Experience nature by canoe

Tips of the Bundesvereinigung Kanutouristik e.V.

The Bundesvereinigung Kanutouristik e.V. (BKT) has commit itself to preserving quality, safety and nature conservancy in canoe tourism. We would like to give you some advice for a pleasant canoe vacation, for your own safety and for the environmental protection. Canoeists often experience natural beauty, which can only be seen from the water.

Please help to preserve this!

What can you do?

Please let your tour operator show you the canoeing in detail. Insist on receiving a river description you can take with you for your trip. The river description should give all information concerning landing stages to get in and off the canoe, resting places and overnight accommodation as well as special nature rooms, marked within a map. Furthermore, you should get a guiding in exceptional natural features of the relevant river. If you travel under your own steam, get yourself maps indicating this necessary information. The regional tourist organisations and the local member companies of the Bundesvereinigung Kanutouristik e.V.can inform you about the latest regulations concerning the protection of the countryside ordinance.

If you are travelling with a tour operator, please pay attention to the sign of the Bundesvereinigung Kanutouristik e.V.. The member companies commit themselves to keeping particular quality criteria which make your canoe tour safe. These companies lend you life jackets free of charge, because safety may not cost anything! Always wear life jackets when you are on the water and take care that no child is in the canoe without wearing any life jacket.

For loading dry clothing and valuables we recommend waterproof barrels or seabags, which will be placed at your disposal by the tour operators, too. Load electronic device in waterproof containers only!

"There’s no bad weather, there’s only bad clothing”

Canoeing is fun in all weathers. Protect yourself against cool and humid weather by wearing a waterproof windcheater with a hood. Direct sunlight is often underestimated, as it seems to be cool on the water. Protect your head against too much irradiation by wearing a headgear. Shoes don’t have to be nice but should fit tightly. Best shoes are laced shoes, casual shoes or special canoeing shoes.

The Lahn mustn't be navigated in case of high water. Here you can ask for the current water level.

Some rivers require a boat car. Please ask before cast off!

“Which boat is the right one?”

For those who doesn’t know: Canoe is the generic terms for all boats without fastened oars, that are Canadians as well as Kayaks. The Canadian is particularly suitable for travel trips and offers place for several persons including baggage. It is operated by one oar and it is open. The Kayak is mostly closed up to a small hatch , is operated by a double oar and is particularly suitable for small, fast rivers. The Kayak is offered for one or two persons.