Other canoe rental stations:

• Canoe rental Kanufarm
• Canoe center Havelberge
• Canoe mill Wesenberg
• Canoe farm Wustrow
• Canoe rental Pack & Paddel GbR
• Canoe farm at Heegesee

• Boat rental BiberTours
• Kanustation-Priepert.de
• Fritzi’s Kanu4you
• Kanustation Granzow
• Kanu Basis Mirow
• Boat rental Canu Center Canow

Loading the kayaks

The good thing about the kayaks was that we could store our luggage in a waterproof manner. While you get a large canoe/dry bags (or two) with the Canadian canoes, the luggage generally lies in the middle of the boat between the paddlers. Here, you should protect all of your luggage from rain and moisture. We didn’t have this “problem” with the kayaks. We were able to easily pack our gear (backpack with clothes, bag with wash bag, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, food, etc.) into the two storage compartments without having to put it in additional waterproof bags.

We stowed the lighter items (sleeping pad, blanket, sleeping bag, pillow) in the front and the heavier items, like the backpack, kitchen bag, and food, in the back. Behind our seats, we usually put a bottle of water, sunscreen, the water trail map, and a few snacks for the tour. You can really fit a lot into these kayaks, you might not believe it (cargo space approx. 170 liters). We could have fit even more in the storage compartments. According to the rental company, the kayaks can carry up to 150 kg. Amazing, right?

Our best paddling tips

The first time we sat in the kayaks, it was really wobbly. But that was more because we had no feel for the boats yet. After the first hundred meters, we got the hang of it and felt very safe and stable in the kayaks. You have to get used to it and get a feel for the steering system, the paddle, and the size of the boat. In our opinion, you don’t need any paddling experience to undertake a tour like this. Paddling is actually quite easy; you just usually run out of energy at some point.

If you’re traveling in the summer, we recommend light and short clothing that dries quickly. We always wore shorts and a light shirt while paddling. You always get a little wet while paddling, sometimes more, sometimes less. You should also always have sunscreen handy. Two pedals are located in the footwell, allowing you to easily steer the kayak right or left. You can operate this steering system barefoot or with shoes (—> water shoes).

Right of way, waves, cash, etc.

When you get into your kayak, step into the center of the boat as best you can, hold on to the boat, and quickly sit down (also take a look at the “paddle bridge”). If there are several people in the boat, the heaviest person should sit in the back. Always keep to the right on the water and give way to other rowers, motorboats, and passenger ships. In locks, passenger ships and generally larger motorboats have right of way. If a boat is creating a wave, always drive head-on into the wave. If the waves approach you from the side, it can get quite shaky.

Have enough cash with you, as card payments are not accepted at most campsites (due to poor reception). You can buy food along the way in supermarkets or directly at the campsites, so don’t pack too much. Wild camping is strictly prohibited, so please only head to official campsites or accommodations. You should refrain from canoeing during a thunderstorm. Orientation on the lake is really very easy, but before you set off, check the route in detail on the water hiking map.

Packing list for the canoe trip

We will publish a detailed post about our canoe packing list. It would otherwise go beyond the scope of this article. However, to give you an initial impression of what we had with us, you’ll find our most important gadgets in the table below. Have fun browsing!

Canoe Tour Route on the Mecklenburg Lake District

We opted for a 4-day canoe tour to get a feel for canoeing or kayaking. However, you can plan your tour individually and decide everything yourself. If you have no experience with a canoe or kayak, we recommend a shorter tour to get started. We paddled 15 kilometers per day, which was quite ambitious. As a complete beginner, a relaxed 5 to 10 kilometers per day (or 1-2 rest days in between) is recommended.

We roughly discussed our route (Havelquell Tour) with a canoe rental employee. Be sure to get a water hiking map from your rental shop (or online*). This will show you all the campsites, shopping opportunities, waterways, highlights, and much more. The €6.90 was definitely a very good investment. Furthermore, you’ll rarely have reception in this region, so you can mostly forget about navigating by cell phone. The following map shows our route, including campsites, ATMs, restaurants, and supermarkets.

Book spontaneously or in advance?

By the way, we booked the kayaks relatively spontaneously via email with Paddel Paul. However, we also had confirmations from other stations. We would therefore say that you can definitely get a boat even spontaneously during peak season. We found the four-day duration to be a great start. Your boat will be available from 9 a.m. on the day of arrival, but you should allow at least two hours for re-parking, loading, and instruction. You should be back by 5 p.m. on the day of departure at the latest. This gives you almost 4 full days.

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Canoe Tour 1 – Stage to Lake Zotzense

Our adventure could finally begin. At first, it felt strange sitting in a kayak. It was a little wobbly at first. But after just a few meters, we got a feel for the boat and the paddles, and felt stable and safe. Even small waves no longer scared us, as we were able to steer the kayak very well. Now the first 14 kilometers and a lot of unfamiliar terrain lay ahead of us. With a big grin on our faces, we paddled across Lake Leppin, enjoying the perfect summer weather and the view over the water.

We were excited about the first day and just “go with the flow.” We had a rough plan of roughly where we wanted to go. However, we couldn’t really estimate the distances and the duration at first. Was 14 kilometers perhaps a bit too much for a start? We’ll go into that in more detail later. For now, we’d like to share with you a few highlights of our first leg to Lake Zotzen.

Highlights of the first leg

We paddled across Lake Leppin, which is 2.2 kilometers long and 300 meters wide, and finally reached the narrower passage to the small Mössel Lake. We found the many white water lilies in the water and the almost continuous reed belt that surrounds the lake particularly beautiful. Don’t paddle too close to the water lilies, as you’ll quickly end up stuck in the middle of them and then have trouble maneuvering the boat out again without damaging them.

After leaving Lake Mössel behind us, we reached the Großer and Kleiner Kotzower See via a narrower passage. A little later, we reached the Marina Granzow and paddled past cool houseboats and very colorful boathouses. The small beach in Granzow was quite busy that day; there’s also a canoe station and a large holiday park there. If you ever want to take a break, always be aware that you are not allowed to dock outside of the designated rest areas.

Across the large Mirow Lake

We paddled further and went through a narrower passage, which led us to the large Mirow Lake. In general, we always found the smaller canals/rivers the most exciting, as there was more to see there. The water was also always nice and calm, which made paddling very easy. Next to the Love Island, we pulled the kayaks ashore, bought some delicious ice cream from the Rick & Rick boat service, and took a short break. We also got enough cash in Mirow for the coming days.

Back in the kayaks, we paddled further across Lake Mirow. Our arms were starting to get a bit tired, so we headed for the next campsite. To do this, we had to go through another long canal and then across Lake Zotzen. It was around 6:30 p.m. when we pulled our kayaks out of the water and arrived at the campsite. On this first day, we were on the road for about 5 hours (including a break in Mirow) and covered about 14 kilometers.

Nature Campsite at Lake Zotzen

We spent our first night at the Nature Campsite at Lake Zotzen. This site is located in the Mecklenburg Lake District and was perfect for our first stopover. The site is very quiet and features a small beach with a boat dock, a campfire site, a small forest kiosk, clean restrooms, and covered seating on the shore.

For water hikers, there’s a meadow right on the shore where you can pitch your tent. Boats can be stored on the boat racks at the floating dock, on the beach, or next to your own tent. We left our kayaks on the beach overnight (don’t worry, nothing will get stolen here!). You can rent a handcart from the kiosk to transport your luggage. We always took all our luggage with us to our tent – just to be on the safe side!

• Price: 10€ per person including tourist tax, tent and boat
• Small kiosk (only the essentials are available here)
• Sanitary facilities very clean (you have to bring your own toilet paper)
• Reception: hardly any to none
• Camping area: relatively small, tents close together
• Tip: It’s quieter behind the barrels
• Power outlets: can be found near the showers and toilets, among other places
• Bread roll service: you have to book the day before Pre-order
• Showers: €1.50 for 4 minutes

Canoe Tour Day 2 – Stage to Gobenowsee

Around 7:30 a.m., we slowly woke up and prepared for the second day. First, we packed up our things and then enjoyed a small but delicious breakfast. We had bread, spreads, milk, coffee, etc. with us. Around 10:30 a.m., the kayaks were loaded again, and we could begin the second stage.

On this day, we paddled across Lake Mössen to the Fleether Mühle and then across the large Rätzsee. We then paddled through a beautiful canal to Lake Gobenow. We eventually lost our strength, so we headed for a nice campsite there. We rested for the rest of the day.

Highlights of the second leg

From Lake Zotzen, we paddled further towards Lake Mössen. The first few kilometers were truly beautiful, as we were again greeted by thousands of water lilies. It was also a pretty, narrow passage where we met a few other paddlers. The weather was once again at its best, and we were able to enjoy blue skies and plenty of sunshine.

The Mössensee then flows into the Vilzsee. We kept to the left and paddled across the Oberbek to the Fleether Mühle. There, we had to carry the boats over a approximately 80-meter-long weir. You can rent a canoe trailer or carry your boat to the other side yourself. There’s a beer garden with restrooms on site. We took a short break here, used the restrooms, and then carried our kayaks to the next launching point.

Now came a truly beautiful section of our second stage. We paddled further along the idyllic and tranquil Oberbek River toward Lake Rätzsee. From now on, we were in motorboat-free territory. At the beginning, we passed some very pretty vacation homes located right on the water. Then came a rather strenuous section across the enormous lake. These long stretches of lake always drag on like chewing gum. At the end of the lake, we turned right onto the Drosedower Bek, a truly beautiful river, about 2.6 kilometers long, which led us to Lake Gobenow.

Camping site at Lake Gobenow

After about 14 kilometers, we were running out of energy, so we headed for the nearest campsite on Lake Gobenow. We reached the “Camping site at Lake Gobenow,” which is located on the left side of the lake (when you leave Drosedower Beck). We really liked this natural campsite because it has a well-stocked kiosk on site, a small snack bar, and plenty of space for water hikers. The site is up to 100 meters wide and approximately 1 kilometer long.

Immediately near the shore is a spacious meadow with covered seating, trees, and dense bushes. We pitched our tent a little further away and made ourselves comfortable. We unloaded the two kayaks and parked them on a boat rack on the shore. Afterwards, I (Bolle) jumped into the water, while Marco rested a bit on the blanket in front of our tent. After our dinner together in front of our tent, we went for a walk. There are a few piers right on the water, which are perfect for a lovely evening watching the sunset.