Our long coastline has unique archipelagos

We Swedes are lucky. We have access to a very long coastline; to the south, east and west. The entire coastal stretch from Svinesund at the Norwegian border to Haparanda at the Finnish border is approximately 2,500 km long. If all bays and headlands are included, the distance becomes many times greater. Along this coast you will find some of the world's largest and most scenic archipelagos. Apart from parts of the Stockholm and Gothenburg archipelagos, large areas remain unexploited and accessible for visits. If you avoid the month of July, you can move around surprisingly undisturbed. And if you travel by kayak, you can in principle reach all parts of our coast and our archipelagos.

The kayak is an excellent means of travel

The kayak has its origins in Greenland. It is known that already during the Viking Age in the 1000s, the kayak was used by Greenlandic hunters and has been essential for survival in Greenland right up to the present day. The first documented Swedish kayak was built in 1882 by Carl Smith. Canoeing thus has a long tradition in our country, not least through many international successes in competitive events. Interest has gradually broadened so that touring paddling has gained an increasing number of practitioners. Touring paddling means travelling by kayak, including canoe in calm waters, for the sake of the nature experience, either on a shorter day trip or a multi-day trip with overnight stays in a tent in the wild. Our unique Right of Public Access gives us great opportunities to travel freely along our coasts, but it also places demands on the individual not to abuse the trust that the Right of Public Access entails.

Plan your trip

Plan your trip in advance. Will you use your own kayak or rent one? Renting is a good option if you don't have access to your own kayak. Along our coasts and in the large lakes there are plenty of canoe rental companies that can also provide you with the right equipment and give tips on routes, rest stops and overnight spots. If you won't be returning to the starting point, you may need to arrange for a pick-up if possible. If you have your own kayak, you may need to arrange your own return transport. What does the weather forecast look like for the time you'll be out? The weather, and especially the wind, is absolutely crucial for whether the trip will be successful or even feasible.

Some good advice

If you're going on a touring paddle trip over, for example, a weekend, you should keep the following in mind:

• You should be comfortable with the kayak you're going to use; you should feel secure in it. Try it out beforehand if you're renting a kayak you're unfamiliar with. If you're inexperienced, choose a kayak designed to be stable.
• You must be comfortable sitting in it from the start. It's difficult to adjust the seat or backrest once you're out on the water. If you get numbness in your feet, it can sometimes be remedied by placing a sitting pad on the seat. Numbness in your fingers can be avoided by regularly straightening them during paddling. The backrest and rudder settings should be adjusted on land.
• Make sure that you, or someone in the group if there are several of you, has a map of the area. Preferably also bring a compass that you know how to use. If you can't use it, it's of no help. Continuously keep track of where you are on the map.
• Bring the right equipment. Make sure to bring a dry change of clothes. The clothes you paddle a kayak in always get wet. When you go ashore, change into dry clothes. A windproof jacket and a hat with a brim for sun protection are important. You must bring sufficient drinking water; in the archipelago, drinking water is often scarce. Make sure to drink continuously during the trip. If you're camping, dome tents are preferable as they don't require anchoring to the ground. However, make sure to place heavy objects inside or anchor with ropes if possible so the tent doesn't blow away when no one is in it.
• If you're paddling in the archipelago during boating season, you should as far as possible avoid marked shipping lanes for safety reasons. Traffic can be heavy here and kayaks are very hard to spot. If you must follow a shipping lane, make sure to stay just outside the lane.
• Touring kayaks are designed to be loaded. The cargo lowers the centre of gravity so the kayak becomes more stable and moves more smoothly through the water. Pack so that what you need first in the evening is placed deepest in the kayak and what you need during the day is more easily accessible. Items needed during the actual paddling, e.g. drinking water, rain gear, hat, snacks, fruit, should be accessible in the cockpit. On the aft deck you can have an extra waterproof bag with spare clothes, a spare paddle and rescue gear such as a pump and possibly a paddle float. All securely fastened to the deck lines. However, bulky items on the aft deck make it harder to get back into the kayak after a capsize and can catch wind and waves, making the kayak less stable especially in poor weather.
• Have a leash between the paddle and the kayak. If you drop the paddle for any reason, you simply pull the line and you have your paddle back. Otherwise, the paddle easily floats out of reach. Without a paddle, you're in serious trouble.
• The grab loop on the spray skirt should face outward so you can easily grab it if you capsize.

Right of Public Access and outdoor responsibility

Our unique Right of Public Access gives you access to practically all Swedish waters. You can go ashore, rest, swim and camp overnight as long as you don't disturb or damage. This unique right requires responsibility, consideration and good judgement. Don't disturb, don't destroy are the guiding principles.

Be observant of birds' behaviour. Avoid resting or setting up camp too close to their nests. Bird sanctuaries are protected during certain periods. It is forbidden to go ashore there during those times, sometimes even to come too close. The colour of the signs indicates which type of regulations apply. The time periods can vary from place to place. In some areas, the Right of Public Access may be restricted, for example in certain nature reserves. Other nature reserves may be designated specifically for recreational outdoor activities where overnight stays are permitted. The regulations that apply in each such area are indicated on signs. You can also visit the respective county administrative board's website for information about this.

It is generally permitted to set up camp for a night provided that you don't disturb nearby residents or risk damaging the ground. If there are houses nearby, you should ask for permission in advance, especially if you're a group. In nature reserves, you may generally camp for two nights unless otherwise stated. Read the posted signs. Nature calls should preferably be answered at the campsite toilets if available. Otherwise, dig a hole and cover it thoroughly. Take all rubbish with you. Ideally, it should not be visible that you were a guest at the site afterwards. Don't place loose rubbish bags next to a bin. Animals will spread the contents around the area. Fire bans are often in effect during summer; otherwise fires are permitted with the utmost caution. Small camp stoves are always permitted. If you make a fire, extinguish it thoroughly and never light a fire directly on rock surfaces. During land transport, it is not permitted to cross private plots or damage-sensitive ground. You may generally fish freely with rod and hand tackle along the Baltic Sea coast.

With a dome tent you can easily camp overnight on a smooth rock ledge by the water