The Islands of Saint Anna



The last ice age has left its remains all over northern Europe, but the most spectacular are surely the archipelagoes covering most of Sweden’s eastern coastline. The archipelagoes mean something very special to Swedes. It’s blue vistas and glittering water, sunbathing on flat warm rocks, sailing boats in the distance, birds chirping in the background, smells of salt and seaweed, classic old red and white houses on little islands, fishermen and their catch. It’s that mix of beautiful wilderness and historical settings, of activity and relaxation, of solitude and company, that makes it such a summer favourite for everyone.

And the Saint Anna Archipelago really is a treasure among treasures. This 70 kilometre long stretch of the coast is absolutely perfect for paddling and camping. The islands are close to each other and completely pristine and unexploited for setting up your camp. There are no ferries or large boats around and the culture is fantastic with many old houses, a couple of quaint old villages where you can buy smoked fish and ice-cream, an old copper mine, a wood-fired sauna, lighthouses and lookouts. You will get plenty of solitude and wilderness on your adventure, but it is also cool to have a few places to visit on the way and really get emerged in the whole archipelago feel.

More than anything you’ll be free. Free to paddle and camp wherever you like. You’ll be the explorer among the maze of islands and the path you choose will be one never travelled before. During the day you can pause on one of the numerous tiny flat skerries to swim, have a cold beer and enjoy the sun and in the evening you can always find an island completely your own to set up camp, cook a nice meal and watch the sunset.