop. Alternatively, you can order maps through us and collect them along with the rest of your equipment in Sweden.

Fishing licences can be purchased at the canoe centre on arrival.

Practical Info

Health requirements/experience

Swimming ability required by adults. All participation at own risk. Minimum 2 adults.

You should be in good health and have a reasonable level of fitness and strength.

The canoe tour is on calm running waters and small to medium-sized lakes. The Bergslagen tour requires a number of land transports, the longest of which is 4-9km depending on water levels. During the land transports the canoe can be transported on the canoe trolley but you will need to carry other equipment. This tour may be too demanding for younger children and is unsuitable for children under 10. If you have younger children, our Canoe on Svartälven or Canoe on Klarälven tours may be more suitable. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Equipment/clothes needed

A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.

Groups

Canoe in Bergslagen is suitable for groups of up to max. 10 persons.

Additional Notes

This provider has received a prestigious Swedish Ecotourism award for its commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.

Location

Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

By Air

You can choose to fly to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Oslo airports. From here, you travel by public transport to Karlstad (around 2.5-5.5 hours depending on options chosen). From Karlstad, you travel by local bus to Gunnerud (around 1.5 hours). You can also choose to travel by hire car.

Without Flying

Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark). Driving time to the canoe centre is around 10.5 hours.

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