More info?

Read more about the archipelago

Read the FAQ about the trip

Read more in a supplement to Politiken (page 12)

Contact tour leader Maria Mellander on 25 21 02 20
 

Tour description

 

With the hiking and yoga trip to the Swedish archipelago islands, you can enjoy the beautiful nature together with other hikers, round off the day with yoga every evening, and transport and accommodation at a lovely country house with a view of the sea, the forest and the surrounding islands are provided. You can choose between a challenging trip on 31 May - 4 June 2023 or a moderate trip on 26 - 30 June and 29 August - 2 September 2023.
 
7,000 archipelago islands
The trip goes to Kärlingesund, which lies in the middle of the archipelago approx. 100 km north of Gothenburg. From Gothenburg to Norway, there are 7,000 small and large rocky islands along the coast. Many of the islands are nature reserves, and even on many of the inhabited islands there are no cars. Typically there is a small passenger ferry, and otherwise the islands are only accessible with your own boat or kayak.
 
Hiking on islands with rocks and untouched forest
There are many beautiful hiking trails in the archipelago. The paths go through varied surroundings – there are spruce forests, beech forests, mushrooms in summer and autumn, dramatic rocky coasts and breathtaking views of the sea and the neighboring islands.  And because many of the islands and large parts of Bohuslän are nature reserves, no trees have been felled here in the past 100 years. It provides a beautiful and varied landscape to walk in.

 

We will go on some of the most beautiful stages on the Kuststigen, as well as on local paths on the islands of Skaftö, Gullholmen-Härmanön and the small island of Bassholmen, as well as along the Åbyfjorden. 

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For the moderate trips, we go on trips on approx. 5 km, 15 km, 10-15 km, 15 km, and 5 km for a total of 50 km spread over the five days. The pace is approx. 3-3.8 km/h excl. breaks in rocky landscape and 4.4-5 km/h excl. breaks in flat landscape.

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For the challenging tour, the routes are longer and the pace is faster. The trips are approx. 5 km (can be further extended), 15 km (can be further extended), 20 km, 20 km, and 5 km. In total min. 65 km in the five days. The pace is 4-5.5 km/h incl. breaks.

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The terrain in the archipelago is more hilly than the Danish terrain due to the cliffs. The terrain is primarily rocky landscape and forest paths. The tours can be adjusted according to the weather etc. We have our own bus on the whole trip, which makes it easy to adapt as needed. Read more about the landscape, the routes' height profile, surface and level of difficulty on the page with frequently asked questions here. 
 
Experience nature together
On the tour, you travel with a tour leader and become part of a smaller group of hikers. The nature is beautiful up there, and it is extra nice to experience it with like-minded people who, like you, appreciate nature and are happy to hike. We complete the trip with min. 16 participants, and it is expected that up to 20 participants will join.
 
Yoga
The journey includes both hiking and yoga, which compliment each other. While the walk takes place over a large area through changing landscapes, the yoga is, as you know, anchored on the yoga mat in a yoga hall. With the hike, attention is directed outwards, where you get many impressions from the nature around and from conversations with your fellow hikers. With yoga, there are fewer external impressions to deal with, and you can direct your attention inwards towards body and mind. The combination of the activities provides balance, good energy and calmness for body and mind. There is yoga every morning before today's hike, and yoga every evening after the hike. 
 
Morning yoga
You start the day with wonderful morning yoga, which gives you the opportunity to get your day off to a great start. Exercises that wake up the body with movements that take each other by the hand, so that they lie in a nice extension of each other. It gives you a good energy flow in body, mind and soul and leaves a fine impression that you can lean into for the rest of the day.  
 
Evening yoga
The day ends with a series of yoga poses and stretching exercises to release muscle tension from the day's hike and bring attention to the breath. Here you get a moment to listen to your needs and invite your body and mind to relax after an active day out in nature. It is soft yoga close to the floor and elements from restorative yoga and yin yoga are included in the teaching. 

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The yoga teachers
The yoga takes place in Danish by experienced Danish yoga teachers, who are all well trained and used to teaching at different levels. Read more about the yoga teachers by clicking on the links below.

31 May - 4 June 2023:Helle Yde
26 June - 30 June 2023:Anette Meldgaard
29 August - 2 September 2023:Rikke Nordentoft

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Own bus all the way
Transport is provided in a private bus from Copenhagen Airport Kastrup to Kärlingesund and back home. The same bus is responsible for the transport to and from the hiking trails every day, which gives good flexibility to adjust the trips as needed.
 
Danish-Swedish tour leader
The tour leader is Maria Mellander, who is bilingual Danish-Swedish, and has spent every summer for 32 years in the family's summer house in the archipelago - only half an hour from the Kärlingesund Retreat Center. She has in-depth knowledge of the area and has walked the hiking trails up there. She started the hiking company Happy Hike in 2020, which makes trips to the archipelago and Bornholm. Maria also has experience as a tour leader in the Danish Hiking Association, and she lives in Copenhagen on a daily basis.

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Program:
Day 1: Departure and welcome to the archipelago!
At 9: Departure from Copenhagen Airport
At 15: Arrival at Kärlingesund Retreat Center
Hiking in the nature reserve around Kärlingesund, Bokenäset approx. 5 km
Yoga

Dinner
 
Day 2: The fishing grounds Fiskebäckskil and Grundsund
Possibility of yoga

Breakfast
Hiking on beautiful Skaftö - the rocky coast along the Gullmarsfjord between idyllic Grundsund and Fiskebäckskil. Lunch and tour of Grundsund. Rock walk around Grundsund with a view of the Skagerrak. Approx. 15 km.
Yoga

Dinner
 
Day 3: Last stop before Skagerrak – the island of Gullholmen

Possibility of yoga

Breakfast
Hiking on Gullholmen-Härmanön - experience an idyllic fishing village, a 500-year-old oak and beautiful views of the outermost archipelago, nature reserve, car-free island, incl. passenger ferry transport. From 9.7 km (moderate) – up to 20 km (challenging).
Yoga

Dinner
 
Day 4: Lagoon and rocky beaches along the Åbyfjord
Possibility of yoga

Breakfast
Hiking along the Åbyfjorden – experience a lagoon, dazzling views, varied forest and beautiful rocky beaches, nature reserve. From 15 km (moderate) – up to 20 km (challenging).
Yoga

Dinner
 
Day 5: Neighboring island Bassholmen / Vägeröds Dalar on Skaftö and journey home
Possibility of yoga

Breakfast

Moderate trip: Trip to Bassholmen – a small island that can be seen from the Kärlingesund Retreat Center. The island is 5 min. sailing from Kärlingesund's small marina, and there are approx. 5 km around the island. Alternatively Vägeröds Dalar on Skaftö.
Challenging trip: Hiking in the forest along the water in the nature reserve Vägeröds Dalar. Alternatively, a longer route on the surrounding islands.

At 14 Departure from Kärlingesund
At 21 Arrival at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup
 
Adaptations of the program in relation to the group and wind/weather may apply.
 
Accommodation:
We live on the farm Kärlingesund Retreat Center, which has a wonderful location in the middle of the archipelago with forest and views of the surrounding islands. Below the country house is a meadow and then the water, where you can jump in, and there is a tiny wharf where a couple of pleasure boats are moored. There is a walking path right past the place, which we will also walk on, and you can see over to some of the neighboring islands, which we will walk on.
 
Kärlingesund Retreat Center is located in a nature reserve, which means that the area is particularly beautiful, that there is peace and quiet, and in addition they take extra good care of the environment. The hosts ask that you bring your own bed linen and towel. However, it is possible to purchase this for SEK 300 if you forget it. Kärlingesund Retreat Center has a chef who cooks breakfast, prepares butter-yourself lunch every morning and also dinner. The starting point is a regular diet that also contains meat, and in addition it is possible to get a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free diet.
 
The retreat center has 16 rooms with two single beds in each. In addition, there is 1 room with three single beds, as well as two rooms with double beds. Bathrooms are out in the hallway and are shared. In addition, there are separate cabins and a separate villa with a few rooms.
 
You can choose between staying in your own room or sharing the room with one other participant. There is a supplement for a private room. With 16 rooms in total (plus a few other slightly larger rooms), it is expected that everyone can stay in their own room if they wish. There are two single beds in each room. 

Read more about Kärlingesund Retreat Center here!
 
Registration deadline: 31 March 2023
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Price: DKK 7,499.00 per person

Supplement of DKK 500 if you want your own room.

Incl. in the price:

• Accommodation in a shared room with one other participant. Supplement for own room.

• Overnight stay at the country house Kärlingesund Retreat Center with a wonderful location in the middle of the archipelago.

• 5 x hikes in the archipelago with a Danish-Swedish tour guide.

• 8 x yoga lessons: Yoga every morning and afternoon/evening

• Return transport from Copenhagen in own bus

• Transport to/from the hiking routes with own bus every day

• 4 x breakfast at the accommodation

• 4 x butter-your-own lunch, which will be presented in conjunction with the breakfast

• 4-5 x afternoon snacks after the hike

• 4 x dinners at the accommodation

• Ticket for passenger ferry Tuvesvik-Gullholmen round trip

• Material about the trip incl. program, description of the area, walking routes, maps, GPS files for mobile

• Experienced Danish yoga teacher who is responsible for the yoga lessons and can provide guidance and alternatives adapted to the individual's level.

• Experienced Danish-Swedish tour leader who is a guide on the tours and provides an introduction to the tours, the archipelago and the history of the area.

Excl. in the price:

• Own room. If you want to stay alone in the room, it can be purchased for DKK 500.

• Bed linen and towel. Bring this yourself. If you forget it, you can rent it for SEK 300. Payment is made directly to the retreat center up there.

Minimum number of participants: 
16 participants.

 

Registration:

You can register by filling in and submitting the form here

When you register, you will receive a confirmation and answers to your possible questions by email. You will then receive an invoice from Happy Hike for 30 per cent. of the amount to be paid.

Payment:
Upon registration, you will receive an invoice from Happy Hike for 30 per cent. of the amount to be paid. No later than one and a half months before departure, you will receive an invoice from Happy Hike for the remaining amount to be paid no later than one month before departure.
 
When registering, you pay DKK 2,250, and no later than one month before departure, you pay the remaining amount of DKK 5,249. If you have purchased a single room, the remaining amount is DKK 5,749. 
Payment is made by bank transfer to Happy Hike - Nykredit - reg. no. 5493 and account no. 0001347570.

Cancellation conditions:
When canceling with more than 60 days to the departure date: Free. You will be refunded the entire amount paid.
If canceling with between 60 - 30 days to the departure date: You will not get the deposit refunded (the 30 per cent of the price). You will be reimbursed the remaining amount (the 70 per cent of the price).
When canceling with less than 30 days to the departure date: You will not get the deposit or balance refunded. 

Travel guarantee fund: 
The trip is sold by Happy Hike, which is registered with no. 3323 in the Travel Guarantee Fund. The journey is thereby covered by the Travel Guarantee Fund's coverage. 

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Questions?

If you have any questions, you can contact tour leader Maria Mellander on +45 25210220 or maria@happyhike.dk. Additionally, you may find answers to some of your questions on this FAQ page here.