Best Places in the World for Stand Up Paddle
There are many enchanting places in the world for stand up paddle.
Each of us has our favorite spots, but here we list those that we believe are worth visiting due to their volcanoes, castles, incredibly turquoise waters, and the chance to see dolphins or other marine animals. In each of the locations on our list, the beauty of the place took our breath away!
1. Seychelles - Praslin
The Seychelles are a natural paradise. With stand up paddle, you can visit beaches away from the most touristy spots. Seeing rays and other colorful and unique fish beneath the paddle board is very common. A fairly stable board is recommended if you’re afraid of falling and landing on a shark.
2. UAE - Abu Dhabi - Dolphin Bay
The bay, known for dolphin sightings, allows you to paddle in the lagoon and enter the canals along the mangroves, offering a truly unforgettable experience. Here too, it’s very easy to paddle with the rays. You might also spot cute white gazelles arriving on the beach. The water is usually calm, so you can use a touring or race board without any problem.
3. Italy - Sardinia
Sardinia has endless beaches, archipelagos, caves, and arches that can be visited with stand up paddle. Given its popularity, in summer, it can be difficult to reach the whitest and most extraordinary beaches such as La Pelosa in Stintino or Tuerredda at the southern tip. Therefore, we recommend starting with SUP on the lesser-known beaches nearby and reaching these paradises, paddling and enjoying the view from the sea. Don’t miss the La Maddalena archipelago and Cala Domestica. Contact the Tutt'in Sup association for fantastic and safe excursions.
4. France - Ardeche
France is full of enchanting places to explore with SUP, such as the southern coast or some lakes like Annecy. In France, the place that left us most speechless on SUP is certainly the Ardèche. Descending a river alternating between adrenaline-pumping rapids and calm moments in very high gorges with changing landscapes at every kilometer is an unforgettable experience. Given the rapids for the first time, it is advisable to do it with a river board, a guide like Ardeche paddle, and the right protections.
5. Tanzania - Zanzibar
Tanzania with its coral reefs and long white sandy beaches is splendid for SUP. You can go into the mangrove coves or explore the seabed with huge colorful starfish. The chance of encountering dolphins at sunrise or sunset is very high. Watch out for the tide!
6. Switzerland - Lake Geneva
Switzerland with its 1,500 lakes deserves endless enchanting explorations. Noteworthy, besides Lake Thun, La Gruyère, Neuchâtel, and the descent of the Aare River, are the walks on Lake Geneva between Villeneuve, the Peilz islet, and Chillon Castle. The mountains reflect on the lake, with colors ranging from deep green to turquoise. The landscapes are postcard-worthy. Given the calm waters, touring or race boards are recommended.
7. Philippines - Palawan
With its 7641 islands, the Philippines have crystal clear waters and often natural waterfalls overlooking the sea. We recommend Palawan, the island with the most beautiful beaches in all of Southeast Asia, a tropical paradise far from the major tourist flows and still spartan in hotel reception.
8. Italy - Aeolian Islands
Seeing an active volcano from afar, stopping for mud baths, exploring the lesser-known sides of the famous Sicilian islands, all this is possible even with SUP. Given the open sea, we recommend a fairly wide SUP with more elastics to grab your gear and sleep under the stars in little-known corners of the islands.
9. Madagascar - Diego Saurez
Madagascar and its rich scents of vanilla, cocoa, and ylang-ylang have beautiful beaches. We recommend the north of the island with the fantastic Diego Suarez Bay from which excursions can be made. Here too, watch out for sharks; it's better to have a wide all-around SUP to avoid falling.
10. Norway
The fjords, the waterfalls, the mountains reflecting on the water, the incredible colors of Norway. Absolutely a must-do with SUP! A fairly long touring SUP is recommended so you can bring gear for long excursions and maybe sleep under the stars at night. Contact Sup Norway for better organization.
11. French Polynesia - Society Islands and Tuamotu
Here is the real paradise. The sea inside the coral reef is always calm and full of fish, from manta rays to sharks, from Napoleon fish to fish of a thousand colors. Being able to walk around the lagoon with SUP can really provide unique emotions and incredible encounters. The landscapes of the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, etc.) are characterized by the contrast of the blue sea, blue sky, and green mountains as volcanic islands. The landscapes of Tuamotu, on the other hand, are just variations of blue, between sky and sea, white sand tongues, and coconut trees. In both cases, SUP offers a moment of tranquility and deep connection with nature.
And what are the best places in the world to discover on a SUP?
