Timber Rafting Taster (Sweden)

Build your raft, sleep in a cabin, then take to the water

On Day 1 of your experience, you will build your raft under the guidance of local instructors using nothing but ropes and logs. When ready, your raft will measure 3m x 3m. You moor it to the riverbank before enjoying the evening in camping cabin - maybe take a swim in the river before bedtime!

The next morning, it's time to cast off for your timber rafting adventure. You will navigate your raft 10km (approx. 4-5 hours under typical flow conditions) downstream, where you will dismantle it at the end point and release the logs into the log trap.

Timber rafting is a great adventure for adults or families. Photo: Frida Edlund.

Possible Canoe Tour Combinations

Timber Rafting Taster can be conveniently combined with any of the following canoe tours:

Canoe Tours on Klaräven

NB: If combining Timber Rafting Taster with a 7-day Canoe on Klaräven tour, you will be rafting a section of the river that you have also paddled during your canoe tour.

• Canoe tour followed by timber raft tour:
  • 4-day tour (Sunday-Wednesday) or 7-day tour (Thursday-Wednesday): Can be done before Timber Rafting Taster starting Thursday. You will end your canoe tour at the canoe centre as normal, then camp there free of charge for Wednesday night (it is not a "proper" campsite, but there is running water and dry outside toilets) before taking public bus to the timber raft start point on Thursday ready for 15.00.
  • 7-day tour (Sunday-Saturday): Can be done before Timber Rafting Taster starting Saturday, but only if travelling by car (no public transport connections available). Your canoe tour ends at the canoe centre approx. 50km downstream of where Timber Rafting Taster starts. Plan your canoe tour to finish in time to drive to the start point for the timber rafting ready for 15.00.
• Timber raft tour followed by canoe tour:
  • 4-day tour (Thursday-Sunday) or 7-day tour (Thursday-Wednesday): Can be done after Timber Rafting Taster starting Tuesday. From the end point of the timber rafting on Wednesday, travel by public bus to the canoe centre to camp there free of charge for Wednesday night before beginning your canoe tour on Thursday (it is not a "proper" campsite, but there is running water and dry outside toilets).

Canoe Tours on Svartälven

• 4-day tour (Tuesday-Friday) or 7-day tour (Saturday-Friday): Can be done before Timber Rafting Taster starting Saturday, but only if travelling by car (no public transport connections available). Camp free of charge at the canoe centre after your tour on Friday night (it is not a "proper" campsite, but there is running water and dry outside toilets) before driving to the start point for your timber raft tour on Saturday for 15.00, or alternatively, drive after your canoe tour ends on Friday and add extra night in camping camping cabin at the timber raft start point for Friday night.

Canoe Tours on Rottnan/

• 4-day tour (Monday-Thursday): Can be done after Timber Rafting Taster starting Saturday. Add an extra night in camping cabin after your timber raft tour on Sunday night and take the morning bus to Torsby on Monday for your canoe tour starting 13.00.
• 4-day tour (Thursday-Sunday): Can be done after Timber Rafting Taster starting Tuesday. Add an extra night in camping cabin after your timber raft tour on Wednesday night and take the morning bus to Torsby on Thursday for your canoe tour starting 13.00.

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 14.30 onwards.

At 15.00 have instruction on the techniques you will need to build your raft and then proceed to build your raft in the water over the rest of the afternoon. Your raft when finished will be 3m x 3m (a smaller raft than the 6m x 3m used on longer timber rafting tour, though building can still take some hours).

When ready, you will moor your raft to the riverbank and relax for the evening at your cabin before your rafting the next day. Take a stroll around the local area or into the forest, or simply watch the river go by!

Departure

Please check out of your cabin by latest 11.00.

Having built your raft the evening before, you can choose your own time to set off for the trip - you should plan to reach the end point by latest 17.00. You will be rafting a distance of 10km downstream, which typically takes around 4-5 hours under normal river flow conditions. At the end point, you dismantle the raft and allow the logs to float into the log trap, where they will be collected and reused for a new raft!

NB: Please clean your cabin before departure - end cleaning of the cabin is not included. If you wish to add end cleaning, this can be paid for locally, price 400 SEK (about £40). Note also that you will need to take all luggage with you on the raft, as you will not be returning to the camping cabins at the end of the tour.

NB: If choosing standard cabin, bed linen and towels must be added. For budget cabin, if you have your own sleeping bag/sleeping sheet/towel with you, you are welcome to use these for night(s) at the cabin. If not, please request bed linen and towels when making your booking.

NB: If choosing extra nights in cabin before/after your tour, this must be the same category of cabin (standard or budget) as chosen for your main tour.

Included

NB: Please note if combining Timber Rafting Taster with one of our canoe tours, all hired equipment for your canoe tour will be returned at the end of that tour. It is not possible to keep kitchen equipment, etc, for use on the Timber Rafting Taster. You should therefore plan a packed lunch for your timber raft day rather than a lunch which requires cooking.

• Timber raft equipment: Logs, ropes, life ring, paddle, pole, buoyancy aids, topographical map. A tarpaulin can be offered to cover luggage (you will need to take all luggage with you from the cabin to the end point on the raft) if conditions are likely to be wet.
• Instructor: Instruction meeting and guidance during construction before your tour begins.
• Camping cabin: See images below. One night in private camping cabins. Note that bed linen/towels and end cleaning of cabin are not included.
  • Standard cabin sleeps 4-5 persons in two rooms with kitchenette, microwave, fridge, WC/shower and outside porch.
  • Budget cabin sleeps up to 4 persons in one room with bunk beds with kitchenette and small porch. No running water. WC/shower facilities available in separate building (small charge applies for use of showers).

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.

Standard camping cabin

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.
• Canoe (available as optional extra).
• Bedding and towels (available as optional extra).
• Provisions: The camping cabins have facilities for self-catering. There is a petrol station a few hundred metres from the campsite selling very simple provisions or a grocery store (open until 18.00 on weekdays or 13.00 on Saturdays) approx. 2.2km walk from the campsite. Note that you should plan a packed lunch for your rafting day.
• End cleaning of camping cabin (available to add as optional extra): Guests will normally choose to clean the cabin themselves before departure, but this can be added if required.

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.

The raft built will be 3m x 3m, half the size of a raft typically used on a multi-day tour. Building the raft can be physcially challenging, but requires cooperation and teamwork more than strength.

As a short tour, Timber Rafting Taster will be less physically demanding than longer timber raft tours. Depending on the level of water in the river, you will still need to negotiate obstacles such as overhanging branches and sandbanks, and be prepared to work to free the raft should it become stuck on an obstacle or in an eddy.

A minimum of 2 adults (aged 18+) is required for each raft. Recommended minimum age 6 years.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

As a short tour with smaller raft, this experience will have a lower level of challenge than the standard 5-day or 8-day Timber Rafting on Klarälven tour. However, building and piloting the raft can still be physically 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.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following:

• Canoe on Klarälven, Canoe Tours on Svartälven or Canoe Tours on Rottnan: Please see under "Itinerary" for detailed information on combining these canoe tours with Timber Rafting Taster.

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.