Specialists for Nordic Outdoor & Adventure Holidays in the Nordic Countries since 2006

Menu

Photo: Elia Sigg

Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition (Sweden)

A challenging wilderness canoeing adventure for experienced outdoor enthusiasts

  • Self-guided (min 2 adults)
  • Hard
  • From £/person
  • Jun-Sep, 8-12 or more days
  • Adults, Groups

Highlights:

  • Our most remote canoe tour
  • Paddle from Rogen in Sweden to Femundsmarka in Norway
  • Beautiful fjäll landscape
  • Flexible duration for extended trips
  • Good fishing and hiking options en route
  • Challenging land transports required

Description »

An adventurous canoe tour for the fit and experienced!

Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a challenging self-guided wilderness canoe tour in the remote mountain region of Rogen Nature Reserve in north-west Sweden, beginning on the Swedish side of the border and crossing over to the Femundsmarka National Park in Norway to end at Lake Feragen on the Norwegian side.

For those with previous experience of paddle tours, extensive experience of the outdoors and a good level of fitness and strength, Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition offers extended canoe touring through a stunning landscape of lakes, islands, peninsulars and bays. The area is also well-known for its grayling and trout fishing - a marvellous way to supplement your camping provisions!

Land transports when canoeing in Rogen

Some challenging land transports over rough terrain are required during the tour. Photo: Linus Behrmann.

Paddle from Rogen in Sweden across the border to Femundsmarka in Norway

Starting with a lift of around 700m to the launching point, your canoe expedition continues down to Stortandsjön ("Large Tooth Lake"). Many choose to allow a couple of days here to explore the area, perhaps leaving the canoes for a while to hike to the lakes of Bredasjön and Våndssjön.

You make your way west and into Norway, planning your own route and distance covered each day, camping wild along the way. There are also wind shelters at certain points in the park, at which you are welcome to overnight if unoccupied. These spots also have fireplaces, where you are permitted to make a fire.

Challenges on land and water

We recommend that you allow plenty of time to cross from the western shore of Lake Rogen down to Femunden - this is a very challenging stretch of the tour. Between Nedre Roastan and the Röa river, the going is steep with long carries over rocky terrain but is interspersed with glorious paddling on sections of calm water.

Camping in the Rogen Nature Reserve

The Rogen and Femundsmarka reserves have a network of wind shelters and camping spots for overnights. Photo: TS.

For the last section of your canoe tour, you turn north along Lake Feragen to be collected on the northern shore.

There are two portages of approx. 700m and 500m required for this tour in addition to a large number of other land transports over steep and uneven terrain, and at times you will almost be climbing with the canoe. There are also many sections of rapids at which you must take the canoes and equipment out of the water with land transports of 2km or more in a single stretch.

Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a tough but very rewarding paddle tour in a stunning and remote area - an ideal choice for the experienced outdoor enthusiast and a tour to give a lifetime of memories!

 ...

Itinerary »

Arrival

Detailed information you will need for your experience is sent out once full payment has been received.

Go to the canoe centre for information at 12.00 as soon as the bus arrives. You will have an opportunity to shop for provisions, purchase any fishing licences, etc, before transfer to the start point at Käringsjövallen to begin your tour.

Following Days

We recommend using the first day of your tour to explore the many bays of the lake system and become acquainted with the terrain, the equipment and the distance you can reasonably be expected to cover in a particular time. There are one or two lean-to shelters in the area where you can spend the night and also make a fire. This is also an excellent area for pike and grayling fishing.

From here to reach the larger Lake Rogen requires a carry of around 500m to the lake at Tandsjön, followed by shorter stretches of paddling and carrying to reach the larger lake of Rogen, offering marvellous paddling through small sections of rapids (normally max. grade 1) and flat water.

Once out onto the lake, we recommend you head west, perhaps via Käringsjön and all the small islands to Rödviken by Bustvålen and there prepare yourself for the challenges of crossing over towards Femunden. You may wish to take a day to hike to the top of one of the peaks in the area - the possibilities are endless!

This is a very remote area, with large stretches of completely pathless terrain, with no walkboards and no waymarkings. We recommend allowing 2-3 days for this stretch, a landscape of long cliffs and rocky terrain.

IMPORTANT: Rapids on the Röa Älv: Under no circumstances should you paddle any part of the rapids along the Röa Älv (Röa River), a stretch of around 6km. The canoes and all equipment must be taken out of the water and carried, requiring portages of 2km or more in a single stretch. You should allow 2 days for this part of the tour. The number and length of land transports required during this section will vary depending on water levels, weather conditions and time of year. While it may be possible to paddle on some sections of still water between the rapids, if choosing to do this, you must scout ahead on foot beforehand to check carefully where to take the canoes out of the water. It is often not possible to judge when on the river when you are approaching a section of rapids. Although some stretches of rapids may begin at fairly low grade, many end in challenging whitewater and waterfalls. The river is grade 2-5. The canoes and buoyancy aids are not intended for use in these conditions under any circumstances and you must exercise extreme caution during this part of the tour.

Once at the Röa estuary, the tour continues along Femunden's eastern short towards Nordvika. The water in Lake Femunden and Lake Feragen later in the tour can very easily and very quickly become rough in windy weather. You must stay close to land when paddling here.

NB: Depending on weather and wind conditions, it can take much longer than anticipated to paddle Lake Femunden and Lake Feragen. You must plan your itinerary to include contingencies for delays to ensure you reach the end point at the agreed time.

Departure

Pick-up at the end point in Feragen at 11.00 to be back in Funäsdalen around 12.30.

Fishing:

The area in which this canoe tour takes place offers excellent fishing. Using fly-fishing or spin-fishing techniques, large trout, grayling and pike may be caught. Each year perch weighing more than 1.5 kg are caught. Fishing licences covering the areas in which you plan to paddle can be purchased from the canoe centre on arrival. Fishing equipment is available to hire as an optional extra.

Dates & Prices»

Dates 2024

Start/end days Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays between 17th June and 16th September (earliest start date 16th June, latest end date 16th September)*

There is no maximum limit to your tour duration provided your start and end days are a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

*Note that if choosing a tour at the beginning/end of the season, you should be prepared for lower temperatures. For tours in the middle/later part of September, there is also the possibility of some early season snowfall. Tours ending later than the dates given above may be possible by arrangement, though in general we do not recommend canoeing in Rogen later than mid-September due to weather and temperature conditions.

Recommended duration 8-12 days. Provided weather conditions are suitable, this route can be completed in 8 days. However, we strongly recommend you add additional days to allow for delays due to weather and wind and other variations to your planned itinerary. For average participants, we recommend 10-11 days, with drop-off/pick-up + 7 days' paddling + 3 days for hiking, contingencies, etc.

During your canoe adventure you will need to take into account factors such as weather conditions, your varying energy levels and personal preferences, and must be prepared to be flexible and adapt your plans accordingly.

NB: Please note that, while there is a choice of possible durations for this experience, the number of days must be decided in advance at time of booking. If you change pick-up arrangements during your tour, you will incur additional charges for custom transfer. You must plan your tour to ensure that you are at the pick-up point at the agreed time.

Prices 2024

Standard Prices 
Per person (first 8 days)GBP
Extra day(s)/person/day for tours longer than 8 daysGBP

NB: This experience is suitable only for even-numbered groups (2, 4, 6 persons, etc). It is not possible for odd-numbered participants to paddle their own canoe due to the land transports involved in this tour or to paddle three persons in one canoe.

Optional Extras (see description below) 
Tent, first 8 days (per 2-3 persons)GBP
Tent each extra dayGBP
Cooking equipment, first 8 days (per 2-3 persons)GBP
Cooking equipment each extra dayGBP
Fishing equipment, first 8 days (per set)GBP
Fishing equipment each extra dayGBP
  • Tent: See image below. Bergans of Norway tents (size 2-3 person) are available to hire. Please note that, like all tents rated as 3 persons, the tents are most comfortable for 2 adults. However, you should bear in mind that a number of challenging land transports are required for this tour and weight carried should be kept to a minimum. The tents have inner tent and mosquito netting. The majority of tents used are Bergans Compact and Compact Lite. Specific models cannot be reserved in advance - the model supplied will be the most suitable for your needs/party size subject to availability.
  • Cooking equipment: See image below. Trangia camping stove is available to hire (stove and utensils supplied may differ from those pictured below). Please note that fuel is not included. Fuel (gas or meths depending on stove supplied) can be purchased from the canoe centre on arrival.
  • Fishing equipment: Includes rod, spinning reel and three lures in a small box (lost lures will incur replacement charge of 50SEK (approx £5)/lure).
Bergans tent

Example tent

Trangia

Example cooking equipment

What's Included »

Included

  • Use of wind shelters/camping spots (camping equipment not included): Accommodation is wild camping. There are also wind shelters at certain locations. If these are unoccupied, you are welcome to use these for overnight stays. Wind shelters are also the only locations at which you are permitted to light a fire. Wood is supplied.
  • Canoe equipment: Canadian canoe, paddles, buoyancy aids. The canoes used are 2-person Canadian canoes, normally aluminium canoes by Grumman, weight around 31-35kg.
  • Tour information: Information on route possibilities, local points of interest, facilities, security information, suggested day hikes, recommendations for overnight spots, etc, is provided.
  • Transfers: Return transfer from the canoe centre to the start/end point for the tour.

NB: 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.

Not Included

Map is essential for this tour - please see below.

  • Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
  • Map/route description: The tour is self-guided and you will plan your own route based on available time, level of experience and fitness, and local weather conditions. The tour cannot be done without map, which should be purchased independently. The Calazo map can be purchased on arrival at the canoe centre or you may wish to purchase independently in advance:
    • Covering the whole route on both the Swedish and Norwegian side in one map: Grövelsjön & Rogen 1:50 000 published by Calazo. This map may not be available to purchase in advance outside Sweden.
    • Requiring two maps to show the whole route: Swedish Mountain Map Series Z59 Rogen 1:50,000 and Nordeca Map, Norge Serien (Norwegian Series) 10081 Feragen 1:50,000 (new series printed on waterproof paper). The Z59 map is now out of print, but copies may still be available, for example from www.themapshop.co.uk.
  • Food: There is no food included. You must bring all food needed during the tour with you from the beginning. There is a food store in Funäsdalen. There is one cabin within the reserve with a small provisions store. However, you should not rely on this for essential provisions as the cabin may not be open during your tour or stocks may be limited.
  • Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
  • Maps: Maps are essential for this tour and should be purchased independently in advance or locally on arrival - please see below.
  • Food: There is no food included. You must bring all food needed during the tour with you from the beginning. There is a food store in Funäsdalen. There is one cabin within the reserve near the start of the tour with a small provisions store open during July and August. However, you must not rely on this for essential provisions, as the cabin may not be open during your tour or stocks may be limited.

Maps/route description:

The tour is self-guided and you will plan your own route based on available time, level of experience and fitness, and local weather conditions. The tour cannot be done without maps, which should be purchased independently. The maps required are:

  • Swedish Mountain Map Series Z59 Rogen 1:50,000

Maps can be purchased from www.themapshop.co.uk or locally on arrival. The Z59 map is now out of print, but copies are still available. A newer map also suitable for the tour is "Grövelsjön & Rogen 1:50 000" published by Calazo. The Calazo map covers the whole route on both the Swedish and Norwegian side in one map, but may not be available to purchase in advance outside Sweden.

Good To Know »

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Swimming ability required for all participants. All participation at own risk. Minimum 2 adults required. Minimum age 16. Even-numbered groups only (2, 4, 6 persons, etc). This experience is not suitable for odd-numbered groups.

Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is a very challenging tour. You should be in general good health and have a very good level of fitness and strength.

Participants must have previous experience of multi-day canoe tours and be confident travelling independently in the outdoors.

Safety:

Rogen is an area of wilderness. There are no roads, no shops and no medical facilities. Contact details for local emergency services will be provided with your booking confirmation documentation.

While mobile reception may be possible at certain locations, you may not have reception for large parts of your tour. Emergency communications equipment is available at one cabin within the reserve.

To participate in this tour, it is therefore essential that you have experience of and are comfortable with travelling independently in a remote wilderness environment. This includes, but is not limited to, a practical working knowledge of:

  • Map-reading and navigation
  • First-aid and outdoor safety
  • Wild camping and hillcraft

What makes this "Hard"?

Rogen is a very remote area with little infrastructure. As a northerly location, the water may be very cold, and in windy conditions the lakes can be choppy. Land transports require carrying the canoe over rough terrain and can be very demanding. Unlike Discover Wilderness Canoeing in Rogen, the Expedition commits you to covering a particular distance in the time available, and land transports along the Röa Älv section in particular can be very challenging.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

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. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Groups

Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition is ideal for groups - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy.

Femundsmarka:

Femundsmarka National Park lies on the Norwegian side, bordering Rogen in Sweden to the east and Lake Femunden to the west. The park was created in 1971 with an area of 381 square km, increased in 2003 to 573 square km.

More than 10% of the Femundsmarka park is water, with many of the watercourses running from the east into Femunden. The waters are rich in fish, the most important species being trout, Arctic char, grayling, pike, burbot and perch. It is also a very important nesting area for wetland birds.

The highest point in Femundsmarka is Stor Svuka at 1415m. Femundsmarka is Norway's most southerly area of the indigenous Sami people and has been used for reindeer husbandry since the 1600s.

Getting There »

Getting There

See below for a summary of travel options. To learn more about how to travel to this experience, please get in touch!

Detailed information on travel will be provided in response to your enquiry. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

NB: Please ensure that you make a booking with us first and wait for confirmation that your spaces are reserved before making any travel arrangements.

Travel Summary:

By Air:

You can choose to fly to Stockholm or Gothenburg airports. From here, you travel by night train + bus connection to Funäsdalen. You can also choose to fly to Oslo airports and travel by hire car (driving time 6-7 hours).

Without Flying:

Ferry Dover-Dunkirk or Newcastle-Amsterdam for onward train + bus connections to Funäsdalen or by car (driving time around 15 hours).

Privacy and Cookies | All information, products and prices on this website are subject to change without notice | © Nature Travels 2024 | Site Map

Registered Office: Nature Travels Ltd, 11 Normandy Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2PP, United Kingdom | Company No: 5636754

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.30, 13.30-16.30 | Email: admin@naturetravels.co.uk | Tel: +44(0)1929 503080

Nature Travels Ltd logo
Superfast Business Champions ABTOT logo