Ice Skating on Natural Ice (Sweden)

Ice skating is an ideal way to experience the majesty and tranquility of the Swedish winter landscape. The sensation of gliding over clear lake ice is as wonderful as it sounds.

Flexible skating locations ensure access to the best ice conditions

Ice conditions change regularly - your guide will know where the ice is best on a particular day. From your base at local hostel or hotel accommodation, you will head out each day to the most suitable area for your trip skating tour.

Depending on the location of the best ice, you may be exploring networks of frozen lakes or even skating on the frozen archipelago waters of the Baltic sea!

An unforgettable adventure for standard level or advanced skaters

At minimum, some skating experience is required* - you must have previous experience of rink skating or roller blading and be generally confident standing and moving on skates. However, if you have never skated on long-distance skates before, don't worry - you may be surprised how quickly you can learn to trip-skate calmly and safely.

Those with more extensive experience, especially if you have previously skated on natural ice, will be able to cover greater distances in more extended skating periods.

*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. Please see under "Good to know" for more information on requirements for the tour and under "What's included" for details of protective equipment that is provided as standard or available to borrow on request.

The speed and distance covered will be adapted as far as possible to the needs and wishes of the participants - you should find that it is relatively straightforward to cover distances of 25km a day or more. At the end of the day, you can soothe tired muscles with a sauna and reflect on your day's skating adventures. There may even be the chance for a moonlight skating tour beneath the stars!

Your guide will be skating ahead of you at all times, keeping close watch to ensure the ice conditions are suitable. Skates, shoes, pack and full safety equipment are included as standard.

Trip skating gives you a very special perspective on a Swedish winter - see you soon out on the ice!

Getting Involved

Tour are offered with a choice of "Normal" (hostel standard) or "Upgraded" (hotel standard) accommodation. If choosing "Normal" standard, accommodation will have self-catering facilities. All meals are included in the price, but the group will prepare meals together and everyone assists with cooking, washing up, etc. Depending on practical arrangements, the group may visit a supermarket together during the trip to choose provisions. See under "What's included" for more information.

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.

Arrival

There will be a pick-up from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) airport at 10.30-11.00* (meeting point is in Terminal 2). Guests staying in Stockholm before the tour should travel to Rosersberg station with train arriving 10.21 for pick-up from there.

*If you are planning to travel with SAS or British Airways flights from Heathrow, which arrive at Arlanda at 10.10/10.40, this will be fine. Please make your way to the meeting point as soon as possible when your flight lands. Please note that it is not possible to plan for flight arrival later than 10.40 except by special prior arrangement.

Skating on this day is not a standard part of the tour, but there will be an opportunity for skating this day if possible. This may be skating locally before transfer to the accommodation base, or the group may drive to the accommodation directly to do some skating there later in the afternoon or in the evening. Driving time to accommodation typically 1-2.5 hours depending on where the weekend’s skating will take place.

With your travel as well as some hours of skating, today will normally be a long day. For "Normal" standard tours, where you will be cooking together in your hostel accommodation, the group may shop together for provisions at a supermarket (which allows any dietary requirements to be more easily accommodated).

The location of the best ice skating conditions and therefore the location of accommodation during the tours will vary throughout the winter season - your guides know the area intimately and will ensure that you are skating in a region with the best ice conditions at the time of your visit.

Following Days

During breakfast you will prepare lunch packages for your days out on the ice. Based on the latest weather and ice forecast information, you will head out to the best possible skating area for the day. Once at the lake, you will begin by examining the ice before readying your equipment. You will skate in a line, led by your guide, who will be checking the ice and ensure that you avoid any potential weak spots. The speed and distance covered during the day will be tailored to the level of the group and ice conditions.

Skating on natural ice is a unique experience, and you will have regular opportunities to take breaks to admire the beauty of the winter landscape, chat about your technique or just relax and soak up the atmosphere. At the end of your day's skating, you will return to the minibus for transfer back to your accommodation.

A sauna before dinner is a wonderful way to soothe tired muscles and the perfect environment in which to reflect on the day's adventures with your fellow skaters. If conditions allow, there may even be the chance for a moonlight skating trip later in the evening!

Departure

After breakfast you will head out for another day on the ice, skating as long as possible depending on scheduled departure times for the participants. On your way back to the airport, you will have time to stop for a shower and change of clothes and perhaps something to eat, before your guide transfers you to the airport for departure.

Transfers will meet flights departing Stockholm Arlanda airport earliest 18.00 or later (you will be at the airport earliest 16.30, or possibly later if travel arrangements for all guests in the group allow). Guests wishing to depart from Stockholm Skavsta will normally need to plan to overnight at Skavsta airport - transfer will reach Skavsta around earliest 18.30.

*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 will normally be able to share room if wished - please contact to us discuss your requirements.

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

Included

Normal Accommodation Tours:

• Accommodation: Shared rooms (normally 2-person rooms) in hostel standard accommodation with shared WC/shower facilities. Solo travellers must choose Single Supplement. Guests travelling as group of 3 persons will normally be able to share room if wished. Bed linen and towels are provided. Please note that end cleaning of your room is not included. Where possible, accommodation with sauna facilities will be chosen, though note that this cannot always be guaranteed. Gu
• Meals: All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4 (simple snack lunch on Day 1 is also provided). Breakfast and dinner are prepared together as a group at the accommodation - everyone assists with food preparation, washing up, etc. Packed lunch when skating. Please let us know in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements. The group may visit a supermarket to select provisions together on Day 1 of the tour, which allows any special dietary requirements to be more easily accommodated.

Upgraded Accommodation Tours:

• Accommodation: Shared 2-person rooms in hotel standard accommodation with en-suite facilities (e.g. Scandic or Best Western). Solo travellers must choose Single Supplement.
• Meals: All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4 (simple snack lunch on Day 1 is also provided). Breakfast at the hotel, packed lunch when skating, two-course dinner served at hotel or in local restaurant. Please let us know in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements.

All Tours:

Equipment:

• Trip skates and skating boots (please advise shoe sizes in advance). Brands used are normally Zandstra and Alpina.
• Poles.
• Daypack (including thermos, water bottle, lunch box, sitting pad, towel and dry bag for spare clothing).
• Safety equipment (ice claws, rescue rope, whistle). A First Aid kit will also be carried by the guide.

Protective equipment:

• Knee protectors: Provided for all participants and must be worn.
• Elbow and wrist protectors: Available for all participants to use if wished.
• Helmets: Available and recommended for all participants to use if wished. You are of course welcome to bring your own helmet if you wish (any type of helmet such a cycle or ski helmet would be suitable). The backpack will also normally provide protection if falling backwards.

Guide:

Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.

Transfers

• Local minibus transfers to/from Stockholm Arlanda airport and the accommodation for the tour. Guests staying in Stockholm before the tour will normally be asked to travel to a suitable meeting point in the morning of Day 1.
• Local minibus transfers between accommodation and daily skating areas.

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.
• End cleaning of hostel accommodation (if you do not wish to do end cleaning of your room yourself, this can normally be arranged on site for additional charge payable locally).

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should have a general good level of health and fitness, be able to swim and enjoy the outdoors. Max. weight limit 130kg.

To participate in this tour, you must have at minimum some previous skating experience (e.g. rink skating or rollerblades) and be able to stand up/move on skates with reasonable confidence.

The tour is also very suitable for skaters of more advanced level. Participants will be allocated groups/guides as appropriate at the start of the tour depending on previous experience and ability, with the aim of offering the most appropriate and enjoyable skating experience for your level.

Less experienced skaters will typically cover reduced distance and skate more slowly with additional breaks, while advanced skaters can cover greater distances with more extended periods of skating.

NB: The technique of tour skating and the type of skates used are quite different from rink skating. Participants with previous rollerblading experience may find the transition to tour skating easier than those with experience of rink skating only.

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

Recommended minimum age 16 for scheduled public tours. Younger children may be possible by arrangement - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

What makes this "Medium"?

The tour is suitable for skaters of different levels and daily distances and level of challenge can be flexible to a certain extent depending on experience/fitness. However, proficiency of your skating technique can significantly influence the actual level of challenge encountered during the tour. Guests without previous experience of skating on natural ice may find the activity physically challenging and take time to develop confidence and improve technique.

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:

No minimum - tours are guaranteed to run from the first booking.

Groups

Normally max. 8 participants per guide. There may be a number of groups skating on a particular tour, with the flexibility to assign participants to different groups depending on experience and ability. Groups will typically have transfers/accommodation together but skate separately. To be able to offer the greatest flexibility to accommodate different levels, guests who are judged to be most suitable in a different level group may have the option to move, in which case one group may then contain more than 8 participants.

This experience is ideal as a private tour for groups of 4-8 or more persons and duration of tour is then flexible by arrangement. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has received prestigious Swedish Ecotourism certification for its commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.

"I cannot recommend this tour company enough. We did the natural ice skating in Sweden and it was phenomenal. Our guide was excellent and made the trip incredible. It was such an amazing experience that is difficult to put into words. You just have to go yourself and you will understand! I will definitely be going back!" Colin, February 2025

"A life-affirming experience that I'm recommending to everyone! This was one of the best things I've done in years. The logistics were perfect, the experience was amazing and our guide made it extra special." Thomas, February 2025

"The personal care pre-departure was really appreciated. The highlight was skating on the guide's favourite lake with my daughter." Chris, February 2025