Exploring the Stockholm Archipelago with KAYAKOMAT

After an unforgettable stay on the island of Utö, we found ourselves travelling back towards Stockholm but with a few hours to spare before checking into our hotel at Nacka Strand. I had previously scoured Google Maps to see if I could spot something interesting to do on our route, which was when I stumbled upon KAYAKOMAT.

Eager to find a way to further explore the archipelago independently, the concept of KAYAKOMAT immediately appealed to us. The company rents out single and double kayaks, as well as SUPs, but the unique thing is that their stations offer a fully self-service system. You simply go on to their website, or scan a QR code at the station, book what you want and for when, and you are sent a code to unlock the equipment at the designated time. What a great idea!

This is a concept that originated in Sweden, and there are numerous stations around the Stockholm archipelago as well as further afield. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, we stopped at the KAYAKOMAT station at Saltsjö Duvnäs, a peaceful residential area that lies just 10 kilometres south-east of Stockholm. The water there is ideal for boating and kayaking, and there are plenty of green spaces also for those who prefer terra firma, with lots of opportunities for hiking and other outdoor pursuits.

Discovering KAYAKOMAT

We’re no strangers to adventures on the water and didn’t want to worry about waiting for an attendant or arriving at a specific time as we didn’t know which ferry we’d be catching from Utö or how long the drive would be. For this reason, the KAYAKOMAT offering suited our plans. The station was easy to find and conveniently set up right by the shore.

Once we arrived, the booking process couldn’t have been simpler. We selected the Saltsjö Duvnäs location on the KAYAKOMAT website, and within minutes we had booked two double kayaks. Ten minutes later when our allotted time arrived, we entered the code we’d been given to unlock them from the station.

It was an incredibly hassle-free process, and we loved the flexibility it offered us. No waiting around for someone to hand over equipment. It was entirely on our terms.

The station and the equipment were clearly well maintained, with buoyancy aids, paddles, sponges, etc. all supplied within each kayak. There were even waterproof storage areas on each vessel for us to take items with us if we wished.

All we had to do was put on our buoyancy aids, slide the kayaks on to the water and get ready for an afternoon of adventure!

Exploring Skurusundet

Our journey began as we paddled northwards into the calm waters of Skurusundet, a narrow strait surrounded by picturesque shorelines and quaint waterfront homes. As we left the shore, the noise of distant traffic was soon replaced by the soft sound of water lapping against the kayaks. Occasionally a larger vessel would come by, but they were respectful of our presence and would lower their speed so as not to create too much chop.

Paddling in double kayaks was fun, allowing us to work together and enjoy some quality family time.

Around Mårtens Holme and back along the southern shore of Lännerstasundet

After crossing the strait at Skurusundet, we hugged the shoreline to avoid the main channel and headed east towards Mårtens Holme, a small island in the northern section of the Lännerstasundet waterway. We resisted the temptation to stop at Kenny’s Gelato Tollare, founded by Kenny Mattsson, Swedish Gelato Champion in 2022.

We circled this quiet little island, surrounded by rocky shores and dense greenery. Despite it being quite a wide and exposed channel thereafter, the water remained incredibly calm for our return to Saltsjö Duvnäs. With the exception of Fisksätra, which lies further along than we’d reached, the southern shore of Lännerstasundet is largely undeveloped so we could admire a more open view of the landscape and the natural beauty of the shoreline. It’s hard to imagine that all this is just 10-15 kilometres from central Stockholm.

A perfect afternoon on the water

We hired the kayaks for two hours and, by the time we returned to the station at Saltsjö Duvnäs, that was just about perfect. We had taken it all at a leisurely pace and the double kayaks had been easy to handle, gliding through the water with ease, but I’m sure we could have covered more ground if we’d tried. According to Strava, we’d covered 6 kilometres on the water, with a moving time of an hour and 15 minutes.

If you were to hire the kayaks for the day, you could continue kayaking east through Lännerstasundet, and exit into the larger bay of Baggensfjärden via Baggenstäket, following a route that eventually leads out to the Baltic Sea (we don’t suggest you go that far!), with many islands and skerries along the way.

Returning the kayaks was just as easy as when we picked them up. We made sure we were leaving them in good order, including the buoyancy aids, paddles, etc. and securely locked them back into their designated spots. The entire process, from start to finish, was just so simple and seamless that it’s little wonder why KAYAKOMAT stations have been springing up all over Europe.

Whether you’re exploring the Stockholm archipelago, paddling through Danish fjords or you fancy stand-up paddeboarding on the lakes of Germany, KAYAKOMAT’s expansion means that more and more people can experience adventure on the water in some of Europe’s most stunning locations. Wherever your travels happen to take you, we highly recommend giving it a try. It’s the perfect way to experience nature, create unforgettable memories and spend quality time with family or friends.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by KAYAKOMAT and our trip was kindly supported by Visit Stockholm.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.