Stockholm Archipelago

Kayaking in Stockholm Archipelago

Stockholm Archipelago is one of the best kayaking destinations in Sweden. The archipelago is relatively close and easily accessible from Stockholm City. Stockholm is actually built on some islands in the archipelago and you can reach the outer skerries, 60 km east of the city centre, from the royal castle if you want to.

The archipelago is a paradise for paddlers during the summer. It stretches for more than 100 km from south to north. It is separated from the Åland Archipelago by a stretch of water. During winter the ice will make it impossible to paddle for a few months.

Even if you can start in Stockholm City I recommend you to start further out. Värmdö, Dalarö, Blidö and Stavsnäs is good locations to start, offering excellent access to the wilder scenery of the outer archipelago. Then you wont have to spend one or two days getting to the really nice parts of the archipelago. There are quite many local kayak entrepreneurs in this area that both organises guided kayak tours and where you can rent kayaks and equipment. The advantages with a local guide is that they know the best places to paddle and they have more detailed knowledge about culture and other attractions.

Carl-Johan outside Landsort

Patric outside Landsort

The archipelago is perfect for many different level of paddlers. From novice to advanced paddlers. You can always find protected water and you can paddle at very exposed locations if you want to. In the baltic sea the tide is minimal and will not affect your paddling. Both longer tours and one day tours are available. I recommend a multi-day kayaking trip do discover and experience the beauty of the archipelago.

Outer archipelago

Island of Stora Björn

Sea kayaking is an ideal way to experience the rich natural heritage of the Stockholm archipelago, allowing you to travel, with hardly any disturbance of the wildlife, through shallow and narrow passages between the islands. Stockholm Archipelago has rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Camp site at Stora Björn

Breakfast at Stora Björn

Carl-Johan having fun at subsurfaced rock

Patric is paddling in calm conditions

Carl-Johan is getting close to shore

Some tentspots were really good.

One of the best thing about hiking and kayaking in Sweden is The Right of Public Access which make it possible to wild camping. If you prefer to have more organised accommodation it is also great opportunities to that. I have done a seven day trip from the south to the north of the Archipelago. You will find more about that trip here: sea kayaking in Stockholm archipelago.

We paddled quite long distances so we had to put up the camps in the dusk.

In calm weather it’s no problems getting close to the rocks.

Navigation? West coast paddlers are not used to be paddling in green salad!

How about some navigation? C-J is reading the map

the Island of Stora Alskär offered an excellent night camp

contemplation at Stora Alskär

I woke up with this nice view and light in the middle of the night.

Carl-Johan close to rock

Patric is in the kayak first of all in the morning

Some areas of the archipelago is “croweded” with houses and summer guests

but most areas are rural

the morning procedure at a small tent spot

the inner archipelago has island with more vegetation.

Paddling is meditation. If you don’t get relaxed from paddling there is other alternatives that you can combine with paddling

Summary
Estimated time: 2 – 14 days
Start/Finish: Ankarudden, Kapellskär, Blidö, Värmdö, Dalarö, Stavsnäs
Distance: 170 – 180 km (105 – 112 miles)
Nautic charts: Skärgårdskort
Difficulty level: beginner, intermediate to advanced
Must see/do: Landsort, wild camping, sea eagle spotting
Wildlife: White-tailed Sea Eagle and Osprey

Rental and guides
Horisont Kajak
Dalarö Kajak
Kajak Uteliv
Ingmarsö Kajak

Accomodation
Arholma
Blidö
Bogesund
Bullerö
Dalarö
Fejan
Finnhamn
Fjärdlång

Travel to and from
SL, public transport

Tourist information
Visit Stockholm

The Right of Public Access