The Woodland Ways Canoeing and Camp Craft in Sweden expedition is a quietly exceptional journey—our longest-running overseas programme and the foundation upon which much of our expedition ethos has been built. It is a refined, skill-rich immersion designed for those who value authenticity, restraint, and depth over speed or spectacle.
This 10-day expedition takes place within the remote lakes and forests of central Sweden, offering extended travel through one of Europe’s most intact boreal landscapes. Movement is purposeful and unhurried, allowing time for skills to mature and understanding to develop naturally. The expedition balances daily canoe travel with carefully structured camp craft, creating an experience that is both technically rewarding and deeply restorative.
Far removed from modern distraction, you will travel by open canoe through interconnected lakes and waterways bordered by pine, birch, and spruce. Nights are spent wild camping beneath vast skies, where darkness brings stillness and an extraordinary clarity of stars. This is a landscape that rewards patience and attentiveness, revealing its depth gradually to those willing to slow down.
1. Choose the number of places you want to book.
2. Choose to pay a deposit or the full amount.
The balance payment is required no less than 8 weeks before your course commences. You will receive an invoice shortly after booking for the balance payment.
Please pay in full if the course start date falls within that period.
3. Select course date.
4. Click ’Next’ and complete the attendee details for each place you have booked.
The Woodland Ways Canoeing and Camp Craft in Sweden expedition is a quietly exceptional journey—our longest-running overseas programme and the foundation upon which much of our expedition ethos has been built. It is a refined, skill-rich immersion designed for those who value authenticity, restraint, and depth over speed or spectacle.
This 10-day expedition takes place within the remote lakes and forests of central Sweden, offering extended travel through one of Europe’s most intact boreal landscapes. Movement is purposeful and unhurried, allowing time for skills to mature and understanding to develop naturally. The expedition balances daily canoe travel with carefully structured camp craft, creating an experience that is both technically rewarding and deeply restorative.
Far removed from modern distraction, you will travel by open canoe through interconnected lakes and waterways bordered by pine, birch, and spruce. Nights are spent wild camping beneath vast skies, where darkness brings stillness and an extraordinary clarity of stars. This is a landscape that rewards patience and attentiveness, revealing its depth gradually to those willing to slow down.
The Landscape & Rhythm of Travel
The Malingsbo–Kloten Nature Reserve is a landscape shaped by ice, water, and time. Granite outcrops, quiet wetlands, and mirror-like lakes define a region where travel has always followed natural lines.
Days are spent paddling between lakes and through narrow channels, developing refined canoe technique and learning to read wind, water, and shoreline. Decision-making becomes subtle—choosing when to move, when to wait, and how to travel efficiently with minimal effort.
Evenings are calm and deliberate. Camps are established with care, fires managed thoughtfully, and meals prepared unhurriedly. As the forest settles, conversation softens and attention shifts inward. Over time, a steady rhythm emerges—paddle, land, gather, prepare, rest—one of the defining qualities of this expedition.
Expedition Structure
Arrival & Preparation
Participants are met by the Woodland Ways team at the designated in-country airport and transferred together to the local outfitter. A brief stop at a supermarket allows the group to select provisions, introducing expedition-level food planning and resource management from the outset.
The first evening is spent at a comfortable lodge, where a shared meal is followed by detailed briefings covering equipment systems, packing philosophy, safety, and expectations. This measured beginning establishes cohesion, clarity, and confidence before entering the wilderness.
Canoe Journey & Woodland Base Camp
The expedition formally begins in the village of Kloten, situated at the heart of the reserve. Under close professional instruction, participants receive comprehensive guidance in open canoe handling, safety procedures, and efficient paddling technique.
Midway through the journey, a woodland base camp is established. This becomes a place of deeper learning and refinement, where time allows for repetition, experimentation, and the quiet mastery of skills.
Core areas of development include:
- Open canoe handling and water safety
- Fire lighting and fire management for cooking, warmth, and equipment care
- Water sourcing and purification from natural sources
- Camp organisation, shelter systems, and living efficiency
- Axe use, maintenance, and precision wood processing
- Woodcraft and carving using traditional hand tools
Instruction is delivered with restraint and clarity, prioritising judgement, efficiency, and confidence over speed or output.
Craft, Resourcefulness & Traditional Practice
A defining element of this expedition is its emphasis on making, adapting, and repairing using materials gathered from the environment.
Participants will learn to: - Produce pot hangers, utensils, and camp furniture from local materials - Harvest and use withies for binding and construction - Work with birch bark, spruce, and pine roots to create containers, bindings, and functional items
Where appropriate, participants may also craft their own tools—such as crook knives, awls, and simple metalworking aids—using repurposed materials and improvised methods. These projects encourage patience, problem-solving, and a deeper appreciation of traditional craftsmanship as a living skill rather than a historical curiosity.
Wildlife & Environmental Awareness
The Swedish boreal forest supports a diverse range of wildlife, including beaver, moose, deer, and numerous bird species. While sightings are never guaranteed, the presence of wildlife is constant, revealed through tracks, sign, and subtle behaviour along the shoreline.
Instruction in tracking and environmental interpretation enables participants to read the landscape with greater fluency. Wildlife cameras are used to provide insight into nocturnal activity rarely observed directly.
Fishing licences are provided for all participants, allowing fishing from camp or canoe when conditions permit. While net fishing is restricted, traditional approaches—including the construction of a gill net using carved tools—are explored within a learning context.
Physical Demands & Suitability
This expedition is physically active and requires a reasonable level of fitness. Participants should be comfortable paddling for several hours per day and managing camp routines in variable weather.
The journey is deliberately unrushed, but days are purposeful. Success lies in steady effort, cooperation, and an ability to live simply and well in the outdoors.
Logistics & Travel
Flights are not included. Flight recommendations are provided in advance, and participants simply need to arrive at the designated airport on the recommended flight or earlier.
All specialist canoeing equipment and group camp kit are provided. A detailed personal equipment list is available for download.
In Summary
This Swedish canoe expedition is a quiet cornerstone of the Woodland Ways programme—a journey that has shaped instructors, informed expeditions worldwide, and introduced generations of participants to a more deliberate way of travelling through wild places.
Those who take part leave with refined practical skills, increased confidence, and a lasting connection to a landscape that rewards patience and care.
For those seeking a premium wilderness expedition defined by depth, craft, and calm competence, Canoeing and Camp Craft in Sweden offers an experience of rare quality.
Safety & Professional Standards
All Woodland Ways expeditions operate in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring financial protection where applicable. Overseas expeditions are aligned with the British Safety Standard BS8848, reflecting our commitment to rigorous planning, risk management, and professional delivery.
Expeditions into extreme environments require experience, preparation, and accountability. Woodland Ways and our trusted partners are long‑established, highly regarded, and operate to exacting professional standards. We welcome informed questions and are confident in the systems in place to support you throughout this exceptional expedition.
