Plan a multi-day trip with canoe or kayak

A multi-day trip on the water is paddling’s finest adventure – packing everything you need in the canoe and living simply for a few days. With a little planning it becomes both safer and more fun. Here is how you lay it out.

Pick a route by ability

Start by picking water that fits your experience. A well marked lake system with short portages and plenty of camps is forgiving for beginners, while open sea and long rapids need more. Find routes, rentals and put-ins on the map, and read our guide on paddling lake systems and portage.

Count day stages in time, not only kilometres

Think in hours rather than kilometres. Headwind, packing and portage slow the pace more than you think, so plan short days with a margin. Put portages in the timetable – they take time – and have a backup plan if the weather turns. It is better to arrive early and enjoy than to paddle in the dark.

Pack smart

Pack in waterproof bags that are easy to lift out at portages – several smaller ones are easier than one large.
Keep heavy things low and amidships for stability, and lash everything.
Bring what makes the trip safe: map, life jacket, dry change, first aid and a charged phone.

See the full packing list and our kit tips in the buying guide for beginners.

Make camp and leave no traces

Use prepared camps where they exist, respect Allemansrätten and landowners, and fire only where it is allowed. More on overnight camping. With good planning and the right margins the multi-day trip becomes one of the journeys you remember longest.

How far do you paddle in a day?

Count in hours rather than kilometres. An unused paddler holds a few kilometres an hour on quiet water, and a reasonable day stage for beginners is short with a good margin. Headwind, packing and portages slow the pace a lot – plan shorter than you think and enjoy having time left.

What is a portage?

A portage is carrying or dragging canoe and packing over land between two waters, for example past a rapid or a neck between two lakes. Portages always take longer than you think – put them in the timetable. More in our guide on paddling lake systems and portage.

Where may you camp?

Allemansrätten applies, and along most canoe routes there are prepared camps and wind shelters – use them where they exist. Respect landowners, keep distance from houses, fire only where it is allowed and never during a fire ban, and leave the place nicer than you found it.