The great Tiveden adventure

Friday 26/7 - Kayaking with Kersti in Sweden's most secret archipelago

We meet in the afternoon in Olshammar's marina. Kersti from Norra Vättern Nature Guide offers Kling's ice cream from the kiosk, we get to know each other and Kersti gives us an introduction to kayaking. When we feel ready, we pack the kayaks and set out on Vättern's crystal clear, blue-green waters. Paddle stroke by paddle stroke, we approach a unique freshwater archipelago with smooth sanded beach rocks and marten pines bent in their ancient dance with wind and light. It is an environment reminiscent of the Swedish coast, but if you dip the kåsa in the water, you can drink straight from the lake. With the kayak we get close, both close to the water and into the shallow passages where larger vessels pass.

We set up camp on one of the islands and cook dinner together. There is plenty of time here for a warm evening swim, conversation around the fire or why not a small twilight trip around the nearest islands with the kayak? Just the way an evening in the archipelago should be in our opinion, calm and dreamy. Happy and tired after a lovely afternoon on the lake, we crawl into the sleeping bags.

Saturday 27/7 - Lovely paddling with Lovisa's wooden canoes on the forest lake

The following morning, a hearty breakfast and rich coffee are served. At our own pace, we get ready, pack up and paddle back towards the harbor and new adventures with a wooden canoe.

We roll from Olshammar with the cars to a cozy forest lake. There Lovisa from Traceless takes Tiveden over the helm and introduces us to the magical world of the wooden Canadian. We pack the canoes and head straight to the camp headland where we set up camp and have lunch. After lunch, we get a more thorough introduction to Canadian canoeing. We hone the technique and then take a wonderful discovery trip around the lake with all its coves and nooks and crannies.

Maybe we venture a bit up the stream? Or is an eagle looming in the distance? Paddling a wooden canoe is a special experience, the canoe responds clearly to what you do with the paddle and it glides silently on the water. Paddle stroke by stroke, we leave the outside world behind, let ourselves be rocked by the breath of the forest and the drop from the paddles.

We have coffee in the canoes and eventually paddle back towards the camp headland. Lovisa is cooking over the fire. You get the opportunity to take it easy for a while, stretch your legs and explore the camp headland - or maybe swim? Dusk falls while we sit by the campfire and you get the chance to learn how to carve and make fire with kindling steel. If you have the energy and desire, we take an evening trip with the canoes.

Sunday 28/7 Hiking in the beautiful primeval forest with Lovisa

We allow ourselves a shorter sleep in, have breakfast and then pack up and paddle ashore. The day continues with hiking together with Lovisa in the eastern parts of Tiveden. We will hike off the trails in wild and unpaved terrain. Quiet places await here where we get away from Tiveden's other well-visited parts, wander deeper into the natural forest where beings and primordial forces live.

The focus will be on enjoying being surrounded and embraced by nature. The day will also be a challenge as the landscape is very hilly and varied. Bright mountain peaks overlooking the forest, sloping valleys down into soft depressions with sighing firs and black forest lakes like the forest's shiny eyes towards the sky. Some stretches we will walk in silence. Lovisa guides us safely through well-known parts of the deep Tived Forest. During the day, we will have coffee on a couple of occasions and have lunch along the way.

At 4 pm we will be back at the cars for the wrap up, farewell and journey home.

• Three guided tours, with two local certified  nature guides, meaning we'll bring you to places few tourists goes, 
• All meals: 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, Swedish fika, 2 lunches.
• We'll be outdoors the whole weekend
• Two nights in our tree tents, sleeping bags and sleeping mats are also included
• Kayaks, paddles, PFDs, spraydecks, waterproof case for cellphone
• Canoes, paddles, PFDs, kneepads, waterproof case for cellphone

• Personal water bottle
• Wear clothes according to weather, mening: Sun = light clothes for exercise, but covering clothes (for sun protection), windy= a thin windproof jacket to put on, rain = rain clothes, and a warm sweater to put on during breaks.
• Shoes for kayaking/canoeing that will be wet when entering or exiting the boats.
• Dry shoes for land and hiking.
• A complete set of dry clothes to change into when ashore, or in case of an involuntary bath.
• Personal hygiene products, towel
• Ev. personal medicine.

All bookings go through our booking module. See the lower right corner of this page.

Please, specify when booking:

Length and eventual special diet, allergy.

Booking terms:

You can book and cancel free of charge until 13 July at 23.59. Thereafter, registration and payment are binding. For full info on booking terms, see the page for Terms & Cookies

To book this experience, you must be able to swim and the recommended age for this tour is from 15 years old.