The Canoe Trip | By canoe offline in the nature of Sweden

Sweden has a lot of water and green forests. The landscape is perfect for the sporty and adventurous traveller. Are you ready to step out of the daily grind, go offline and fully immerse yourself in Sweden's beautiful nature? Then read more about it below The Canoe Trip (here to book) from Travel base. In this article you can read how we experienced it and of course we will also share a number of tips with you along the way. Are you traveling with us?

Would you like a short impression of the atmosphere? Then see the video below.

1. About The Canoe Trip

The Canoe Trip is a seven-day canoe trip in the region Värmland (Google Maps location here) in Sweden. This area has about ten thousand lakes and is therefore nicknamed 'the lake area'. You are 7 days in a sparsely populated area, in the middle of the wilderness of Sweden. Lakes, rolling hills, thousands of small islands and deep forests adorn the landscape.

How does it work?

Upon arrival at a base camp, you will be welcomed by The Canoe Trip employees with some coffee/tea and some goodies. They then instruct you on your upcoming adventure. Then you will make sure that you have all your necessary things together. These are your camping gear, your luggage, a canoe, a canoe cart, your paddles, a shovel, your cooking kit and your food package (optional). In the beginning it is a bit of fitting and measuring to get everything well distributed in the canoe. With these items in your canoe, you then leave into the wild...

For who is it?

You will have to get the canoe forward with two people, so you will have to go on your adventure as a pair or a group in an even number. The people doing the canoe trip are of different ages. There are couples who participate, groups of friends and families. In our group there was even an adventurous grandmother who wanted to go on this adventure with her 12-year-old grandson.

The Canoe Trip is actually for anyone who can move their arms and back smoothly. You don't have to be extremely athletic to stick with paddling, but it helps if your shoulders, back and arms are used to some training. We had a bit of muscle pain the first two days, but the third to the last day suddenly made paddling a lot easier for us. So you get used to it quickly. Think of it as a nice workout in nature!

Tip:: Do you have soft hands or quickly suffer from calluses or blisters? Do it then training gloves on with grip.

Are you really totally addicted to you smartphone? Then this trip is really something for you. Not because you can scroll all day long, but precisely because you go completely offline here. Because although there is coverage in some places (especially on the water), you will often be offline here. Now is the perfect time to cut back on screen hours.

Also read: Why you should NOT take pictures with your smartphone during a world trip

2. Offline & Into the wild

Your adventure really starts after the briefing and that is of course continued with one or a few hours of paddling. It is important that you master paddling and get used to moving forward and steering your canoe together.

Navigate

Using a card or the Travel Base App, you decide where you want to go. Travelbase proposes a route of approximately 80 kilometers via the App, but you can of course also decide what your route will be. Keep in mind that you are expected back at the base camp a week later.

You may sometimes have to cross land or through a lock. You will receive a canoe cart from Travelbase (wheels that you attach under your canoe) and a QR code that gives you access to the locks.

The conditions on the water

In general, the water is calm, but with bad weather conditions, more waves can form. You remain most stable when you sail your canoe straight against the waves. That's how you break the waves. If the waves have some white foam, it is wise not to go on the water or to moor somewhere as soon as possible. There is a chance that you will turn over.

Find a camping spot

Wild camping is allowed in Sweden, so in principle you can moor and set up camp anywhere. Please note that you are not in someone's garden and that you are only allowed to light a fire in a designated fire pit. You can find these at all shelters and in many other places.

On the map you can also see exactly where the so-called shelters are. Here you will find a covered area with benches and a fire pit. Often rangers also place logs there. You can use these for free for the campfire.

Alone or together

You may be the only ones at the shelter, but others may also decide to stay there. On the larger islands you will often see people coming together.

If you feel like socialising, there is also the possibility to get together with the others, for example people who have also come with Travelbase. Some Travelbase employees are also on the water and some evenings organize some fun at a shelter.

What's not there

At the base camp you will find electricity, toilets, showers, taps and a shop, but when you have left you will not encounter this again. You are really dependent on nature, possible shelters and firepits.

You will have to turn off or charge your phone and other electrical devices with a Powerbank. Toileting is done in nature or in a compost toilet near a shelter. For your big message in nature, you use your shovel. You wash yourself in the clear water of the lakes, with organic soap.

Incidentally, there are also no taps with water. That is not necessary, because the water from the lakes is drinkable (!) and in my opinion also tasty. So you can just fill your bottle from the canoe or the water's edge. You can also do your (dishes) laundry here in the clear water.

So you have to make sure you have everything you need. The area is sparsely populated and during the trip, you will pass through small villages with perhaps a shop in a few places. So don't assume that you can do your shopping in between.

3. What are you going to do

On arrival you drag your canoe ashore and empty it. You can set up your tent first, but if you are tired of paddling, you can also relax and have something to eat or do a relaxing activity.

Outdoor cooking

Travelbase gives you a cooking set with spirit. You simply fill the burner with a small layer of spirit, light it and put your pan on it. Do take your own plates, cups and cutlery with it.

You can bring your own food, but another option is to bring it food pack from Travelbase. You get a big barrel full of food. It contains, among other things, freeze-dried Adventure Food meals, giving you more than enough nutrients, and much more. Think of cans, milk, breakfast cereals, pasta, rice, sweet snacks and salty snacks. I promise you, you won't be short of anything!

Make campfire

Collect wood, branches and moss and make the perfect campfire. This way you keep yourself warm in the evening and the fun can last longer. I have seen many a man busy and heard his tactics shared. I usually waited quietly with a stick and marshmallows…

Start with a layer of dry moss or something that catches fire well. Stack some branches on top of this and make sure that there is still enough oxygen. Light the moss with a lighter or fire starter. When the bottom layer burns, you can calmly stack your twigs and then blocks against each other. Always make sure that you build in height and that sufficient oxygen can reach the fire.

Camping

During The Canoe Trip you usually sleep directly on the water in a tent. During your trip you will have to set it up and take it down a number of times. A Pop up tent is therefore handy, but a decent one dome tent also want to.

Tip: Are you not that experienced yet with setting up and taking down your (borrowed) tent? Then practice a few times at home with your canoe partner to avoid hassle.

Because you are active for several hours a day, sleeping well is also important. We now really swear by solid ones sleeping mats from NOMAD. NOMAD sleeping mats are insulating, easy to carry and very comfortable. I advise you to choose one that is a bit thicker and can also be inflated. Trust us, you want this!

Remark: Why not a normal air mattress? An air mattress is often heavy and not convenient if you have to inflate it yourself (without electricity). Air mattresses also do not insulate, so that the cold rises from the ground.

With another good sleeping bag and head (inflatable) pillow, you have a good night's sleep and paddle a few extra kilometers the next day without any problems.

Fish

Where there's water, there's fish. With a fishing license can you cast your fishing rod in the lakes of Värmland. You can purchase the permit at a base camp. This permit costs about 17 euros. If you think that's a lot, remember that buying the permit contributes to maintaining the area.

You catch fish with a casting or fixed rod. With a fixed rod you can easily fish small bass out of the water. With a casting rod you may need more patience, but also more chance to catch the bigger fish.

Tip: Whatever you can do and will contribute to your into the wild adventure, is preparing and eating the fish(es). If you catch small fish, throw it back, but if it's 20 inches or more, you've got yourself a meal. If you don't know how to prepare fish yet, watch an instructional video on YouTube or ask fellow campers for help. You will have to remove the entrails and bones yourself.

Swimming

If you don't like swimming, you will have to go into the water to wash yourself. The water has a pleasant temperature in the summer, even when it is less sunny or warm outside.

There are also cliffs to jump from in various places. Of course, check whether it is deep enough to safely jump from.

If you are alone, it can also be wonderful to swim naked. No sticky swimwear that has to be wet in the bag again, but pure nature. If it's chilly when you get out of the water, there's the campfire to warm you up.

Wild during The Canoe Trip

Värmland is home to moose, cervids, wild boars, wolves, bears and lynxes. The chance that you encounter one of these animals is small. The area is very large and the animals avoid people who make noise as much as possible. You have the best chance if you sail along the banks at sunrise or sunset (as quietly as possible!).

You will have to be very quiet, patient and prick up your ears. There is a narrow part of the lake, where animals sometimes cross the water (location here). Elk and deer, for example, are good swimmers.

Unfortunately, most of the animals mentioned above have not seen. Yet we were lucky that we heard a splash in the water in the early hours of sunrise, at a dead still moment. Suddenly we saw two deer crossing the road! Together with the breathtaking landscape, which colored beautifully because of the rising sun, Chris shot the pictures below.

Tip:: Curious what we shoot with? Then view the display below.

cosiness

In the spring and summer months, several people can be found in the area. Find each other to have a chat. Some people play games or make music. There is an employee here and there Travel base who likes to organize this kind of fun. People also regularly let us know on which island they could be found via the Whatsapp group that was created by The Canoe Trip at the beginning. It made for some super cozy evenings by the campfire.

Unwind

Silence and tranquility can certainly be found during your canoe trip and you would do well to take those moments too. It is indescribable how quiet it can be. Good moments for reflection, a good book or a nap.

4. What will you experience

Nature

The forests with towering trees, bright green moss, mushrooms and lots of blueberries are what you would expect from a country like Sweden. Add the vast lakes and the islands with rocks and lots of blueberries, and you have a small impression of the beautiful nature in Värmland.

Although you won't easily spot the big animals, the small animals are everywhere; birds, fish, squirrels and insects. We saw birds of prey circling above us and heard many woodpeckers tapping.

Freedom

Because you are busy with nothing but taking care of your basic needs, you experience a sense of freedom. Then when you get to reading a book and hanging in your hammock, your thoughts don't just get occupied. The sun on your skin and the wind in your hair also contribute to this feeling of freedom.

Connection

You will meet people on the water and on the larger islands. Everyone equally helpful and interested in your experiences in the past few days. If you meet these people to spend the evening relaxing together, you will soon notice that you have a lot in common. After all, you do not choose this form of travel if you are not adventurous or do not like nature.

We sat around the campfire with a group of nice people. Lots of talking, laughing and playing games. The game Werewolves taught us a lot about each other.

5. Practical info, packing list and tips

How much does The Canoe Trip cost?

There are a total of 12 weeks in which you can participate. The first week starts mid-June and the last week mid-September. You can The Canoe Trip here books from:

• Private transport package from €295
• Package with **** bus trip € 425
• Package with flight and airport shuttle to the base camp €615
• The 3-day tour starts from €170 pp

The price includes:

This includes:

• 2-person canoe + paddles & life jackets
• Canoe wheels
• Large waterproof barrel + dry bag
• Map & directions
• Exclusive Canoe Trip smartphone app
• Nature Conservation Card for use of the shelters
• All passages through the locks
• Trangia cooking set + cleaning materials
• Dutch-speaking guidance

Optional to book:

• Canoe Trip Survival Foodpack (vegetarian or with meat) (€ 119 pp)
• Camping equipment for 1 or 2 people (€70 pp)
• Travel assistance insurance (€49 pp)
• Cancellation insurance (€59 pp)
• Compensation for CO2 emissions in transport

Packing list

How do you get there

Travelbase offers you the option of starting from Utrecht of Joure to take with you by bus to your base camp. They also go in from Brussels en Hamburg, if that is your preference.

By bus leaves on Friday afternoon and you arrive at your base camp on Saturday morning. A week later, the bus leaves on Saturday evening and then you return on Sunday afternoon. From Brussels, the bus journey takes about 20 hours.

You can also travel independently with it plane or for auto. If you have a little longer than a week, you can also see a little more of Sweden this way. If you are going to fly, it is best to fly to Oslo. It is then a 2/3 hour drive to the base camp.

The Travelbase App

Actually, we don't need to give many other practical tips. Travelbase has a Travelbase App, in which you will find all the information you need. Download it here for Android and here for iPhone.

About Travelbase

Travel base organizes active trips and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, with an emphasis on nature & adventure. The trips can often be done independently or in groups. From out-of-the-box activities to discovering hidden gems and staying overnight in unique places to sleep. A selection of their range of unique trips can be found in the list below.

• Namibia Nomads | Discover Namibia on an unforgettable tour roadtrip adventure. Sleep in a 4×4 with a roof tent under the stars.
• The Iceland Trail | Challenging hike through the wonderful nature of Iceland.
• Arctic Travel | Unique individual 4×4 tour through Iceland.
• Nordic Woods Scandinavia | Choose from an unforgettable glamping experience in the nature of Sweden or Norway.

6. Conclusion

Travelbase certainly delivers on its promise; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It had been on our bucket list for a while and we were very excited when we were allowed to join The Canoe Trip. Even though we are experienced travelers, we have never experienced the area in such a unique way before. Do you like being in nature and are you not averse to camping? Do you also enjoy lighting a fire, swimming, fishing and those kinds of outdoor activities? Then is The Canoe Trip of Travel base definitely something for you!

Do you think after reading this blog: I want that! Then click the button below free of charge and without obligation to register before the summer of 2024. Many travel dates (especially around the summer holidays) quickly fill up. Therefore, register before 2024 to be sure of a spot. Have fun in advance!!!

_{Tip:: Those who book early enjoy the temporary Early Bird prices and Superflex booking conditions. This allows you to make your booking until April 1, 2024 move or cancel free of charge.}