Een kajak is per definitie een overdekte kano die wordt voortbewogen met een dubbelbladige peddel. Kajakken is niet alleen een geweldige manier om de natuur en stilte te ervaren, but also gentle exercise and training for the entire body, including the legs. It holds enough for a week-long trip in the archipelago, and yet the kayak itself weighs no more than what one person can carry. Since it glides forward silently, you see the seabirds at much closer range, and if you're lucky, the water surface is soon broken by black heads with whiskers: young curious seals wondering what you're up to.

If you are interested in buying a kayak or a Canadian canoe, we recommend you read 5 things to consider when buying a kayak and 5 things to consider when buying a canoe.

The word kayak is Inuit and means "vessel for men". Kayaks were originally made of sealskin stretched over a frame of wood or whalebone. They were initially developed for seal hunting with harpoons and were typically small and narrow – it is often said that the Inuit do not step into the kayak, but rather "put it on". The cockpit on traditional models is extremely small, and Greenlanders never leave it when capsizing, but instead right themselves using what is known as "rolling" or the Eskimo roll.

If you want to rent a kayak, or want to know more about kayak courses and other guided tours, you can read more and book here.

Kayaks were historically used – and are still used – all around Greenland and elsewhere in the Arctic, varying quite a lot from region to region, both in shape and size. Modern sea kayaks have their origins in the vessels from the area around Disko Bay on Greenland's west coast, which is largely a coincidence – when British manufacturers started modern production in the 1960s and 70s, the models they used happened to come from that region.

They are now made as single or tandem kayaks in various plastic materials and have a rudder or a so-called skeg, a small fin under the stern, which is lowered with a small lever beside the cockpit. At least two large watertight storage compartments are included, and these also serve as buoyancy tanks that make the boat unsinkable when capsized. The cockpits, which were originally almost circular, have become larger and longer, so-called "keyhole" cockpits, to make getting in and out easier. In other words: they have been adapted for Westerners who on average are somewhat larger in build. So nowadays you can safely enjoy paddling without having to master rolling.

Today kayaks can be rented in many places around the country and interest in paddling has increased explosively in recent years. Beginner courses, guided tours of varying difficulty levels, and rolling courses are available at more and more locations, and you can try just about everything, from Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), single kayak, tandem kayak, Canadian canoe, and more. More and more people are discovering the convenience and the silence – you can reach shallow waters where no larger boats dare to venture, or, if you are a bit more adventurous, the outermost skerries far out at sea. A modern kayak doesn't carry as much as a Canadian canoe, but still considerably more than, for example, a mountain backpack. You don't need to save on weight the same way as when mountain hiking, and can treat yourself to that little extra that adds a touch of luxury to the week-long trip.

A couple of kayaks easily fit on a regular car roof rack. This makes it easy and convenient to travel far and wide and find your own hidden gems. The right of public access, and all our lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as our long coastline with all its archipelagos, make Sweden the perfect country to experience from a kayak.

Naturally, safety awareness is important. Longer trips for inexperienced paddlers are best done with experienced guides. Despite the obvious risks and exposure at sea, fatal accidents are statistically extremely rare. Beginner courses usually cover various things to keep in mind, such as equipment and methods for assisted rescue or self-rescue with a paddle float.

Swimming ability and good judgment are a good place to start.

If you have any questions or want to know more about kayaks and paddling in general, you are welcome to contact us at Northkayak!