The Ronnebyån carries you 70 kilometres through dense forest and near-silence. The archipelago opens towards Blekinge's southernmost islands. You choose which water you want to be on — and where you collect your kayak.
The river is quiet and covered. The sea is open and lit. Both are in Ronneby. Four hire operators, two very different kinds of paddling - and a checklist worth reading before you push off.
WHERE TO HIRE
Järnavik (sea kayak) · Karlsnäsgården (canoe)
Paddelkompaniet has been running kayak and canoe hire in Ronneby for 25 years - long enough to know the river, the archipelago and everything in between. Sea kayak hire operates from Järnavik, beside Pensionat Järnavik - look for the red warehouse. Canoe hire runs from Karlsnäsgården on the Ronnebyån.
They transport canoes and kayaks to any point along the Ronnebyån, so you can start and finish where it suits you rather than where the kit is stored. Beginner kayaking courses available. Canoe carts included or available to hire - confirm at booking. Unmanned station for out-of-hours collection. ARK56 registered operator.
Phone
+46 (0)457-803 00
+46 (0)763-41 20 66
Website & email
paddelkompaniet.se
info@paddelkompaniet.se
Ekenäs guest harbour · Ronneby east pier
Unmanned kayak hire via the GoKaya self-service system. Scan the QR code, book and pay — the link unlocks the kayak directly. Available around the clock, no booking in advance required, no waiting for a member of staff. Also works as a gift card.
Single kayak (K1), double kayak (K2), Sit On Top and fishing kayaks available. SUP boards also for hire at the same stations. Two launch points: Ekenäs guest harbour for archipelago paddling, and Ronneby east pier.
Phone
+46 (0)736-99 12 81
Website & email
blekingesurf.se/hyrakajak
blekingesurf@gmail.com
Karlsnäsgården · Ronnebyån river
Canoe hire on the Ronnebyån through the summer season - from one of Sweden's oldest outdoor recreation organisations. Friluftsfrämjandet is one of the established operators at Karlsnäsgården and is a natural choice if you want the river with the backing of an organisation that has been doing this for a long time.
Canoe hire
Karlsnäsgården
1 June–31 August
Phone
June–Aug: +46 (0)457-201 85
May & Sep: +46 (0)457-807 03
Website & email
friluftsframjandet.se
ronneby@friluftsframjandet.se
Listerby · 10 km south of Ronneby
Kayak hire directly from the campsite, for day trips in the Listerby archipelago. The natural choice if you are staying at the campsite and want to paddle out amongst the islands of Slädö, Arpö and Vagnö without the logistics of transporting kit. The islands are close, the water is sheltered and the route back is straightforward.
Sea kayak hire
Listerby archipelago
May–September
Website
ronnebyhavscamping.se
Current prices and availability online
Location
Listerby, 10 km south of Ronneby
Direct archipelago access from the site
Five things worth knowing
Download the ARK56 app before you travel.
Detailed nautical charts, rest stops, launch points and 16 navigation waypoints along Blekinge's coastline. Free on App Store and Google Play. It is the single most useful thing you can do before paddling the archipelago.
Download the ARK56 app before you travel.
Thirteen portages along the river route, ranging from 50 to 900 metres each. Several require at least two adults. Carts are included with most hire packages or available to rent confirm when you book.
Bird protection zones apply 1 April–15 July.
Many islands along ARK56 have restricted access during the nesting season. Yellow signs mark protected islands - give them a wide berth. Seals are present near Torhamn: maintain distance and do not approach.
Check the river level on the Ronnebyån before you set off.
Flow and water level vary with the season and rainfall. Ring Paddelkompaniet - they can confirm current conditions before you commit to a launch point.
If you are paddling to Tjärö, book the return ferry separately.
The kayak gets you there - but the archipelago boat back is booked separately via Blekingetrafiken. July departures fill quickly. Check the current timetable before you travel.
Paddelkompaniet hyr ut vid Pensionat Järnavik (bemannat, sommarsäsong) och via obemannad GoKaya-station i Järnavik. Blekinge Surf har GoKaya-stationer vid Ekenäs gästhamn och Ronnebys östra hamnpir - självservice, dygnet runt. Ronneby Havscamping hyr ut för turer i Listerby skärgård.
Hela leden är ca 70 km och brukar ta 4–7 dagar beroende på tempo. En dagstur på Tjädersdal–Korrö är ca 9 km. Karlsnäsgården–Ronneby är en klassisk avslutningssträcka. Paddelkompaniet erbjuder transport till valfri startpunkt längs ån.
Ja. Tjärö ligger strax utanför Järnaviks hamn och är en av de vanligaste dagsturerna. Öns östra stränder gränsar mot naturreservat - håll koll på fågelskyddsperiodens gula skyltar om du paddlar under april–15 juli.
Grundkurser i kajakpaddling på en eller två dagar. I hyran av kajak ingår dessutom grundläggande genomgång av paddlingsteknik, i- och urstigning samt kamraträddning (teoretisk genomgång på land) om du önskar det.
Skanna QR-koden på stationen, boka och betala online. Du får en länk via mejl som låser upp kajaken. Hämta tillbehör i boden, paddla, rengör och återlämna. Inga öppettider att passa - fungerar hela dygnet.
