Where are they?...

- 1. Canoe Tours on Klarälven
- 2. Canoe Tours on Svartälven
- 3. Canoe Tours in Klarälven
- 4. Canoe Tours on Rottnan
- 5. Canoe or Kayak in Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Park
- 6. Canoeing in Dalsland's Lake District
- 7. Canoeing on the Tar Route in Kainuu
- 8. Discover Wilderness Canoeing in Rogen
- 9. Wilderness Canoe Expedition in Rogen
- 10. Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands *
* This tour is very different from our other canoe experiences and is not part of our Canoeing category. The tour combines hiking, cycling and canoeing through the Stockholm lakeland region with luggage transfers and comfortable accommodation in small hotels and B&Bs en route. See here for details.
The following article compares our range of self-guided canoe tours in Sweden and Finland.
In Sweden:
- Our four self-guided canoe tours in Värmland in western Sweden (Bergslagen, Svartälven, Klarälven and Rottnan).
- Dalsland in south-west Sweden (Canoeing in Dalsland's Lake District).
- Our wilderness tours in Rogen in north-west Sweden (Discover Wilderness Canoeing in Rogen and Rogen Wilderness Canoe Expedition).
In Finland:
- Canoeing on the Tar Route in Kainuu is located in the eastern part of the country.
- Canoe or Kayak in Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Park offers paddling in the Saimaa lakeland system.
These tours feature wild camping (sometimes at designated locations depending on the area) all along the route. Many of our log cabin experiences also offer very good opportunities for canoeing day tours from fixed cabin base.

Discover Wilderness Canoeing in Rogen. Photo: Euan Turner DMh Photo
- Why choose Sweden or Finland for a canoe tour?
- Do I need previous experience to do a self-guided canoe tour?
- Are all the tours self-guided?
- Where do the canoe tours in Sweden take place?
- Where do the canoe tours in Finland take place?
- Can I see wildlife on a canoe tour?
- Can I do a self-guided canoe tour as a solo traveller?
- Can I do a self-guided canoe tour as a solo adult with child(ren)?
- What equipment is provided?
- How do I choose the best canoe tour for me?
Why choose Sweden or Finland for a canoe tour?
Sweden and Finland are an ideal destinations for a canoeing holiday. Whether you are planning to travel with a loved one, as a family with children, or with friends and colleagues from work or a local canoe club, their huge systems of waterways offers endless possibilities for paddling holiday adventures.
Do I need previous experience to do a self-guided canoe tour?
Nature Travels offers canoeing holidays in Sweden and Finland to suit both novice canoeists and more experienced paddlers, with tours are available from 4 days to 14 days.
At one end of the scale, there are options suitable for families (even those with young children), ideal for your first canoe tour, if introducing your children to the outdoors or just if you'd like to take it easy.
At the other, there are challenging wilderness expeditions for which you will need a high level of fitness and significant outdoor experience.
Despite the remoteness of some of the tours and the possibility of a true get-away-from-it-all canoeing experience, you do not need to be an experienced paddler to go on most of our canoeing holidays. Provided that you are used to camping, enjoy life in the outdoors and are reasonably fit, you will find the great majority of our canoe tours within reach.
See the section "Good to Know > Required" on each tour page for more information on the requirements for a particular tour.

Canoeing on the Tar Route in Kainuu. Photo: WP
Are all the tours self-guided?
Yes, Nature Travels canoe tours are self-guided experiences, voyages of discovery taken at your own pace (if you would like a guided paddling tour, for example if travelling as a solo traveller, we offer a range of guided sea kayaking experiences).
The waters may be calm and the surroundings peaceful, but there is a real sense of adventure even on our most accessible routes. You plan your distance each day and choose your own camping spot each night. Thanks to the Right of Public Access in Sweden and Finland, wild camping is possible on all routes, which makes for a true outdoor canoeing experience.
Depending on the duration and length of your tour, you can take time out to go for day hikes in the surrounding forest or explore side-streams and tributaries along the way. Along the way, you are free to let the rhythm of your days unfold in any way you wish, making some days into a challenge or taking time to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Where do the canoe tours in Sweden take place?
Nature Travels canoe holidays in Sweden take place in the beautiful province of Värmland in western Sweden, in the extensive lake network of Dalsland and in the challenging wilderness region of Rogen in the north-west.
- Värmland: Värmland's terrain is ideally suited to self-guided canoe tours. The waters are calm and slow-flowing, and there is a vast network of lakes and rivers to explore. Värmland offers an excellent combination of accessibility and remote landscapes, and you can choose to go canoeing through picturesque rural landscapes, taking breaks at local stores along the way to pick up supplies or visit cultural attractions, or alternatively you can make your canoeing holiday more of a wilderness experience.
- Dalsland: Dalsland is one of Sweden's best known areas for canoeing, with a well-organised system of overnight camp spots and a large area to explore, and a combination of rural and more remote landscapes.
- Rogen: For those with suitable outdoor experience seeking a true wilderness paddle tour, our tours in Rogen in and its sister reserve Femundsmarka on the Norwegian side offer a chance for canoeing adventures in a landscape of low mountains, moorland and ancient forest through a beautiful patchwork of lakes connected by rivers.

Canoe Tours in Bergslagen. Photo: Euan Turner DMh Photo
Where do the canoe tours in Finland take place?
In Finland, we offer tours in the province of Kainuu in the east and in the Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Parks in the east of the country.
The network of windshelters and fireplaces (and in some cases even wilderness cabins) in these areas make these a fantastic choice for flexible and enjoyable canoeing.
- Kainuu: The location of the famous Tar Route, offering wonderful paddling through an inland archipelago landscape and the flexibility to vary distance and level of challenge.
- Linnansaari/Kolovesi: Part of the enormous Lake Saimaa network, this area also offers great flexibility and beautiful lakeland archipelago scenery perfect for discovering by canoe.

Canoe or Kayak in Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Park. Photo: SEO
Can I see wildlife on a canoe tour?
Canoeing in Sweden and Finland gives you the possibility for up-close encounters with the rich and varied wildlife. While Nordic wildlife can be shy and hard to see, you have a good chance of spotting some of the many beaver which inhabit the waterways along some of the routes of our Värmland tours as they cut gracefully through the water with just their heads visible above the surface.
It is not uncommon to encounter beaver at very close range during one of our canoeing holidays - perhaps just a few metres from your canoe.
There is also a host of wildlife inhabiting the dense forests past which you will be paddling. As you round a bend in the river, you may spot an elk and her calf drinking by the river bank, or even strking out powerfully in the water as they head for the opposite bank (elk are excellent swimmers!), while the skies above you are home to eagles and buzzards.

Canoe Tours on Svartälven. Photo: Staffan Widstrand
Can I do a self-guided canoe tour as a solo traveller?
No. For safety reasons, a minimum of 2 adults are normally required for all our canoe tours, though some of the more accessible tours can also be suitable for solo adult with child(ren).
The tours are also ideal for small or large groups, and for larger groups (such as scouts, school groups or Armed Forces Adventurous Training), a group discount is often possible.
Can I do a self-guided canoe tour as a solo adult with child(ren)?
Yes, many (but not all) of our canoe tours can be done as a solo adult travelling with one or more children.
Options will depend on the ages of your children and in some cases the previous outdoor experience you have as a family. Please Contact Us with any questions and we'll happy to advise.
In all cases, your child(ren) would need to able to cope with a situation in which you were incapacitated. For example, if you were to fall and hit your head, you should be confident that your child(ren) would know how to call emergency services, etc.
What equipment is provided?
What is included will vary depending on the tour chosen, but always included in the price of your canoeing holiday is all equipment necessary for your trip, including 2-3 person Canadian canoes, paddles and buoyancy aids as well as local transfers to/from start/end points as required.
Cooking equipment and/or camping equipment may also be included as standard or available to hire as an optional extra depending on the tour, and in some cases a food package is also available as an extra or included - please see the tour information for your chosen experience under "What's included" for more information.
For some canoe tours requiring land transports, a canoe trolley is included to assist with these (except for tours in Rogen where the terrain is unsuitable and canoes must be carried).

Canoeing in Dalsland's Lake District. Photo: Göran Assner.
How do I choose the best canoe tour for me?
Canoeing is a marvellous way to experience the Nordic countries' truly wild places. Whatever your level of experience, age, or the composition and size of your group, Sweden and Finland offer wonderful opportunities for true nature experiences by canoe.
We have divided the tours into "Rural", "Remote" and "Wilderness", which indicates not only the landscape to expect but also the level of challenge - the most remote tours will also be the most challenging!
All tours are based on wild camping and fishing is possible for all the routes, with fishing licence(s) purchased locally.
There are many options, and it can be difficult to choose! We're always happy to help you decide, so please Contact Us with any questions. Many of ours guests return to try different canoe tours each time!