Self-guided Kayaking on the Ångerman River (Sweden)

After being compressed under the colossal weight of more than 3km of ice during the last Ice Age, the land began to rise as the ice melted - and it's still rising, by about 8mm each year!

Well-known for its beautiful archipelago landscape, the High Coast also offers wonderful opportunities for remote yet accessible inland paddling. While kayaking out in the exposed regions of the archipelago is suitable only for experienced kayakers, paddling the river requires just a little previous kayaking experience.

Pitch camp on the riverbank and on islands along the way

Beginning from Sollefteå, approx. 60km upstream from where the Ångerman River passes under the High Coast Bridge and out into the archipelago, the tour takes you back towards the coast, through a varied and scenic landscape.

Camp wild along the way, choosing your own camping spot each night. Photo: HKK.

For the first half of the route, the river remains relatively narrow and meandering. In the latter part of the tour, the character changes as the river becomes broader, giving more of a lakeland feel. There are a number of bays to explore and small detours to make if time permits.

The river is calm and slow-flowing, with the flow often almost imperceptible. Windy conditions can of course make the water choppy, especially on wider sections.

There are tranquil wild camping opportunities on the riverbank and, as the river widens further down, on small islands along the way. Plan your adventure as you wish, choosing a suitable spot to make camp each night. An extra night's camping at the kayak centre can also be added before and/or after your tour.

Extend your High Coast adventure with additional days' padding

The minimum distance to cover is around 60km, requiring 3 days/2 nights (beginning in the morning of Day 1). While the tour can be done in this time, we recommend allowing 4 days/3 nights if time permits. This will make for a more relaxing experience, giving you time to take things easy around camp, go for short hikes on land, or paddle into some of the bays along the shoreline.

If time permits, paddle further to visit the High Coast Bridge or out into the inner archipelago. Photo: HKK.

You will end your tour at the kayak centre a few km before the High Coast Bridge. If time permits, you may wish to continue down to the bridge before returning up river to end your tour (adding around 10km to the total distance).

If you extend your tour with one or two extra days, you can also discover some of the inner parts of the High Coast Archipelago.

Passing under the High Coast Bridge, where the Ångerman River empties into the Baltic Sea, you can choose to explore picturesque Norafjården Bay or paddle around the island of Åbordsän before returning to the kayak centre to end your tour.

Use sea kayaks for your tour with full camping equipment included

Unlike many of our inland paddle experiences, which use Canadian canoes, this tour uses sea kayaks. Single kayaks are the most common option, but double kayak is also available for adults requiring greater stability or for families (min. age 12 for children sharing kayak with adult, min. age for children to paddle single kayak 15 years).

Sea kayaks are an way to explore the landscapes of the High Coast. Photo: HKK.

Full camping equipment is included, providing almost everything you need: tent, inflatable sleeping mat, cooking stove with pans, camping meal kit (plate, cutlery, mug), waterproof bags, toilet spade, waterproof map.

Sleeping bag/liner is avaialable to add as an optional extra, fuel for cooking is purchased on arrival and simple water containers are available to borrow if required.

Self-guided Kayaking on the Ångerman River is suitable for both novice paddlers (very basic experience is required - all participants should at minimum have been in a kayak before, even if only for a short paddle) and for more experienced kayakers, with the flexibility to extend the distance covered and duration of your tour.

Welcome to an "uplifting" experience on the High Coast!

Included

Kayak Equipment:

• Sea kayak, paddles, buoyancy aids, splash skirt.
• Single (K1) or stable two-person (K2) kayaks (recommended for less experienced paddlers and families - very limited availability for K2 kayaks) are available. Please specify when booking whether you would like K1 or K2 kayaks.

Camping and kitchen equipment:

• Tent (supplied one per 2-3 persons - extra tent for additional person in odd-numbered group is available as optional extra).Tents are usually Fjällräven Akka Dome, Everest Flexible Adv 3 or similar, suitable for 2-3 persons.
• Cooking stove with pans (supplied one per 2-3 persons). Fuel can be purchased on arrival at the kayak centre.
• Camping meal set (plate, cutlery, mug).
• Sleeping mat (inflatable, Exped or similar).
• Dry bags (two per person).
• Toilet spade.

Tour Information:

• Waterproof map (one per group).

Transfer:

• Transfer from/to Härnosand (or Kramfors) train station in connection with arrival/departure for your tour.
• Personal and equipment transfer from kayak centre to start point.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Food: You must purchase all provisions before beginning your tour. You can shop for provisions in Härnosand on arrival before transfer to the kayak centre.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Min. 2 adults (18+) required. Basic kayaking experience is also required for all adult and child participants. It is not necessary to have significant previous kayaking experience, but this should not be your first ever experience of sitting in a kayak. If you have been in a kayak before, even if only for a very short tour, and felt comfortable, that is sufficient. Of course, the tour is also suitable for more experienced paddlers.

Adult guests with limited experience are recommended to choose K2 (double) kayak, which is the most stable option.

The tour is suitable for both adults and families. Min. age 12 years for child sharing double kayak with adult (the adult will need to do more of the paddling work during the tour of course) or min. 15 years to paddle K1 (single) kayak.

Swimming ability required for all adult and child participants.

You should have a general good level of health and fitness and be used to and enjoy the outdoors.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

The tour is easy-going and stays on the same calm, slow-flowing river for the whole standard route. The river is more narrow and meandering at the start, becoming wider with small islands further down. On wider sections, the water can be choppy in windy conditions.

Guests choosing tours of 5-6 days have time to continue out into the archipelago (weather permitting). Wind conditions may have a greater affect in these areas.

Accommodation is wild camping on all nights. You will choose your own overnight spots along the riverbank or on small islands during the tour.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Ticks and TBE:

Note: Ticks occur mostly in grassy areas.

As in the UK and other areas, there are ticks in the Nordic forests which can carry diseases such as Borrelia. You should check for ticks at the end of a day in the outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible by pulling the tick out straight, carefully and slowly, with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Ensure that you do not leave any of the insect's mouth parts attached to your skin. Wash the bite area with soap and water. In the unlikely event that you feel unwell or notice anything unusual around the area of the bite in the coming days, consult your doctor.

As in large areas of mainland Europe, in some localised areas of the Nordic countries, the ticks are known to carry TBE, or Tick-borne encephalitis, and locals spending extended periods in affected areas often choose to vaccinate themselves. For current advice on TBE and inoculations for the area you are visiting, please consult your doctor or see Travel Health Pro.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following while you are in Stockholm before and/or after travelling for the tour:

• Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago (4 days, start/end Stockholm)
• Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands (4 or 5 days, start/end Stockholm)
• Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago (6 days, start/end Stockholm)

Groups

This experience is also suitable for groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy.