Guided Kayak Tours in Stockholm City (Sweden)

A stand-alone or additional adventure for adults or families

The tour is ideal for adults and also very suitable for families (min. age 12 for 2-hour tours, min. age 16 for 3.5-hour evening tours).

You may be visiting Stockholm as the main goal of your trip, or perhaps travelling via Stockholm on the way to or from one of our many other summer experiences in Sweden, such as:

• Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago
• Canoe Tours on Svartälven
• Timber Rafting on Klarälven
• Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago

Using stable 2-person kayaks, you begin right in the heart of the city, so from the first paddle stroke, you will be enjoying some of Stockholm's highlights from a unique vantage point.

Tours use double kayaks, which are stable and straightforward to paddle. Photo: STA.

Your guide will offer plenty of information and stories about the history and culture of the city as you paddle, as well as giving you the chance simply enjoying the experience of being out on the water.

A feast for the palette as well as the mind!

Evening tours include an additional component - you will make a stop for a picnic to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and some typical Swedish Midsummer foods. Midsummer, always celebrated in June on the Friday closest to Midsummer's Eve, is one of the most important Swedish cultural events of the year, and the food is an essential part of the celebrations! Don't worry, you don't have to be doing your tour at Midsummer - it's included in all evening tours during the season!

Enjoy a selection of three different varieties of pickled herring, boiled potatoes, Swedish meatballs, sausages, hard-boiled eggs, crispbread with Västerbotten cheese (one of Sweden's most loved cheeses) and Kalles Kaviar, a salty cod roe paste in a tube*. Kalles Kaviar is, culturally, the Swedish equivalent of Marmite - Swedes either love it or hate it! (though most of them love it). Accompany your picnic with elderflower and lingonberry "saft" (squash) and a dessert of local berries.

*As a young girl growing up in the Stockholm Archipelago, Sofia from the Nature Travels team was taught to sail by the real "Kalle", whose boyish face adorns every tube of Kalles Kaviar!

Groups are small and personal (max. 10 persons = 5 kayaks) and you'll learn a lot about Sweden's capital during your trip! Photo: STA.

With a wide choice of dates and times from April all the way to September, there's likely to be a tour to fit your plans. Take time out to discover Stockholm as it should be seen - from the water!

Included

• All necessary kayaking equipment: double sea kayaks (normally Prijon, single kayaks may also be offered for extra person in odd-numbered group where appropriate), paddles, spray deck and buoyancy aid (ratings from 15-30kg up to 95+kg).
• Services of local guide.
• Evening tours (3.5 hours) include picnic meal with traditional Swedish Midsummer foods, which typically include pickled herring, boiled potatoes, meatballs, sausages, boiled eggs, Kalles Kaviar, crispbread and cheese, with fresh berries for desert and elderflower/lingonberry juice. Please advise any dietary requirements in advance.

NB: Please be careful with the kayak and the rest of your equipment! If some part of the equipment should break as a result of misuse or carelessness, you may be charged for the damage caused.

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.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

All participants must be able to swim. Min. age 12 years for daytime tours, 16 years for evening tours. Minimum height 1.5m, maximum weight 130kg.

No kayaking experience is required. All participants use stable double kayaks as standard (single kayaks may be offered for extra person in odd-numbered group where appropriate).

What makes this "Easy"?

Tours are short (2 or 3.5 hours) and the focus is on enjoyment, seeing the sights of the city and learning about its history and culture. A brief introduction to the equipment will be given at the start of the tour and you will be accompanied by a guide.

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.

Minimum number:

Tours require total minimum 2 persons to be confirmed to run. You are welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with any of our summer experiences in Sweden which involve travelling via Stockholm.

Groups

Max. group size 10 persons.

In addition to public tours, private daytime and evening tours for groups can be offered by arrangement. Please contact us for details and prices.

Eco Info

This provider has a written ecotourism policy.