History

1978."Something has to be done". People were moving from northern Värmland and unemployment was high. The local authority of Torsby worked with different organisations and put together groups with people from different industries. The groups were to come up with suggestions for projects to start in the area. The most important goal of the projects was that they were supposed to generate work. Most of the ideas were never used, but from the group that had responsibility for tourism came one idea that they thought was good enough to be tested. 

1979. Timber was rafted downstream on the river Klarälven every summer and since 1953 the Swedish Scouts had been performing a timber raft tour called "the blue hike". The group for tourism decided to try the idea of timber rafting on the river and for the test tour, Anders Wiss participated. Mr Wiss decided that he and his wife, Birgitta, would arrange timber raft tours and the others regarded them as a bit mad because they thought it would never work.

1980. 200 guests and 90 journalists, marketers and travel agents go timber rafting. The company made a loss this year.

1981. The first instructor is hired and the company has about 800 guests. The loss is covered.

1982. The second instructor is hired and we have about 1200 guests.

1983. The company changes its name to Vildmark i Värmland (ViV).

1986. We receive the award "this year's Gnosjöare" (Gnosjö is a city in Sweden that is known for being full of people that can make a profit from almost anything).

1987. The Company adds canoe tours to its arrangements. The employees increase to 20 persons.

1988. ViV receives an award for "This year’s enterprising spirit" from Torsby. A boat for white water rafting is purchased.

1989. A second boat for white water rafting is purchased.

1990. 25 seasonal employees are at work this year and 2500-3000 guests go timber rafting and 1000-1500 guests go canoeing.

1991. The commercial log rafting comes to an end.

1993. The company receives the second award for "this year's enterprising spirit" from Torsby. Klarälvens campsite is purchased and the service building is renovated.

1994. ViV receives an award for "this year’s ecotourism company of the north". This year Vildmark starts to develop the work with the quality system ISO 9002.

1995. A powerful spring flood in addition to heavy rain makes the river Klarälven flood and all the buildings are inundated with water. The campsite is worst affected, the water reaches the windows of the cabins. Vildmark starts to sort its waste.

1998. Vildmark receives the "Grand Travel Award" for ecotourism in Sweden and "This year’s tourism company in Värmland".

2000. IngMarie and Anders Junler, employees for ten years, take over and continue to operate the company on the same principles.

2002. Vildmark i Värmland’s timber raft-trips on Klarälven are given ecotourism’s “Naturens Bästa” [Nature's Best] grading.

2003. The company receives the award for "this year's leader of a business" from the business organisation and the authority in the district of Torsby.

2004. Vildmark i Värmland takes part in the seminar ”Quality assurance of tourism-related services” held by ETOUR (European Tourism Research Institute). Vildmark i Värmland's system for quality assurance and documentation is approved for certification for the year 2004-2005.

2005. Vildmark i Värmland receives an award fror ”the third best tourism product in Scandinavia” from Scandinavian Travel Award.

2005. IngMarie and Anders Junler purchase Vildmark i Värmland.

2006. Vildmark i Värmland renews the certification of ETOUR Quality Assurance for the year 2006-2007.

2006. Vildmark i Värmland renews the ecotourism certification ”Nature's Best” for the year 2006-2010.

2008.  Vildmark i Värmland is nominated as one of the best experiences in Sweden by tour operators in Germany, Holland, England, France and Italy. Other nominees were the Ice Hotel, (who also won the award), the City of Stockholm, the Vasa Museum and Säfsen Resort.

2009. Vildmark i Värmland is once more named as one of the best experiences in Sweden, this year by tour operators in Germany, Holland, England, France, Italy, USA and Russia. Another honorable nomination was the Grand Tourism Award and Löfbergs Lila honorable mention for marketing efforts outside Sweden.

2010. Vildmark i Värmland renews the certification of ETOUR Quality Assurance for the year 2010-2011.

2012. Vildmark i Värmland renews the certification of ETOUR Quality Assurance for the year 2012-2013.

2013. National Geographic adds Vildmark i Värmlands timber raft-trips to their list of "50 tours of a Lifetime".

2014. Vildmark i Värmland renews the certification of ETOUR Quality Assurance for the year 2014.

2019. The owner of the company receives the award for "This year's entrepreneur/innovator" from SCR Swedish Camping. 

2020. The timber raft tour on the river Klarälven wins the category "Best Individual Product" in Scandinavia 2020. The organisation behind the prize is Scandinavian Outdoor Award TRAVEL and the Jury consists of some of the most important tour operators specialised in outdoor and adventure travel in Scandinavia, travel experts and destination managers in Central Europe.

2020. Vildmark i Värmland receives the tourism prize in Torsby municipality. "With its unique product and professionalism, Vildmark in Värmland has put our municipality on the map for visitors."

Thank you all for the awards!

Vildmark i Värmland has received all these awards thanks to the our way of working and our profile.