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’
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.
- 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
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to and from Gothenburg
- Public Transport Costs
- Remaining lunches and dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- 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. Â
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.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Gothenburg Day 2 Bus to Norden’s Ark, Walk to Bottna Inn 7.5 miles / 12 km Day 3 Walk Bottna Inn to Hunnesbostrand, bus to Smögen 9.6 miles / 15.6 km Day 4 Bus to Ramsvik Nature Reserve, Loop Walk 9.5 miles / 15 km Day 5 Travel to Gothenburg, Botanic Gardens and Änggårdsbergen Nature Reserve Walk 5.3 miles / 8.5 km Day 6 Bus/Ferry to Marstrand, choice of walks Day 7 Free day in Gothenburg Day 8 Onward TravelBlog Articles
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