Canoe Trip with Overnight Stay
Two-Day Canoe Trip with Overnight Shelter Stay
On a canoe trip, you get really close to nature. But on a multi-day trip with overnight stays, you have the opportunity to experience it in a completely unique way.
We have created an overview of shelters along the Odense River, so you can experience a unique two-day canoe trip with overnight stays in a shelter.
We encourage you to start the trip in Bellinge to make the most of the experience. We also recommend that you drop off the next day at Stige Ø, so you don't have to paddle back against the current.
The 3 shelter sites along the Odense River
Kulturbotanisk Have (Cultural Botanical Garden)
Kulturbotanisk Have is located on the stretch between Ejby Mølle and Stige Ø.
The garden was founded in 1948 by teacher Arne Emdal and was originally owned by the Odense School System. It was named "School Botanical Garden" and was used for teaching botany and for the distribution of plants. Later, the garden was taken over by Odense's park department.
Shelters in Kulturbotanisk Have Garden cannot be reserved. Here, you can admire an impressive collection of perennials as well as Denmark's largest collection of birch and fern plants from around the world. There is also an extensive assortment of geraniums and daylilies. The old, densely flowering, and fragrant roses are a delight to both the eye and the nose.
Stige Ø
The southern part of the island has four shelters – covered wooden structures that protect against wind and weather. Remember to bring a sleeping bag and mat, as you will be sleeping directly on the wooden floor.
The northernmost shelter is separate and accommodates 6 people. Reservation is not needed.
100 meters further south, there are three shelters in a row, accommodating a total of 18-20 people
Vigelsø
The shelter is located on the uninhabited island of Vigelsø in the middle of Odense Fjord. The island can only be visited if you have the means to sail across the fjord yourself.
There is plenty to see and experience, and the opportunity to stay on an island that you often have all to yourself is a very special experience.
Vigelsø was purchased by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in 1990 and underwent a large-scale nature restoration project. The island is now designated as a habitat and bird protection area, and part of the Odense Wildlife Reserve.
On the island, you will find several smaller hiking trails, as well as various viewpoints and bird towers.
Note
Aafarten’s Canoe Rental has no connection with the booking or organization of overnight stays in shelters. This article is intended solely as inspiration for possible experiences in the area and does not aim to handle reservations or logistics related to overnight accommodation. We cannot assist with shelter bookings or return transportation.
Please note that the canoe trip from Bellinge can be difficult and challenging during low water levels (in periods of very little rain). You will encounter sections with low water levels, and near the motorway, you will face a stone barrier where you must get out of the canoe to pass.
You are in the open nature, and you may be unlucky to encounter a fallen tree or dense bushes.
Odense Aafart's tour boats operate on the stretch between Skovsøen and Munke Mose, so you may experience some traffic on the river. When you encounter the tour boats, please move to the side, as the tour boats cannot do so. The navigation channel is located in the middle of the river.
Stige Ø
Routes Ending at Stige Ø (Det Varme Vand at Havnegade)
Are you looking for a challenge? The routes toward Stige Ø might be just right for you. They include two portages, where you briefly have to transport the canoe on land using the small trolley we provide. As you venture deeper into the wild nature of the river toward Stige Ø, you may be lucky enough to spot swans and ducks, as well as various fish and birds. You’ll also pass by Odense’s Cultural Botanical Garden, where you can take a well-deserved break with a picnic among beautiful flowers and trees. Along the way, you’ll discover Eventyrhaven, small harbors, and cozy houses right by the river.
The challenges on this trip stem from the untamed and wild nature, where you’ll have to navigate around trees, dense shrubbery, and a winding watercourse. Nevertheless, the route is incredibly scenic, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take a break away from the city’s noise.
3 Routes Ending at Stige Ø
Munke Mose - Stige Ø
You start your trip at Aafarten’s workshop by Munke Mose. From here, you continue from Munke Mose towards Ejby Mølle. On this stretch, you must bring the canoe ashore at the portage point in Munke Mose. Here, you will use the provided canoe trolley.
From Munke Mose, you paddle into Eventyrhaven, a beautiful park in the heart of Odense, flanked by St. Canute’s Cathedral on the left and a statue of H.C. Andersen overlooking the garden. The river winds through idyllic surroundings with old gardens and charming urban buildings close to the water.
You continue from Ejby Mølle to Stige Ø.
At Ejby Mølle, there is another portage where the canoe must be brought ashore and pulled on the trolley past the wastewater treatment plant.
After Ejby Mølle, the landscape opens up, and the buildings disappear as forests and meadows take over.
You will paddle past the Cultural Botanical Garden, where you can take a break. After that, the route continues through a beautiful but more open landscape, passing through Åsum and reaching Stige Ø.
The canoes are returned on the grass by the canoe bridge at Det Varme Vand on Havnevej.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Difficulty Level: ★★★ (Challenging)
Skovsøen - Stige Ø
You begin here at Skovsøen and paddle toward Munke Mose.
You will paddle past Odense Zoo, where you might be able to spot some of the animals up close from the canoe. The route also takes you past the impressive villas on Langelinie, which radiate charm and history.
The rest of the route is as described above.
Duration: Approx. 5 hours
Difficulty Level: ★★★ (Challenging)
Bellinge - Stige Ø
This is the longest route on the Odense River and requires starting around 9 AM to reach the finish before 6 PM.
The canoes are launched at the canoe bridge on Brogårdsvej in Bellinge, where the adventure begins. From here, the Odense River quietly winds through the Funen landscape. On both sides, the land rises into gentle hills, where grazing animals, forests, and meadows merge with open fields. This route brings you up close to nature, with narrow passages and dense trees that almost embrace the river.
The rest of the route is as described above.
Duration: 8-9 hours
Difficulty Level: ★★★ (Challenging)
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