Overview
If the Swedish practice of forest bathing, or skogsbad, has caught your interest, this self-guided walking trail along the Sörmlandsleden Trail immerses you in trees, and more trees. With plenty of water bathing thrown in, as lakes appear at every turn. Starting in Stockholm and ending in Järna, this six day holiday along the Sörmlandsleden’s first ten stages starts off in Nackareservatet Nature Reserve, for your first hit of pine trees, lakeshore trails and birdlife. Just a starter course, before hitting Tyresta National Park, one of the largest expanses of ancient forest in the country.
- Nackareservatet Nature Reserve
- Tyresta National Park
- Årsjön, Bylsjön and Kvarnsjön Lakes
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Stockholm
Depending on arrival time, spend the afternoon exploring Sweden’s capital city visiting its many sights and attractions.
- Accommodation: Hotel Birger Jarl or similar in Stockholm
Day 2: Stockholm – Tyresö | 16km
Begin the hiking week by taking the subway to Nackareservatet Nature Reserve, pausing to visit Markuskyrkan Church at the entrance of the reserve. Bring binoculars to enjoy the rich bird life as well as the rich flora along the route, which passes several lakes and swimming spots, before arriving in Tyresö. Spend the rest of the afternoon at one of the town’s many beaches or visit Tyresö Palace, built in the 18th century.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 16km, ↑55m, ↓85m
- Accommodation: Prinsvillan or similar in Tyresö
Day 3: Tyresö – Handen | 25km
Begin the morning with a short bus journey to Alby Friluftsgård, to begin walking south through mixed forest and grassland towards Tyresta. From here, the route heads through Tyresta National Park, passing Årsjön Lake, where you can stop for a quick dip before continuing past Bylsjön Lake towards Handen and this evening’s accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 25km, ↑190m, ↓125m
- Accommodation: Quality Hotel Winn or similar in Handen
Day 4: Handen – Södertälje | 23km
Today’s route heads through pines forests, passing numerous lakes and habitats favoured by an abundance of wildlife, including deer, moose, hares and numerous bird species. The route passes Lake Kvarnsjön and Lake Getaren before reaching Lida Friluftsgård, which offers a range of outdoor activities from tree-top ropes courses to stand-up paddleboarding, as well as having an array of restaurants and cafés. Continue via train or bus to Södertälje, where you can visit Torekällberget, an open-air 19th-century museum featuring traditional houses, shops and baked goods.
- Walking for the day: 6h, 23km, ↑105m, ↓70m
- Accommodation: Quality Hotel Park or similar in Södertälje
Day 5: Södertälje – Stockholm | 18km
Leaving Södertälje behind, follow the canal towards Tvetaberg to reach Vaskasjöarna Lake. The trail continues through varied forest terrain towards the former mining town of Järna, where you can take a train back to Stockholm.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 18km, ↑135m, ↓110m
- Accommodation: Hotel Birger Jarl or similar in Stockholm
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that twin rooms are not offered as standard in Sweden. It will generally consist of a double bed with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Birger Jarl (Stockholm)
- Prinsvillan (Tyresö)
- Quality Hotel Winn (Handen)
- Quality Hotel Park (Södertälje)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy-moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a good fitness level. Daily walks range from 16-25km and mainly follow forest paths and gravel roads with no significant ascents or descents (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available to begin every Sunday from end of May until beginning of September. Departures on other days of the week may be available upon request.
Daytime summer temperatures are variable, ranging from 15-25°C. The air is relatively humid, making warm days feel warmer and cold days colder. The best time to visit is June-August, with the warmest month being July, with an average maximum temperature of 20°C. For more information, see our blog post, Best time to go to Sweden.
This trip needs a minimum of two people to operate. Therefore, if you are booking has fewer than two travellers, please note that confirmation is dependent on the group size coming up to at least two.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Stockholm.
By train or bus
By train: If you are able to travel to Sweden without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with Stockholm offering high-speed connections to many major Scandinavian cities. You can also return to Stockholm from Järna at the end of the trail. For more details, visit the national rail operator SJ.
By plane: There are regular train connections between Stockholm Airport and Stockholm city centre (25mins). For timetables and further information, visit SJ or use the Omio planner above.
By car: Parking is available at the hotel’s garage from 310 kr per night – payable locally, reservation is not possible.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 overnights en-suite rooms
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transport on walking days (one piece per person up to 20kg)
- Detailed digital route notes and maps, navigation app and GPS tracks
- Phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Public transport listed in the itinerary
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights in Stockholm
