Stockholm Lakeland Canoe Explorer

Overview

• Required: Normal fitness level, able to swim 200m. Minimum 2 adults. Suitable for adults and families who enjoy the outdoors.
• Duration: 5 days/4 nights.
• Accommodation: Two nights in hostel standard accommodation, one night bed and breakfast, one night camping.
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Stockholm Lakeland Canoe Explorer is the ideal canoeing holiday for adults or families who would like to explore this beautiful area on a self-guided canoe tour combining the adventure of point-to-point canoeing with the added convenience and reduced level of challenge of luggage transfer and comfortable accommodation along the route.

Beginning from Stockholm, you travel by steamboat to the beautiful waterside town of Mariefred before starting your canoe tour. Paddle distances are around 13km-17km each day, with occasional land transports required (a canoe trolley is provided), taking you through the scenic lake system of Marviken to end your tour in the lovely coastal town of Trosa before returning to Stockholm.

Your luggage will be transported between the overnight stops, leaving you free to maximise your enjoyment of your paddle experience in this stunning lakeland landscape. For three nights of the tour, overnights are in hostel standard or bed and breakfast standard accommodation, and to add to the adventure the canoe tour also features one night camping (your tent will be set up for you when you arrive and all camping equipment is provided).

With breakfast each morning as well as picnic lunches and dinner on some days included, Stockholm Lakeland Canoe Explorer offers a relaxing canoeing experience for couples seeking an active but romantic getaway break or families introducing their children to the excitement and adventure of a multi-day trip in the outdoors. As your itinerary begins and ends in Stockholm, this is also the perfect option for a tour with minimal travel time or those who wish to spend some additional days exploring Stockholm city before and/or after the canoe trip.

See also: Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands

Itinerary

You will be met at your accommodation in Stockholm in the evening before your experience begins, where you will receive information pack and briefing for your tour.

Day 1

From Stockholm you travel by steamboat across Lake Mälaren in the morning to the picturesque town of Mariefred. Nearby lies the lovely Gripsholm's Castle, well worth a visit in the afternoon.

Accommodation: small hostel or B&B accommodation centrally-located in Mariefred (depending on availability); Meals: none.

Day 2

You will be transferred from Mariefred to the start point for your canoe tour at Åkers Syckebruk, where you will collect your canoe equipment. Your day's canoe tour takes you through the scenic lake system of Marviken to Lake Klämmingen, where you camp for the night (tent will be erected for you and ready on arrival).

Accommodation: camping (tent will be erected for you) at small campsite in attractive, quiet location, outside dry toilet available (no shower); Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner; Paddling distance: 13km (four land transports required, 40m, 50m, 20m and 300m).

Day 3

Your paddle tour continues, taking you to Lake Sillen, where you have accommodation for the night in a farmhouse just outside Gnesta.

Accommodation: B&B in farmhouse or adjacent building, shared facilities; Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner; Paddling distance: approx. 17km (one land transport required, approx. 900m).

Day 4

You leave Lake Sillen to paddle down the Trosa Ån river towards the atmospheric coastal town of Trosa, known as "The World's End", where your canoe tour ends.

Accommodation: charming hostel in central Trosa, private rooms with separate beds (no bunk beds except in family room, which has 1 x bunk bed and 1 x normal bed) and private WC, shared shower; Meals: breakfast and picnic lunch; Paddling distance: 16km

Day 5

Trosa is a very attractive town and you have the day free to discover some of its cosy streets and shops. Bus tickets for local bus travel are provided, and return time to Stockholm is flexible depending on how you wish to spend the day.

Meals: breakfast.

Dates & Prices

Dates

• High season: Start days Fridays and Saturdays between 21.06 and 23.08.13 (last start day 23.08.13).
• Low season (spring): Start days 25.05.13, 26.05.13, 01.06.13, 02.06.13, 08.06.13, 09.06.13, 15.06.13, 16.06.13.
• Low season (autumn): Start days 24.08.13, 25.08.13, 31.08.13, 01.09.13, 07.09.13, 08.09.13.

The Price

Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.

Single supplement: There is no single supplement for odd-numbered participant in adult group. This person will have single accommodation but share canoe during canoe tour.

• Adults only: £660/adult.
• Family of 2 adults + 1 child under 19: £688/adult, £430/child. Child will share room in overnight accommodation with parents and family will paddle 3 persons in one canoe.
• Family of 2 adults + 2 children under 19: £688/adult, £563/child. Children will have accommodation in separate rooms on some nights and share room with parents on others. Family will use two canoes.

What The Price Includes

• Accommodation (in 2-person or family rooms, please see itinerary for details): Two nights in hostel standard accommodation; one night in bed and breakfast accommodation; one night camping (all camping equipment is provided).
• Meals (as per itinerary): 4 x breakfast, 3 x picnic lunch, 2 x dinner. Additional meals are available to purchase locally.
• Equipment: Canoe equipment including canoes, paddles, buoyancy aids and canoe trolley to assist with land transports. Canoes are 2-3 person Canadian canoes.
• Transfers: Chosen accommodation in Stockholm to Stockholm harbour (Day 1); steamboat Stockholm-Mariefred (Day 1); Mariefred harbour - accommodation (Day 1); Mariefred - Åkers Styckebruk (Day 2); bus tickets provided for Trosa - Liljeholmen (Stockholm) and underground ticket for Liljeholmen - your chosen accommodation in Stockholm (Day 5).
• Luggage Tranfers: Stockholm to Mariefred (Day 1); Mariefred - campsite at Lake Klämmingen (Day 2); Lake Klämmingen - Mälby (Day 3); Mälby - Trosa (Day 4).

What The Price Does Not Include

• Meals not specified above. Additional meals are available to purchase locally - information on the various options will be given when you begin your tour.

Optional Extras

Accommodation Upgrades:

• Mariefred (Day 1): Attractively-decorated room in lakeside cabin. Private WC/shower facilities and private terrace with views of lake Mälaren and Mariefred village, church and Gripsholm's Castle. £13/person (NB: this option is available for two persons only).
• Trosa (Day 4): Guest house beautifully located on one of Trosa's prettiest streets between the harbour and town square with parts of the building from the 1700s. All rooms recently refurbished, wash basin in room, shared WC and shower. £17/person.

Practical Info

Health requirements/experience

General good health and level of fitness. Participants must be able to swim 200m. Canoeing distances 13km-17km, no previous experience required.

Minimum 2 adults. This experience is suitable for both adults and families.

Ticks and TBE

Note: Ticks occur mostly in grassy areas.

As in the UK, there are ticks in the forests in Sweden which can carry diseases such as Borrelia. You should check for ticks at the end of a day in the outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible by pulling the tick out straight, carefully and slowly, with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Ensure that you do not leave any of the insect's mouth parts attached to your skin. Wash the bite area with soap and water. In the unlikely event that you feel unwell or notice anything unusual around the area of the bite in the coming days/couple of weeks, consult your doctor.

In some small localised areas of Sweden (including the region in which the tour takes place), the ticks are known to carry a disease called TBE, or Tick-borne encephalitis, and locals spending extended periods in affected areas do vaccinate themselves. For a map of TBE distribution in Europe and latest updates, please see Tick Alert.

For current advice on TBE and inoculations, please consult your doctor or see NaTHNaC.

Equipment/clothes needed

A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.

Groups

Minimum 2 adults. This experience is also suitable for groups - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Additional Notes

This provider has a detailed written environmental policy.

Location

Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

By Air

Fly to Stockholm Arlanda, Stockholm Skavsta or Stockholm Västerås airports. Travel time into Stockholm 20-90 minutes depending on options chosen. You will be met in Stockholm for the start of your tour.

Without Flying

Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward train connections to Stockholm.

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