Stockholm: 5-Day Holiday Package Kayaking Expedition

Over 5 to 8 days, explore the Stockholm Archipelago on a self-guided kayaking and wild camping holiday combining outdoor adventure and coastal scenery. Paddle through islands such as Bullerö and Möja, discover hidden beaches and nature reserves, navigate calm waters and open seas, and enjoy the freedom to create your own route. The program includes route maps, suggested trails, GPS guidance, and a full briefing on kayaking, safety, and navigation.

Stay in provided camping equipment, including comfortable airbeds, pillows, and chairs, and enjoy a structured program of self-guided kayaking with 24/7 support from the Kayak Trail guide phone. Optional add-ons such as transfers from Stockholm and food packages are available, making your experience easy and comfortable with expert guidance whenever needed.

Simply arrive in central Stockholm on your selected start date and follow the program. This self-guided kayaking holiday is suitable for travelers who enjoy active outdoor experiences, connecting with nature, and discovering Sweden’s archipelago at a relaxed pace.

Day 1: Discover the Stockholm Archipelago and Learn to Kayak

We will pick you up at a central location in Stockholm city for a 45-minute transfer out to our Kayak Center. You will be welcomed by our certified wilderness and kayak guides, who will give you a thorough briefing before you set out on your trip. With some Swedish fika (beverage + snack), you sit down together with the guides to talk about the archipelago, the kayaks and equipment, kayak safety, weather, and navigation. With our map, the kayak trail routes, and the GPS on your phone, it’s easy to navigate. Together with the guides, you decide on a suitable route depending on the weather and the length of your trip (3–8 days). The guides help you pack the kayaks, and there is plenty of time to ask all your questions. The guides will also be available 24/7 via the Kayak Trail Guide Phone.

Time for take-off! In stable two-person kayaks, you venture out with the wind in your hair. Soon, seabirds and waves are the only sounds you hear as you leave the mainland behind and kayak eastward toward the myriad of small, uninhabited islands further out in the archipelago. You pass by Runmarö, an island first mentioned in Swedish history in the 13th century for the limestone that was mined here. Many of Stockholm’s oldest buildings, including parts of Riddarholm Church, are made from Runmarö limestone.

In the afternoon, you look for the perfect campsite for the night among the many small islets and soon find a place you like. The tent and other equipment are easy to set up, and soon you are ready for the night. Time for a refreshing swim before dinner. Using the equipment and the pre-set food menus, you cook a nice meal on the outdoor stove. Food tastes fantastic when you eat in nature. Let the waves and wind lull you to sleep.

Day 2: Explore Bullerö Nature Reserve

After a nice morning with breakfast and perhaps a morning skinny dip (a “Swedish classic”), you sit together and plan the route. Depending on the weather forecast, this might be the day to head out to Bullerö Nature Reserve.

Bullerö is an archipelago classic, with plenty of birdlife, typical archipelago nature, and rich culture and history. Here, people have been living off what nature has had to offer since the end of the 1600s.

Stay here and linger for half a day or so, go on a short discovery hike, or visit the hunting lodge of Bruno Liljefors, where art from famous Swedish artists Anders Zorn, Axel Sjöberg, and Albert Engström from the early 1900s is on display. Finish the day with a sauna session in the cozy public sauna.

Day 3: Discover Möja and the Möja Reserves

Depending on your route, Day 3 might be the perfect day to discover the island of Möja and the Möja Nature Reserve just east of the main island. The cozy village of Berg on Möja is a good place to stop to replenish snack supplies and refill water if needed. Take a stroll in the village and enjoy a fika before continuing toward the Möja Reserve.

With hundreds of small islands in a myriad, with nothing but horizon to the east, the Möja Reserve is a cherished place among Swedes, and the kayak is the perfect vessel to discover it all. Find your own island and make it yours for the night. If you have an extra day to spare, this is a good place to spend it!

Day 4–8: Continue Exploring the Archipelago

If you have booked a 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-day trip, there is an abundance of opportunities for discovery. Remember, we always help you plan your trip based on length, experience, preferences, and the current weather. Here are some of our favorites to include in the longer routes:

Långviksskär Nature Reserve is a maze of hundreds of islands far out to the east, with the horizon as its only neighbor. With the right weather conditions, you might be able to go out and visit the beautiful island of Tärnskär, a well-kept secret with its lovely lagoon.

The island of Nämdö is a rather large island just south of Runmarö, with a lot of activity during summertime. Visit the restaurant in Solvik, shop for snacks, or have a Swedish fika at the café. The watchtower in the northern part of the island is popular, as is the public sauna in Långvik. There are also trails for shorter day hikes.

The Lazy Day is a very underrated alternative in this world of speed, tight schedules, and constant demands to deliver. Dare to go against the stream and plan a day of… nothing! Sleep in, discover the island you are currently on, or just relax on the cliffs with a good book. It is when you cut yourself some slack that the famous “quality time” happens.

The Last Day: Heading Back to Civilization

Another beautiful morning out on the islands. You have a different feeling in your body after some days on the water: calm and focused in your mind, and a bit tired in your muscles from the kayaking and hikes on the islands. During the day’s kayaking, you stop for a long lunch on an island, and perhaps for an afternoon swim and a cup of coffee. In the late afternoon, you arrive back at the Kayak Center. The center staff takes care of all the equipment while you enjoy some snacks, a shower, and perhaps a sauna. After a debrief with the guide, the transfer takes you back to the drop-off zone in the city in time to relax a bit before going out for dinner.

Tip: Round off your experience in Stockholm with a night in the city, and a day of sightseeing before returning home.