In addition to the standard 7-day and 14-day options for our popular Canoe on Svartälven self-guided canoeing holidays, for 2010 it will now also be possible to do the tour as a 4-day variation, price just £113/adult, £57/child. Tours are possible between June and September.

The standard route is around 70km, with a number of optional extensions possible. The shorter 4-day route covers around 30km, again extendable with optional detours, starting from the north end of lake Älvsjön and finishing just before the village of Lesjöfors.

With the addition of this new tour, Nature Travels now offers a total of four possibilities for shorter canoe tours:

• Canoe on Svartälven and Canoe on Rottnan both run in remote areas
• Canoe on Röjdån and Canoe on Klarälven (especially suitable for families with younger children) run in rural areas.

Wild camping is possible on all tours.

Nature Travels is pleased to announce that we are the sole UK agent for the Dalsland Canoe Marathon in West Sweden. The 2010 marathon will take place on 14^th August.

The Dalsland Canoe Marathon is Sweden’s largest canoe and kayak event. The course runs 55km through the stunning lake and river landscape of Dalsland in West Sweden, easily accessible from Gothenburg.

The marathon is a challenging but fun event ideal for individuals, couples, small private groups or canoe and kayak clubs. Spectators are also very welcome.

The event is open to committed paddlers and enthusiastic amateurs alike, with competitors entering in one of the following classes:

• K1 elite
• K1 single kayak
• K2 double kayak
• Canadian Canoe
• There is also a range of Junior classes. The Junior course covers 20.7km and is open to competitors aged 12-18.

Nature Travels offers registration and booking for the event, kayak and canoe hire for race day, a choice of accommodation in the area and additional activities before and/or after the competition.

For details, please contact us:

• Web: www.canoemarathon.co.uk
• Tel: 01929 463774
• Email: marathon@naturetravels.co.uk

Continental Airlines’ in-flight magazine features our Reindeer Sled Safari in the far north of Swedish Lapland in its October issue.

Journalist Andrew Eitelbach says of the experience “this is backcountry camping at its finest, with the most beautiful nightlight you could imagine”.

Reindeer sledding is a unique experience. Taking place deep inside the Arctic Circle, Reindeer Sled Safari also has a strong cultural element, being led by local indigenous Sami guides, and offers very good chances to see a display of the spectactular Aurora Borealis.

For those who enjoy the thrill and challenge of dog sledding, we also offer Northern Lights Dog Sledding in Lapland.

23^rd September: Our Sea Kayaking in Koster Archipelago tour is recommended by Chris Madigan of The Guardian. Chris visits the new Koster National Park, Sweden’s first Marine National Park, on the west coast of Sweden and discovers a wealth of wildlife and some stunning island scenery in this unique area, calling the islands
”one of Sweden’s best-kept secrets”.

The Koster Archipelago tour is just one of our range of kayaking holidays in Sweden. We also offer self-guided sea kayaking on the west coast and range of guided experiences among the thousands of islands of the Stockholm archipelago.

Nature Travels has seen an 800% increase in bookings for dog sledding holidays in Sweden so far this year.

“We have had a very large increase in enquiries and bookings so far this year for our dog sledding holidays in Sweden for next winter season, especially for our new Northern Lights Dog Sledding in Lapland tour. We are delighted that more and more people are discovering the possibilities for ecotourism adventures in Sweden,” said Bob Carter, owner and director of Nature Travels together with his Swedish wife, Sofia.

“Travellers are increasingly searching for ethical options for their holiday experiences and we are pleased to say that so far demand has not been affected by the recession,” said Bob.

New publication “Clean Breaks – 500 New Ways To See The World” from Rough Guides features seven Nature Travels ecotourism Sweden holidays.

“Clean Breaks” is the latest publication from Rough Guides and focuses on planet-friendly holidays across the world. Richard Hammond, eco-journalist for The Green Traveller and The Guardian, travelled with Nature Travels to visit a number of their experiences in Sweden. All of the Swedish activities in the book are part of the Nature Travels portfolio and include timber rafting, natural horse riding, snowshoeing, sea kayaking and eco-accommodation in forest huts and the “House of Nature”.

Quotes from the book include:

• Timber Rafting on Klarälven: “The ultimate DIY travel experience.”
• Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country: “Strap on a pair of snowshoes and go walkabout into the wintry beyond…you may spot the tracks of lynx and wolverine, or hear the distant barking of an Arctic fox high above the tree line in the Syl Massif.”
• The Saga Rides: “If you were inspired by The Horse Whisperer, you can try the real thing on a natural horsemanship tour.”

Ski Touring in the Mountains of Western Sweden is an 8-day ski touring holiday in the mountains of Dalarna, in north-west Sweden near the Norwegian border.

Details for the 2010 winter season have now been released. Dates for the tour will be 11-18 April. The itinerary has been extended to 8 days, as weekly bus connections from Gothenburg and Stockholm to the mountain station arrive and depart on Sundays.

Price: £554 (based on membership of YHA, ski hire not included) per person. Participants should be used to and enjoy the outdoor life and have previous experience of ski touring/cross-country skiing.

Midwinter in Sweden is a magical time – daylight is limited, but the nights are lit by the reflections of the snow. Midwinter Magic at the Husky Lodge is a new private multi-activity experience based at comfortable accommodation at the Husky Lodge for groups of 2-6 persons, ideal for a private romantic winter break for couples or for small groups of friends.

Over 5 days you have the chance to go snowshoeing and ice fishing and to mush your own team of Siberian Huskies through the winter landscape before returning to the cosy comfort of the Husky Lodge to reflect on the day’s adventures.

Midwinter Magic is bookable on dates by arrangement 06.12.09-20.12.09 and 10.01.10-07.02.10.

Nature Travels also offers a range of extended dogsledding holidays with varying degrees of challenge, featuring accommodation in mountain cabins or winter camping depending on the tour.

If you have some previous experience of cross-country skiing/ski touring and would like to raise the level of challenge, Ski Touring and Winter Mountaincraft in Jämtland may be the ideal experience for you.

For 2010, the tour will be offered as a private guided experience for groups of min. 4 persons on dates by arrangement between February and April. Accommodation is based on winter camping, but it is also possible to choose accommodation in mountain cabins along the route if you prefer.

In addition to experiencing one of Sweden’s finest winter mountain regions, you will have the chance to learn winter mountain skills from your expedition guide, who will cover topics such as navigation, safety and how to erect a tent in high winds using a storm simulator.

Nature Travels also offers ski touring and cross country skiing holidays in the region of Dalarna near the Norwegian border.

Information for our Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country for the winter 2010 season has now been published.

For 2010, this unique guided snowshoeing adventure featuring wild camping in the wilderness reserve of the Vålå Valley in Jämtland in north-west Sweden will be available as a private experience for groups of minimum 4 persons. Optimum time for winter camping is between February and April.

In the company of an experienced expedition guide, you will head out to discover one of Sweden’s most beautiful reserves, camping wild in the snow along the way. No previous snowshoeing experience is required, but you should be in good health and used to summer camping and walking with a pack.

Nature Travels also offers ski touring and dog sledding tours in Jämtland.