A 270-kilometre hiking trail across 20 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. From Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south. An adventure that reaches into your soul.
WHAT IS THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL?
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a 270 km long-distance hiking trail across 20 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago, stretching from Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south. Often called the SAT, it connects the islands via a network of paths that have been walked for hundreds of years: trails made by farmers, fishermen, and the animals that roamed the islands long before them.
What makes the Stockholm Archipelago Trail truly unique is that you travel between islands by ferry, using the public boat network that links the archipelago together. One day you hike through silent pine forests and along granite shorelines; the next morning you board a ferry across open water to the next island. It is unlike any other long-distance trail in Europe.
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail was inaugurated in autumn 2024 and quickly drew international attention. National Geographic named the Stockholm Archipelago one of its 25 “Best of the World” destinations for 2025, largely because of this trail. Time Magazine listed the Stockholm Archipelago Trail among the world’s best new hiking trails. And in 2025, the brand-new Nämdöskärgården National Park opened in the outer archipelago, adding another dimension to an already extraordinary hiking destination. In 2026, Travel + Leisure named the national park a Global Vision Honoree for sustainable travel.
WHY WE LOVE THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL
The Kayak Trail is all about helping more people experience the Stockholm Archipelago in harmony with nature. That is our overarching mission, and the Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a wonderful way to explore the larger islands and get a fuller, richer archipelago experience.
Even before the Stockholm Archipelago Trail was officially inaugurated, it was very popular among our kayak and wild camping guests to explore the islands on foot. We think this is a natural draw. We are innate explorers and wanderers who want to see what lies beyond the next headland. The possibility of combining hiking on the islands with kayaking between them, and spending the night on a small uninhabited island that you have paddled to, is simply fantastic.
To book the Kayak & Hike combination, simply book our regular Self-Guided Kayak Expedition (5–8 days) and add a comment in the booking that you wish to kayak & hike. We will tailor your route to include the best hiking sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail.
THE 20 ISLANDS OF THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL
NORTH TO SOUTHThe highlighted islands from Finnhamn to Nämdö can be hiked as part of our Kayak & Hike combination, where you paddle between the islands and hike the trail on land.
WHAT TO EXPECT HIKING THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL
The Stockholm Archipelago is a landscape shaped by ice. Glaciers carved these islands from granite over thousands of years, and the land is still rising, about three millimetres each year. The result is a constantly changing mosaic of rock, forest, meadow, and sea.
The sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail vary in character. Some islands are lush and green, with birch groves and wildflower meadows. Others are more exposed, with wind-sculpted pines clinging to smooth granite slabs that slope straight into the Baltic. The outer islands feel genuinely remote, even though Stockholm is only an hour or two away by boat.
Terrain and difficulty
Most sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail are graded as average difficulty. Trails follow a mix of forest paths, coastal rocks, and old village roads. Distances per island range from roughly 10 to 20 kilometres, with shorter sections on islands like Grinda (9.8 km) and longer ones on Arholma (13.4 km) and Nämdö. The terrain is generally manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness, though rocky shoreline passages can be uneven underfoot.
Wildlife on the Stockholm Archipelago Trail
The archipelago is home to a rich variety of seabirds, including white-tailed eagles if you are lucky. Roe deer are common on the larger islands, and seals are often spotted on the outer skerries. In autumn, the forests along the Stockholm Archipelago Trail are full of wild berries and mushrooms, a cornerstone of the Swedish outdoor tradition.
Best time to hike the Stockholm Archipelago Trail
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is accessible year-round, but the main hiking season runs from May to September. June and July offer long daylight hours and the warmest weather. Late August and September, what locals call the “magic season”, bring milder temperatures, fewer visitors, golden light, and the first autumn colours. Winter hiking is possible for the well-prepared, but ferry schedules are reduced and conditions can be demanding.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR HIKING THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL
Here is what you need to know to plan your hike on the Stockholm Archipelago Trail.
Getting there
All 20 islands are reachable by public ferry from Stockholm. The main ferry operator is Waxholmsbolaget, with boats departing from Strömkajen and other central quays. Most islands can be reached in 1–3 hours.
Kayak & Hike: If you book our self-guided kayak expedition, you do not need to worry about ferry timetables. You simply kayak between the islands at your own pace.
Accommodation
Options range from wild camping to hostels, guesthouses, and boutique hotels on the larger islands. Designated campsites with fire pits and shelters are available along the trail.
Kayak & Hike: With our self-guided expedition, you bring your accommodation with you. We provide everything you need to wild camp comfortably on the islands.
Food and supplies
Some islands have small shops and cafés, particularly Sandhamn, Möja, and Utö. On smaller islands, you will need to be self-sufficient. Stock up in Stockholm or at larger island shops.
Kayak & Hike: Add our food package and you will have everything you need for the entire trip, with no need to plan meals or hunt for supplies.
Right of Public Access
Sweden’s allemansrätten allows you to camp on most land, as long as you respect nature, keep distance from dwellings, and leave no trace. It is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Kayak & Hike: Our guides will give you a full introduction to the Right of Public Access and everything you need to know before you set out.
WHO MANAGES THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL?
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is managed by Stockholm Business Region through Stockholm Archipelago, a partnership organisation for the eight archipelago municipalities, the Archipelago Foundation, Region Stockholm, and the County Administration. The trail is co-funded by Tillväxtverket (the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) and the European Union.
The Kayak Trail is not the developer of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail. We are an independent tour operator that builds kayaking and hiking experiences using the trail. For official trail information, sections, and maps, visit the official Stockholm Archipelago Trail website.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL
-
The full Stockholm Archipelago Trail is 270 km across 20 islands and would take roughly 14–20 days to complete. However, each island section can be hiked independently as a day trip or combined over several days. Most visitors choose to hike 2–5 sections over a few days.
-
Yes. The Kayak Trail offers a self-guided kayak expedition (5–8 days) that combines kayaking between the islands with hiking selected sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail. Simply book the expedition and add the comment “kayak & hike” when booking. We will tailor your route to include the best hiking sections.
-
All 20 islands on the Stockholm Archipelago Trail are reachable by public ferry from Stockholm. The main operator is Waxholmsbolaget, with boats departing from Strömkajen and other quays in the city centre. Most islands can be reached in 1–3 hours. If you book our kayak & hike experience, you kayak between the islands instead.
-
Yes. Sweden’s Right of Public Access (allemansrätten) allows you to camp on most land, as long as you stay a respectful distance from dwellings, leave no trace, and treat nature with care. Designated campsites with fire pits and shelters are also available along the Stockholm Archipelago Trail.
-
The main hiking season runs from May to September. June and July offer the longest daylight hours. Late August and September bring fewer visitors, milder temperatures, and golden autumn colours. The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is accessible year-round, but ferry schedules are reduced in winter.
-
No. The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is well-marked and can be hiked independently. If you book our kayak & hike experience, our certified guides give you a thorough half-day introduction covering the trail, kayak safety, navigation, and sustainability before you set out on your own.
-
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail passes through 20 islands from north to south: Arholma, Lidö, Furusund, Yxlan, Finnhamn, Ingmarsö, Brottö, Svartsö, Möja, Sandhamn, Grinda, Runmarö, Nämdö, Ornö, Fjärdlång, Utö, Ålö, Rånö, Nåttarö, and Landsort.
-
Our self-guided kayak expedition includes all kayaking and camping equipment, a half-day introduction with a certified wilderness guide, route planning for both kayaking and hiking the Stockholm Archipelago Trail, navigation tools, 24/7 guide phone support, and insurance. You can also add a food package and return transfer from Stockholm city.
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is extraordinary on foot. But what if you could also explore the waters between the islands by kayak, paddling to remote campsites that are impossible to reach on foot, and setting up camp on tiny skerries with nothing but the sea and the sky?
Our Kayak & Hike the Stockholm Archipelago Trail experience combines the best of both worlds: hiking selected sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail and kayaking between islands over 5 to 8 days. We provide all the equipment, a thorough introduction with our guides, route planning, and 24/7 support. You also paddle through the new Nämdöskärgården National Park and visit the island of Bullerö, one of the archipelago’s most beautiful spots.
A typical 6-day kayak and hike itinerary includes hiking the Nämdö, Runmarö, and Sandhamn sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail, kayaking to the Nämdöskärgården National Park, and wild camping on secluded islands along the way.
It is, quite simply, the most complete way to experience the Stockholm Archipelago.
To book, simply choose our Self-Guided Kayak Expedition (5–8 days) and add a comment in the booking that you wish to kayak & hike. We will plan your route to include the best hiking sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail.