Sweden

Kayak and Wild Camp - Saint Anna Archipelago (Self Guided)

12

Saint Anna Archipelago is made up of over 6,000 islands, most of them tiny and uninhabited. Situated on the east coast of Sweden, it’s a fantastic location for beginners or experienced sea kayakers with a thirst for adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1: Into the maze

We'll pick you up from Norrkoping train station at 10am (1h 45 min from Stockholm).

From there we'll head to your start point, where you'll be given all your pre-ordered food, equipment and a full briefing on safety, navigation and the area.

You can choose whatever route you like over the next 5 days!. You may begin by paddling northeast towards Aspöja - through clusters of forested islands with white-tailed eagles famously soar high up in the sky. Continue paddling through the Uggelholmarna Nature Reserve, where three-hundred-year-old pine trees grow. It's the perfect place to get out for a short wander and a coffee break.

In the afternoon you'll reach the islets south of Aspöja - where you can set up your tent on any island of your choosing, and enjoy the sunset! It's arguably one of the archipelago's most beautiful settings.

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Day 2: A band of islands against the horizon

Today is an absolutely stunning route southeast through the outer Archipelago. Begin by heading east past the bird sanctuaries around Torrskär. Large colonies of Herring gulls and Oystercatchers breed out here.

Continue your expedition southward through the Missjö Archipelago, a long band of islets and skerries bordering the open sea stretching over ten kilometres. The blue horizon is your backdrop and it’s so beautiful out there!

Towards the end of the day, you'll reach one of the most famous points of interest in Saint Anna - the old navigation point at Kupa Klint. It’s a fantastic lookout with spectacular views of the archipelago spreading out below. A little further west you'll find a rustic pub (reservation only) run by local boat taxi man Mats. He's a great host and it's always a fantastic time dining here.

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Day 3: The village that time forgot

Steer your kayak south towards the most visited island in the area – Harstena. An idyllic view of the village greets you as you paddle the narrow inlet. Harstena is famous for its picturesque and historic beauty. Learn more about the history of the village at the museum in the old school, munch on delicious cinnamon swirls from the bakery and treat yourself to a meal of delicious Archipelago cuisine at the water-side restaurant.

A short paddle west takes you to Torrön - a beautiful sheltered area with shallow waters, smooth rocks and calm creeks – great for swimming and sunbathing in warmer temperatures.

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Day 4: A wood-fired sauna on the sea

Some of the area's most dramatic scenery awaits you today. A strait takes you alongside steep rock walls, which is very unsusal for this archipelago. You’ll head towards Håskö, where you can visit the small-scale fishing operation, renowned for their hot-smoked fish and fresh deboned perch.

There is a self-served wood-fired sauna right by the waterfront, which you can use with a small fee paid to the locals for wood. Afterwards a paddle and half-hour hike takes you to Gubbö navigation point - it's been used by seafarers for centuries. You’ll get a fantastic view of the surrounding islands, and White-tailed eagles and Ospreys are often seen soaring past!

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Day 5: The abandoned copper mine

It's time to wake up for your final day in this Swedish island wonderland. After a hearty breakfast you head to the abandoned copper mine on Fångö island. During the 19th century, this was a prominent site for mining copper and there are many remains from this era still – deep mining shafts, massive piles of waste rock and old house foundations. Head around the island and kayak through the tiny canal that takes you opposite Fyrudden. Cross a small strait westward, and you reach the mainland and the endpoint of your journey.

Unload the kayaks at the dock, wander the marina, eat some ice-cream, and start reminiscing. You have just completed an impressive kayaking expedition all by yourselves in a truly wild coastal landscape!

You will be dropped back off at your hotel, or Norrkoping train station at 5 pm.

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What's Included

Included
  • All camping equipment (1 tent for 2 people)
  • Navigation and safety equipment.
  • All kayaking equipment.
  • Guide book and map.
  • Phone for daily weather reports.
  • Luggage storage.
Not Included
  • International flights.
  • Food (this will be pre-ordered and charged at the same price as the local supermarket, ready when you arrive).
  • Airport transfers (1hr bus from Stockholm Skavsta Airport).
  • Travel insurance.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

12 verified reviews

Aline
Aline

(Sep 2023)

Stunning landscape, beautiful scenery. Top notch equipment, well organized by do the north: everything according to plan, great introduction by expert guide, perfectly timed pick up and drop off. We highly recommend it!

Charles
Charles

(Sep 2023)

This is a great trip which I thoroughly recommend. My son and I had a wonderful 5 days this August kayaking around the Sant Anna archipelago. Wonderfully organised by Do The North. Super friendly and helpful, talking us through how everything worked, advising us on places to go and things to see. One of the highlights was dinner at Mats rustic restaurant, he was a fantastic host and the food was great, a must. All of the provided equipment was of really high quality, all the food we ordered was super nice, it was just an excellent trip. Thank-you

Les
Les

(Aug 2023)

An incredible experience from start to finish! From the moment we booked with Do the North, we were in safe hands, with no detail left to chance. Do the North are so organised! We were able to order all of our provisions, including delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We were able to live a little life of luxury whilst camping, with top quality equipment and the peace of mind of them being at the end of the phone if needed. We even had tarps which came in handy when the weather came in. We will DEFINITELY be returning and would highly recommend! Thank you for your friendly support and great communication!

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charles
charles

(Aug 2023)

Wonderfully organised trip, great support from Thomas and his team. Would definitely recommend (possibly 5 days is not long enough to get around everywhere). Mats restaurant was a delight, food fantastic and great atmosphere. We had a great time.

Svenja
Svenja

(Aug 2023)

We went on a 5 day kayak trip and are very happy! First off, preparation of the trip and the information we received beforehand was very clear, easy to follow and allowed for great preparation on your own. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff who are all super friendly and will always greet you with a smile! The briefing before the trip gave direction and security so that we set off feeling well prepared. All equipment is provided for the trip and has great quality, we had no troubles whatsoever. We even got to order groceries with them and got those pre-packed with our trip! The area you can kayak through is stunning and worth the trip. We loved the option of being picked up at either of 4 spots. The pick up itself was very easy and we felt well taken care of. Thank you for making such a lovely trip possible for us! Highly recommended!

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FAQs

Before you go

Please see the 'Included' section above for full inclusions and exclusions.

You will be transferred by minibus with some other the other groups, and be briefed together. After that, each group heads off on their own adventure. Minimum group size 2 people.

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. You decide your own pace and how much distance you wish to cover - the above itinerary is just an example. 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.

For safety reasons, you must book this trip with a minimum of 2 people. We don't want you to miss out, so we have created a Facebook group to meet other solo travellers here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446247419648730/

The warmer summer months are May-Sep, so we only run trips during those dates. Please note the establishments on Harstena are only open from June 19–August 23. 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 - you can order shampoo, body wash and soap through the food order (the sea is your bathtub, the water is brackish, only slightly salty) - Mosquito repellent - you can order through the food order - 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).

You can fly to: - Stockholm Skavsta (Ryanair) - 55 min bus transfer to Norrköping (Note! Stockholm Vasteras is not a suitable airport) - 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

On your trip

For safety reasons, you need to book this trip with a minimum group size of 2. Uneven group sizes are absolutely fine, but one person will be expected to use a single kayak, rather than a double.

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.

It’s an interesting challenge to navigate around the islands. Your host will teach you the basics of navigating in the area. After a little trial and error, even the novice navigator excels at following routes and recognising landmarks. You are provided a deck compass strapped to the front of your kayak, which makes it easy to see which direction you’re going in. The whole area has phone reception, so if you are unsure you can always use a little google maps assist.

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

You will order everything in advance through a very comprehensive food ordering system and pay cost price, the same as in the supermarket. Your food is packed and ready to go when it’s time to start. Food for a 5 day trip usually adds up to 50–70 euros per person depending on how lavish you wish be. Alcohol is additional. The larger the group, the smaller the individual cost. You will be provided with enough fresh water to last the first half of the trip, and shown a few places where you can fill up on the way.

- 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 - Cell phone - Haglöfs sleeping bag - Thermarest sleeping mat - Tent - Head torches - Knife - Rope - Tarp - Spade - Folding saw - Drinking bottle - Trangia gas stove & fuel - Lighters - Pop-up grill (in June & September) - Frying pan - Cooler - Cooking and eating equipment

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 host will text you the weather report every morning so you're prepared. 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.

You are provided a cell phone with pre-programmed numbers. 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.

Other FAQs

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.

Another 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 Norrkoping in the morning (1 hour 45 mins).

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.

The minimum age is 12, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian

Your head guide is Thomas

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Do The North, based in Vasteras.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Thomas