Aavameri is the pioneer for guided sea kayaking expeditions, courses, and premium gear rental in Finland’s Archipelago Sea. With the highest level of experience, training, and quality, we don’t just offer trips—we create unforgettable journeys into the heart of one of the world’s most breathtaking seascapes. We set the course, crafting original, deeply immersive adventures that our guests rate as nothing less than exceptional. If you seek true expertise, authenticity, and the finest multi-day sea kayaking experiences, Aavameri is rated in a class of its own.

For skilled kayakers and beginners alike -- there is no better way to experience the fantastic Finnish Archipelago Sea with its thousands of islands than by sea kayak.

Aavameri arranges sustainable quality tours and classes for everyone from beginners to advanced sea kayakers. We always ensure that you get the best possible arrangements, instruction and equipment available, in small groups or individually. For the more experienced kayaker, quality sea kayak and equipment rental along with transportation, planning help, maps and expedition support is also provided.

For us at Aavameri, sustainablitiy and responsible acitivities are a key factor in everything we do. Read more about our sustainability program here.

Our Approach

Aavameri  Open-Air Adventures / seakayaking.fi was founded in 1998 in order to offer wilderness and sea kayak education and activities in Finland and internationally. From the very beginning, our main goal has been to offer sustainable activities of the highest quality with a strong focus on both the customer's and the nature's well-being.

We are based in Turku by the coast of the Finnish Archipelago Sea, but we also arrange activities in the whole of Finland, the Nordic countries and Europe. We do not have a fixed base for our service, but instead take care of transportation and always chose the best spots for delivering activities in the Archipelago Sea area.

Aavameri is a partner of the Leave No Trace program for outdoor ethics and environmental protection and a Sustainable Travel Finland, Laatutonni Quality 1000 and Pan Parks certified partner for the Archipelago National Park and heritage area.

Archipelago Sea, Finland

Our main playground and extraordinary haven is the Finnish Archipelago Sea, the largest archipelago in the world with its over 25.000, often tightly clustered, islands. We have been arranging sea kayaking tours in the world's greatest sea kayaking destinasions around the globe for over 15 years, but still our own Archipelago Sea is the most special area for us, and extraordinary area which we love to take our customers to.

The size of this area is over 8000 square kilometers, of which 2000 square kilometers is land. A massive amount of these islands are uninhabited, a fact which together with the Everyman's rights giving visitors the right to camp on and visit almost every island, makes this area a very unique place for wilderness enthusiasts.

We work in a close cooperation with the islanders living in the Archipelago Sea, and on our tours, you will get an insight in the archipelago culture and lifestyle.

More about the Archipelago Sea.

2.000 nights under bare sky

Owner, main guide and coach for Aavameri is Benjamin Donner. Ben has worked in sea kayaking and wilderness leadership coaching for over 20 years. He is among others working as a certified Sea Kayak Guide Coach and Assessor, as a International Sea Kayak Guide Association ISKGA Advanced Guide, Nordic Instructor License Instructor Coach / Assessor, BCU 5 Star Sea Kayak Leader and Wilderness First Responder and Firsr Responder instructor. In the Finnish National Sea Kayak certification systems, Ben is licensed to coach and certify introductory kayaking, guides, instructors and assessors. He has coached around the word, giving sea kayak courses and guiding expeditions in among others Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy, Estonia and Greece.

Aavameri also employs other professional guides and instructors for our specialized courses and tours, and always ensures that we have high quality staff with a lot of experience offering you the best there is to give. For guides and instructiors working as the Aavameri team, see below.