Southern archipelago self-guided walking tour, Sweden

Planet

All our trips are about enjoying and experiencing the natural and cultural beauty of the region, in a respectful and considerate way. Our trips are only run with small groups, most often from two to six people, to ensure that impact on the environment is a minimum at all times, and the most personal and rich experience can be had by all.

As our trips are self-guided, we make extra efforts to provide travelers with as much information about the local area as possible, including information about bird, animal and plantlife as well as historical and cultural information. This ensures that, even without a guide, we can inform travelers about the region. With additional knowledge, travelers can go one step further to protecting the environment.

Hiking puts little stress on the environment and allows you to appreciate the surroundings in an environmentally friendly way as you follow the established hiking trails across the islands. This trip also makes use only of the public boat system which is an extension of Stockholm’s bus and underground system.

The Stockholm archipelago is a region reliant on small-scale tourism to help keep small, locally run businesses alive. We ensure that our guests are given information about all local restaurants, cafes, shops etc to help support these local businesses during their trip.

We take responsibility of ensuring that rubbish is handled accordingly. both in the countryside and in the office, with a developed sorting system. Use of paper is spared with all marketing made online to avoid the production of own brochures. Travelers are encouraged to recycle as much literature as possible that they are provided with at the start of the trip.

We are also a member of Naturturismföretagen (Swedish Ecotourism Association) which works towards an improved tourism which protects and takes responsibility for our delicate natural and cultural environment. Our company beliefs reflect this vision.

People

We wholeheartedly support the local economy - our guests want to experience the genuine region in which they are traveling, and our aim is to let it be seen and enjoyed.

Guests booking this trip are given information in their tour information about Skärgårdsstiftelsen (The Archipelago Foundation) and their objective of preserving the Stockholm archipelago. We encourage our guests to either become ‘friends’ of the association or make a donation to the foundation.

Our aim is always to promote and support the local community. Encounters with the locals is a fundamental aspect of our trips, and we therefore make all efforts to use suppliers from the area where possible. With this in mind we have chosen to use a small privately run hotel chain in Stockholm - and don't be surprised if you bump into the owner who keeps a close eye on his beloved properties.

Utö Värdshus where you spend three nights is one of the hotels used that takes sustainability seriously. They have a close cooperation with Initiativ Utö whose goal is to bring back the balance in the Baltic Sea by reintroducing wetlands on Utö. Being located on an island Utö Värdshus also understand the importance of minimising transport costs and look within the island boundaries to compose their menus.

Our trips are designed so that travelers pass by natural as well as cultural sites en route, including local museums such as Ornö museum, where they are greeted by the island's enthusiasts who passionately give information about the island's history.

Our trips would quite simply not be the same without the support of the local community.