Timber raft and canoe 8 days/7 nights
With this package, you don’t have to choose between timber rafting and canoeing – you get to experience both! It’s the perfect choice for those who want to discover the Klarälven River from multiple perspectives.
The unforgettable experience
You start your adventure with building a timber raft, where teamwork and physical activity create a strong community. Then you float down the river Klarälven on your own timber raft. You enjoy the magnificent nature and experience exciting moments on the water. Later, a canoe trip awaits you, which gives you the freedom to explore the rich and varied nature in the middle of Värmland’s beautiful landscape. This is an experience that combines both hard work and relaxation in a fantastic environment!
What is included in the package?
Things you can rent/purchase from us
- Tent accomodate 3-4 persons.
- Sleeping bag and mattress.
- Kitchen equipment.
- Food for self-preparation.
Things you need to bring
- Clothing suitable for changing weather conditions, including rain gear and a complete change of clothes.
- Gloves and sandals (appropriate for use in the water) or old trainers.
- If you have not rented a tent, sleeping bags, or kitchen equipment from us, please bring your own.
- Bring enough food for your entire stay if you have not ordered it in advance. You can also purchase food along the river, as you will pass three different smaller grocery stores.
The basic equipment includes: Timber, ropes, canoe, paddles, storage box, waterproof barrel, life-ring, poles, buoyancy aids, tarpaulin, metal platter for hurricane stove, first aid kit, bucket, rubbish bags, toilet paper, spade, drinking water container, sponge, topographical map, introduction in Gunnerud, instructor during raft building and information about the tour before arrival and in Gunnerud
When the timber raft is completed, additional boxes (the rope boxes) will be empty which you can use for your equipment.
The transport of you and all your equipment (but not large personal items such as canoes/kayaks, bicycles, etc.) from Gunnerud to the building site is included. If you arrive by car, this will be parked free of charge in Gunnerud during your timber raft and canoe tour.
To build your own timber raft is a big part of the adventure and experience.
- 100 kilometers calm flowing water.
- Enjoy Klarälven, a Natura 2000-area.
- Experience two adventures in one!
Building a timber raft is both a physical and social activity where teamwork is key to success. Many logs need to be carried or rolled from the shore into the water, and determination and cooperation go a long way. The raft is tied together in the water using ropes, with everyone in the group contributing to the construction process in different ways. This marks the beginning of your adventure.
Once you set off and begin steering your timber raft down the current, you’ll float quietly through the majestic Klarälven Valley. At times, the journey is calm, allowing you to fully enjoy the serene surroundings. Other times, it’s more fast-paced and thrilling. Along the way, you may encounter obstacles such as sandbanks, rocks, or eddies that require quick thinking and teamwork to navigate safely. It’s crucial that everyone pitches in to handle any challenges and guide the raft forward.
For half of your trip, you’ll float down the river on your self-made timber raft. Then, you’ll switch to a canoe to continue the journey to your final destination in Gunnerud. With the canoe, you’ll experience a new level of freedom; it’s much more flexible, allowing you to easily stop at beaches or points of interest along the way. This adventure offers the perfect blend of physical activity and relaxation, giving you the chance to truly immerse yourself in the magic of Klarälven.
You’ll complete the trip on your own, with the freedom to choose where to camp each night in accordance with Sweden’s ‘Right of Public Access’ (Allemansrätten).
How does it work?
Day 1:
- Check in at reception in Gunnerud between 15:30 and 17:00.
- Pick-up the equipment you have reserved.
- Receive guidance on building the raft, river route details, and information about Sweden’s ‘Right of Public Access’.
- Spend the night in Gunnerud in your own tent or in a rented tent.
Day 2:
- Transportation is provided to the raft building site.
- Build your own timber raft.
- Begin your adventure down the river whenever you are ready.
Day 2-5:
- Drift down the river Klarälven on your timber raft.
- Find your own camping spots in accordance with Sweden’s ‘Right of Public Access’.
- On the afternoon of Day 5, you will arrive at Björkebo.
- Disassemble your raft and return the equipment you no longer need for canoe trip.
- Continue your journey in a canoe.
Day 5-8:
- Paddle in canoe on Klarälven.
- Find your own camping spots in accordance with Sweden’s ‘Right of Public Access’.
Day 8:
- Arrive at the final destination no later than 17:00.
- Clean your canoe and return the rented equipment.
- Begin your journey home or on to new adventures.
Prices and departures
Period: 4th June – 27th August 2025.
Departures:
Wednesdays, Sundays.
Time and place for arrival: 15.30-17.00 in Gunnerud, 95 km north of Karlstad.
Note! It is important that you keep this time!
| Timber raft/canoe 8 days (SEK/person) | Adults | Children 3-15 years | Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic equipment (04.06-11.07 + 13.08-27.08) | 6180 | 3090 | 4330 |
| Basic equipment (13.07 – 11.08) | 6460 | 3230 | 4530 |
Groups: 10 participants minimum. Price per person regardless of age. Minimum 5 persons/timber-raft, of which at least 2 must be adults. (Groups 20 persons or more SEK 3920/person.) Special travel conditions for groups.
| Additional equipment (SEK/person) | Adults | Children 3-15 years | Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation insurance | 240 | 120 | 120 |
| Kitchen equipment | 440 | 220 | 420 |
| Provisions | 1720 | 1270 | 1540 |
| Sleeping bag | 325 | 325 | 325 |
| Tent | 960 /tent |
Note! If you book kitchen equipment or food provisions, all participants on the same raft must select these options. A minimum of two adults is required, but each timber raft can accommodate up to six people. Both building and steering the raft demand significant physical effort, so it’s beneficial if there are several of you.
Requirements
Each timber raft requires a minimum of 2 adults aged 18 or older. Adults must be able to swim. Advance booking of the package is mandatory. Cancellation insurance can be arranged at the time of booking. Participation is at your own risk. Please review our travel conditions prior to booking.
You are welcome to bring your dog, but you must consider the following:
– You must keep the dog leashed at the meeting point and at the building site (if you have booked a timber raft tour). It is also important that you always have the dog under supervision on the journey, because you are traveling in an area where there are wild animals.
– If you make a longer trip (3-8 days), local transport is included. If there is another person traveling in the same vehicle who is allergic to dogs, you must be prepared to transport your dog to the start of the tour yourself.
– Some dogs are very sensitive to mosquitoes. There is not much you can do, but it is usually not a problem when you are out in the canoe or on the timber raft, but can be a concern when you go ashore for the night.
– We do not have life jackets for dogs. Bring your own if your dog needs it.
– It can be long days on the river if you travel on a timber raft or paddle a canoe when the dog must be still. But if the dog likes to swim, it is usually not a major problem.
The water can only be drunk if it is boiled. The water can therefore be used for all cooking, coffee, tea, etc. On longer trips (3-8 days) you will get freshwater containers in the basic equipment that you can fill up before you set off. You don´t have to boil the water to brush your teeth or wash the dishes. Remember to bring biodegradable washing-up liquid!
Depending on which package you have booked, there are different meeting points. NOTE! If you search Vildmark i Värmland on Google, or any other search engine, you will come to our office in Torsby. NO tours start from here! You will find information where your specific meeting point is in your travel documents that you have received when you made the booking/payment. It is usually found at the end of the travel document.
It is fine to try fishing on all our different tours, but you must have a fishing license. You can purchase fishing licenses at the starting point for all tours except canoe tours that start in Torsby (Röjdån and Rottnan). If you start your canoeing in Torsby, you buy a fishing license at “ifiske.se”. (Seach: Lekvattnets FVOF for Rottnan and Velens FVOF for Röjdån)
You can travel by bus alternatively by train from Karlstad to the meeting point of most of our packages. It all depends on which package you have booked, and which day you will arrive to us. Should you, for example, start your canoe- or timber raft trip on a Saturday or Sunday in Gunnerud, there is no bus to Gunnerud on these days. If you will arrive to Gunnerud on a Saturday or Sunday, you can travel by bus to the bus stop “Sjögränd” (just south of Gunnerud) and we can arrange a transfer free of charge to Gunnerud (if you arrive with the bus connection that is closest to the start time of your booked trip). Notify us at the time you make your booking if you need transfer.
There are always mosquitoes. How much depends on how dry, hot, and wet it is/has been. A heavy spring flood with subsequent heat brings a lot of mosquitoes. However, it is very rare that there are mosquito’s over open water. The mosquitoes are mainly active on land and in the evening. Mosquito repellent and covering clothing are the best protection. As far as it is known, the mosquitoes in this area does not carry any infections.
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Life in the Wilderness – a varied experience
The life of a log driver was both hard and free. The physical challenges were interspersed with moments of camaraderie and tranquility, and you can experience the same feeling on a timber raft journey on Klarälven today. Building a raft from logs and ropes requires strength and teamwork, but the reward comes when you slowly start to drift with the current. Along the river, you may encounter various obstacles such as sandbanks, rocks, overhanging trees, or swirling backwaters. Yet, as the timber raft glides silently through the still waters, a sense of relaxation and harmony emerges that is hard to find elsewhere.
During the canoe trip, you take command – both of the paddle and the direction. Unlike the heavy timber raft, the canoe offers agility and speed, allowing you to easily navigate the river’s winding flow. You decide when and where to stop and go ashore, perhaps at one of the many sandbanks or for a break at a picturesque spot.
By combining these two different modes of travel, the timber raft and canoe, you gain a varied and multifaceted experience of Klarälven. It provides both the rugged challenge and the soothing freedom to truly absorb the beauty of the wilderness.