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Travel Guide Water sports
Water routes
Photo: CC0, pixabay.com

Water Sports

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 Kayaking Rafting

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Maps and trails
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Canoeing · Kajaani
Canoeing around Ärjänsaari island 10 km, Kajaani Finland
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 10.3 km
Duration 4:00 h
Ascent 12 m
Descent 11 m

Äjänsaari on Lake Oulujärvi is a unique island destination. Shallow sandy beaches, rugged beach cliffs and the clear water create a unique ...

from Helka Leimu-Pelkonen,   Outdoors Kainuu
Canoeing · Berlin
SUP tour on the river Spree - experience Urban Hawaii in Berlin
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 14.4 km
Duration 2:55 h
Ascent 1 m
Descent 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
Premium content Difficulty easy
Distance 9.2 km
Duration 0:50 h
Ascent 21 m
Descent 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 Premium
Canoeing · Lakeland
Paddle and hike on a circular route in Sonkajärvi
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 31.2 km
Duration 10:00 h
Ascent 40 m
Descent 40 m

This route offers plenty of experiences! Paddle in beautiful lake sceneries, stay overnight in an island booked just for you, and hike in the ...

from Outdoors Pohjois-Savo,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Kayaking · Northern Lakeland
Kodanovinen - Kayaking route in Southern Konnevesi National Park
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 20.2 km
Duration 24:00 h
Ascent 21 m
Descent 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 Outdoors Pohjois-Savo,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Canoeing · Northern Lakeland
Canoe Route from Passenger Harbour to Pieni-Telkko island, Kuopio
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 7 km
Duration 2:00 h
Ascent 5 m
Descent 8 m

A wonderful lake kayaking route from Kuopio Passenger Harbor to the wilderness of Pieni-Telkko island on Kallavesi lake. On the way you pass the ...

from Outdoors Pohjois-Savo,   Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Canoeing · Lakeland
Väliväylä Canoeing Route, Lappeenranta -Kouvola
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 190.8 km
Duration 50:00 h
Ascent 82 m
Descent 99 m

Väliväylä is a beautiful stretch of lakes and rivers connecting Lake Saimaa and Kymijoki River. This easy canoeing route is suited for the whole ...

1
Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö
Canoeing · Lakeland
Ruokolahti Canoe Route
recommended route Difficulty difficult
Distance 102.1 km
Duration 25:00 h
Ascent 16 m
Descent 40 m

The unique Ruokolahti Canoe Route (Ruokolahden melontareitti) with small lakes, river sections, historical canals and open waters. Landing sites ...

Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö
  • Highlights
Canoeing around Ärjänsaari island 10 km, Kajaani Finland
SUP tour on the river Spree - experience Urban Hawaii in Berlin
Boat trip on the Huangpu River in Shanghai
Paddle and hike on a circular route in Sonkajärvi
Kodanovinen - Kayaking route in Southern Konnevesi National Park
Canoe Route from Passenger Harbour to Pieni-Telkko island, Kuopio
Väliväylä Canoeing Route, Lappeenranta -Kouvola
Ruokolahti Canoe Route
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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 serving 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 time

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

Throughout the course of time, numerous changes were made to the used 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 itself in the alpine regions – and to this day it is still more of a niche sport.

Photo: Tom Bullmann, Outdooractive Editors

Fascination whitewater

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

Whitewater is characterized 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, pixabay.com
Travel Guide Water sports