The Best of West Sweden on Foot

8 Days & 7 Nights

Explore the best of West Sweden’s wild and beautiful North Sea coast
Hike part of the ‘Soteleden’ long-distance trail, along coastlines and through forests
Enjoy the lively, holiday atmosphere of the small fishing village of Smögen
Walk around the car-free island of Marstrand, stopping for a dip along the way
Indulge in the fresh sea food and enjoy a classic Swedish ‘fika’

Explore the best West Sweden has to offer on this self-guided walking holiday. The rocky west coast region of Bohuslän is a natural paradise dotted with hundreds of islands, rocky beaches and picturesque lighthouses. Combined with the appealing city of Gothenburg, and one of the most exciting foodie scenes in Northern Europe, this tour offers the perfect balance of walking, nature, culture and glorious food. Start with two days of walking along the Soteleden long-distance trail. Walk through peaceful forests, along scenic coastlines and through fields and meadows. Spend two nights in the fishing port of Smögen, relax with a drink on the boardwalk and tuck into some fresh mussels. Walk in the nearby Ramsvik Nature Reserve before heading back to Gothenburg, your base for the next three nights. Explore the city’s unique Nature Reserve, just ten minutes from the city centre by tram. Spend a day hiking around picturesque Marstrand island, and finally enjoy a free day to soak up the city vibes in Gothenburg.

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What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This tour is perfect for those looking to explore the best parts of Sweden’s west coast on foot, while using the region’s great public transport to get from place to place. Foodies will love the region’s emphasis on locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Seafood being the main attraction! The walks are rated easy-moderate with a couple of long days, but ascent and descent is minimal– ideal if you’re looking for a relaxed walking trip.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Activity Level & Terrain

This tour is rated easy-moderate. Distances vary from 5-17km, and the ascent/descent is generally negligible with the exceptions of some undulating sections on day 2 and 3 (Soteleden trail), which can be more tiring than expected! Generally, the terrain underfoot is straight-forward. However, care should be taken on the granite rock paths when wet as they can become slippery. Some parts of the woodland trails can become muddy after lots of rain. Walking shoes or boots with good grip are essential.

Navigation

All of the walks are way-marked to varying degrees, some walk better than others. We provide you with turn-by-turn instructions for each walk, maps and access to our GPS smartphone navigation app, so you will have no problem finding your way!

Accommodations

7 nights accommodation is included in your trip. 6 nights are in 3 star hotels and 1 night is spent in a charming guesthouse. All accommodations have private en-suite bathrooms. The accommodation on this trip varies in standard and character, but they all offer great value, food and welcomes. You will find an example of the accommodation we normally use below. If these accommodations are not available we will use a hotel of a similar of better standard than those described.

Gothenburg is an events city, and the price of hotels there can fluctuate greatly depending on what is going on at the time. If you request a booking when there is an event happening in Gothenburg, you may be asked to pay a supplement.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is available to solo walkers but a solo walker supplement is payable. Single rooms are also available should someone in your party wish to have their own room, again a supplement is payable.

Alternate Accommodation

We will always try and accommodate you at the hotels listed. However, if those listed are unavailable, alternative accommodation of the same or better standard than those described will be provided.

Included

6 Nights in 3 star hotels and 1 night in a comfortable guesthouse
7 breakfasts
1 dinner
1 packed lunch
Baggage transfers on Day 2 and 3
Detailed information pack, route notes, maps and access to our navigation app
24/7 support from our office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to and from Gothenburg
Public Transport Costs
Remaining lunches and dinners
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after the walk

When To Go

This trip is available to start any day of the week, from the beginning of May to mid-September, subject to availability. Any time during this period is ideal for walking, mid-July to mid- August is a high season and the towns along the way will be busy with local holidaymakers.

Getting to the Start

By Air: Gothenburg Landvetter Airport is the best entry point for this tour. There are several low-cost and international airlines flying here. From here, it’s a 40 minute bus journey to the Nils Ericson Terminalen (Central Bus Station) in Gothenburg. The bus company is called Flygbussarna, and tickets can be purchased from a machine at the arrivals hall of the airport. Departures run as regularly as every 12 minutes during peak times.

You could also fly into Copenhagen Airport, from where there is a direct train to Gothenburg (3.5 hours)

By Rail: Gothenburg can be reached by train from any other Swedish town or city. For example, the train from Stockholm to Gothenburg takes 3.5 hours.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from Norden’s Ark to Bottna and from Bottna to Smögen. Please limit the weight of your bags to 20kg per person. You will take your bag on public transport/taxi from Gothenburg to Norden’s Ark, from Smögen back to Gothenburg, so you may want to keep the weight of your bag as light as possible. We recommend having a suitcase with wheels to make things easier. It will also be possible to leave any excess belongings at your hotel in Gothenburg, so be sure to have an extra bag with you if you intend to do this (a fold away tote bag would be ideal).

General Information

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

You will need good walking shoes/trail shoes with a solid sole and good grip, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers a day pack and hats. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack. A detailed kit list is included in your information pack.

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