Canoe Tours on Klarälven

Overview

Duration: 4 days/3 nights or 7 days/6 nights.

Accommodation: Wild camping.

Required: Swimming ability for adults, good health, average fitness/strength. Suitable for the whole family.

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A family holiday in Sweden with a difference! The Klarälven runs the length of Värmland, from north to south. Its serpentine meanderings make it a major feature of the Värmland landscape. Its waters flow gently and the landscape ranges from steep valleys to flat, cultivated land.

Canoe on Klarälven is a canoe tour suitable for adults seeking a relaxing, less challenging canoe experience and is also the ideal choice for a family holiday with children of all ages - a self-guided canoeing holiday where you paddle on your own, camping wild on the riverbank along the way. The Klarälven is a wide, meandering river which flows at a stately 2km per hour - a wonderful way to experience the beautiful landscape of rural Sweden and watch the world go by!

The Klarälven canoeing tour takes you through a lovely rural area of forests, small villages and farmland, giving you the opportunity to stop for provisions and explore the small villages and surrounding woodlands along the route.

The flora and fauna of Värmland is a cross-section of Swedish species, where the north and south of Sweden meet along the plant geographic boundary of Norrland, which is also the northern limit of the oak. Northern Värmland and the Norwegian borderland offers wonderful possibilities for canoeing and is ideal for lovers of nature and wildlife - you have good chances to spot beaver when canoeing on the Klarälven.

Whether you are a couple seeking a peaceful few days together on the water, an active family introducing your children to the thrill of the outdoors and wild camping, or an adult group looking for a relaxing paddle adventure, Canoe on Klarälven may well be the ideal option!

Canoeing for odd-numbered groups

Canoes used are 2-person Canadian canoes but can also accommodate three persons. For odd numbers, one person will normally paddle solo. If you have not paddled before, this can take a short time to get used to, but otherwise presents few problems, though note that this will limit available space for packing. This does not affect the price - please let us know when booking which option you prefer. Canoe on Klarälven has no land transports.

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

Meet at the canoe centre in Gunnerud. You will receive your equipment and the information about paddling technique and your route. You can also buy a fishing licence for the tour if you wish. You will then load your canoe equipment onto the minibus for transfer upstream to the start point for your canoe tour. Distance covered is approx. 50km for the 4-day tour and 100km for the 7-day tour.

The Rest of the Tour

You journey down the wide, meandering river Klaräven, stopping as the mood takes you at small villages and places of interest along the way (suggestions will be included in your route description documentation). You may even wish to plan a half day or day to go hiking in the beautiful forests of the area. The time you spend on the water and the distance to cover each day to complete your voyage downstream is up to you. Each night you will camp wild on the riverbank at a suitable spot - if you wish, you will also pass occasional "proper" campsites, where you are welcome to spend the night if you wish (additional charge payable locally).

End Day

You paddle downstream to finish your canoe tour at the canoe centre. The end time for your canoe tour is flexible and depends the distance you have chosen to leave to cover on the final day.

Dates & Prices

Dates

High season:

• 24.06-12.08.12. Start days Sundays and Thursdays, check-in between 13.00 and 14.00 (last start day 12th August).

Low season:

• 03.06-23.06.12 and 13.08-26.08.12. Start days Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check in latest 21.00 the day before your tour for transfer at 08.00 on your start day.
• 01.05-02.06.12 and 27.08-30.09.12. 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.

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.

	4-day tour	7-day tour
Adult	£129	£159
Child 3-15	£65	£80

What The Price Includes

• Canoe equipment: 2-person Canadian canoe, paddles, buoyancy aids, one waterproof pack cylinder per canoe, water can, canoe rope, topographical map, toilet spade, cleaning sponge and rubbish bags.
• Kitchen equipment contents: 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: Services of experienced and knowledgeable instructor before your tour starts.
• Transfers: Transport by bus for participants and equipment from the meeting point to the start point of the tour (tour route returns to meeting point in Gunnerud).

*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: A provisions package is available as an optional extra. There are opportunities to shop in small stores along the way.
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag

Optional Extras

	Sleeping bag package	Tent*	Provisions**
4 days: Adult	£15	£55	£84/person
4 days: Child 3-15	£15		£77/person
7 days: Adult	£18	£77	£106/person
7 days: Child 3-15	£18		£97/person

*Price given is per tent.

**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.

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 flowing water. The Klarälven tour involves fairly light paddling with no lifting and you will be travelling downstream for the whole tour.

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 on Klarälven is ideal for groups. Every 14th participant free. We reserve the right to assign groups to certain camp sites to minimise impact on the natural environment.

The Beaver

Canoeing or rafting the Klarälven gives you a very good chance of seeing beavers. But this has not always been the case. The beaver became extinct in Sweden in the late 19th century and was only reintroduced in 1922. Since then they have flourished in this area and Värmland now has an estimated population of several thousand. See our Wildlife Guide for more information on beavers in Sweden.

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.

Map of Sweden