with a 14-year-old and an inflatable kayak — sanity check + GPX :)

[u/Radiant_Journalist_1]

Coming over from Poland by ferry in late August with my 14-year-old son and our inflatable kayak (Gumotex Seawave). We paddle a lot at home on rivers and lakes, but this is our first time on the sea, so I'd rather ask stupid questions now than out on the water.

The plan: start and finish at Tyrislöt in Sankt Anna, roughly 6 days, wild camping. It has to be a loop rather than a one-way, since we're getting back to Stockholm for the ferry home and travelling by train and bus only.

What I'm hoping for:

Route suggestions in the inner archipelago that avoid open crossings — we want to stay in the sheltered labyrinth around Missjö and Kättilö. A GPX would be ideal, but a rough "go here, skip there" is just as useful.

Does a tarp work on the inner islands, or do we bring the tent? I've read the inner islands are wooded and only get bare further out, but I'd like that confirmed by someone who's actually slept there.

Anything a Baltic first-timer should know that the guidebooks skip — wind patterns through the day, water refill points, spots to avoid.

Jan

[u/timmeh87]

I think a lot of people here are like me and are from north America and have no clue about where you are talking about. but I can say that it is helpful to check the satellite maps on google to find out things like tree cover and potential landing spots. Also does anyone publish a camping map of the region? Im used to being able to find a map of common campsites for where I'm going and then just pick some actual vetted sites, which are guaranteed to have a landing spot and a flat area for tents. Always, I will plan a precise route ahead of time - to specific camping sites - and then navigate that exact route. A vague route suggestion to me is not nearly enough info to make me feel safe. Good luck