Frequently Asked Questions
20 QUESTIONS & answers
We’re also happy to answer any of your questions via chat or email!
1
Is it safe? I have never gone sea kayaking before.
You need no prior kayaking experience to do this trip, just a little bit of guts and common sense. Double kayaks are incredibly stable and well suited for beginners and intermediates, while singles require more skill since they can roll over. There are no tides, currents or big swells to worry about in Saint Anna. Windy conditions will be your biggest hurdle and you do need to be sensible and realise your limitations. Choose routes in the inner and middle archipelago if it’s very windy. You also always have the option to stay put and wait out windy weather rather than battling the seas.
2
What about emergencies?
We give you a cell phone and the whole area has reception. If something happens civilisation is only a phone call away and you can be reached by boat taxi or the coast guard in up to 20 minutes. Luckily accidents are very rare in the archipelago and if any problems occur (for example broken equipment, minor medical problems) we will assist you.
3
What about tides?
There are no tides whatsoever in Saint Anna. The sea level stays the same, which means no time tables to consider and no transporting kayak and gear from the waterline. Also, there are no big swells since all the islands break up waves into choppy water.
4
Do I need to be fit?
You don’t have to be fit to go sea kayaking. It’s easy and you completely decide your own pace and how much distance to cover. Kayaks are surprisingly quick with just a little effort. If you are paddling against strong winds, it can be pretty tough however. It can often be avoided, but not always. We’ll teach some tricks to avoid the wind as well as basic paddling technique.
5
I don’t know anything about navigation. Will I get lost?
We’ll teach you everything you need to know, it’s not that difficult. You just have to be attentive and continuously compare what you see around you to the map. It’s an advantage to have a little knowledge of maps, orienteering or navigation, but we’ve had many novices over the years and they do just fine too. One person in your group will be assigned navigator and have the rolling compass, sea chart and hand compass strapped in front on the kayak.
6
What are weather conditions usually like?
The weather in the archipelago changes often and quickly. We give you a cell phone and text you the weather report every morning. When you are out for a few days you are very likely to experience a couple of calm and sunny days and a couple of windy and overcast ones. Sometimes it rains of course, but it usually passes pretty quickly. We provide good water and wind proof clothing. Temperatures vary a lot, a typical summer day can bring you 33°C and sunshine, or 17°C and rain, but mostly it stays around 20–28°C.
7
How warm will the water be?
It’s always hard to predict water temperatures. How early you can comfortably swim depends completely on the weeks leading up to the summer. All it takes is a couple of weeks of warm weather to heat the water nicely (Nordic style, we’re not in the Mediterranean). In general it may look something like this:
Early June: 14–19°C
Late June – mid August: 19–24°C
Late August – early September: 19–22°C
Late September: 14–19°C
8
Isn’t Sweden supposed to be cold?
Ask any Swede and they’ll praise the Swedish summer as superior to anywhere else. It’s absolutely beautiful. Everything turns incredibly green and flowery. The light is fantastic and there is so much natural beauty. Swimming and sunbathing is at the top of the list, we just have to choose our days a bit more carefully than if you live further south.
9
Is there a set paddling route?
No, not at all. You choose completely where to paddle and how far. There are a three different pick-up points so you start and finish at different spots. When it’s time to go home, use the provided cell phone and let us know let us know when and where. You will see that wind direction will have a big say in what route you’ll be taking. We do advise you of a general plan though. Itineraries for our different tours are just example routes.
Check out Points of interest and our Sea chart ahead of time if you like. (The chart you’ll be navigating off is a standard sea chart, and looks a bit different than this one)
10
Is there anywhere to re-stock supplies?
No, not really. You should order all your food and beverages in advance through us (you pay cost price and we shop and pack for you). Or, if you are organising your own transport to Saint Anna, make sure you plan your food in detail and buy everything you need before your trip. There are a couple of small camp shops, but they have nothing fresh and a very limited assortment. Much better to be organised!
11
Fresh water?
We will supply fresh water that will last 2-3 days and show you a few places where you can fill up on the way. We use Klean Kanteen water bottles and canteens, which are great for storing water and ensuring safe hygiene.
12
Can we just put up camp anywhere?
Yes, as long as you follow the rules. In Sweden we have something called “the Right of Public Access”, which among other things mean that you can camp wherever you like, except too close to dwellings. You need to be very respectful to the area and leave absolutely nothing behind when you leave. You’ll see that camping is something really natural in these surroundings.
13
What are the coordinates for the launch?
Map directions from Söderköping, our closest town.
Latitude 58.385389 or 58°23’07.4″N
Longitude 16.827833 or 16°49’40.2″E
15
Any dangerous animals I should know about?
Saint Anna is a low hazard area. We don’t have any dangerous animals at all. You might see a water snake or an adder, but they’ll keep their distance. Otherwise it’s just birds and the odd sheep or cow, so no worries on land or in the water.
Sometimes there are ticks in high grasses and they can, even if it’s very rare, carry and transmit TBE or Borrelia, which untreated can lead to lyme decease. We give you tweezers and info on how to check for and remove ticks quickly and correctly. A tick has to be latched on for several days for anything to transmit. We strongly advice against walking through any high grasses without long trousers tucked into your socks. The area is almost all smooth rocks and moss, so it’s not difficult to simply avoid that kind of vegetation altogether.
16
I’m continuing traveling afterwards and have a lot of gear. Is there anywhere I can store it?
Whatever you don’t wanna bring paddling you can leave with us, and we’ll bring it to your end point on your last day. You will get to re-pack your stuff into drybags anyhow and leave your bags/backpacks behind.
17
Can I have fires?
We don’t allow any fires in July or August. We allow fires in provided pop-up grills only in June & September (unless a fire ban is in place), never directly on the ground.
The top soil is super dry in the summer, especially during the warmest month, even when it’s been raining, and you can start a forest fire. A fire spreads underground and can keep smoldering for a long time until it sparks up, long after you’ve left the island. Each year several islands burn down due to this kind of smoldering underground fires. All the islands, even though you are allowed to camp on them, are owned by someone, and forest fires are a huge concern to the landowners. Also, firing straight on the rocks is strictly prohibited in Sweden, since it can crack the rocks.
We have made a promise to all the landowners in the area, that no guests of ours will make fires during July & August, and in pup-up grills only in June & September.
18
Am I allowed to fish without a license?
You don’t need a fishing license to fish in the archipelago. We don’t rent any fishing gear, but you are more than welcome to bring your own. When the water gets warmer the fish do tend to go a bit deep for fishing off the rocks, but you may be lucky! You are most likely to catch perch or pike, best is to use lures to fish.
19
How much does food normally cost per person?
You will order everything in advance from a very comprehensive food order form and pay cost price, same as in the supermarket. Food and mosquito repellent for a 5-day trip usually adds up 700-900 SEK per person depending on how lavish you choose to be. If you are a big group it can end up a lot cheaper too.
A few examples:
1 x liter of milk: 17 SEK
2-pack of organic chicken breast (360 g): 65 SEK
1 x chopped high-quality tomatoes in a tin: 19 SEK
1 x 330 ml 6% beer at the store: 19 SEK
1 x decent bottle of wine at the store: 100 SEK
20
Can I get a discount if I bring some of my own gear?
You are more than welcome to bring you own gear, however we cannot lower the prices. The majority of our expenses lie in transportation and the hours we spend on your group, not so much in renting the equipment. We encourage our guests to use our gear since it’s been bought and tested for well over a decade, and is perfectly suited both for the area and fitting in the kayaks.