KAYAK TOUR ALONG THE KOLBÄCK RIVER

A guided 5 day kayak/canoe tour from Smedjebacken to Virsbo. The paddle distances are between 10-15 km per day

  

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Tour in Bergslagen

The Kolbäck river flow through the heart of the area Bergslagen. Bergslagen is known  for its mountains with iron-ore and deep forests. The high valued iron-ore was for a few hundred years ago transported downstream the Kolbäck River. Today the fire has died out in the ancient iron works and the blacksmiths hammer is silent. The river flow as it did long before the days of iron producing. Silent, winding and beautiful. But there are interesting historical evidences from the past. For instance we will pay and visit to one of Sweden's word inherited sites - The Ironwork in Ängelsberg

Along the 110 km long the Kolbäck river canal stretches were built at the water falls in the 1700-century. The canal stretches are together 12 kilometer and include several locks. These stretches are named The Strömsholms Kanal. Along the other 98 kilometers, the river follow along the original water course. We are only paddling along the rivers natural course

 

Day 1) Transfer from the train station in Smedjebacken to the starting point of the canoe trail. Paddling along the lake Northern Barken from Smedjebacken to Söderbärke. We pass through an archipelago with islands covered by pine forest and some red painted lumber cottages. At one of these cottages we have a rest stop with strawberries and ice cream. A fair introduction of our paddling adventure and the Swedish country side. Night in guesthouse at the waterfront with our own dock 

Day 2) Paddling along the lake Southern Barken from Söderbärke to Hedkärra. We pass through some narrow stretches and among other things a giant beaver hut. Here we let to know the story about these hard working animals. We stop at a dock and are invited to lunch at a beautiful suited terrace. From the bay Saxen we hike through the forest 2,5 km up to Marviken's Bed and Breakfast

Day 3) Short transfer back to the river. Paddling from Västanfors to Ängelsberg. Half way we stop at a nice rest and wind shelter for lunch. At the "Oil island" the world's oldest preserved oil refinery is located. Here we let to know about the islands odd and thrilling history. The word inherited village has an unique and exciting architecture. The architecture of the village two castles have inspired the architects who built the villages villas at the turn of the last century. Some villas have a variation of small towers. We will stay in one of these villas for the night

Day 4) The ironwork in Ängelsberg has ancestry from the Middle-Age and is one of UNESCO's word inherited sites. A guided tour take us around in the historical site. Paddling from Ängelsberg to Virsbo. We get ashore on the Dunshammar peninsula. Here we visit one of the earliest iron producing spots and let to know the sites history. The old evidences consist of stone ovens from the Iron-Age. We paddle further in an archipelago with open water and plenty of big and small islands. This is the Kolbäck River's broadest point (on its 110 kilometers long course). Night in hotel at the waterfront with our own dock

Day 5) Transfer to the train station in Virsbo

   

                      

The third night we spend on a hill with good views over the river 

 

  The guided tour include: Breakfast day 2-5. Lunch and dinner day 1-4. Snacks day 1 and 4. Kayaks, paddles, life jackets, water proof sacks, sitting pads and spray covers. Entrance and expert guide to the ironwork in Ängelsberg. Luggage transport. Transfer from the railway station in Smedjabacken. Transfer to the railway station in Virsbo. Alternatively return transfer to Smedjebacken. Nights in hotel, bed & breakfast and pension hostel

Price: 6800 SEK/680 Euro per person in double rooms. Children under 15 years 6000 SEK/600 Euro  

 Number of participants: 4-15 persons

From 4 participants, to be booked on dates of free choice 

                

      The word inherited site the ironwork in Ängelsberg                     The rivers broadest point

 

The tour can also be booked as a daytour with overnight and breakfast. Price: 1700 SEK/170 Euro. Children under 15 years 1500 SEK/150 Euro

"We all had a lovely time. It was a great trip - really well organized. We enjoyed the kayaking and felt that on average we did the right amount. The accommodation was good, particularly the first night and the food was interesting"  Susie Jerwood, Chichester England

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of paddling/landscape description: Archipelagos with many islands are connected with stretches of narrow straits. The shores and islands are covered by pine forest. The paddling is easy flat water paddling whiteout portages and whiteout current water. We paddle downstream. The nights are spent in small traditional villages along the river  

Equipment: The paddling is in single kayaks. For parties with small children and older people the option is to paddle in double kayaks. There is also an option to paddle in canoes. The canoes are founded in the strong hard plastic material polyethylene and are in very good shape. The kayaks are stable sea kayaks with broad waist constructed to manage big waves and strong wind in sea conditions. More information about the equipment (link)

Personal equipment: Equipment that are not needed during the day will be transported overland to each nights accommodation

Clothes to paddle in: Shorts, sport clothes, swimming gears, rain gears with rain and wind. A "surfing t-shirt" in synthetic material is recommended when it usually sprinkle some water from the strokes of paddling. Hat and sunglasses with sunshine  

To bring in the kayaks: Rain gears, swimming gears, towel, sun block, camera and warm "summer clothes". Day one all participants will receive a full bottle with drinking water which suites to a strap on the kayaks. The bottles will be refilled along our paddling at restaurants and place of accommodation

Food on the trip: We eat good food prepared by experienced and professional chefs. The chefs are using local products especially from the forest with a traditional Swedish touch. Moose meat, rainbow trout, herrings, chanterelles and blue berries. We custom made all meals and eat the same food together. Therefore we need to know if there are participants who are not eating all kind of food. The dinners are two course meals. We do not prepare any food outside but we eat lunch day 2 and 3 in the nature along the river. Every morning we have an breakfast buffet to choose from

Snacks: Day 1) Strawberries and ice cream. Day 4) Juice, fruit and chocolate 

Accommodation: Night 1) guesthouse in Söderbärke, double rooms. Night 2) B&B in Hedkärra, double rooms. Night 3) Pension hostel in Ängelsberg, in normal cases double rooms. Night 4) Hotel in Virsbo, double rooms with showers and toilets in the rooms

Evening dress: Jeans and sport clothes are recommended  

Information: At the starting point we provide information about the tour, the kayaks, safety and paddle technique. At each dinner detailed information about the next days program is provided

Toilets: Most of the times in connections to the places where we have our meals

Safety: The guide has very good experience and is a certified life guard after passing all tests on the Swedish life guard associations life guard education. A firs aid kit is brought on the tour

Stores: 500 meters from our accommodation in Söderbärke and Virsbo are small stores

Day temperatures: June - August 15 - 30 Centigrades. May and September 10 - 25 Centigrades

Alcohol: Is not included but is possible to order at the dinners

Liquor stores: In Sweden you can not buy alcohol in the supermarkets except for beers at the maximum alcohol percentage 3,5. There are no liquor stores along our paddling but there is one liquor store at our starting point in Smedjebacken

The tour starts 9:44 AM when the straight train from Stockholm and Västerås arrives to the railway station in Smedjebacken

The train departs from Stockholm: 7:06 AM

 The train departs from Västerås: 8:15 AM

 The tour finish 9:10 AM when the straight train to Västerås and Stockholm arrives to the railway station in Virsbo 

 The train arrives to Västerås: 9:45

 The train arrives to Stockholm: 10:53

Straight train from Stockholm to Smedjebacken 2,5 hours, from Västerås 1,5 hour. Straight train from Virsbo to Stockholm 2 hours, to Västerås 30 minutes 

Train connections. Read more on time chart 55 >>  

 

QUESTIONS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KAYAK TOUR

Please write to: Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se

BOOK THE KAYAK TOUR ONLINE

Nordic Discovery - Naturarvskompaniet

Mikael.Nilsson@naturarvskompaniet.se

Handelsbobacken 2

Phone: +46 (0)580 31007 

Kloten

Cell phone: +46 (0)70 2551984

714 91 Kopparberg

 www.nordicdiscovery.se 

Sweden

www.naturarvskompaniet.se