Private guided kayaking
Exclusive to you
Great experience for a small group
Sometimes it's nice not to be part of a larger group but to stay in a smaller group with your own friends or family. Yet, you might still want a guide who is well-versed in everything regarding kayaking, safety, and most importantly - who can tell you about the places you visit! Because it's not just steep cliffs and an open sea - there are so many stories and events that have unfolded around these places that are nearly impossible to fully appreciate without a guide with local knowledge.
Based on the group’s preferences for distance and time, we set a desired route for the day. Typically, it looks like this: We start at our kayak base in Hästholmen Harbor just south of Omberg and paddle northward, past islets and skerries, passing the ruins of Alvastra Monastery and continuing past the home of author Ellen Key. We proceed to Rödgavels Cave, the largest and most famous of all the caves along the mountain. The weather will determine how far north we paddle and how many caves we manage to visit. On the way back, we stop at one of the beaches to enjoy the afternoon sun with sunset, and have some snacks (everyone brings their own).
When?
We will agree on a time that suits both parties. The kayaking can be conducted from June to October
Included:
Rental of kayak, paddle, spray skirt, and life jacket
Local guide and kayak instructor accompanying the tour. Take the opportunity to learn more about paddling while exploring new places and their history.
What to bring?
Picnic/snacks - we will stop to enjoy our own packed snacks or evening tea.
A change of clothes packed in a waterproof bag.
Where?
Start and Finish: Hästholmen Harbor, just south of Omberg
The start and end times of the tour are coordinated with the bus schedule from Hästholmen to Mjölby Central to facilitate travel here by bus and train. (See Östgötatrafiken for bus schedules to Hästholmen).
Parking is available approximately 300 meters before the harbor, which is located at the end of the road in the small fishing community. There is a service house with restrooms available.
For whom?
This tour works well even for those who have never kayaked before. We paddle together at a leisurely pace to Omberg. Participants should be able to swim 200 meters, and it is not suitable to bring children under 10 years old on the tour.
During the paddling, we will stop as best we can on the rolling waves of Vättern to hear the guide's stories about the area's past, present, and future—often with a touch of mythology. This is a legendary and magical place that we want to preserve for future generations!
Price?
1250 SEK per person for a spot in a double kayak. There are a few single kayaks available - if you would like a single kayak, please email us in advance and we will try to accommodate your request. For groups and private parties: Minimum charge: 5000 SEK
Number of partcipants
Preferably not more than 12 participants (with two guides) - but we can accommodate more as well. We prefer to paddle with small groups to enhance the experience and ensure safety
Good to know
Winds
The winds, and therefore the waves, can pick up quickly on Lake Vättern, and we may need to cancel paddling at short notice. We typically do not go out with groups for this type of paddling if the winds exceed 5-6 m/s from the southwest. If we have to cancel the entire tour from the start due to winds, you will receive a full refund, but that decision is made based on our safety plan. A little wind and rain are no problem! In that case, we paddle as planned! We cannot guarantee that you will be able to paddle into the caves - the winds and waves at the moment will decide.
Double Kayaks and Single Kayaks
We primarily use double kayaks - we have a few single kayaks available for these tours, and they are primarily used when we have an odd number of participants in the group. This means that if there is an odd number of people, you may have to share a double kayak with another participant. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that those who wish to have single kayaks will get them. Double kayaks are significantly more stable than single kayaks, which is why the allocation looks like this. Omberg is exposed to wind and waves, which is how the caves were formed originally
Guide on the tour
Most likely, it will be Linda you'll be paddling alongside during the kayak tour. She has been leading the kayak tours here since 2010 and is still as passionate as ever! Linda has lived in the area almost her entire life and is very familiar with its nature, essence, and history.
The reason the company exists, and why Linda leads the tours, is because she wants to facilitate positive and balancing interactions between the local community/nature and visitors. Everyone should benefit from meeting and sharing a place. To truly experience the area beyond what the eye can see, a local guide who feels for, and knows, the place is essential.
Contact us for booking or inquiries
info@woodsandwater.se
+46 (0)730-289 290
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations up to 7 days before the start of the activity: 90% of the total amount will be refunded.
Cancellations 2 - 7 days before the start of the activity: 50% of the total amount will be refunded.
Cancellations less than 48 hours before the start of the activity - no refund will be given.
We recommend that you contact your insurance company for possible compensation.