5-Day Kayaking: Saint Anna Archipelago with Wild Camping

Five days paddling through 6,000 clustered islands, camping where you land

A 5-day guided kayaking and wild camping expedition in Sweden's Saint Anna Archipelago, where you paddle through a maze of forested and barren islands on the Baltic coast, wild camp each night with provided gear, and cook team meals in the wilderness. The guide teaches flora, fauna and geology along the route, and you may spot Grey seals and White-tailed eagles. All kayaking equipment, camping gear, food and return transport from Norrköping are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Into the Maze

• Repack clothes into dry bags
• Load kayaks with gear
• Launch kayaks in sheltered bay
• Paddle northeast through forested islands
• Break at Uggelholmarna Nature Reserve
• Stroll in open forest
• Paddle east to island atoll
• Reach islets south of Aspöja

Day 2: A Band of Islands against the Horizon

• Paddle southeast through outer archipelago
• Spot seals and coastal birds
• Reach Kupa Klint lookout
• Explore Missjö island and parallel islands
• Camp at sheltered spot found by guides

Day 3: The Village that Time Forgot

• Paddle south to Harstena island
• Visit village and museum
• Stroll village and eat cinnamon swirls
• Paddle southeast to Ytterö island
• Climb to higher ground for views
• Camp listening to waves and birds

Day 4: A Paddle to the Edge of the World

• Attempt paddle to Häradskär island
• Pass Gubbö and climb hill
• Paddle south through Laxvarp islands
• Cross exposed sea to lighthouse
• Enjoy bird calls and sea sounds

Day 5: Due west for the mainland

• Breakfast and final swim
• Visit abandoned copper mine on Fångö
• Paddle through canal opposite Fyrudden
• Paddle west to mainland finish point

The experience

The Saint Anna Archipelago holds 6,000 islands clustered so tightly that nowhere else in Europe matches the density. You launch from a sheltered bay near Norrköping and paddle northeast through forested islands where ducks, swans and herons breed, then through the Uggelholmarna Nature Reserve with its three-hundred-year-old pines. The route shifts each day based on weather and the crew's pace: one day you cross open water toward the outer skerries and the navigation mark Kupa Klint; another takes you to Harstena, a historic village frozen in time with a museum and bakery; a third aims for Häradskär lighthouse at the archipelago's edge, where few kayakers reach. The guide knows the nooks and crannies and finds sheltered campsites each night.

You sleep in a top-quality Hilleberg solo tent with an Exped airbed, pillow and all bedding provided. Meals happen as a team effort: breakfast and dinner cooked together in the wild, lunch and snacks packed for the paddle. Coffee, tea and soft drinks come with you. Water is bottled and carried. The gear (kayaks, paddles, dry bags, cooking equipment) is high-caliber stuff most paddlers don't own, and you learn to use it well. By day three or four, strangers have become a crew of explorers who know each other's rhythm.

The five days mean you're away from the mainland for the full span, with mornings spent paddling and afternoons finding camp. A final paddle west on day five takes you back to the launch point near Norrköping. The guide speaks English and leads throughout, teaching you to read the water, spot wildlife and move safely through the archipelago's channels and open crossings.

What’s included

• Top-quality kayak, paddle and personal flotation gear.
• Hilleberg solo tent, Exped airbed, pillow and bedding.
• all breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners cooked in the wild.
• bottled water, coffee, tea and soft drinks.
• cooking equipment and utensils.
• experienced English-speaking guide throughout.
• return transport from Norrköping to the launch site and back.
• detailed guide book.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Jun 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8 · max 2 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 26 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Do the North AB

Is this one for you?Five full days away from the mainland means you commit to the expedition without day trips or side excursions, which is what lets the crew move at a rhythm that works and the guide find the best campsites and wildlife moments. If your schedule only allows a shorter paddle, a 3-day version covers the inner archipelago. If you want more time, a 7-day expedition reaches farther out.

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Top questions

What's the paddling like each day in the Saint Anna Archipelago?

Days vary by weather and crew fitness. The first day is a sheltered introduction through forested islands; day two is a strenuous paddle to the outer skerries and Kupa Klint with open water crossings; day three visits Harstena village and Ytterö island; day four attempts Häradskär lighthouse on the open sea if conditions allow; day five is the return paddle to the mainland. The guide adjusts the route and pace to match the group.

What happens if the weather turns bad during the five days?

The guide assesses conditions each morning and adjusts the day's paddle accordingly. Sheltered routes through forested islands are always an option, and campsites are chosen for protection. The itinerary is flexible by design so the crew stays safe and still explores the archipelago.

Do I need kayaking experience to join this expedition?

The trip is suitable for all physical fitness levels and no prior kayaking experience is required. The guide teaches you how to paddle, load the kayak and handle the equipment. By day two you'll be comfortable. By day four you'll move like you've done this before.

What's included in the meals, and how much cooking do I do?

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners are all provided and prepared as a team in the wild. You'll cook together, decide on menus together and learn skills from the guides and each other. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are included. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase separately.

How do I get to the launch point, and what happens on the last day?

Return transport from Norrköping to the Saint Anna launch site is included. On day five, after a final swim and breakfast, you paddle west back to the mainland and the finish point near Norrköping, arriving as an experienced crew rather than strangers.

What gear do I bring, and what's provided?

The operator provides all kayaking equipment, a top-quality solo tent, airbed, pillow, sleeping bag, cooking gear and utensils. Bring personal clothing in dry bags, toiletries, sunscreen and any medications. A detailed guide book is included to help you prepare.