Timber Rafting with Added Comfort (Sweden)

As with our standard Timber Rafting on Klaräven experience, you will be building your own timber raft and piloting her downstream for a unique river adventure - Timber Rafting with Added Comfort includes a number of extras to lighten the load:

• Accommodation: Unlike the standard timber rafting tours, which feature wild camping along the riverbank on all nights, for the Added Comfort tour you will stay two nights during the trip in simple but comfortable camping cabin, with shower/WC and on Day 3 an evening sauna down by the river. One night during your trip is spent camping on the riverbank as for the standard tour, but for this option you will be met at the camping spot, where your tent will have been erected and a barbecue dinner prepared for you, and be met again next morning for served breakfast before continuing your trip!
• A Helping Hand: Instruction and guidance for building your raft is provided on all tours, but for the Added Comfort option, your local instructors will also assist with the work of actually constructing the raft if required! As with the standard tour, you will need to navigate your timber raft down river yourself, looking out for and negotiating obstacles such as sandbanks and overhanging branches - there's Added Comfort, but still some work to do!
• Camping Equipment and Food: For the standard timber rafting tours, camping equipment and provisions are available to add as optional extras. Here, everything is included - camping equipment for your night camping, all meals (with dinner each night and breakfast on Day 3 prepared for you with your participation, other meals with provisions provided for self-catering). A canoe is also provided, which is towed behind the raft. This not only makes landing easier but also provides an extra activity for evening paddle tours or for short excursions during the day.

Ideal for adults or families new to the outdoors

Over 4 days/3 nights, you will be rafting approx. 35km of the river Klarälven, Sweden's longest river, which meanders though a beautiful rural area of forests and small villages flowing at approx. 2kph (the speed of flow and therefore the time on the water needed to complete the route varies depending on water levels).

Timber Rafting with Added Comfort is an ideal choice for those less used to life in the outdoors, or for families or others who would simply prefer a tour with a reduced level of challenge enabling them to focus time and energy on the unique experience of timber rafting!

Arrival

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

You arrive and check in to your camping cabin from 15.00 onwards. At 17.00 you meet down by the river to receive instruction on the techniques you will need to build your raft.

In the evening you can enjoy a dinner of "kolbullare", a local speciality, which you prepare together over open fire. Accommodation in simple but comfortable camping cabin with shower/WC.

This is Day 1 of your tour. Rafting begins on Day 2 once your raft has been built. You will spend total 3 days/2 nights rafting downstream.

Following Days

On average, the river flows at around 2kph. Water levels and consequently speed of flow vary to some extent (normally between 1kph and 3kph) depending on rainfall, etc, and this will influence the total time on the water necessary to complete the route and also the level of challenge and number of obstacles such as sandbars encountered. During periods of high water, the river will slow slightly faster, reducing the time needed on the water but increasing the time available for activities on land, while during periods of low water, additional time will be required on the water.

Day 2

Following breakfast in your cabin* (provisions provided for self-catering), you will be transported up river to build your raft under the guidance of, and if necessary with the assistance of, local instructors, before beginning your voyage downstream later in the day. A raft will normally consist of two 3m x 3m sections when completed and is suitable for up to 6 persons. If you prefer, for smaller parties you can choose to build just one section to reduce the overall level of challenge.

After some hours on the water, you will be met at the camping spot for the night, where your tent will have been erected for you and a barbecue dinner prepared, before retiring for your night under canvas on the banks of the river. Why not take an evening dip before bedtime?

*There is no need to check out of your cabin. You are welcome to leave luggage and any other items not needed when rafting in the cabin for collection on your return.

Day 3

You will be met in the morning to be served breakfast. The tent and camping equipment will be dismantled for you. You then continue your raft adventure to end the day back at the camping cabins for another comfortable night with dinner waiting for you in your cabin and an evening sauna down by the river - an ideal way to soothe those rafting muscles!

Departure

For your final day of rafting, you prepare your own breakfast in the cabin, check out of your cabin by 11.00 and take to the river for the remaining few kilometres to the end point (typical rafting time around 4-5 hours). You should bring your belongings from the cabin with you on the raft this day.

At the end point, you dismantle your raft and return the equipment. Here your timber raft adventure ends! Return to Karlstad by public bus for onward travel or choose to spend an additional night or two back at the camping cabins as an optional extra.

Included

• Timber raft equipment: Logs, ropes, life ring, paddle, pole, buoyancy aids, tarpaulin, matches, plate for spirit stove, first aid kit, bucket, garbage sack, toilet paper, spade, fresh water container (5 litres), topographical map, storage box.
• Instructor: Instruction meeting and guidance/assistance during construction before your tour begins.
• Transfers: Transport by bus for participants and equipment from the meeting point to the raft building site.
• Canoe or sit-on-top kayak: provided one per timber raft. This gives greater flexibility when on the water and also makes landing the raft much easier (note that either canoe or sit-on-top kayak will be provided subject to availability and cannot be specified in advance).
• Camping cabin (see images below): Two nights in private camping cabins. Each cabin sleeps 4-5 persons in two rooms with kitchenette, microwave, fridge, WC/shower and outside porch. Bed linen and towels and end cleaning of cabin on departure is included.
• Kitchen equipment (see image below): Trangia hurricane stove with fuel, mug, plate, knife, fork, spoon, carving knife, chopping board, frying spatula, cheese cutter, whisk, tin-and bottle-opener, potato-peeler, washing-up bowl, dish-sponge, washing-up liquid, kitchen roll, matches and one storage box.
• Tent (see image below): High quality 3/4-person Hilleberg tents. Parties of 4 persons will be provided with 2 tents
• Sleeping bag + liner, Thermarest sleeping mat.
• Use of sauna at the campsite Day 3.
• Food: All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4. Day 1: barbecue-style dinner prepared with your participation; Day 2: Provisions for self-catering breakfast, pre-prepared lunch (e.g. pasta salad) during raft building, barbecue dinner at overnight camp prepared with your participation; Day 3: Served breakfast at overnight camp, provisions for lunch for self-preparation using kitchen equipment provided, dinner prepared and left in cabin; Day 4: provisions for self-catering breakfast, provisions for lunch for self-preparation using kitchen equipment provided.

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.
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Swimming ability required by adults. All participation at own risk. You should be in good health and have a reasonable level of fitness and strength.

Timber rafting can be physically challenging. If required, the instructor will assist with the work required to build the raft, but the rafting itself is self-guided. When travelling downstream, you will need to manoeuvre the raft to avoid obstacles such as sandbanks and overhanging branches or to free the raft if it becomes stuck. The level of water in the river can affect the number of obstacles encountered and the speed of flow of the river will also affect the time required on the water to complete the route.

The most important quality is a willingness to work together. As assistance is given with camping and two nights of the tour are spent in simple cabins, this experience is suitable for persons less familiar with camping and the outdoor life.

A minimum of 2 adults (at least one person 18+ and one 16+) is required for each raft. Recommended minimum age 6 years.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

With accommodation in cabin for some nights and additional support/assistance both with raft building and camping, this experience will have a lower level of challenge than the standard 5-day or 8-day Timber Rafting on Klarälven tour.

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.

How to Build a Log Raft:

As well as logs and rope (your only building materials), you will need to bring a sense of teamwork and a sense of humour to the water's edge as you assemble your log raft. Generally the raft consists of three levels. The largest logs go on the bottom layer, the thinnest ones at the top, and a mixture of clove hitches, half hitches and reef knots will be used to secure the logs together.

Once the base is complete, all that is left is to string up a tarpaulin to shield you from the sun (or rain!), choose a pole (vital for steering), pack the raft and push off!

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.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following:

• Canoe Tours on Svartäven (4, 7 or 14 days, same location)

Groups

Timber rafting is ideal for groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

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