6 scenic destinations for first-time kayakers
Adventure and discovery await in these kayaking destinations, from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to the Broughton Archipelago in Canada.
Opt for a more manual mode of transport on water and you’ll discover shallow reefs, mangrove forests and mesmerising sea life. Unlike mountain biking, long-distance hiking and other adventure sports, kayaking is largely suitable for beginners, and is an eco-conscious way of injecting a bit of adventure into travelling. Here are six of the best destinations around the globe for your next — or first — kayaking island-hopping trip.
1. Sankt Anna & Gryt Archipelago, Sweden
How many islands do you need for your hopping? The Sankt Anna & Gryt Archipelagos have 6,000 of them, strung out along Sweden’s east coast. The mix of narrow straits, bare rock and patches of forest create a serene and otherworldly landscape. Wild camping is a given here — so, too, is the chance to watch the wildlife going about its business. Grey seals, white-tailed eagles, Arctic skua and many different kinds of waders are on your tick-list, so bring a pair of good binoculars and a camera.
How to do it: Do the North offers four-night kayaking and photography workshops departing in September from Norrköping. Fly to Stockholm.
2. Ionian Islands, Greece
Paddle east from the harbour town of Nidri in Lefkada and you’ll enter an azure world of warm water, sparkling seascapes and simple pleasures. Here, the long, indented island of Meganisi is the main focus — and it’s perfectly feasible to circumnavigate it on a four-day trip, checking out the private island of Skoprios en route. Other treats include deserted beaches, warm-water snorkelling and a cave at Papanicolis; big enough to hide a submarine during the Second World War. Plenty of beach-camping opportunities await visitors, too, shaded by pine trees, with the sea lapping almost at your feet.
How to do it: Much Better Adventures’ four-night kayaking and wild camping trips run regularly between April and October, departing from Aktion National Airport in Greece.
3. Southern Exuma Cays, Bahamas
The necklace of low-lying cays at the end of Great Exuma Island are well-suited for beginner-friendly, expedition-style kayaking. The waters are warm, sheltered and often so shallow they’re inaccessible to other kinds of boat, while the islands offer an intriguing array of habitats — including stretches of mangroves and former sea salt collecting flats. Expect several days of easy paddling as well as spotting iguanas, wild camping and mesmerising sub-tropical sunsets.
How to do it: Spirit of the West Adventures has five-night Exuma Cays trips in March and April, departing from Great Exuma Island. Fly to George Town.
4. Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Weather in the Outer Hebrides is unpredictable, so regard your itinerary as a series of ideas and aspirations rather than a fixed schedule and do as people have always done on the edge of the North Atlantic — adapt your days to the conditions. One thing remains constant, though. Whether you’re exploring the sea lochs of Lewis or the abandoned islands of Scarp and Taransay, the landscape teems with wildlife, from golden eagles to otters, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales.
How to do it: Wilderness Scotland runs several six-night Outer Hebrides sea-kayaking trips each spring and summer, departing from Inverness railway station.
5. Raja Ampat Archipelago, Indonesia
This group of 1,500 islands is set off the northwest coast of New Guinea, in the heart of the Coral Triangle. But it’s not just snorkelling with manta rays, turtles and yellowtail fusiliers that will make your eyes pop. The experience off the water is amplified further by the extraordinary biodiversity of the surrounding rainforests, too. In such a remote location, safety is a concern, so kayaking grounds tend to be small and are led by guides trained in isolated medicinal care. But that’s just how it should be when you’re paddling to what feels like the edge of the world.
How to do it: Voyage Kayak offers 16-night sea-kayaking trips in the Raja Ampat Archipelago in November and March, departing from Paris.
6. Broughton Archipelago, Canada
Just north of Vancouver Island, British Columbia fractures into a giant mosaic of land and sea. At the western end of Queen Charlotte Strait, the Broughton Archipelago is home to BC’s largest marine park and a breathtaking mix of old growth temperate rainforest, teeming with wildlife and First Nation archaeological sites. It suits expedition-style itineraries and wilderness camping in summer. Paddlers should keep their eyes peeled for a glimpse of bald eagles, sea lions, Pacific white-sided dolphins and humpback whales.
How to do it: Sea Kayak Adventures runs five-night summer tours of the Broughton Archipelago, departing from Port McNeill on Vancouver Island. Fly to Vancouver or Port Hardy.
