Timber raft 5 days/4 nights
Our guests’ favourite package. A timber raft tour is living in harmony with nature.
The adventure of a lifetime
Imagine taking a trip on a timber raft you built using logs and rope! It’s an unforgettable adventure that combines challenges with relaxation. The leisurely pace of travel, against the backdrop of nature’s forces, offers a blend of excitement and tranquility. Get ready to experience life as a log driver for a few days, meeting nature on its own terms.
What is included in the package?
Things you need to bring
- Tent, sleeping bag and mattress.
- Food for the entire stay, some kind of stove and other equipment to prepare the food.
- Clothing suitable for changing weather including rain gear and a full change of clothes.
- Gloves and sandals (which are suitable for use in the water) or old trainers.
Note!
Tent, sleeping bag with sheet and sleeping mat, kitchen equipment and provisions (food) can be rented/purchased at the time of booking.
The basic equipment includes: Timber, ropes, life-ring, paddles, poles, buoyancy aids, tarpaulin, metal platter for hurricane stove, bucket, rubbish bags, toilet paper, spade, drinking water container, topographical map, storage box, canoe (a Canadian canoe or sit-on-top kayak depending on availability at the building site), information about the tour before arrival and in Gunnerud, introduction in Gunnerud, instructor during raft building and one overnight in tent (in own tent or hired from us) in Gunnerud and at Klarlälvens Camping.
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 (or Björkebo) during your timber raft tour.
To build your own timber raft is a big part of the adventure and experience.
- Embark on a new adventure.
- Make new memories together.
- Take a break from everyday life.
Building the timber raft is hard work, and you might need to put in physical effort during the journey too, especially if you encounter obstacles like sandbanks, rocks or backwater. However, there’s nothing more peaceful than when the raft silently glides through the mighty valley of Klarälven. It’s a chance to embrace the present moment, get in sync with nature’s rhythm, and flow with the river.
The river is similar throughout the journey, which makes orientation – knowing where you are on the river – a challenge. To help you orientate yourself, you can borrow a topographic map. We want to keep the river in its natural state, even if it is always being changed by the power of nature. We want you to experience nature authentically, just as it is, this means there are very few signs indicating your location or direction. It’s reassuring to know you can’t really get lost – you’ll always be heading south with the current.
You are free to choose where to camp each night in accordance with the Swedish public access rights (Allemansrätten). If you prefer, you can stay at one of the campsites along the river where you pay for your stay and have access to amenities like toilets and showers, which can be very much appreciated.
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 Swedish public access rights.
- Spend the night in Gunnerud in your own tent or in a rented tent.
Day 2:
- Transportation is provided to the raft building site.
- You build your own timber raft.
- Start on your adventure down the river when you are ready, or spend the first night in a tent at the building site.
Day 2-5:
- Float down the river Klarälven on your timber raft.
- Find your own camping spots in accordance with Swedish public access rights.
Day 5:
- Arrive at the final destination no later than 17:00.
- Disassemble your raft.
- Return the rented equipment.
- Begin your journey home or on to new adventures.
Prices and departures
Period: 5th June – 28th August 2024.
Departure:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Sundays.
Between 5th July – 9th August also Fridays as departure days.
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 5 days (SEK/person) | Adult | Children 3-15 years | Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic equipment (05.06-12.07 + 14.08-28.08) | 4870 | 2435 | 3315 |
| Basic equipment (14.07 – 12.08) | 5170 | 2585 | 3615 |
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 3110/Person.) Special travel conditions for groups.
| Additional equipment (SEK/person) | Adult | Children 3-15 years | Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation insurance | 240 | 120 | 120 |
| Kitchen equipment | 380 | 190 | 360 |
| Provisions | 1390 | 970 | 1230 |
| Sleeping bag | 280 | 280 | 280 |
| Tent | 760/tent |
Note! If you book kitchen equipment or food provisions, all participants on the same raft must select these items.
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”.
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.
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.
What our guests say about us
Other popular packages
TIMBER RAFT 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
The 8 days timber raft tour is the oldest of all the packages we offer, and the first tour was carried out already back in 1980. Depending on the water level you will cover a distance of 50- or 100km and on your way down the river, you will see the landscape slowly changing from the northern part, where the valley is narrower and the hills are closer, to the south, where the valley widens and the hills are a little further away.
TIMBER RAFT 2 NIGHTS
Build your own timber raft using logs and ropes, then drift along the river Klarälven in Värmland, letting the current guide you. Expect a journey filled with breathtaking scenery and surprises like sandbanks and backwaters along the way. This outdoor experience includes two nights of camping in a tent – the first night at our campsite and the second night along the river.
CANOE TOUR BERGSLAGEN
Paddling through the region of Bergslagen, spanning parts of Västmanland, southern Dalarna, and eastern Värmland, you’ll encounter vast forests, hills, valleys, wetlands, and numerous lakes. Known for its serene and relatively untouched landscapes, Bergslagen is ideal for those craving tranquility.
CANOE TOUR ROTTNAN
The river Rottnan winds its way across the Norwegian-Swedish border and through the old Finnish settlements that are nestled among spruce and pine trees in the forests of Värmland. The journey offers gently flowing water that is suitable for both experienced canoeists and beginners.
Follow nature’s lead
The 5-day tour is our most popular package, offering a challenge similar to the longer one-week expedition. When finishing the tour, remember to allocate extra time for dismantling the raft and returning equipment. It’s essential to reach the final destination by 17:00. Depending on your arrival time and the dismantling process, the finish time may be later than expected. We recommend avoiding a tight travel schedule on the day you complete the tour. Rafting conditions, influenced by the water levels, weather, and wind, greatly impact the journey. It is important to be flexible and adapt to the changing conditions.
Although traditional log rafting for timber transport is a thing of the past, you can get a sense of the lifestyle and traditions of a log driver as you build your own timber raft and float down the river Klarälven. This experience connects you with nature, encourages teamwork to overcome challenges, and offers the excitement of navigating obstacles along the way.