With the houseboat across the lake district of MV

Who says you have to move to faraway countries for unforgettable adventures? You can also find beautiful spots in our home country of Germany that will take you away from everyday life and into the great outdoors. The Mecklenburg Lake District in particular is really cool, because here, in addition to great nature, a very special adventure awaits you: a tour on a houseboat!

I only spent one weekend on a houseboat and had a really great time! I was joined by my girlfriend Line, my parents and my cousin. We started our tour in Untergouml;hren, as this is where one of the three Locaboat stations is located, where the houseboats are rented out. As a rule, they are ready from 2 p.m. and after your arrival you learn the most important theory in two to three hours and have to take the houseboat out on the water for the first time. If everything goes well, you will receive your charter boat license and can then officially set sail on your own.

You can either head straight out onto the water afterwards or, like us, go shopping in Malchow to stock up for the next few days. You can really imagine the houseboat as a small house: there is a well-equipped kitchen, a cozy seating area with a dining table and, depending on the size of the boat, several sleeping cabins, toilets and showers. Our Spandau also had a really large deck with several seating and chill-out areas. This was also where the second steering wheel was located, where I spent most of my time!

Lake Jabelsch and the island town of Malchow

Our first tour took us to Lake Jabelscher See. The trip from the harbor in Untergöhren takes 45 minutes and after a short time you forget your everyday life and immerse yourself in a completely different world – this cruise has a very special effect!

First you sail across the Fleesensee and then through a short canal onto the Jabelscher See, which is much quieter and also smaller than the Fleesensee. The great thing is that there is a bison enclosure on the lake next to which you can drop anchor. With a bit of luck, you could spot a European bison while you cook dinner in the boat's kitchen or watch the sunset from the deck!

The gentle rocking on the first night is perhaps still a little unusual, but I fell asleep like a little baby. On the other hand, I was woken up the next morning by the splashing of the water against the buk, an unusual but effective alarm clock. But perhaps my fitness that morning was more down to the fact that I really wanted to set sail again and continue my journey - and being a captain and this leisurely sailing makes you feel good.

As the Mecklenburg Lake District is really huge and consists of countless lakes and canals, you are spoiled for choice. We decided to head back over the Fleesensee and to Malchow. You can also park your houseboat here to have a look around the town. The best place to do this is in the harbor to the left of the town, before you cross the bridge. You pay 2.50 euros for a few hours of parking and can also connect your boat to the power supply during this time.

The town of Malchow is a really pretty place. Take a stroll through the streets or try the smoked eel that is so typical of the region. If, on the other hand, you prefer something a little more adventurous and, like Line, have experience with horses, you can go on an accompanied ride at the Malchow riding stables.

From Malchow, you can then head towards Lake Plau on your houseboat, just like we did. This route first takes you along Lake Petersdorf, a kind of canal, until you reach the wide open waters of Lake Plau. We simply crossed it and sailed across to the small town of Plau am See, where we anchored the Spandau directly in the first harbor. There's another adventure waiting for you in Plau am See: stand-up paddling and kayaking!

Pure nature in the canals

Instead of parking in the first harbor and paying 5 euros, you can also drive through Plau am See and through the locks until you reach the jetty of KanuTeam Plau am See. Here you can hire SUP boards as well as kayaks and canoes and paddle along the Elde with them.

We opted for the SUPs and even managed to stay completely dry! The cool thing about stand-up paddling is that you not only have to exert yourself physically, but also concentrate well to avoid falling into the water. For me, it's one of the most ingenious sports ever and you also get really close to nature.

Steering from sea to sea

After you have physically exhausted yourself here, you can walk a little through Plau am See, as this town also offers a few beautiful streets and is perfect for a leisurely stroll. In the afternoon, you can sail further down the Elde or, like us, head to the north-east of Lake Plau, where you can drop anchor opposite Jürgenshof at the Plauer Werder and spend your second night. Here, too, you'll find yourself in a really quiet spot and have the feeling of being in the middle of the wilderness.

Reeds grow on the shore, a wooded area stretches out behind it and swans swim around your boat. And if you're lucky, you'll also experience a beautiful sunset - there's no better way to end the day!

As the water was as smooth as glass the next morning, I simply jumped into the ice-cold water to wake up. And not just once, but several times because it was so incredibly cool. So if you're also doing your houseboat tour in summer and the weather is good, you should definitely pack your swimming trunks! The water in the Mecklenburg Lake District is very clean and is perfect for a few swims.