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Canoe & Kayak Hire

The chance to chill out and go with the flow is the main aim of any active relaxation holiday. There’s no more intense way to explore the natural world than from the water. The areas you navigate through are often reservations, the silence is total and you will be able to watch the abundant wildlife at close range. Denmark has 40 navigable rivers and a large number of lakes and canals. Travelling by canoe and kayak especially you will even be able to venture away from the rivers and lakes and into the more sheltered fjords if you hug the shoreline and know the wind conditions and currents. Throughout Denmark you can charter a canoe/kayak for the day, but you can also go on package canoeing and kayaking holidays.

Canoeing is regulated in Denmark because of environmental concerns. Organised canoeing takes place on 11 of Denmark's 40 navigable waterways/rivers. The most popular are Gudenåen and Susåen, which together account for 70% of the total.

Canoeing has become a very popular holiday activity and it has therefore been necessary to regulate it in various ways and places where flora and fauna are vulnerable to erosion and disturbance.

In compliance with the Protection of Nature Act, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has prepared legislation that limits navigation on Gudenåen, Susåen and Karup Å.

Waterways legislation allows county councils to limit the amount of navigation by non-motorised craft on other stretches of water. Most Danish rivers/waterways are equipped with some form of navigational restriction, either a full ban on navigation in some areas, restricted periods of navigation (typically from dawn to dusk and from 15 June until 30 September or 15 November) or a limited number of boats for hire. Most restrictions are enforced through rules that limit and set the terms for the commercial rental of canoes. If you wish to hire a canoe, you can always find information on the rules that apply.

When canoeing Visitors should be aware that simply putting your canoe in the water is not permitted. On some waterways or stretches of waterway, you need a visitor's permit that can usually be obtained from the county council. Apply for the permit in good time as only a limited number of permits are issued for each waterway. Another problem when bringing your own canoe is finding a place to launch it without trespassing on private property. We recommend that you ask at the local tourist information centre if you wish to put your own canoe or boat on the water.

Rules on the water. The rules that apply vary from waterway to waterway, but the following rules
apply in most places:

  • Use only waterways that are at least 1.5m wide and at least 0.50m deep 
  • Travel with the current 
  • Do not navigate up narrow tributaries 
  • Never navigate before 8am or after 6pm. 
  • Never venture into reed beds 
  • Do not run the prow into riverbanks 
  • Assume that you are generally not permitted to go ashore