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August 13, 2026
- Sweden
Lois Weeterings
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Combining wild camping in Sweden with a canoe trip through the Glaskogen Nature Reserve. That sounds like a crazy adventure, right? An active vacation that can be labeled a "once in a lifetime" experience, as we can now attest to ourselves. Nothing is more pure than immersing yourself in unspoiled Swedish nature for seven days. Relax completely, sleep under clear starry skies and live in and of nature. Under the motto 'less comfort, more life' I like to take you on a journey!
Wild camping in Sweden
Sweden has a very special right, namely the Allemansrecht (Allemansrätten in Swedish). This right means that anyone can recreate anywhere in Sweden as long as nature is treated with respect. So as a traveler, you are free to pitch your tent wherever you want, take a dip in any lake and pick berries and mushrooms from the wild. What you are not allowed to do? That may seem obvious, but that is, of course, leaving trash and logging.Â
In short, Sweden is the destination of Europe To experience wild camping. Because whether it will be your first time wild camping or your umpteenth experience, there is no other destination where you will be so unwinded than in Swedish nature.Â
Canoeing in the Glaskogen Nature Reserve
The Glaskogen Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful nature parks in Sweden. You will find the nature park in the province of Värmland, in western Sweden. Glaskogen is incredibly vast, hilly and about 28,000 hectares in size. So there are plenty of places where you can pitch your tent in nature, provided you have a Glaskogen Card. Besides finding beautiful forests in the nature reserve, there are also many lakes (as many as 80!). The three largest lakes are Glafsfjorden, Stora Gla and Övre Gla, which you will also brave when you take a canoe trip through this area.
Flora and fauna
Various animals live in the Glaskogen Nature Reserve. You have the chance to encounter moose, for example, during sunrise or just at dusk. Other animals you can encounter are hares, badgers, foxes and deer. Of course, you can also spot an awful lot of birds.
Fishing in Glaskogen
If you spend several days in the Glaskogen Nature Reserve, for example to wild camp during a canoe trip, you can also go fishing. A fresh fish for grilling or frying, that's survival in nature! You can bring the necessary fishing equipment yourself or rent it at the information center in the nature reserve. Keep in mind that you can only fish if you have a Glaskogen Fishing Card, which costs €40.
K-JAK's canoe trips
K-JAK is a Dutch travel company offering canoe trips in Sweden and Norway. With outstanding expertise and knowledge of not only canoeing, but also of both Scandinavian destinations, they have put together particularly adventurous trips. When you book a trip through K-JAK, prepare for a 7-day adventure where you paddle by canoe across vast lakes only to sleep each night on your own uninhabited island.
You can purchase the fishing license for the Glaskogen Nature Reserve at K-jak basecamp at the start of your adventure. The Glaskogen Card is included in the trip price by default and you do not need to purchase it separately.Â
My personal travel experience with K-JAK
Where to begin in sharing my canoeing adventure in Sweden? Perhaps with describing my favorite moment in the middle of Swedish nature.Â
We had picked up a rhythm where we woke up around 6:30 in the morning, probably because of the early sunlight. We awoke quietly, put on water for tea and made a simple breakfast. Crackers with peanut butter or chocolate spread. After this, we packed up our things to go out again. We then paddled across the vast lakes until we found a cozy spot to drink coffee. By this I mean a private island or a nice rock overlooking the lake. Our coffee stop was always another moment of realization of how unique it is to be so in the middle of nature with nothing but each other and our canoe.Â
Some days we paddled more than others, it was just how the weather forecast was. Was it going to rain? Then we tried to get to our next camping spot before the showers, such as at one of the shelters marked on the map. On sunny days, we enjoyed our breaks along the way just a little longer and of course dove into the lake. The way to refresh during a 7-day adventure in the wilderness.Â
Making a campfire at night is magical. Especially under a brilliant starry sky. Add a hot cup of chocolate and marshmallows and your evening is complete. It's the little moments during an adventure like this that make your trip so special. An experience that is difficult to describe in words, but one that I want to convince you to experience as well!
What are the costs?
If you choose the destination Sweden, there are two canoe trips: the Gla Forest and the Blöm Fox. In terms of price there is no difference in these trips. If you choose own transport then the starting price is €370 per person, and if you travel by bus back and forth then the price starts from €570 per person. The difference is in the area where you go canoeing and wild camping and in the number of kilometers and land transport. So consider carefully for yourself which canoe trip suits you best!
A camping kit and a food pack are not included in the price by default, but you can order extra. The camping equipment consists of a 2-person tent, sleeping mat (5mm thick), 80L waterproof bag and a tarp. This costs €90 per person. In our opinion, the gear you get is of very good quality, better than if we had brought it ourselves from the Netherlands. The food package consists of several freeze-dried meals and other products such as rice cakes, crackers, energy bars, candies and much more. For this you pay €125 per person (including cooking set). After 7 days on the water, we by no means finished everything, so in terms of content we can say that this is more than enough. The freeze-dried meals surprised us positively. Of course, some are tastier than others, but taste is definitely there!
The ultimate packing list and handy tips
For an adventurous trip like this, it is very important to be well prepared. All trips include the necessary canoe equipment, such as the canoe, a waterproof barrel, paddles, life jackets and a small waterproof bag.Â
Packing List
You definitely don't want to start the canoe trip too heavily packed, so think carefully about what clothes you actually need. This was in my backpack:Â
1 pair of mountain boots;
1 pair of long outdoor pants (waterproof is recommended);
1 sports leggings;
1 pair of shorts;
5 t-shirts;
1 thick sweater/ cardigan;
1 water- and windproof jacket;Â
1 set of thermal clothing;
10 sets of underwear (extra if wet);
10 pairs of socks (extra if wet);
Swimwear;
Slippers;
Microfiber towel;
Headlamp.
Helpful tips
The weather in Sweden is just as changeable as in the Netherlands, so it is always handy to be prepared for rain showers. A good way to track showers is through the weather app Buienradar, but the Scandinavian app yr.no is also very nice. You can see the weather forecast by the hour, from wind speeds to the number of mm of rain expected.Â
Per day you paddle quite a few kilometers and after a few days you can start to feel this on your hands, arms and back. We found it personally very nice to gauntlets (from road cycling) to wear to prevent possible blisters and calluses.Â
You may have noticed that there are no chairs included in the camping equipment, so should you occasionally find the comfort of a camping chair want then you will want this (or a hammock) have to bring your own. Of course, for the real outdoor experience, it's cool to create your own comfortable seat out of sand and/or rocks.Â
You can drink water from lakes in Sweden, which is incredible, but really true. By the way, it is important to fill your water bottle while you are on the water. Immerse your bottle deeply and let it fill with water. If you fill your water bottle at the water's edge, it is wise to boil the water first (min. 3 minutes) because of possible bacteria.
If, like us, you want to take a canoe trip in Sweden, K-Jak has two trips to choose from, the Gla Forest and the Blom-Fox. Both trips are doable for beginners, but the difference is in the challenge. Gla Forest has more land travel which makes it more challenging than the Blom-Fox.
Less comfort, more life!
K-JAK's motto is "less comfort, more life," and this is the most compact and accurate description of a canoe trip in Sweden. You sacrifice comfort for 7 days, but you get so much in return. It is indescribable how special it is to stay on your own island, to (over)live in nature and to be completely dependent on yourself and your travel partner. A real once in lifetime experience that belongs on everyone's bucket list!
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
