Vom Kanalerbe zum weiten Norsjø-See: Strandpausen, Apfel-Region und entspanntes elektrisches Cruisen.

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 20 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 arjanvanderpijl 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A fantastic Norwegian coastal experience!
A fantastic Norwegian coastal experience. That would be our short summary of renting the Greenline 39 for a week in August. But that would be way too short for a review. We started in Porsgrunn with a good onboarding check-in by Canalboats and immediately set sail for a 2 hour cruise to Brevik. With basic knowledge of daylight navigation, the boat is easy to navigate and both bow and stern thrusters make it easy to dock even in windy conditions. Over the following days we completed an amazing coastal trip to Kragerø, surrounding islands and Valle. Keeping a good watch is important but that is rewarded by plenty of dolphins and seals spotted around the rocky coastline. All marinas have good facilities and sufficient berthing places, even in summer. Onboard accommodation is comfortable with good beds, decent shower and small kitchen. Small remark would be the sewage tank capacity for a family of 4 combined with the reduced septic discharge points along the coast. Would highly recommend booking this adventure and we would love to come back to explore the Telemarken canal option.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Flu A 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Highly recommended - a unique way to experience Norway! Top Service included:)
We had a wonderful experience with the Canal Boats Telemark! Already the care before the arrival by Jyditha was very personal, helpful and friendly. Everyone in the team feels the passion for their offer. We felt very comfortable. Our boat was in top condition, very clean and very well equipped. The private jetty with separately bookable sauna is secure and has a beautiful view of the other side of the canal (even if Porsgrunn is not a tourist place, that should be known). We strongly recommend a canal cruise through the locks with the skipper Joakim - this is a unique experience! For our car we found a very cheap and good parking space at the train station within walking distance. To unload you can park directly at the jetty (individual places for payment, 1h free). We would love to come back and recommend Canal Boats for all boat fans and those who want to become one:)
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Christian 
 
 
 
 Verified 
We spent a wonderful week on a electric houseboat (Greenline 39) from Canalboats on the Telemark Canal, and it was an unforgettable experience. The owner and his staff were incredibly helpful, easygoing , straightforward and very responsive whenever we had questions – truly outstanding service. The boat itself was perfectly equipped and everything worked flawlessly. It was spacious and ideal for four people (2 adults and 2 children), offering all the comfort we needed for a relaxing holiday. We enjoyed extremely peaceful and laid-back days surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the region. We would absolutely do it again and can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and relaxing getaway.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Hervé M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A Peaceful Family Adventure Through the Telemark Canal
We’re a family of three with a 9-year-old daughter, and we rented a Greenline 39 at the end of May to explore the Telemark Canal all the way to Dalen. The boat was extremely comfortable and in excellent condition. Ernst and Judyta were incredibly helpful throughout the week, always available to answer any questions we had. Since it was still before the official holiday season and the canal locks weren’t yet open to the public, they went above and beyond to organize all the lock passages for us. Everything went flawlessly—at each lock, someone was waiting for us, and the transitions were smooth and stress-free. Being alone on the lakes and in the locks made the journey even more special. It was a truly unforgettable experience!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 BionJ 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Just beautiful
We had a delightful trip up the canal to Dalen. The electric boat was amazing -- so quiet and without nasty engine exhaust. The bow and stern thrusters made it a breeze to dock and navigate the locks with just two people. Absolutely recommend. We'll definitely be back.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Dominik 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Fantastic boating holiday on the Telemark Canal
The holiday can be recommended to anyone who would like to explore fascinating canals and lakes on a houseboat (boat license required). Service: the staff at Canal Boats are always available and super helpful and nice with any questions. The boat: electric, the infrastructure is excellent. At an average speed of 5-6 knots, you can drive to Dålen and back in a week. The area: Fantastic; old, hand-operated locks and canals alternate with beautiful lake scenery
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Monty S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Safest Adventure - must do
excellent boats , lovely owners , very personalised .. the canal is just beautiful and safe … best way to do a family holiday
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Peter Z 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Great holiday with the electric boat on the Telemark Canal
We did the Telemark Canal tour from Porsgrunn to Lunde and back from August 12th to 18th, 2023. The scenery is very beautiful, the old locks, some of which were blasted and carved into the rock, are worth seeing. The lake crossings are also worth seeing. The towns of Porsgrunn, Skien, Ulefoss and Lunde are worth seeing in different ways, e.g. with a great church with a giant organ in Skien or a very quaint local history museum in Ulefoss (Oevre verket) - just as examples. Due to the short time we didn't have, we weren't able to visit everything, but despite the somewhat bad weather we were very happy overall. The boats are still quite new, in good condition and very comfortable for 4 people (39 foot boat). A highlight is the electric drive, you glide through the landscape largely silently - really great. With bow and stern thrusters they are also extremely easy to drive. If you don't drive extreme distances, you don't even need the fast chargers available, and the 3 KW connection also recharges the battery overnight - we were never below 65% charge during 2 to 5 hour journeys. The locks from Ulefoss upwards are, however, something for advanced users. Railway tracks, concrete pillars and iron hooks protrude from the walls, sometimes more than 30 cm, so that normal fenders are not sufficient. The owners Nora and Ernst have therefore provided extra thick fenders to the canal company, which were then supposed to make them available when locking (they are too big to be stored on the boats) - but the lock keepers apparently didn't know about it (we were in the off-season with ordered locks - apparently not with the regular staff). So we had to fight quite a bit, and not every scratch could be avoided. Once the keepers turned up the speed so fast that even two people couldn't hold the boat despite a large cleat (okay, we always had to go right to the front). We are quite experienced canal drivers (Göta Canal, Upper Havel Waterway, Canal du Midi, for example), but we had never experienced anything like this before. The lock staff did apologize for it, though. The owners Nora and Ernst were very relaxed about it, which of course took a weight off our minds. In general, they were totally committed, very nice and patiently answered our questions and planned the tour with us, as we didn't know the canal before. Overall, the whole thing was a success, we would definitely do it again.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Moni Z 
 
 
 
 Verified 
By electric boat on the Telemark canal with Canal boats
We have had wonderful days on the Telemark Canal, our first time on an electrically powered boat. Absolutely fantastic: quiet, odorless and absolutely no range issues. We didn't even have to use the fast charger, the "regular" socket in the ports was enough. The boat (39) is very comfortable with a nice interior. Only the wash basin was more nice than practical: when you use the faucet itself you get wet outside the wash basin itself and risk getting wet on the floor, but with a towel on the floor it was not a big problem. Nora and Ernst were very kind and helpful, both when planning the trip and during the trip, and answered all our questions with great patience. However, we unfortunately had a slightly bad experience in one of the locks. We have been twice on the Göta Kanal, once on the Canal du Midi and once on Havel in Germany and really sluiced a lot. But in one of the locks it was impossible to keep the boat under control, even though we tried to hold the line in the bow with two people, which we never had to do before. The result was that we came up against the lock wall and caused damage to the boat, which felt very sad. The lock guard later admitted that it was their fault, because they opened the hatch too quickly. Nora and Ernst have bought extra large fenders for the boats that are in the locks where it can be a bit tricky to lock. Here you should ask the lock guards about these, so that you get them. We thought the lock guards would automatically hand these to us where necessary, but we neither saw the fenders nor were they handed to us. That would certainly have helped a lot. Otherwise, we are very satisfied with our holiday, beautiful surroundings, nice nature, good food in nice restaurants (especially Strøm in Skien), nice parks and museums (Porslinsmuseet in Porsgrunb, Brekke-Parken in Skien and upper work in Ulefoss are wonderful excursion destinations) and we can really recommend Canal boats Telemark!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Joakim M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
An adventurous journey between mountains and valleys
I cannot praise Canalboats enough for the excellent experience they gave me during my holiday. Sailing one of their electric yachts with two cabins, one bathroom and 4 beds, which can easily accommodate 2 extra beds, was a dream come true. Exploring Telemark's beautiful nature while speeding through locks and landscapes was a unique experience I won't soon forget. What was really a positive surprise was the fact that fuel wasn't a concern at all. Charging the boats was included in the rental price, making the whole experience worry-free and financially beneficial. Everything I needed for a comfortable journey was available on the boat - from fridge and freezer to hot and cold water, TV and coffee maker. I really felt at home, even though I was far away. Maneuvering through the locks was easier than expected, thanks to the fantastic assistance from the lock team as well as the advance briefing from Canalboat's service minded hosts. The lock team were always there to help with the ropes and provided guidance when needed, especially for those of us unfamiliar with the procedures. I would highly recommend this boat rental to anyone looking for a vacation filled with beauty, comfort and adventure. And to top it all off, the landlord also provides training, tips and tricks that make the whole trip even more memorable. Dice roll 6 from me!"