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Travel Guide Water sports
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Photo: CC0, pixabay.com

Water trails

For thousands of years, the element water has exerted an inexplicable attraction on people as it offers countless opportunities for activities. Whether wildly roaring or gently bubbling, agitated or mirror-smooth: unforgettable tours can be undertaken on lakes, streams, rivers or seas.
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Canyoning Canoeing

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Canoeing · Berlin

SUP tour on the river Spree - experience Urban Hawaii in Berlin

moderate
14.4 km
2:55 h
1 m
1 m
Berlin is a green and blue city, even if you don't expect that from a metropolis. This is best seen from a SUP-board.
from Christian Lackner,   Outdooractive Editors
Canoeing · China

Boat trip on the Huangpu River in Shanghai

easy
9.2 km
0:50 h
21 m
21 m
Guided boat tour on the Huangpu River with a magnificent view of the center of Shanghai, a city with several million inhabitants.
from Hartmut Wimmer,   Outdooractive Editors
Canoeing · Northern Lakeland

City Canoeing Route from Kuopio Passenger Harbour to Saana resort

easy
11.6 km
3:00 h
13 m
13 m
On this scenic canoeing route you can enjoy the summer life of Kuopio on the islands of Kallavesi, near city center and have lunch at Holiday ...
from Anne Hyvärinen,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Canoeing · Vuokatti-Sotkamo

Canoeing from Sotkamo to Katinkulta 15,5 km, Vuokatti Finland

moderate
15.5 km
3:08 h
23 m
22 m
The landscapes of Vuokatti and Sotkamo are characterised by waterways, ridges and hills. There is a lot to experience for water travellers.
from Pasi Korhonen,   Outdoors Kainuu
Canoeing · Vuokatti-Sotkamo

Easy canoeing around Sotkamo 5 km, Sotkamo Finland

easy
5.3 km
1:05 h
37 m
30 m
The bays, peninsulas, small islands and straits of Sotkamo become familiar on this route. The paddler can explore the inhabited beaches of the ...
from Pasi Korhonen,   Outdoors Kainuu
Canoeing · Garda Trentino

SUP TOUR: 6. Ponale Waterfall

difficult
6.6 km
2:00 h
0 m
0 m
This is an expedition for experts to explore the waterfall on the Ponale stream, one of the most scenic points in Garda Trentino which can only be ...
from Valentina Bellotti,   Garda Trentino
Kayak · Northern Lakeland

Kodanovinen - Kayaking route in Southern Konnevesi National Park

moderate
20.2 km
24:00 h
21 m
28 m
The Kodanovinen Kayak Trail is perfect for weekend kayaking and allows combining paddling and day hiking.  Enjoy the magnificent landscape of the ...
from Anne Hyvärinen,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Canoeing · Northern Lakeland

Easy Canoeing Route near city center on Lake Kallavesi, Kuopio

easy
4 km
2:00 h
14 m
13 m
This easy canoeing route from Saana Tourist Center will take you to admire the lush landscapes and Kallavesi lake. An ice cream kiosk and a lean-to ...
from Anne Hyvärinen,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
  • Highlights
SUP tour on the river Spree - experience Urban Hawaii in Berlin
Boat trip on the Huangpu River in Shanghai
City Canoeing Route from Kuopio Passenger Harbour to Saana resort
Canoeing from Sotkamo to Katinkulta 15,5 km, Vuokatti Finland
Easy canoeing around Sotkamo 5 km, Sotkamo Finland
SUP TOUR: 6. Ponale Waterfall
Kodanovinen - Kayaking route in Southern Konnevesi National Park
Easy Canoeing Route near city center on Lake Kallavesi, Kuopio
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All regions

Especially in the summer holidays, water sports should not be missing under any circumstances. In a canoe you will discover beautiful river landscapes from a very special perspective – when kayaking or rafting, you will get a portion of adventure in white water. Canyoning is the perfect way to combine alpine activities with the element of water. 

Water sports – a little journey through the time

We owe it to the American natives that we are able to travel with canoes and kayaks in our free time today. Indians and Inuit built light boats out of birch bark and animal skins, with which they navigated rivers and lakes for hunting and fishing.

In the course of time, numerous changes were made at the material. Temporarily, canoes were made of wood and aluminium. Today, mainly the light and nevertheless extremely durable plastic GFK is used.

In contrast to canoeing and kayaking, canyoning is a rather new sport. It was not until the 1990s that the sport established in the alpine region – and to this day it is still more of a niche sport.

Canoes on the shore of a lake
Photo: CC0

The right equipment...

…depends on the type of sports you want to practise. However, water sports enthusiasts agree on some items of equipment:

  • A life jacket is the number one safety equipment for water tours.
  • Special water shoes make it easier to move around in the water and also sit much more firmly on your feet than sneakers.
  • The wetsuit is a faithful companion in spring, autumn and winter – but also when the water is cool like in canyoning.

Fascination whitewater

For adventurous sportsmen, the so-called whitewater exerts a very special fascination. It occurs wherever either a high gradient or a narrowing of the riverbank increase the flow velocity of the water.

Whitewater is characterised by an above average fast current and other elements such as whirlpools, waterfalls or rapids. For whitewater sports – such as whitewater paddling, rafting or canoe slalom – artificial whitewater canals are sometimes used.

Rafting in whitewater
Photo: CC0
Travel Guide Water sports