Paddling the World

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Paddling the World

Matt Gambles • Mar 08, 2021

Great Paddling Trips around the World

Great International Paddling Destinations

Paddle Surf Scotland main man, Matt Gambles takes a look back at some of his favorite Paddling destinations Worldwide.

My career working in the watersports industry has taken my to some incredible locations during the past twenty years or so. Both in a Kayak and on a Stand Up Paddleboard it has enabled me to experience new cultures, incredible sights and meet some amazing people. Indeed, without paddling I would have never have moved and fallen in love with Scotland, let alone ran one of the countries oldest SUP schools.

Via a mixture or SUP and Kayak ,here is a few of my favorite paddling locations I have been lucky enough to experience.

Innala Archipelago, Sweden/Finland

I was lucky enough to enjoy going to University in the tiny Lapland town of Tornio in Northern Finland. Sat at the top of the Gulf of Bothnia and with a twin town, Haparanda, over the border in Sweden it's an incredible paddle destination. The mighty Tornionjoki river churns through the town bringing snowmelt down into the Baltic Sea with some excellent whitewater. Just off the coast and paddle-able from both towns lies the Innala Archipelago. Literally thousands of tiny islands are to be found and enjoyed. Among them are several which make ideal camping places or indeed have huts to sleep in. With almost 24 hours of sunlight to paddle in during the Summer months, the opportunities are endless.

Paddling the Sun Run on the River Durance, France.

Working as a Whitewater Raft Guide and Kayak Instructor I got to spend many summers in the south of France. From the Mediterranean sea to the Dordogne it was an amazing experience. My three summers working in the Alpine town of Embrun was the highlight. An Alpine classic, the River Durance 'Sun Run' is 18 miles of big and bouncy whitewater all under majestic peaks. The air temperature may have been in the late twenties but the glacier fed Durance certainly wasn't. The Durance feeds into Lac Du Serre Poncon, Southern Europe's largest man made lake, offering incredible touring options.

Paddling the Southernmost tip of Europe, Spain

Many many winters I have been lucky enough to call Tarifa in Spain, home. With the bright lights of Tangiers, Morocco, in sight just across the straits of Gibraltar, it's a special place to be, Surfing and Kitesurfing. A must do is the SUP trip (when conditions allow, not that often in the winter) from the Mediterranean Sea beach of Playa Chica, around the southernmost tip of Europe, eventually landing on Playa De Valdevequeros on the Atlantic Ocean. 2 giant bodies of water, 2 continents, it's an awe inspiring paddle.

Surfing the World's most famous Point break, South Africa

Sharks, Great White Sharks, this was definitely a thought regularly going round my head while SUP Surfing in magnificent South Africa. Even more so in Jeffrey's Bay, where, famously World Champion Surfer Mick Fanning punched one while being attacked mid competition. It definitely adds a new part to your daily risk assessments while deciding where and when to surf. The legend of J Bay and it's famous right hand point break helped push me into getting in the water though. It's incredible fast and some of the best waves of my life where to be had on the draining walls of this World class wave.

Exploring Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand

Sat at the top of the South Island of New Zealand near the town of Picton, sits Queen Charlotte Sound. This place is huge, with stunning hills on either side of you as you explore it's hidden inlets and multiple dream camping spots. With the Abel Tasman National Park just along the coast, the top of the South Island is incredible for both Sea Kayaking and SUP Touring.

Surfing Reefs miles out to sea, Bali, Indonesia.

Bali is a surfers paradise, with an incredible array of differing breaks. From the gentle waves of Batu Balong in Canggu to the razor sharp reefs of Uluwatu. With incredible food, culture and views, it's one of my favorite places to surf and SUP. On the east coast sits the relaxed resort of Sanur. From its white sand beaches is a huge lagoon of azure blue waters, flat and calm making for lovely flat water paddling (especially with a snorkel and flips in tow). A few miles paddle across the lagoon sits some incredible churning reefs to surf. By the time you have paddled out, surfed your energy away and paddled back in, there are plenty of bars to welcome you with an ice cold Bintang.

Mosques and Mountains, Oman

Working teaching SUP and Kayaking in the United Arab Emirates gave me the opportunity to experience some unique cultures and some amazing paddling. Paddling with loggerhead Turtles next to a mangrove swamp as thousands of flying fish dart around you, or surfing while the Burj Al Arab, the World's highest building sits in the distance. Across the border from the glitz and glamour of the UAE, is the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. A World away, it is much more horse and cart than Hummer and Cartier across the border. With the many mosques competing with each other in their call to prayers, the huge peaks of the Hajar Mountains go straight from peak to sea, making for a sensory overload while paddling.

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