Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago (Sweden)

Under the expert guidance of your local skipper, you will spend three days sailing through world-class island scenery, beginning with a late afternon departure on Day 1 and returning to port at 17.00 on Day 3.

Relax or learn - the choice is yours

Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago is suitable for a wide range of participants - whether you are looking primarily for a relaxing and enjoyable way to experience the archipelago, or have a particular interest in sailing, as the voyage is both holiday and sailing course!

Novice sailors will learn a great deal about the basics of sailing and navigation, while the more experienced can hone their skills and have a chance to learn something of the special challenges and considerations of navigating in the archipelago.

Everyone takes part both in the sailing of the boat and in the various tasks on board such as helping with the cooking and food preparation.

A private sailing tour as couple, family or group of friends

Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago is a wonderful way to combine the beauty of the archipelago landscape with a sailing adventure. In the evenings, you will moor in a natural harbour to provide a safe and comfortable night's sleep aboard ship.

For those who wish, the trip provides a wonderful opportunity to learn to sail or improve your skills. Photo: VOV.

This experience is suitable for couples, families* or small groups of friends and up to five guests can be accommodated on board. The boat has full facilities including galley, WC and fresh water shower.

Choose an exclusive sailing adventure as a couple or bring along friends or the children - price is based on a minimum for two persons with additional persons at much reduced cost, making the per person price substantially lower for families or groups.

*Max. 2 children aged 5-15. For safety reasons, number of children cannot exceed number of adult guests.

Arrival

You begin from the harbour where your boat will be waiting at 17.00.

Depending on the boat available for your chosen dates, there are two possible start/end points for the tour:

• Option 1 (most common): Travel to the harbour at Dalarö, approx. 70 mins by public transport from central Stockholm with regular connections.
• Option 2 (alternative availability): You begin from the harbour in the attractive coastal town of Åkersberga. Åkersberga can be conveniently be reached by public transport from Stockholm and, if arriving by car, offers free parking. Alternatively, pick-up can be arranged from the nearby town of Vaxholm, which can be even more convenient by public transport from Stockholm. Travel time from Stockholm is around 45 minutes in either case.

This day you will do a short sail to overnight spot.

Following Days

Your exploration of the archipelago continues. You will moor for lunch during the day at a suitable spot and in the evenings in natural harbours. Route taken is adjusted to weather and wind conditions as well as the needs of the participants.

Departure

Return to Dalarö or Åkersberga (depending on the boat used for your tour - see under "Arrival") approx. 17.00 after a full day's sailing.

Included

• Two days' sailing Day 2 and Day 3 plus short sailing Day 1 including instruction and two overnights aboard ship.
• Local skipper.
• Fuel for boat.
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on end day (e.g. for 3 days/2 nights: 2 x breakfast, 2 x lunch, 2 x dinner + additional snacks, coffee, fruit, sweets, etc). Please advise in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
• Bedding and towels.
• Foul weather outer clothing and sailing gloves (NB: adult sizes only - children must bring own rainproof jacket/trousers and sailing gloves).
• Life vests for adults and children.

Boat facilities:

The boats have full safety and security equipment on board including fire extinguisher, liferaft, lifesling, first aid kit, seasickness treatment, lifelines, communication equipment and emergency signals. Most importantly, your skipper will always adapt the route to take account both of wind/weather conditions and the needs of guests.

The boat is normally a Linjett 35 (as described below) or equivalent with similar specifications and is suitable for up to max. 4 guests.

• Sleeping accommodation (max. 4 guests + skipper). There are 2 cabins with 2 beds in each (depending on the boat used, the forward cabin is usually particularly suitable for couples). The living area has 2 comfortable, spacious beds for additional 2 persons. All beds are full length (2m). Living area has standing height of 1.85m.
• WC with tank
• Heater
• Fridge
• Fresh water (warm and cold)
• Barbecue grill for use on land
• Kitchen with oven
• Fresh water shower in cockpit
• Spacious cockpit and living area
• USB 12V contact for mobile phones. NB: We recommend you also bring additional power bank(s), as capacity to charge multiple devices on board can be limited depending on number of guests.
• Stand-up paddleboard and dinghy (no engine). NB: Please let us know in advance if you particularly wish one or both of these to be available for your tour, as to maximise available space they may not be taken unless requested.

Plan of Linjett 35 boat

Interior of Linjett 35 showing living area (top left), galley (bottom left) and sleeping quarters (right)

Not Included

• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

General good health and fitness. You should enjoy life on the water and be comfortable living closely with others (this is a private experience, so persons on board will be only yourselves + skipper). Swimming ability required by all persons including children. Min. age 5 years. Max 2 children per group.

NB: This experience may not be suitable for guests who are very sensitive/allergic to cat hair. When the boat is not out on a trip, a cat spends time on the boat and there may be traces of cat hair in the cabin. The cat of course will not be on board during a tour.

What makes this "Easy"?

The tour is a private, guided and catered experience with local skipper. The level of challenge can be adapted to a certain extent depending on the ability and wishes of the participants as well of course depending on weather and wind conditions.

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:

• Hike and Bike in the Stockholm Archipelago (4 days, start/end Stockholm)
• Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm's Lakes and Islands (4 or 5 days, start/end Stockholm)
• Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago (6 days, start/end Stockholm)

Groups

The boat can acccommodate up to 4 guests.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy.

"We loved all of it!! The experience of living on board, great sailing, excellent food, swimming and exploring in the most beautiful islands. The info was excellent and we felt very well prepared. Also it worked for the whole family, which isn't always easy with an 11 and a 14 year old. Highlight was the sailing on the last day in perfect sunny, windy weather, when we had the confidence to sail the boat ourselves. Our skipper was a fantastic host. She encouraged us all to have a go at everything, and we absolutely trusted her as a skilled and knowledgeable skipper. The boat was gorgeous too, and very comfortable. We also appreciated the info you sent about places to stay in Dalarö - we stayed at Vandrahemmet Lotsen and it was perfect. Travel info was also useful, the trip was very easy by public transport from Stockholm." Cath, July 2023

"Very easy-going pace and company (though did some proper scary sailing too!); nothing was rushed, lots of opportunities to stop and swim in lovely bays." Lorna, August 2022