No-fly Holidays in Sweden
We offer many options for holidays in Sweden without flying. Here we've listed our outdoor adventures which are the easiest to reach from the UK or mainland Europe without flying, being located either in the south of Sweden or in the Stockholm area.
However, the vast majority of other experiences we offer are also accessible by public transport - for example, our ski touring and dog sledding tours in northern Sweden are very convenient to travel to by direct night train from Stockholm.
- Canoe Getaway in Skåne (3 or more days): An easy-going canoe tour for adults or families. Travel to Copenhagen in Denmark from where it just 1 hour 45 mins by train + 15 mins by bus to the canoe centre.
- Canoeing in Dalsland's Lake District (4-8 or more days): With flexible duration, route and level of challenge, this is a canoeing holiday suitable for families, adults or groups. Travel to Gothenburg for train and bus (2-3 hours) to Bengtsfors, where you can begin your tour directly or add night locally in hostel or hotel accommodation.
- Discover the Islands of the Stockholm Archipelago (6 days): Starting from Stockholm, this is a wonderful hiking and island hopping tour with luggage transfers between guest houses.
- Guided Kayak Tours in the Stockholm Archipelago (1-3 days): A guided tour in this beautiful island region will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the area, and also offers the perfect opportunity to improve your kayak skills.
- Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago (6 days): Starting from Stockholm, this tour takes you to some of the most beautiful parts of the archipelago, travelling on foot and by bike with your luggage transferred.
- Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands (6 or 7 days): Starting from Stockholm, explore the beautiful landscapes around Sweden's capital by pedal, paddle and pedestrian power with luggage transferred between overnight accommodation.
- Ice Skating on Natural Ice (4 days): Stockholm is the meeting point for this unique experience, making this a winter holiday option that you can conveniently travel to without flying.
- Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago (8 days): Meet in Stockholm for a self-guided tour with luggage transfers and accommodation in local guest houses along the route.
- Sea Kayaking Skills Camp in Bohuslän (4-7 days): Develop your kayaking skills with a choice of itineraries combining kayak training with tours in the archipelago. Travel to Gothenburg for direct train (one hour) to Uddevalla and a 3km walk, bus or taxi ride to the kayak centre.
- Self-guided Hiking and Packrafting in Tiveden (4 or 5 days): A moderately challenging adventure with wild camping through a varied landscape of national park, lakes and inland archipelago. Travel to Stockholm for direct train (1.5-3 hours) to Hallsberg, from where transfer to/from the start/end points is included.
- Self-guided Sea Kayaking in Bohuslän (3-7 days): Kayaking and wild camping in a beautiful archipelago landscape. Travel to Gothenburg for direct train (one hour) to Uddevalla as for the Sea Kayaking Camp above.
- Self-guided Sea Kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago (2-8 days): Flexible kayak adventures easily accessible from Stockholm with all equipment provided and a choice of "Standard" or "Full Service" package options.
- West Coast Kayaking Adventures (3 days): Guided alternatives to the self-guided kayak tours in the Bohuslän region above, also meeting at the kayak centre in Uddevalla and taking place in a range of beautiful locations in the west coast archipelago.
The Stockholm Archipelago is just one of the beautiful regions of Sweden that can be conveniently accessed without flying. Photo: Nature Travels.
How do I travel to Sweden without flying?
We recommend the excellent Seat61.com for general information on travelling to Sweden from the UK (but also applicable for guests travelling from mainland Europe) without flying. You will see options for making the whole journey by train or by a combination of ferry + train, including a great new option for London-Stockholm in just 24 hours with Eurostar and night train from Hamburg.
We're happy to provide more specific guidance on how to travel to any of our outdoor experiences without flying, including information on how to book your tickets and get the best fares for domestic travel within Sweden - please contact us to discuss your requirements.
What environmental benefits are there to choosing a no-fly holiday?
Travelling by train, your journey will have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to taking the same journey by air. How much different will depend on a number of factors, but as an example, a one-way journey London-Amsterdam (357km) by plane would generate around 125kg of CO2 per person, while the same journey by train would generate just 14kg (source: IFEU EcoPassenger).
Will travelling to Sweden without flying take longer?
Yes. It will certainly be the case that you will need to allow additional time for your journey when making the commitment to travel to Sweden without flying. However, travel should be about the whole experience, not just the destination, and travelling without flying adds a whole extra dimension to your trip - think of the other places you'll see along the way, the additional experiences you will have and the people you will meet by choosing this option!
We would of course recommend that you make your whole journey flight-free, but if you're new to the idea of long distance train travel or if you're particularly short of time, you can always choose a no-fly journey in one direction only.
Will travelling to Sweden without flying be more expensive?
There are so many factors affecting fares for travel by both air and rail that this is not a question with a definitive answer. However, with advance booking and discount fares, travel by train can be suprisingly affordable, and in general the cost of trains for domestic travel in Sweden can be much lower than comparable journeys in the UK.
Although you may find that avoiding flying will mean the cost of your journey is higher than if choosing to fly, you will be getting much more in terms of a genuine travel experience for the price of your ticket! With the rapid growth of interest in travelling without flying, wouldn't it be wonderful if an increase in demand led to a reduction in the cost of no-fly alternatives in the future?