Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago (Sweden)

Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago gives you the chance to explore this unique landscape on foot and by bike, with comfortable accommodation at local hotels/hostels each night, combining the flexibility and freedom of a self-guided adventure with the convenience of a "full service" itinerary.

Luggage transfers lighten the load

Cycle hire, boat transfers and luggage transfers between overnight stops are all included, giving you maximum freedom to enjoy the beauty of the archipelago and the long, lazy days of summer.

Your experience begins and ends with a night in Sweden's capital, Stockholm - the "Venice of the North" - a beautiful city to explore. Cycle hire is included on the last day for self-guided tour of the city, including Stockholm's Ekopark, the world's first urban National Park.

Over the four days of the main tour, you will discover some of the highlights of the coastal and archipelago area, starting with the ancient forests of Tyresta National Park and the beaches of Dalarö before travelling out into the archipelago to explore the forested islands of Ornö, Utö and Fjärdlång, each with their own special character.

The landscapes of the archipelago are perfect for exploring both by walking and cycling, with the islands large enough to offer a variety of places to interest, while small enough to explore in the time available.

Bike is a wonderful way to explore, and included luggage transfers mean you travel light! Photo: NT.

Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago is an accessible tour suitable for couples, small groups of friends or active families. See under "Itinerary" for daily cycling/hiking distances.

See also: Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands and Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago.

Accommodation arrangements for solo occupancy

Solo occupancy supplement is for odd-numbered adult in a group (e.g. 3 or 5 persons) or for 2 adults who wish to have single occupancy during the tour. Guests with single occupancy supplement will have single room throughout. For nights on Utö (Day 3 and Day 4), guests with single occupancy will have cabin with own room but shared bathroom/lounge facilities.

Accommodation arrangements for families

With one child: Day 2: extra bed in double room with WC/shower; Days 3-5 (if child 8-12): extra bed in double room with WC/shower; Days 3-4 (if child 13-18): 3-person cabin with kitchenette and WC/shower (no extra bed).

With two children: Day 2: 2 x double/twin room with WC/shower; Days 3-4: 4-person cabin with kitchenette and WC/shower, one room with double bed/twin for 2 adults + sofa bed for 1 child, separate single bedroom. NB: For families with older children, space in the cabin may be limited. Alternative accommodation may be available for these nights for additional charge if preferred - please ask for details.

With three children: Price for other two children as for "2 adults + 2 children". Day 2: 2 x double/twin room with WC/shower, one room with extra bed; Days 3-4 (if child 8-12): 5-person cabin or 2 x cabins with kitchenette and WC/shower; Days 3-4 (if child 13-18): 2 x cabins with kitchenette and WC/shower.

Included

• Accommodation (in 2-person rooms, see images below):
  • 2 nights in hotel accommodation in Stockholm (nights of Day 1 and Day 5). Exact accommodation will be one of four locations depending on availability and will normally be different for first and last day. Hotels will be 3-4 star standard and each with their own special character, conveniently located in either city centre or popular Södermalm district.
  • 1 night in Dalarö (hotel) and 2 nights on Utö (hotel standard, either rooms in historic buildings close to main building or in wooden cabins depending on availability and number of persons).
• Meals: 5 x breakfast (Days 2-6), 1 x lunch (Day 3)
• Equipment: 5 days' cycling including mountain bike hire (bikes provided are 21-speed mountain bikes, normally Scott, Trek, Giant or similar) and cycle hire for Stockholm city tour Day 6. Pannier, pump, toolkit, extra tube, puncture repair kit, first aid kit, bike lock. Cycle helmets are not provided as standard, as many guests prefer to bring their own. If you would like a helmet, please advise in advance and one will be provided at no extra charge.
• Transfers & Transports: Stockholm-Tyresö Palace (Day 2), Boat Dalarö-Ornö and Ornö-Utö (Day 3), Boat Utö-Stockholm* (Day 5), Stockholm harbour-accommodation (Day 5)
• Luggage Transfers: Stockholm-Smådalarö (Day 2), Smådalarö-Utoö (Day 3), Utö harbour-accommodation (Day 3), Utö accommodation-harbour (Day 5)
• Other: Trail and route descriptions with maps; Trip briefing on arrival; Local contact number for emergencies.

* Luggage is transferred from hotel to boat and boat to hotel. Please take your own bags on and off the boat.

Day 2: Hotel accommodation in Hemviken Bay (5-6km outside Dalarö). Photos: Smådalarö Gård

Days 3 and 4: Accommodation on Utö (top left shows wooden cabins, other images show example historical buildings close to main building where rooms are located). Photos: Utö Värdshus (top left), Nature Travels (other)

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Meals not specified above.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Travel to/from accommodation in Stockholm on arrival/departure days.
• Cycle helmets are not provided as standard, as many guests prefer to bring their own. If you would like a helmet, please advise in advance and one will be provided at no extra charge.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should be in good health with a normal level of fitness. You should be able to cycle and hike for around 3-4 hours over the course of a day. Cycling can be challenging in places. Recommended min. age 9 years (younger children may be possible on request). The first day's hiking and cycling can be challenging for children, but there is also the option to cut out the hiking component on Day 1 to leave additional time to cover cycling distance if desired.

Minimum 2 adults normally required. Solo adult travelling with child(ren) may also be possible depending on age and options chosen. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

What makes this "Easy"?

The tour is self-guided but supported with luggage transfers and comfortable accommodation each night, and distances covered each day are relatively short. Depending on how used participants are to cycling, the cycling component may be experienced as moderately challenging.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Ticks and TBE:

Note: Ticks occur mostly in grassy areas.

As in the UK and other areas, there are ticks in the Nordic forests 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, consult your doctor.

As in large areas of mainland Europe, in some localised areas of the Nordic countries, the ticks are known to carry TBE, or Tick-borne encephalitis, and locals spending extended periods in affected areas often choose to vaccinate themselves. For current advice on TBE and inoculations for the area you are visiting, please consult your doctor or see Travel Health Pro.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

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. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following:

• Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago (3 or more days, one hour from Stockholm)

Groups

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

Eco Info

This provider has a detailed written environmental policy.

"The tour was amazing! We loved every minute of it. Such amazing scenery and beautiful places visited along the way. From start to finish it was such an easy experience and we never had any concerns along the way. We particularly loved Trosa and Mariefred was beautiful. We were lucky enough to have great weather along the way too - an amazing cloudless day on Fjärdlång which was lovely. We would definitely recommend the tour to other travelers and we even had people questioning us along the way and thinking it was a brilliant idea. We would 100% come back to Sweden - I would love to see it in the winter for a different experience." Ceinwen

"The whole process worked very smoothly - everything was clearly listed and easy to interact with. Staff were helpful with the small changes we had to the itinerary. Everything was very well organised - from being picked up at the start of the trip, all the daily information and detailed instructions on where to be. Excellent trip - we had a great time - thank you." Mike