Self-guided Sea Kayaking in Bohuslän
Duration: 3 or 6 days (4-day and 5-day tours also possible by arrangement)
Dates/Period: 01.05-30.09.10, start/end any day except Sundays
Price: from £176/person
Accommodation: Tented accommodation.
Required: General good health. Previous kayaking experience not essential. Minimum 2 adults (18+) required.
Photos: Joakim Hermanson
Bohuslän is an area noted for its rocky coast and with a long history as a centre for herring fishing offers some of Sweden's best sea kayaking.
The archipelago consists of about 3,000 islands and 5,000 islets or skerries in total, and makes up the northern section of the Gothenburg archipelago. The largest of the islands are Tjörn and Orust.
In the past, the many reefs and submerged rocks along the coast were known as a considerable hazard to shipping, and there were a number of wrecks in the area.
As a close-to-nature experience, sea kayaking is hard to beat. With the gentle slap of the water and the cries of seabirds to keep you company, the archipelago stretches out before you, a hypnotic landscape of remote granite and gneiss islands floating on a blue sea. Life's possibilities seem as limitless as the wide skies above.
This experience offers the ideal combination of the freedom of a self-guided tour and the convenience and confidence of an organised tour. You will be provided with a map of the area and recommended route, including suggestions for the places to pitch camp for the night and even small restaurants and local stores along the coast if you would like to stop off for refreshments and supplies.
Photo: Joakim Hermanson
Your tour begins from the kayak centre just outside Uddevalla, heading south to paddle outside the islands of Orust and Tjörn, a sheltered area with varied scenery. When your sea kayaking adventure ends (3 or 6 days later depending on the route chosen), you will be met at the designated end point for return transfer.
Accommodation along the way is wild camping, and there is no shortage of islands to choose from, many of which are completely uninhabited. Camping on your own private island is a unique experience!
Your self-guided sea kayaking tour takes place in the Bohuslän archipelago, a lovely area with a picturesque coastline dotted with small fishing villages. The archipelago is made up of thousands of islands and forms part of the Gothenburg archipelago, Sweden's second largest archipelago. Sweden's west coast is a world-class location for sea kayaking, attracting paddlers from far and wide with its dramatic rock formations of gneiss and Bohuslän granite.
Self-guided sea kayaking is suitable for a wide range of ages and levels of ability. If you are an inexperienced or novice kayaker and would like to brush up on your technique and get a feel for life on the water before you set off, there is an option to add a 1-day sea kayaking course before your self-guided kayaking tour begins. More experienced kayakers can choose to extend the route and explore further into the network of islands, rocks and skerries.
This is an experience to be taken at your own pace and enjoyed in your own way. Self-guided sea kayaking allows to you create your very own voyage of discovery!
Read our blog article about sea kayaking in the western archipelago.
See also: Sea Kayaking in Fjällbacka Archipelago and Sea Kayaking in Koster Archipelago
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Corporate activities tailor-made to suit your requirements, from reindeer sledding to sea kayaking.
For the latest news and discussions on outdoor experiences in Sweden visit our blog at www.wildsweden.co.uk
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Comments on Self-guided Sea Kayaking in Bohuslän:
"Firstly, this was a truly amazing experience in a beautiful part of the world - it will be an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Having looked around many companies that offer sea-kayaking, this is one of the few trips which allows you to be self-guided, and we really appreciated having this opportunity. The self-guided element meant that we were allowed to travel at our own pace, something that was particularly useful on our trip, as although I have quite extensive canoeing experience, my wife did not, and it allowed her the opportunity to 'learn the ropes' at her own pace.
"The hire company were great - extremely helpful and genuinely nice people - there was no pressure placed on us, and Ulrika was particularly helpful - we left on our first morning feeling very reassured and comfortable with the 3 days ahead. This was extemely helpful, as we had bad weather forecast for the second day, and she reassured us that all would be fine, and that if we felt the water was too choppy, then we could give the day a miss, and could call to arrange collection from another point.
"I also have to thank Bob for all his help - every time we had a query or question, he came up with an answer - amazing! I would thoroughly recommend you to my friends and family and we look forward to booking another trip through you in the near future.
"In terms of advice for other people travelling on this trip - remember to get some water for the trip - depending on which way you travel through the fjords it may be difficult to get hold of en route, get hold of some good midge repellent, and finally - book this trip! Thanks again for a great experience." Bryony and Craig, August 2009
"...the wild camping each night was great. The service we received in Sweden was far beyond what we expected, nothing was too much trouble and we were made very welcome. Obviously with any hire company we weren't sure what would be waiting for us when we arrived but we were both impressed by the equipment provided. Proper charts in Ortlieb waterproof cases really showed how professional they were. We'll be back again, maybe in doubles with our partners, fantastic." Timothy, June 2009
"Too many [highlights] to choose from. Definitely be up for sea kayaking again." Iain, June 2009