Description »
A flexible and scenic tour on land and water
Sweden is a wonderful setting for a packrafting holiday. Located in a beautiful forest and lakeland region between Sweden's two largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern, Self-guided Packrafting and Hiking in Tiveden offers a very special outdoor adventure.
The standard route is 4 days/3 nights, with an optional extension to make a 5-day/4-night tour.
Conveniently carry everything you need with you, packrafting is a wonderful way to explore! Photo: ET
The 4-day tour takes you from the lake of Östra Laxsjön south through a beautiful landscape of small lakes connected by glorious forest hiking trails and ending in Tiveden National Park. Along the way, there are a number of suggested camping spots, some of which offer wind shelters and fireplaces. You can also choose your own overnight camp spots, with fully wild camping (outside the National Park) in accordance with the Swedish Right of Public Access.
Along the way, you will be doing a number of hikes/land transports, with stretches from just a few hundred metres up to several kilometres. You will usually deflate your packrafts to attach to your backpack, but on some shorter stretches it's also suitable to walk with the packrafts inflated.
Example camping spots, windshelters and fireplaces during the tour. Photo: ET
If you have a little extra time, we recommend adding the 5th day, which not only gives more time to explore Tiveden National Park, but gives you the chance to paddle through a very attractive section of the inland coastal archipelago of Lake Vättern, Sweden's second largest lake.
Minimum distance to cover for the 4-day packrafting tour is around 19km paddling (+ optional extensions) and 16km hiking, and for the 5-day tour is around 33km paddling (+ optional extensions) and 25km hiking. The minimum paddle distances can be extended if you wish to explore more while on the lakes, discovering your own secret little islands and bays and increasing the level of challenge.
As a self-guided camping tour, you have great freedom to create your own adventure and plan your days as you wish. Photo: ET.
Packrafts - land transports made easy!
Lightweight, portable, quickly to inflate and deflate - a packraft is a great way to combine a trip over land and water.
Each packraft weighs just 3kg, with paddle and buoyancy aid making a total of 4kg. You'll be given a briefing at the start of your tour covering how to paddle, how to inflate your raft using the bag provided, and how to deflate your raft and attach it to your rucksack for the hiking stretches.
Depending on the hiking terrain and distance, you will sometimes be able to walk with the raft inflated. Simply attach your packraft to your backpack and off you go! Photo: Nature Travels.
You should have a general good level of fitness for this tour and be used to the outdoors, as you will need to carry everything with you (typical total pack weight around 15kg or so per person), and be able to navigate with map and compass. However, no packrafting experience is required - if you're generally used to hiking with a pack and have done some canoeing or kayaking before, or even if this is your first time doing a water-based tour, Self-guided Packrafting and Hiking in Tiveden may be the perfect choice for your next trip!
The tour is recommended for adults (min. 2 persons, minimum age 16) but can also be suitable for active families with older children with suitable outdoor experience/level of fitness.
Paddle and hike in a remote landscape easily accessible from Stockholm or Gothenburg
With the travel point just 1.5-2.5 hours by direct train from Gothenburg or Stockholm, this is an ideal option for a tour in a remote landscape that is nevertheless very convenient to travel to. While we always recommend spending additional time to explore Sweden before/after your trip if possible, if you have an early incoming/late departing flight, you can arrive/depart Sweden on the start/end day of your tour (for the 5-day tour option, you will need to overnight in Sweden before onward travel).
The packrafts can be quickly and easily inflated in just a few minutes using the bag provided. Photo: ET
Spring, summer or autumn
From the tranquility of spring, through the long, warm days of summer and into the beautiful colours and cool air of autumn, Self-guided Packrafting and Hiking in Tiveden is offered weekly from mid-May to mid-September. Whether you're just two persons or a small group, this is the perfect way to indulge your love of the outdoors - and may introduce you to a whole new way to travel!
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Itinerary »
The daily itinerary below is a suggestion only. You are welcome to plan each day as you wish, covering more or less distance and choosing appropriate camping spots for overnight, to reach the end point at the designated time. Many of the lakes offer wonderful opportunities to explore further and extend the minimum paddling distance if required. You should be prepared to adjust your daily plans depending on wind and weather conditions.
The start/end point for the tour is normally Hallsberg, as this offers the most convenient public transport connections from Stockholm and Gothenburg. However, if you are overnighting before and/or after your tour, you may prefer to stay in the nearby town of Askersund, in which case start/end transfers from or to Askersund (approx. 20 mins to the start point and 45 mins back from the end point) can be offered as an alternative. Please let us know arrangements in advance.
Day 1
Meeting point is at Hotell Stinsen in Hallsberg at 15.00, just 200m from the train station. You should shop for food before meeting (there is a supermarket nearby). You will then be transferred to the start point (approx. 40 mins) on the shore of lake Östra Laxsjön to begin your tour.
Before starting your tour, you will be instructed in how to inflate and deflate the packrafts, receive some tips for attaching the backpack, carrying your equipment and basic paddling technique. Then your adventure begins!
You have three options this day:
- If you'd like to start easy, you can camp this night at a "proper" campsite on the lake shore (additional cost payable locally).
- Take a short paddle of about 1km to Fyrnäset. This area has some very nice possibilities for camping and many good bathing spots for an evening swim!
- Paddle to one of the islands in the lake, approx. 2-3km, for overnight. This area offers wonderful paddling, but is more overgrown, so suitable camping spots can be hard to find. This option may be better if you are just two persons rather than a larger group.
The route description you will receive on arrival will include recommendations for suitable camping spots during your tour. Outside the boundaries of Tiveden National Park, you are also welcome to choose other wild camping locations in accordance with the Swedish Right of Public Access.
Day 2
Again, you have some choices today, depending on wind and weather conditions and your own energy levels:
- A day of total paddling around 10km and total hiking around 7km, making camp at the lake of Bosjön.
- Alternatively, take time to explore more of the lakes and make camp earlier at one of the wind shelters/fireplaces, with a total hiking distance of around 10km.
Day 3
If you travelled as far as Bosjön on Day 2, you have around 6km of paddling and 8km of hiking today.
Some of the hiking today is on the Bergslagsleden, a long-distance path through the region of Bergslagen, with beautiful scenic paddling through a number of small lakes including Mövattnet, Kråksjoön and Stålvattnet.
There are some challenging but wonderfully rewarding hiking stretches to end the day, before making camp a short distance from the border of Tiveden National Park.
Day 4
If you're ending your tour this day, you hike (1km or more depending on your camping location the previous evening) into the National Park before taking to the water and making your way through the lake of Stora Trehörningen for approx. 3km (or longer if you wish to explore some of the islands) to end on the north-east shore. This area offers wonderful bathing and also a camping spot/fireplace for guests doing the 5-day route who wish to overnight here.
You will be met at 13.00 for transport (approx. 60 mins) back to Hallsberg for onward travel.
If you're doing the 5-day route, your tour continues, paddling south into the narrow lake of Lilla Trehörningen for an additional 5km or so. You leave the National Park borders and make camp at the southern end of the lake.
Day 5 (optional)
Your day begins on land (unless you've decided to walk this stretch the day before) with a 5-6km hike turning towards Lake Vättern, Sweden's second largest lake and a beautiful inland archipelago landscape.
There are a couple of options this day depending on the distance you wish to cover:
- Launch into Bocksjön to make your way towards Vättern, around 3.5km with a number of lifts, then paddle through the beaufitul islands that lie along the shore for 6-8 km or so to reach the end point at Igelbäcken.
- Paddle shorter in Bocksjön, around 1.5km, and hike around 3km to reach Vättern a little further north. From here it is around 6-7 km paddling through the archipelago to the end point.
You will be met at 16.00 at the end point for transfer (approx. 60 mins) back to Hallsberg for onward travel.
Dates & Prices»
Dates 2024
Start every Thursday between 23rd May and 12th September (last start 12th September), ending Sunday (for 4-day tours) or Monday (for 5-day tours).
Subject to availability, alternative start day may in some cases be possible by arrangement if Thursday start is not suitable. Please contact us to discuss your requirements if you wish to start on a different day.
Prices 2024
Group size: This experience is normally offered for up to 4 persons, but additional equipment can also be arranged to accommodate groups of up to 10 persons on request. If your party is more than 4 persons, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
| Standard Prices (per person) | |
|---|---|
| 4 days/3 nights | GBP |
| 5 days/4 nights | GBP |
| Optional Extras (see description below) | |
|---|---|
| Camping equipment 4 days/3 nights (for 1 person) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 4 days/3 nights (for 2 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 4 days/3 nights (for 3 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 4 days/3 nights (for 4 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 4 days/3 nights (for 5 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 5 days/4 nights (for 1 person) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 5 days/4 nights (for 2 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 5 days/4 nights (for 3 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 5 days/4 nights (for 4 persons) | GBP |
| Camping equipment 5 days/4 nights (for 5 persons) | GBP |
| Cooking equipment 4 days/3 nights including fuel (per 2 persons) | GBP |
| Cooking equipment 5 days/4 nights including fuel (per 2 persons) | GBP |
| Extra utensils for 3rd person in odd-numbered group | GBP |
| Fishing equipment 4 days/3 nights | GBP |
| Fishing equipment 5 days/4 nights | GBP |
- Camping package: Even-numbered groups (2, 4 persons, etc), should choose one or more 2-person packages or the 4-5 person package. Extra person in odd-numbered group can choose either to have 1-person tent/hammock, or the group can choose 3-person tent package sharing one tent. Please specify your requirements on booking. Typical tents provided for 2 persons are normally Vaude Power Lizard, lightweight and small, or possibly or Hilleberg Staika (similar models are used for 1 or 3 persons).
- All packages include tent + sleeping bag package (sleeping bag, foam + inflatable sleeping mat and sleeping bag liner) for the number of persons specified. Sleeping bags will be provided suitable for the time of year you are travelling. For colder periods, bags are suitable for use down to zero degrees C, while lighter bags are available for summer use.
- 1-person package includes 1-person tent (usually Vaude Power Lizard, weight 1.4kg) or hammock if preferred - please specify on booking. NB: this tour requires min. 2 persons and cannot be done as a solo traveller - this option is for extra person in odd-numbered group and provides additional space compared to 3 persons sharing tent, but will of course mean that more equipment must be carried for the tour.
- 2-person package includes 2-person tent (usually Vaude Taurus, weight 2.6kg).
- 3-person package includes 3-person tent (usually Fjällräven Abisko Dome, weight 3.7kg)
- 4 person package includes 4-person tent (usually Fjällräven Abisko Endurance, weight 4.4kg).
- 5-person package uses larger tipi tent. This tent has no groundsheet, but in wet weather a tarpaulin can be provided if required.
- Cooking equipment/extra utensils: Trangia* cooking stove or similar, using gas or methylated spirits + camping plate/cutlery/mug set for 2 persons. Includes one bottle of gas or fuel. Additional fuel can be purchased on arrival if required. One stove is suitable for 2-3 persons. Extra person in odd-numbered group can hire utensils only and share cooking equipment as 3 persons.
- Fishing equipment: Includes rod and bait (5-10 lures). Fishing licences can be purchased online to cover specific parts of the tour (the lakes during the first part of the route and those parts of Stora and Lilla Trehörningen which lie outside the boundaries of Tiveden National Park). Fishing from shore on Lake Vänern (5-day route only) does not require a licence. Fishing inside the National Park boundaries is not permitted. You should bear in mind that there is already a good deal of equipment to carry for this tour and that carrying fishing gear will add to this.
*Exact Trangia contents/models may differ from example shown below.
Trangia
What's Included »
Included
- Packrafting equipment: Packraft (normally one-person Alpacka Caribou), paddle and buoyancy aid per person. Total weight 4kg.
- Maps and route description: Map and route information including recommended camping spots and assistance number.
- Other: Waterproof drybag per person (approx. 35 litres).
- Transfers: Local transfers from Hallsberg to the start point (approx. 40 mins) and from the end point to Hallsberg (approx. 60 mins) in connection with start/end of your tour.
- Instruction briefing: Short introduction to inflating/deflating and paddling the packraft at the start of the tour.
Please be careful with 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
- 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.
- Camping and kitchen equipment (available to hire as optional extras)
- Provisions (can be purchased locally).
Good To Know »
Required
Health requirements/experience:
Recommend min. age 16 years. Slightly younger children may also be possible by arrangement depending on outdoor experience/level of fitness. Note that all participants will need to paddle own packraft and carry all personal equipment themselves, so children must have suitable strength/level of fitness.
No previous experience of packrafting is required. All participants should be able to swim, be used to and enjoy the outdoors, and be able to navigate using a map and compass.
What makes this "Medium"?
The tour is self-guided and takes place in a fairly remote area and you will not pass any significant areas of habitation on the route. Each person will need to carry all necessary food and equipment and make a number of land transports/hikes with the equipment during the tour. The majority of land sections are on tracks or paths but some portages may also be over rough and unmarked terrain.
The packrafts are lightweight and easy to inflate and deflate (the packraft weighs 3kg and with paddle and buoyancy aid, total weight is 4kg), and for some land transports you can carry the packrafts inflated.
You will also need to carry tent (normally one per two persons depending on your chosen tent arrangements), sleeping bag, sleeping mats, food and drinking water, personal clothing and other items. Total pack weight typically around 15kg or more per person.
The minimum distances are intended to be quite manageable to cover in the time available and can also be extended if desired to increase the level of challenge by exploring additional islands and sections of the lakes.
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
This experience is normally offered for up to 4 persons but equipment can also be arranged for groups of up to 10 persons on request.
Eco Info
This provider has a written environmental policy
Tiveden National Park
Tiveden National Park was established in 1983 and covers an area of 2030 hectares, protecting a beautiful landscape of wild forest and rugged terrain.
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:
Fly to Stockholm or Gothenburg for train (approx. 1.5-3 hours, direct or with changes depending on route) to Hallsberg.
Without Flying:
Ferry Dover-Dunkirk or Newcastle-Amsterdam for onward train connections to Hallsberg.
Photos & Reviews
"Amazing service and support with booking and planning, thanks! Very well planned trip in a beautiful place." Sam, August 2023
"Good communication and lots of info. We loved being in the vast and quiet Swedish outdoors with the clean air, beautiful forests and pristine lakes. Sweden met all my expectations as a fantastic place with lovely people, great outdoor culture and nature and our Swedish host was awesome! We had never tried packrafting before, but the mix of paddling and hiking was a great blend for the terrain despite the occasional rain. Tiveden is a beautiful national park and overall we loved the whole experience and already miss Sweden." Owen, August 2023
"Our trip was fantastic, our local host was incredible, friendly and helpful. Overall the trip was very well planned we really enjoyed the experience. The self-guided tour is an excellent idea and let us travel and explore at our pace." Sam, May 2023
Further Reading
- Read a trip report from Bob from the tour.
Did You Know...?
- We also offer guided packrafting. See Packrafting in Helvetenjärvi National Park in Finland.
- See also our wide range of canoeing and kayaking tours for more water-based trips featuring wild camping.
Where Is It...?
