Sweden
Multi-Activity Adventure
5 nights from £1775 • €2055 • $2355
Activities
4 days guided adventures
Accommodation
Hotels and Wilderness Cabins
Level
Intermediate
Food
Restaurant and Wilderness meals
Difficulty
Group Size
Moderate to Challenging
Transfers
6 new friends
Dates
July
Fly into Umeå, Sweden
Join us for six days in the Swedish wilderness. Based in the north east of the country, you'll forage in pine forests, build fires from scratch, canoe to a remote island, and raft whitewater rapids. It's a mix of practical outdoor skills and wilderness adventure, with accommodation ranging from eco-hotel comfort to off-grid cabins where you cook over open flames.
The canoe expedition is the heart of this trip. Two days paddling across a giant lake, first to a secluded island where you'll spend the night in an off-grid cabin, then back across the water to your second wilderness stay. It's remote, immersive, and the stretch where you'll really feel furthest from everything. Your overnight gear comes with you in the canoe, so expect your arms to know they've worked by the end of each day.
If you want a week that teaches you something useful while getting you properly into the wild, this is it.
Location
This adventure takes you to Swedish Lapland and right into the heart of northern Sweden's deep forests and wilderness. You'll be based on the edge of the Vindelälven - one of Sweden's last unregulated rivers - in a small village about an hour northwest of Umeå. The area is remote, with thick forest and water systems that shape the landscape. The region has also been home to the Sami people for thousands of years. Sustainability is central to how tourism operates here: low environmental impact, great access to nature, and a focus on supporting the local community.
Canoeing
You'll spend two days paddling approximately 12km. First you’ll paddle to a secluded island for a night in an off-grid cabin. The next morning you’ll do the return journey to reach your second overnight stay, taking in the surrounding nature and learning how the water systems are the life blood of this region. No prior experience is needed, but you'll be paddling with your overnight gear, so expect your arms to feel it by the end of each day.
Whitewater Rafting
This is where the river shows what it can do. Get into sturdy rafting boats and take on the rapids. Our guides will talk you through the basics and safety, then it’s straight out on the water. Expect adrenaline, spray, and plenty of laughter as you navigate the current together.
Nature Hike
Stretch your legs with a nature and foraging walk through the Swedish forest. Your experienced guide will show you what's edible, what's medicinal, and what the locals have been using for centuries. This isn't about racking up kilometres - it's hands-on learning about the flora and fauna that call the forest home. You'll come away knowing how to identify plants, understand ancient traditions, and see nature differently, with practical skills you can actually use.
Wilderness Workshop & Fire Making
Making, cooking and sitting around the fire is part of the daily rhythm on this trip. However, first you need to learn how to make one.
The workshop covers how to create sparks to make the flames whilst out in the wild, how to keep the fire going and, most importantly, how to keep it contained. Once the fire is roaring, you’ll put everything into practice immediately, preparing lunch over the fire you’ve built.
Activities
Fitness and Experience Level
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This trip is rated moderate to challenging. The distances aren't huge - roughly 6km paddling each day and a 4km hike - but you'll paddle with your overnight gear loaded, and off-grid wilderness cabins require endurance. No electricity, outside toilets, cooking over fire. Whitewater rafting, whilst a real adrenaline raiser, can also be quite tiring. You need decent fitness and the ability to handle basic conditions for two nights. If you're comfortable with active days and don't need modern conveniences to sleep well, you'll be fine.
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Duration: Six days, five nights. You'll be active for four of those days canoeing, whitewater rafting, hiking and fire-building.
Intensity: You'll paddle roughly 6km each day for two consecutive days with your overnight gear in the canoe and then tackle a morning of whitewater rafting. Although distances aren’t huge on this trip, trying a new activity can be intense, especially when coupled with a two night expedition in cabins with shared dorms and very basic, or no, modern amenities.
Wilderness Living: You’ll spend two nights away from hotel comfort. The island cabin is properly off-grid; no power, cooking over fire, basic facilities. The wilderness camp cabin has electricity and is on a campsite, but still feels remote. If you're not comfortable with basic conditions and being away from conveniences for a couple of nights, this trip isn't the right fit.
Consecutive Activity: Four active days including two consecutive days of paddling with gear. You'll need energy and mental readiness for multiple days of outdoor activity without full rest days in between.
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This trip suits anyone comfortable with active days, basic wilderness conditions, and learning hands-on outdoor skills. You should be up for paddling with loaded canoes, sleeping in off-grid cabins in communal dorm-type rooms, and cooking over fires you've built. No prior experience needed in any of the activities, but come with a decent fitness level and a willingness to get stuck in. If you're after genuine wilderness immersion with practical skills you'll actually use, this is for you.
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Three nights in an eco-hotel where sustainability is central - rooms are either in the hotel building or in a cabin just outside. One night in an off-grid wilderness cabin on a remote island, one night in a wilderness camp cabin, complete with a sauna and hot tub. During the canoe expedition the cabins are shared with the other Gutsy Girls on your trip. In the hotel there are options for private or twin rooms.
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Food is included throughout. You’ll have breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners at the hotel, plus meals you'll prepare together over the fire whilst on the expedition. The food is all locally sourced and produced.
Most dietary requirements can be accommodated, but get in touch with our Bookings Team if you have any queries.
Itinerary
Dates
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Saturday 25 July - Thursday 30 July
Price
Twin Room £1775 (approx. €2055/ $2355)
Private Room £1925 (approx. €2230 / $2555)
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Gutsy Girls is a UK-based adventure company welcoming women worldwide. Prices are in pounds (£) with estimates in euros (€) and US dollars ($). The final amount depends on your card provider’s conversion rate at payment time and may fluctuate.
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Secure your spot with a 30% deposit; the balance is due 45 days before the trip.
What’s Included:
All meals
All equipment for activities
4 days guided activities
5 nights accommodation
5-hour fire workshop
2 sauna and hot tub sessions
Transfers from and to Umeå airport
Experienced guide
Gutsy Girls Host
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Flights
Personal clothing
Drinks with restaurant meals
Travel Insurance (Mandatory)
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The cancellation will only be effective from the date that the cancellation is received in writing by email. Cancellation charges will be payable as follows:
Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 44 days or less before the trip
Cancellation fee of 30% is charged if cancelled 45 days or more before the trip
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Guaranteed to run
Dates marked "guaranteed" are locked in and happening, no matter what. Book your flights, we're going.
Minimum numbers required
Other dates need at least 4 people signed up to confirm the adventure. We'll keep you in the loop on numbers as they come in, and we'll give you the green light (or full refund) 30 days before departure. Just hold off on booking any flights until you hear from us.
Travel
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Flights aren’t included in your trip, but we’ve listed some options that align with the group transfer to make planning easier.
These aren’t official recommendations — just helpful examples. You can book any flight that fits the schedule, but transfers run on time and can’t be delayed, even if your flight is listed.
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers delays, cancellations, and missed connections.
Suggested Flights:
25-30 July
Stockholm Arlanda to Umeå - Norwegian
Arrival Day: ARN 12:30 ✈ UME 13:30 | D8 4003
Departure Day: UME 17:10✈ ARN 18:15 | D8 4014
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There is one transfer each way, and your flight must match the timing. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to make your own arrangements.
25-30 July
Arrival:
14:30 at Umeå Airport
14:45 at Umeå Central Station
Departure:
15:10 at Umeå Airport
15:25 at Umeå Central Station
The group transfer is included in your trip package. There is no discount if you choose not to use it.
Packing List
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Canoes
Buoyancy aid
Large dry bag for canoeing
Wetsuit
Helmet
Water shoes (white water rafting only)
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Please see our full packing list here.
Questions?
If you have any questions, check our FAQs or drop us a message below!