“Just don’t fall in. Don’t fall in.” The waters were icy cold in defiance of summer as I dipped my feet into the Archipelago Sea and climbed into my kayak. I asked our guide, Benjamin, how many people tend to capsize, and his “oh, about one in ten” response didn’t do much to reassure me. There was no way I was taking a dip in the sea on this chilly summer day.
My first few minutes out at sea consisted of me giving myself a very serious pep talk while trying not to wobble over the dark waters.
“Just stay centred, don’t be stiff, breathe. You are in control of this. Now just don’t make any sudden movements.”
Despite my lack of kayaking experience (I had only done it once before in the jelly infested waters of Halong Bay in May), I was very excited to be going on a full day island hopping adventure.
The Finnish Archipelago is home to thousands of islands and small islets, so the best way to enjoy the scenery is by hitting the water and skirting around the string of forested islands.
Our Adventure Kayaking In Finland
One of the highlights of the excursion was spotting sheep. (Not quite the wildlife I was expecting!) We were greeting with melodic ‘baaahs’ by this flock who seemed undisturbed by our presence. They stared at us as we got of our kayaks to stretch our legs and then continued chewing on grass while they eyed their strange new guests.
The reasoning behind keeping the sheep on small islands is that they can graze freely, but unless they are planning to go for a swim, they can’t really wander off anywhere – and when was the last time you saw sheep going for a swim?
The journey from the small seaside village of Kasnäs out to Högsåra was very leisurely. Even though we only travelled a grand distance of 4 kilometres to reach our destination, it took us just over 2 hours to get there – that’s almost double the regular pace. I’ll admit I was the one who lagged behind in the trio, but when you’re going to be kayaking for several hours in one day, the best thing you can do is find your rhythm and stick to it. Slow and steady was my motto.
Reaching Our Destination Point Högsåra
By the time we reached Högsåra, we were all famished and ready for lunch at Farmors Cafe – a family establishment that specializes in hearty home cooked meals and succulent desserts. We served ourselves platefulls until our stomachs were content and our bodies were…ready for a nap. It was hard pulling ourselves away from Högsåra’s idyllic setting knowing we still had a 2 hour journey back to where we had come from, but with the rain coming it was time to slide into our kayaks again.
I am happy to say that aside from the light rain that drizzled over us on much of the journey back, I arrived back on land without capsizing, which is more than I can say for Sam over here. You see, just as we were pulling over to the shore, the boy lost his balance trying to climb out of the kayak and made a swan-like exit into the water…
(Whew! So glad that wasn’t me.)
A few tips for the newbie kayaker:
– Bring a change of clothes…just in case you capsize or make a rather ungraceful exit out of your kayak. (It happens.)
– Considering wearing a fleece and a windbreaker. Even if it’s summer, the temperature can drop on an overcast day.
– Don’t overdo it with the distances. If this is your first time kayaking consider starting out with a half-day or full-day trip as opposed to a longer and far more demanding excursion. It’s not a matter of just getting to your destination; you’ll also need to paddle back and that’s when your muscles start to burn.
– Choose the right sized kayak. I didn’t know this before, but kayaks come in all shapes and sizes. The fit should be snug, but you don’t want your legs to be cramped, otherwise they’ll go numb halfway through the journey.
– Use proper paddling technique. Your arms shouldn’t be doing all the work, if they are, you will tire very quickly. Twist your torso from side to side when you paddle; by doing so you will be exercising larger muscles in your body, which will keep you going longer.
– Sit up straight. Leaning backwards or slouching forward will only limit your upper body’s mobility.
– Look out for boats. Be aware of your surroundings and always be on the lookout for speedboats or sailboats that may be out cruising for the day. Sometimes it can be difficult for larger vessels to spot a small kayak.
Planning Your Own Archipelago Paddle: Logistics, Seasons & Quick-Grab Tips
Dreaming of sliding your kayak between pine-topped skerries and bleating “island sheep”? Here’s how to turn that daydream into a smooth, salt-sprayed reality—without any unexpected polar plunges.
Picking the Perfect Window
| Season | Air/Water Temp | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| May–early Jun | 10-18 °C / 8-12 °C | Midnight-sun glow, nesting eiders | Water still nippy—dry suits advised |
| Mid Jun–Aug | 18-25 °C / 14-18 °C | Warmest seas, cafés open daily | Weekend traffic from Helsinki boaters |
| Sep | 12-18 °C / 11-15 °C | Fiery foliage, mushroom foraging | Shorter daylight, sporadic ferries |
Tip: If you crave tranquil channels, aim for the last week of August—post-school holidays but before ferry timetables drop to “island-hermit” frequency.
Getting to the Launch Point (Kasnäs)
By Car: 2 h 30 m from Helsinki via Salo & Kimitoön; free car ferry at Svartnäs runs every 15–30 min.
By Bus: OnniBus or Matkahuolto to Salo, then a regional bus to Kasnäs Guest Harbour (check connections; Sunday options are limited).
By Sailboat Charter: Several Helsinki outfits will drop you in Kasnäs and pick you up days later for an island-hopping combo trip—pricey but epic.
Choosing a Guide vs. DIY
| Option | Ideal For | Ballpark Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Guided Day Tour (Aavameri, Skärgårdsguiderna) | First-timers, history buffs | €95–125 pp inc. gear & lunch |
| Self-Hire Sea Kayak | Confident paddlers, GPS savvy | €50 day + €10 dry bag |
| Multi-Day Supported Expedition | Wild-camp enthusiasts | €320–€450 (3 days, food supplied) |
Finnish “Everyman’s Right” lets you camp one night on public islands, but stick to marked fire rings and pack out everything—including biodegradable orange peels.
Packing Cheat-Sheet (Per Day)
Clothing: Merino base, mid-weight fleece, waterproof shell, quick-dry pants, neoprene booties.
Gear: 2 L water bladder, sunglasses with leash, phone in waterproof pouch, compact towel, headlamp (yes, even in August—sauna nights run late).
Safety: Map & compass even if you rely on Navionics; fog can roll in like stage curtains.
Treats: A thermos of blueberry mehu (juice) and a slab of korvapuusti cinnamon bun—sugar morale is real at hour five.
Add-On Adventures
Island Sauna Hopping: Reserve wood-fired saunas on Brännskär or Högsåra (from €15 pp). Nothing beats the cycle: paddle, steam, plunge, repeat.
Bicycle-Kayak Combo: Many outfitters stash foldable bikes in dry hatches. Pedal gravel roads across Kimitoön’s main island, then launch again from a different cove.
Seal & Sea-Eagle Safari: Late afternoon departures when grey seals haul out on sun-warmed rocks; bring a 200 mm lens for the white-tailed eagles soaring above.
Quick Etiquette Nuggets
Give ferries a wide berth—their captains do not brake for kayaks.
Sheep selfies? Keep 10 m distance; ewes can head-butt if lambs are near.
Quiet hours after 10 p.m. apply even on uninhabited islets—sound echoes across flat water.
A big thank you to Benjamin of Aavameri Open-Air Adventures for taking us kayaking and showing us the beauty of the Finnish archipelago.
I’d be scared to capsize in such cold waters too! I’ve been kayaking only once, but it was in a harbor near my home, so I didn’t have to paddle far. I don’t know how my arms would do, but kayaking looks like a great adventure. I’ve never really had Finland (or Scandinavia in general) on my lists of places to travel, but lately I’ve seen so many beautiful pictures, nature-y pictures lately, that I want to be able to make it there someday. Maybe I’d try my hand at kayaking too.
I’m glad you didn’t capsize! Poor Sam. I’ve only kayaked a few times, and while this looks lovely, I’m not sure I’d be so brave as to take such a big trip!
By late summer the waters of the Baltic Sea are generally quite tepid, even warm in the shallows, mostly as there are almost no currents – there is no high or low tide on the Finnish coast. As someone who grew up near the Atlantic in Ireland both the temperature and lack of tides seems exotic to me, also the fact that what is called ‘wind’ here is seldom more than a breeze. Excellent waters for kayaking.
I’ve only been kayaking once off Vancouver Island, my brother & his girlfriend go every weekend though as we are right off of Lake Ontario. Such a great workout! x
Hahaha. Reminds me of the time I flew over Nazca in a tiny plane and one tough guy kept singing the theme from Apocalypse now and making the rest of us nervous. Guess who was sick into a bag?! Muhahaha. Revenge is sweet!
I love kayaking – although I have a slight fear of losing control, it’s kind of exhilarating! I’m glad you stayed dry 🙂
So glad you haven’t capsized and stayed dry the whole activity! And oh thanks for the tips. So bad I did not happen to take your last advice though. I always bump other boats the first time I kayak 🙂
this would certainly be wonderful in the summer time! I must admit I absolutely love Kayaking! doing in jelly infested waters or freezing icey waters however would doesnt sound quite the same as doing it in Greeces summer haha. Sounds like a great day out discovering islands however!
I absolutely love kayaking, although not too sure I’d enjoy it in freezing water!
Poor Sam! Hopefully it didn’t take him long to get out of the water.
I still can’t do this or so I think…
Good job you were successful in not capsizing! 🙂
Audrey, I love that you always go for it – may make you nervous or give you pause, but you do it anyway. Admirable!
So what about the camera? Did you use a waterproof casing or a water resistant camera? I’m going sea kayaking in a couple of days and I wondered how you managed to take pictures.
I took a little waterproof camera with me. I use a Panasonic Lumix. The zoom isn’t great, but it does the trick.
Thanks God you didn’t capsize. If there is something i fear is kayaking. It will take much courage for me to try kayaking hope one day i will.
Kayaks freak me out a bit. Especially the ones where your belly is wrapped into the kayak. I’d be too scared that if I flip over I wouldn’t be able to get out.
I wish I’d read these tips before my kayaking excursion in Halong Bay! I neglected to turn my torso and my arms were screaming after an hour!
Nice story and good photos. We have so many places to go and some of them are kind of hidden. We love kayaking in the river and here you can see picks those hidden places. Language is finnish but there are a lots of photos to see http://melontareitit.com/
Great post! Love the pictures and it sounds like it was a fun adventure. Just finished a trip to Ecuador where we went whitewater rafting. My husband ended up in the water but luckily it wasn’t freezing cold.
http://www.venturists.net/whitewater-rafting-in-banos-ecuador/
Hopefully you practiced a wet exit before you set off! Or at least the theory of it in just in case you happened to be the 1 in 10 that capsize! Otherwise, it looked like a great adventure! I’m glad you got out and tried something new.
Avid kayaker hailing from Los Angeles. A bit of a harrowing experience! Sounds like you got out of it fine and had a great time. Cheers! I always like a bit of fear 🙂
Glad you didn’t fall in! But it looks like a beautiful trip. Thanks also for the great newbie kayaking tips. There’s more to kayaking than one might think. Keep the great posts coming!
Choosing the right kayak, is indeed a big thing. Some people automatically think they’re going to fall in but a larger kayak can help prevent that–although at a loss of speed. Thanks for sharing this new place for me to add to my map!
I participated in the high seas canoe trip in Turku Ruissalo. It was my first canoeing experience. Enjoyed it a lot!
Good tips for kayaking beginners. As a newbie, I overestimated my prowess once and the ache stayed in my muscles for over a week. That and choosing the right size of kayak should be the main items to consider.