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Ever fancied floating down a river for a week on a raft built of logs like Tom Sawyer? Well now you can on the River Klaralven in the picturesque Varmland district of Southern Sweden. It's an adventure of a lifetime that you and your friends will never forget!

What is timberafting?
Timberafting is outdoor adventure tourism at its best. On a timber boat half-covered by a waterproof shelter it really is just you and nature together. There is no outboard motor, no TV and none of the luxuries that you'd expect in a hotel or hostel. It's just you and your wooden craft being propelled downstream on the gentle flow of the river.

Timberafting is suitable for groups, families and individual adventurers alike. Organizers hire out rafts for between 1 - 7 days, and you can go as short or as long a distance downstream as you would like. Many organizers also cater for timberafting on some of the small lakes nearby.

The Raft
When you book a timberafting adventure the first choice you will need to make is whether you are going to build your own raft or hire one. Rafts can be built on-site under the guidance of instructors and take around two to three hours to put together. If you prefer you can hire a ready built raft and get on your way within minutes or arriving.

Rafts are available in a number of different sizes. Typically, a 16-meter square raft will comfortably take four adults or two adults and three children. Some rafts can cater for up to 12 adults at a time. The raft comes with equipment necessary for your journey including paddles / oars, rope, anchor, life jackets and a gas stove. There is also a shovel supplied specifically for toilet use!

The River
The river flows down from the mountains towards Karlstad on the northern shore of Vanern Lake - the largest lake in Southern Sweden. It is a wide and meandering river whose current is often slow and gentle, allowing you time to relax and take in the sights and sounds. Along the shoreline there are many places to anchor, providing you shelter from bad weather and opportunities to go ashore and explore the surrounding villages, towns and countryside.

The Experience
From spotting wild deer and wolverines to picking cloudberries and mushrooms timberafting really is an excursion to be at one with nature. Ruined churches and ancient smoke houses may be visited along the river and there are plenty of food stores, kiosks and camp sites to stop at in order to replenish your provisions. As your journey along the river is a one-way ticket, some organizers will allow you to park your car at your destination point and transfer you to your start-off point upstream by minibus.

International adventurers should fly into Karlstad and pick up a hire car from the airport. Hire cars can be booked in advance at http://www.your-carhire.com It is then just a matter of following highway 62 northwards along the Klaralven until the rendezvous point is reached. To find out more information about timberafting visit Sweden's official website for tourism and travel information - http://www.visit-sweden.com/