Discover Natural Ice Skating (Sweden)

Skate on frozen lakes and/or on the frozen Baltic Sea in the Stockholm Archipelago

Where you will skate and stay during the tour will depend on where the best ice is at the time - ice conditions change rapidly, and your expert guides know where to find the best ice. The location(s) of your accommodation and your daily skating tours may not be decided until just before departure. You may skate at a number of different locations during the tour and perhaps change overnight accommodation mid-tour (particularly for Advanced tours) to offer the best possible skating experience.

Sweden is one of the best destinations in the world for natural ice skating and there are many possible skating areas which may be used:

• Three of Europe's five largest lakes: Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren, as well as countless smaller lakes.
• The Stockholm Archipelago, a network of more than 30,000 islands in the Baltic Sea.
• Skating can even be possible in the heart of Stockholm city, the "Venice of the North", which is itself built on 14 islands!

As you'll discover, Swedish has many words for different types of ice - including "Kärnis" (hard, dark and clear, ideal for skating) and "svallis" (yellowish ice that forms on waterfalls). You'll experience and learn more about the fascinating world of ice during your tour!

Choose between Beginner-Intermediate and Advanced skating tours

There is a choice of two tour options depending on your level of skating experience and ability. Natural ice skating requires specific conditions - it must of course be cold enough for good ice to form, but ideally free of snow. While ice conditions may also be suitable earlier or later, the best months for skating on natural ice are usually January and February. Each offers offers a choice of tour dates during this time, with three days of adventurous skating, always under the supervision of experienced local guides:

• Option 1: Beginner-Intermediate tours: Suitable for complete beginners and also those with previous skating experience. There will normally be two guides, enabling the group to be subdivided to accommodate different ability and fitness levels, with typical skating distances around 10-30km/day.
• Option 2: Advanced tours: Ideal for returning guests and others with previous experience of skating on natural ice. You must be able to skate at a minimum speed of 10km/h for several hours in a row to join this tour. Again, groups will be subdivided according to ability, with typical skating distances around 20-80km/day.

Relax in the evening at comfortable accommodation

Pre-tour arrangements and the standard/style accommodation for your tour are different depending on the tour option chosen::

• Option 1: Beginner-Intermediate tours (3 days/2 nights): Meet in central Stockholm in the morning of Day 1 for transfer to the skating area for three days of skating. Accommodation will be country cabin-style, with everyone helping to prepare meals and cooking together (all food is provided).
• Option 2: Advanced tours (4 days/3 nights): These tours include a pre-tour hotel night, either at Stockholm Arlanda or in Stockholm city depending on your preference. Skating begins on Day 2 and accommodation for the next two nights of the tour will be in high-quality country hotels and guesthouses, with breakfast and dinner served in the restaurant.

Discover Natural Ice Skating is ideal for solo travellers, couples, those travelling with friends or even families with older children. Beginner-Intermediate tours are open to participants aged 15 and over, while Advanced tours are for adults only (min. age 18). In additional to public tour dates, private tours are also possible for groups by arrangement - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Trip Skating

Trip skating goes by many different names: tour skating, long distance ice skating, Nordic skating or wild skating. Popular throughout the Nordic countries, trip skating is particularly popular in Sweden, where the thousands of lakes create an ideal skating environment. More recently, it has been combined with kiting to create a new hybrid sport known as kite skating or kite blading.

The skates used for tour skating are rather different from standard skates, with longer blades around 50cm in length. Tour skates consist of a circa 50cm long blade, attached with binding to special skating boots similar to those used for cross-country skiing.

Day 2:

After breakfast, you will make an early start to enjoy a full day of skating. You should find that your confidence and technique is improving and you can relax and enjoy your time on the ice even more.

Lunch is taken outdoors, perhaps grilling sausages over open fire, and in the evening you return to your accommodation for dinner and sauna.

Day 3:

Your final day of skating. You'll make another early start to enjoy as much time on the ice as possible before returning to Stockholm city centre, where the tour ends, around 15.30.

You may wish to extend your trip by staying additional night(s) in Stockholm to explore the city. If departing this day, you should plan for flight departures from Stockholm Arlanda airport from 18.30 or later. It is not possible to plan to depart with earlier flights.

Day 2:

You will be met from your hotel for an early start (around 07.30-08.30). Your experience begins with an introduction and safety briefing and with fitting of your Nordic skates and other equipment.

You will then have transfer to the ice for your first day of skating, with the location chosen to offer the best possible ice skating conditions.

Skaters will be divided into various sub-groups, each with their own guide, depending on your ability and expectations for the tour. You will skate together with the other participants in your sub-group, but meet up with others for lunch outdoors during the day and of course in the evenings at your accommodation for dinner and sauna.

Day 3:

Breakfast and an early start for another wonderful day of skating. Lunch outdoors and dinner together in the evening. Depending on the locations of the best ice, you may stay at the same accommodation as Day 2 or move to a new location.

Day 4:

Your final day of skating, with breakfast and an early start to make the most of the day. Your return transfer will bring to you either to Stockholm Arlanda airport or to Stockholm city centre around 15.30 depending on your preference.

You may wish to extend your trip by staying additional night(s) in Stockholm to explore the city. If departing this day, you should plan for flight departures from Stockholm Arlanda airport from 18.30 or later. It is not possible to plan to depart with earlier flights.

*Single supplement: Required for solo travellers. We are not able to offer the option for guests not travelling together to share. Guests travelling as group of 3 persons may be able to share room if wished - please contact to us discuss your requirements.

^Single supplement options for Advanced tours: Advanced tours have a choice of Arlanda Park or Bentleys Hotel for pre-tour hotel night Day 1. See below for details. Price for single supplement includes single occupancy at the accommodation for Day 2 and Day 3.

For private tours, please contact us to discuss your requirements. Per person price will vary depending on group size.

Advanced tours: Should I choose Arlanda Park or Bentleys?

Option chosen for pre-tour hotel night Day 1 depends on your travel plans and budget:

• Best Western Park Arlanda Hotel, located close to Stockholm Arlanda airport: Choose this option if you are arriving late into Stockholm Arlanda airport or would prefer to overnight here rather than travelling into the city. Transfer from Arlanda airport to the hotel is included. Please provide your flight number in advance in order for transfer to be arranged.
• Best Western Bentleys Hotel, located on Drottningatan 77 in Stockholm city centre: You may wish to choose this option if your travel plans allow time to enjoy Stockholm city before your tour. For this option, you will travel independently from the airport to the hotel.

If you would like to add one or more nights at the pre-tour hotel accomodation before and/or after your tour, please contact for details and prices.

Included

Option 1: Beginner-Intermediate Tours

• Accommodation: Shared 2-person rooms in countryside cabin-style accommodation, usually with shared WC/shower facilities. Solo travellers must choose Single Supplement. Guests travelling as group of 3 persons may be able to share room if wished. Bed linen and towels are provided.
• Meals: All meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3. Breakfast and two-course dinner are prepared together as a group at the accommodation - everyone assists with food preparation, washing up, etc. Lunch when skating will be taken outdoors, often grilling sausages over open fire and with packed lunch prepared at breakfast. Please let us know in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements.
• Equipment and Clothing:
  • Trip skates and skating boots (please advise shoe sizes in advance).
  • Poles.
  • Skating daypack (including thermos and sitting pad).
  • Safety equipment (helmet, ice claws, safety line, elbow and knee pads). A First Aid kit will also be carried by the guide.
  • Goggles.
  • Insulated vest for breaks.
  • Emergency clothing: A complete set of spare clothing (including small towel). NB: Not for general use during the tour. Spare clothing is provided as part of your safety equipment.
• Guiding: Experienced and knowledgeable local guide(s). There will normally be two guides per group, enabling the group to be subdivided according to ability.
• Transfers: Return transfer between meeting point in central Stockholm and the location(s) of the accommodation/skating during the tour as per itinerary. Transportation for the experience is minibus for the group.
• Other: Photos from your experience. Your guide will take photos during the tour which will be shared with the group as a souvenir of your adventure.

Option 2: Advanced Tours

• Accommodation: Shared 2-person rooms in good quality country-style hotels and guesthouses with charm and character. En-suite facilities. Sauna facilities will usually be available at the accommodation. Solo travellers must choose Single Supplement. Guests travelling as group of 3 persons may be able to share room if wished.
• Meals: All meals from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 4. Breakfast and dinner are served at the hotel restuarant. Lunch when skating will be taken outdoors, often grilling sausages over open fire and with packed lunch either prepared from the breakfast buffet or by the hotel depending on accommodation used. Please let us know in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements.
• Equipment and Clothing:
  • Trip skates and skating boots (please advise shoe sizes in advance).
  • Poles.
  • Skating daypack (including sitting pad).
  • Safety equipment (helmet, ice claws, safety line, elbow and knee pads). A First Aid kit will also be carried by the guide.
  • Emergency clothing: A complete set of spare clothing (including small towel). NB: Not for general use during the tour. Spare clothing is provided as part of your safety equipment.
• Guiding: Experienced and knowledgeable local guides. The main group will be subdivided into smaller groups according to ability/skating speed.
• Transfers: Transfer from pre-tour hotel (Arlanda Park or Bentleys) and the location(s) of the accommodation/skating during the tour as per itinerary; transfer to end point in central Stockholm on Day 4. Transportation for the experience is minibus for the group.
• Other: Photos from your experience. Your guide will take photos during the tour which will be shared with the group as a souvenir of your adventure.

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.
• Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, sparkling water.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Min. age 15 years for Beginner-Intermediate tours, 18 years for Advanced tours. Max. weight 130kg. Swimming ability required.

Your skating backpack with safety equipment will weigh approx. 8kg (not including any extra personal items).

Beginner-Intermediate tours:

No previous skating experience is required, though will certainly be an advantage. The tour is suitable both for complete beginners and for those with previous experience but who do not fulfill the requirements for the Advanced tours (see below).

There will usually be at least two guides on a tour, enabling the group to be divided as appropriate by ability to offer the best possible experience for all.

All participants should have generally good level of fitness. If you are new to skating or to skating on natural ice, bear in mind that skating on natural ice is very different to skating on rinks. The technique is more similar to rollerblading or skate skiing and previous experience of these activities will also be an advantage.

Those new to long-distance skating will find the activity more physically demanding than those with more refined technique. As with most outdoor activities, especially if you are a less experienced skater, you should expect to fall over and get a few bumps and bruises on the way as you develop your technique and confidence. Full protective equipment is provided.

Typical skating distances for Beginner-Intermediate tours will vary from around 10-30km/day depending on ice and weather conditions and individual ability.

Advanced tours:

To join an Advanced tour, you should be an experienced skater with good level of health and fitness and also have previous experience of skating on natural ice. This tour is ideal for returning guests with suitable technique and ability.

You must be able to skate at a minimum speeed of 10km/h for several hours at a time.

Typical skating distances for Advanced tours will vary from around 20-80km/day depending on ice and weather conditions and individual ability. Groups will be split into sub-groups (max. 10 skaters per guide) with distances adapted accordingly.

For private groups, the tour can be adapted to a certain extent to accommodate different requirements/abilities.

What makes this "Medium(+)"?

Two levels of tour (Beginner-Intermediate and Advanced) are offered to accommodate different levels of skating experience and ability. Each tour has the possibility to sub-divide the groups to offer the best experience for all.

Accommodation is simple but comfortable cabin-style for Beginner-Intermediate tours and in high quality country hotels for Advanced tours.

Full safety equipment is provided and you will skate under the supervision of a guide at all times.

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.

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.

Minimum number:

All tours require total min. 2 persons to be confirmed to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Groups

• Beginner-Intermediate tours: Max. total 16 participants with 2 guides. The group will be divided into two to skate with own guide (max. 10 persons per guide) to accommodate different abilities and levels of experience but meet for lunch breaks and in the evening, etc. Transportation is by 9-seater minibuses driven by the guide. .
• Advanced tours: There may be a number of groups skating on a particular tour. Participants will be divided into sub-groups depending on ability to skate with own guide (max. 10 persons per guide) but meet for lunch breaks and in the evening, etc. Transportation is by coach driven by 3rd party driver.

Eco Info

This provider has a detailed environmental policy.