Kayak & Wild Camp St Anna Archipelago

You can fly to: - Stockholm Arlanda (all major airlines), 2-hour direct train to Norrköping - Linköping City Airport (KLM), 30 min train to Norrköping - Copenhagen Airport (all major airlines), 3 hr 45 min high speed train to Norrköping - Bromma Airport (Brussels Airlines), 20 min bus transfer plus 1 hr 45 min train

You do not have to be especially fit to go sea kayaking, nor do you need previous experience. Kayaking is quite easy, and the boats go surprisingly fast with little effort. Your guides are experts at making sure that everyone is comfortable with the tempo and distance covered. The above itinerary is just an example and will be adapted to weather conditions and the group. You must be able to swim and have a taste for adventure. Weight limit; 120 kilos per person. Beginners are welcome! Double kayaks are used for beginners and intermediates.

The warmer summer months are June-Sep, so we only run trips during those dates. Late May to mid-June When the seasons starts, early summer is in its pride – it’s incredibly green with lots of flowers. The archipelago is full of proud bird moms swimming around with their little chicks. Days are really long and it barely gets dark at all. Pros: Very green and lush, lots of bird wildlife, crazy long hours of daylight Cons: Water usually does not get swimmable until late June, can be windy, most establishments in the area closed until Midsummer Late June to mid-August The prime summer months in Sweden and your best bet for sunny and warm days. By now the water is a little warmer – you may get some glorious days sunbathing on a flat skerry in the outer archipelago. Although still solitary while camping & kayaking, there may be bustling activity of sailers, boaters and kayakers at the different hubs of the area. Pros: Beautiful sunny weather, swimmable water, long hours of sunlight, all establishments in the area open Cons: Conditions may get very windy, some mosquitos, less solitude in some areas of the archipelago Late August to mid-September By late August you will probably be blessed with calmer weather but you won’t see as many flowers and birds. September is regarded by many as the best month to go sea kayaking in Sweden. It’s starting to get a bit cooler but late summer weather is usually very stable. There is a good chance of mirror-calm water for several days. Late summer sunsets last for hours and are absolutely amazing! Pros: Fantastic calm days, long colourful sunsets Cons: Most establishments close end of August, chillier water even though it usually stays swimmable at least a week into September. Many bird species have migrated south. Late September As autumn arrives to the archipelago, the leaves turn beautiful bright red and yellow colours. The air is crisp and the sun is low, creating a lovely golden light. The stillness is palpable – no one around except locals carrying on their daily lives on the islands. Bring your long johns and a warm beanie, and preferably have some kayaking and camping experience. Pros: Beautiful, crisp autumn weather, incredible solitude. Cons: Water starting to get cold, if unlucky, can be wet and windy.

- A couple of sets of clothing - shorts, t-shirt, trousers, warm jumper. - Warm beanie hat - Even in summer, it can get cold at night. - Cap - Escape from the midday sun. - Waterproof gloves. - Shoes for land - They’ll be plenty of opportunities to explore the land, so bring a pair of trainers or walking shoes. - Shoes for the sea - Your feet will get wet when entering or exiting the kayak, so we highly recommend buying a pair of neoprene socks. They are cheap to buy and will improve your trip immensely. Although not comparable, Crocs also make a reasonable alternative. - Towel. - Swimwear. - Sunglasses. - Waterproof sunscreen - Essential. - Toiletries -(the sea is your bathtub, the water is brackish, only slightly salty) - Mosquito repellent - Optional extras - binoculars, playing cards, book, telescopic fishing rod, snorkel.  - Tech - camera, phone power-bank, mobile phone. (You should get a 4G signal throughout the trip).

Please see 'Inclusions' section above for a full list of what's included.

The minimum age is 18.

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/). They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim. They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.

Maximum group size is 8 guests with 2 guides. The group is usually a very fun mix of nationalities and ages, and having a great time together is the highest priority!

All meals, snacks, soft drinks, coffee & tea are included. Make sure to let your host know if you have any dietary requirements! If you wish to order some alcoholic beverages they are available in ‘Additional Drinks’ in your Trip Planner, payable through credit card upon arrival.

Yes, as long as you are respectful to land, wildlife and people. Although some of the islands have the odd traditional red and white little house, the absolute majority are wild, unexploited and uninhabited.

Yes the group has maximum 8 participants along with two guides.

- Kayaks - Paddles - Spraydeck to keep the water out - Life jacket - Paddle jacket (can also be used as a rain jacket) - First aid kit  - Bilge pump to remove any water from the kayak  - Dry bags  - Rolling deck compass & hand compass  - Maps  - Guide book  - Haglöfs sleeping bag  - Exped inflatable mattress - Thermarest camping pillow - Chair - Hilleberg Solo tent - Head torches  - Knife  - Rope  - Tarp  - Spade  - Drinking bottle - Trangia gas stove & fuel  - Lighters  - Frying pan  - Cooler - Cooking and eating equipment

It’s an interesting challenge to navigate around the islands. Your guides will teach navigation and you get to give it a try if you want.

Weather in the Archipelago changes often and quickly. A summer day can bring you 33°C and sunshine, or 17°C and rain, but mostly it stays around 20–28°C. Expect some calm, hot and sunny days, and a couple of overcast, windier ones. Sometimes it rains, but it usually passes pretty quickly. Your route will be adapted to wind conditions. Water temperature depends on the weeks leading up to summer. Typical ranges are 14–19°C in early summer and autumn, and 19–24°C during peak summer.

Start: You'll be collected by your host at your Norrköping hotel or Norrköping train station at 10 am on day 1 of our itinerary. End: You'll be transferred back to Norrköping train station, or your hotel by 5 pm on day 5 of your itinerary.

On this camp, you will be proper wild camping. There are no facilities. The forest and a spade are your ”bathroom”. The guide will designate a part of the island for bathroom duties. The spade has a special spot at camp and when it’s gone, that’s the ”busy” signal. The sea is your ”bathtub”. The water is brackish, only slightly salty, so it’s more similar to swimming in a lake than the sea. It doesn’t itch like after you swim in saltwater.

Distances and time on the water varies depending on the day and weather conditions. We generally spend around 3.5-5 hours on the water, paddling somewhere around 12-16 km.

Your guides are there to take care of any emergencies. The whole area has reception, so if something happens you're only a phone call away from help. You can be reached by boat in under 30 minutes. Kayaking related emergencies are exceedingly rare.

Yes absolutely. This trip is made specifically for solo travellers looking for a wild adventure and a fun group atmosphere. It’s of course also ok to join if you’re not alone.

A great option if you’re flying into Stockholm Arlanda is to spend the night in Stockholm city (20 mins from airport), and take the train to Norrköping in the morning (1 hour 45 mins).

Yes, sure! We do recommend using the host equipment though. It's very high quality and has been carefully selected for the conditions in the area.

Yes. You get to repack your clothing and personal items into dry bags at the start point. Your host will store your luggage safely at the base and bring it to your endpoint on your last day.