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Kayaking on the Lule River

The silvery-blue waters of the Lule River wind languidly through Lapland, with towers of pine trees lining its banks. The only sounds are those of nature — bird calls, the occasional sway of branches in the breeze and the gentle slap of your paddle against the water’s surface as you kayak in a small group through the untouched landscape.

This six-hour kayaking tour, led by an experienced guide, gives you a chance to take in Lapland’s tranquil scenery from a different perspective and at a relaxed pace. The Lule is known for its calm waters, making this activity suitable for both beginners and those with prior kayaking experience, though you must be over 13 years old to take part.

Once you’ve paddled upstream, you’ll pause on the riverbank to enjoy a light lunch cooked over an open fire, before gliding back downstream to Harads.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Swedish Lapland for this tour, which is with a small group of others. Your guide will provide you with life jackets and wetsuits, as well as giving you a full safety briefing, before taking you through paddling techniques.

It’s then time to enter the river in your kayak, paddling upstream against a gentle flow of water. Journeying by river gives you access to parts of Lapland you wouldn’t otherwise see, and you’ll get a real feel for how wild and remote this part of Sweden is, as well as its natural beauty.

After a few hours, you’ll paddle over to the riverbank and gather to enjoy a lunch of wild game cooked over a campfire, your guide sharing stories about the way of life in this far corner of the country. Then, once everyone’s rested, you’ll clamber back into your kayak for the return paddle downstream, allowing the river’s current to carry you back to Harads. From there, you’ll be returned to your hotel.

You can join this tour between May and September, when temperatures are warmer.

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Audley Travel Specialist Amandine

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Other experiences in Swedish Lapland

These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.

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Experience it for yourself

You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.