As we started our canoeing trip in Sweden on the beautiful Lake Rottnan, we could see the lush green forests reflected in the clear water. Birds started to sing as the breeze picked up. As we paddled, the sun started to play peek-a-boo with us by hiding behind clouds. But when the sun came out, it warmed us and lit up everything. As you look out at the beautiful scenery, you’ll feel very calm.
Water is Everywhere in Sweden
It’s not enough to say that Sweden has lakes. Swedish lakes number more than 100,000! That means you have a lot of choices when it comes to canoeing! Lake Vanern is the third largest lake in Europe and one of the lakes. It is thought that this lake has been there for over 10,000 years! Pretty crazy, huh? This lake flows through three different Swedish provinces and is in the southwest of the country. Klaralven is Sweden’s longest river. It winds its way through the country and into Norway. Because most of the lakes are clear, you can see what’s living under the water. There are some that are too deep to see, of course.
Best Places to go Canoeing Sweden’s Wilderness
Because Sweden has so much water, people who like to explore it can do a lot of different things. That being said, canoeing in Sweden is an easy thing to do. There are parts with a lot of islands, coastlines, and fast-moving rivers, and there are also parts with canals. There are places in Sweden where you can kayak and canoe. When they are close to bigger cities with lots of people.
Stockholm’s Canals and Archipelago
Over 30,000 islands are made when rocky shapes rise out of the water. There are a lot of islands in this area. You can paddle your canoe to islands or just relax near the shore. Different types of land, like forests, beaches, rocks, and homes, are spread out on the islands. On an island, you can stay in a cottage and enjoy the view if you want a relaxing trip. Take a kayak tour here and enjoy the view.
GetYourGuide has a fun tour in the city center of Stockholm that you should check out. There is water all over the city of Stockholm. To get a different view of city life, you can take to the canals and paddle your way through the area. In case you like seeing Stockholm from the water, you can do many different things. You could canoe, sailboat, kayak, or take a boat tour. Take a look here!
Gothenburg’s Archipelago and Coastline
As the sun goes down, you can watch seals near the islands, or you can visit the southern islands, which don’t have cars and have beautiful beaches and cute little villages. There are more than 20 islands in the Gothenburg archipelago, which is close to the main coast of Gothenburg. Find out more about the group of islands here. In the Koster Sea, two hours north of Gothenburg, you can find Sweden’s first Marine National Park. They offer kayaking trips in this area, and you can also explore the rocks and beautiful beaches. People say that the Koster islands in Sweden have more species than any other place in the world.
Värmland Nature Province
Since this area is known as the nature province, it makes sense that there are lovely places to canoe. Glaskogen has a great place to paddle that is full of nature. As long as you want to follow the canoe path, it could take up to a week to get there. Varmland has the longest river, Klaralven, and there are some great places to canoe there. You can rent canoeing gear and go on your own trip.
You can check out outdooractive.com and see different canoe paths.
Skåne and its Wilderness
There are different kinds of wilderness here. You can canoe or kayak to get a better look at the cliffs that lead to wetlands. Malmo is close to Copenhagen, and the water around the city has some lovely views. In this beautiful area, you can canoe or kayak through the canals or on the lakes and rivers. Here is a great spot to go hiking in the woods or just enjoy the beauty of nature.
See more about canoe and kayaking in Skåne here.
Canoeing Sweden in Småland
There are many places in Småland where you can easily rent gear for your canoe or kayak trip. Along the rivers and lakes, you can enjoy a lot of different types. The calm water will call to you whether you’ve done this before or this is your first time. Being in the wilderness while paddling without making any noise is a great way to relax and take in the scenery.
Check out Visitsmåland.se to learn more about water adventures.
Canoe Tours
If you’re not sure which way to go or are like me and can’t find my way, a kayak or canoe tour in Sweden might be best. This will help you find the best places to visit without getting lost and stressed. I totally understand how you feel! My husband, two friends, and I went on a canoe trip. The path we took was planned by our friend. It was supposed to last for six hours. It’s been 12 hours, and we’re still not done! The night was spent in the woods without any food, camping gear, or extra clothes. As we built a fire to stay warm, rain started to fall on us. We went hiking even though we hadn’t slept much. After about an hour, we finally got help! Do not go on that trip! It caused stress and worry for more than 24 hours. Also, we weren’t ready. So, it’s better to be too ready than not ready enough.
Stockholm Tours – Canoeing Sweden
There are many types of canoeing and kayaking tours in Stockholm that you can attend. GetYourGuide is what I suggest. If you want to do the best one, you could canoe to the archipelago or paddleboard through the canals. Check it over here! It’s always best to be on the water when the sun rises or sets. You can paddle in the archipelagos as the sun goes down on this tour. The way the sun plays on the water makes for such a beautiful scene. This is a great one for people who love taking pictures. Now is a great time to get some great shots. Get Your Guide to learn more.
Malmö Tour
Even though this isn’t a canoe tour, you still get to paddle! You can learn about the history and culture of this city while riding a boat through the canals. This is one of the most popular tours in the area. Check it out here!
Gothenburg Tour
This one is a boat tour. You can get on and off the bus. If you find something interesting, you can get off and come back to it later. The tour guide will tell you more about the city and shops while you’re on the boat.. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. Learn more about it at GetYourGuide.
Gear for Trips Canoeing Sweden
When going on an adventure in the outdoors, it’s always important to have the right gear. This is what can make or break a trip. Rent a canoe or kayak and paddles whether you’re going on a trip by yourself or with family and friends. Our first canoe trip with friends was not well planned by my husband and me. We had to use a shovel as a paddle in the end! Our bodies hurt so much the next day! Don’t forget water or water bottles! This is very important, and sunscreen is the same way. You can get a sunburn even if it’s cloudy.
If you’re going to be gone for a while, it might not hurt to bring a rain jacket and rain pants. There are two things you will need to sleep outside: a tent and a sleeping bag. Also, if you’re going on a longer trip, you’ll need to bring food with you.It is said in Swedish, “There is no such thing as bad weather.” “Only bad clothes.” When you’re packing for your water adventure, keep that in mind. Don’t make the same mistake my Swedish husband and I did.
“Swedish quote: “There is no such thing as bad weather. Only bad clothing.””
Best Time to begin Canoeing Sweden
July is a great month to go boating because it is warm and sunny. But Swedes also take time off this month. There will be a lot of people everywhere. But the weather is very important. I would say the end of May or June. Things aren’t the same as they used to be. So August might be a better month to hike on the water. In Sweden, if you want to go canoeing near a tourist information center, make sure it’s okay to do so. The same goes for going to an island. It’s not always possible to go to the islands during certain times of the year. This is one way they protect certain kinds of birds and seals.
Plan Ahead
Make sure you have a map of where you’re journeying as you begin canoeing Sweden. It’s good to talk with some locals and use Google Maps to find out the distance, and roughly how long it will take to start canoeing Sweden’s lake that you choose. Don’t forget; that you can camp out in nature as long as you stay respectful to nature and don’t stay longer than two (2) days. Make sure that you’ve been paying attention to the weather. As that can destroy a nice trip into a nightmare. If you’re interested in finding out about other outdoor adventures you can do in Sweden, check out my article, Adventures in Sweden.
Learn more about Adventures in Sweden!
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