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Selfie of group of skaters on a Swedish lake during sunset

March 12, 2023 • 0 Comment

Your guide to ice skating in Stockholm

After testing and finishing Vasaloppet, I present to you a new winter sport. Do you know what Stockholm is unique for in winter? Why is it called a winter paradise among a large outdoor community? The answer is ice skating opportunities. Thanks to hundreds of lakes and the largest archipelago in the world nearby there are countless opportunities. Would you like to try skating on endless lakes or sea too? Follow my tips or join me on an organized skating tour. I am not only enjoying trips on ice in my free time on my own, I also work as a skating guide in Stockholm.

Stockholm is the best place for ice skating in the world

If you look at the latitude of Stockholm, the Swedish capital lies far in the north but winters are surprisingly moderate here compared to other places this far in the north, for instance in North America. The gulf stream does its job so temperatures usually flactuate around 0 in winter. This might not sound perfect for Stockholm ice skating opportunities but it actually is!

Let me explain to you the unique ice skating conditions we have in the Stockholm area and why it is the best place to skate in the world. For great ice skating conditions we need to fulfil two assumptions:

Cold temperatures so lakes and the sea freeze
No precipitations so the ice is not covered by snow

Skating in central Stockholm, Sweden — *Winter conditions vary every year. In 2019 Mälaren in central Stockholm froze and we could skate in Stockholm city centre*

In Stockholm’s climate there is always a cold period when eastern winds prevail. During that time (usually coming in November and December), cold temperatures freeze the lakes and sea and it creates amazing opportunities for skating.

This moment usually doesn’t last long in other cold parts in the world because snow follows soon and the ice disappears under a thick white layer. On the other hand, snow is much less common In Stockholm and if it snows it often doesn’t last for a long time. Western winds show up, they bring warmer weather and the snow melts. This is good news for skating. Ice needs much higher temperatures to melt so the snow disappears and we can skate again!

These warm and cold periods usually alternate through the whole winter in Stockholm and that’s why we have the best skating conditions here. Another advantage of Stockholm is the large variety of water surfaces. We can find here small, medium and large lakes as well as the archipelago so there is also a new place to skate. Everything mentioned above brings the opportunity to skate basically anytime from the season start (usually November or December) until the ice melts (most often some time in April).

Skating on a mirror like sea. — *After rain and during plus temperatures lakes and the sea look like a mirror*

Safety first during ice skating

While skating is so much fun it’s also very important to do it safely. Swedish lakes and especially the sea can be very tricky and you have to know where it is safe to go. Luckily, Sweden in general is very good with safety rules and you can see it also in the equipment of any Swedish skater. Local Swedish skating clubs don’t allow their members to enter ice without:

Ice Skate & Boots – it would be difficult to skate without them 😉
Skating Poles – important tool to check the quality and thickness of the ice, also helpful if you have to go against strong wind
Ice picks– a necessary tool to get you out of the water in case you fall through the ice
Whistle – helps you to call help if you are in trouble
Rescue Lines – will allow your friend(s) to help you get out of the water
Backpack with extra clothes in waterproof bags

I would never go to unknown ice conditions without the above mentioned equipment either. During the last seven years of skating in the Stockholm area and three years of being a guide I still explore new areas every winter and the right equipment is crucial.

If you would like to buy your own equipment I recommend Alewalds store in Stockholm where you can get the best advice on winter equipment in Stockholm. If you would like to test the equipment first you can book a trip with the company I work for (booking below) and you can test the skating with me.

I also have to add that it’s necessary to have a skating partner. In case of an accident it is important to have someone who could help out. That’s why I always go on a skating trip in a company.

Skating at Saltsjöbaden — *My girlfriend Joanne demonstrates well the full ice skating equipment*

Skating at Siljan — *Joanne once more on an endless lake in Dalarna. The freedom you have on ice is amazing*

How is it to fall through ice?

It might sound crazy but I have never fallen through ice since I started to skate in the Stockholm area. I am always very careful and don’t give the ice the opportunity to trick me 🙂 I am mostly thankful to the skating poles which always help me to evaluate the thickness. I was curious though how it feels to be in the freezing water so I tried it out in a course.

I was supposed to jump in a hole in ice and stay there for three minutes. Then, I had to get out of the water on my own thanks to the ice picks. I have to admit I was a bit scared but the experience was not as bad as I had feared. It was actually similar to jumping into a freezing water after sauna, just without the sauna to warm up again 🙂 Luckily, the extra clothes are compulsory on such courses too so I changed into fresh and warm clothes and I was completely fine. Getting out of the water with ice picks worked very well too.

It was a great experience because I know now that in case of an accident it isn’t scary or a big deal. I am curious when my first fall through happens. I hope at least after seven more years 🙂

Swimming in a frozen lake — *Swimming in the frozen lake*

Try out skating in Stockholm with a guide

Of course, I started skating in Stockholm with guides. I had no idea what is safe or not. The guides give you safety because they have experience and they always go first on ice. If somebody from a group falls through the ice, it should always be the guide. The guests are 99% safe if they follow guide’s decisions and recommendations. I have learnt from many guides during last seven years and taken a special ice course in Stockholm and I am enjoying the time skating with both my close friends and clients while guiding.

If you would like to experience natural ice too, book a trip with The Green Trails below and I will take you to the best ice of the day and you will have an unforgettable experience. We guide both people who know how to ice skate already as well as complete beginners and we have the full safety equipment ready for you. Please note that we make the trips extra safe and no client has fallen through the ice yet. Ok, for except one guy who did it voluntarily. He was very curious about the cold bath experience so we allowed him 🙂

Skating guided tour in Sweden — *One exciting trip led us to the edge of the ice*

Book a skating trip with me below

I guide skating trips for all beginners, intermediate and advanced skaters. If you decide to book a skating trips with The Green Trails, don’t forget to leave a comment in the Special Requirements section in the checkout that you found this tour on my blog. By that, you will make sure that I will be assigned to your specific trip and as a bonus you will get a small present 🙂 Below you can see what all skating trips we offer:

Magic ball with a skater on a frozen lake

March 5, 2023 • 0 Comment

The Best Skating Locations in Sweden

Sweden has around 100 000 lakes and most of them freeze druing winter. It means a real ice skating paradise and we don’t even count the possibilities on the sea! Nobody will ever be able to skate even on a fraction of these ice surfaces. I am lucky to have tested more than 100 hundred of them during my 11 years in Sweden. Here are my tips where you can find the best skating locations in Sweden.

Before I start naming all the amazing lakes and archipelagos where I got the chance to skate, I have to tell you the most important thing: Every winter is different. Sometimes we have excellent conditions for skating all around the country, sometimes we have mild winter and there is less ice or we have too hard winter with too much snow which isn’t good for skating either. In general, Stockholm area is the best for ice skating. The climate is rather mild so the snow usually doesn’t stay long time but it’s cold enough so the ice freezes and we have great skating opportunities. I am explaining more about the unique ice skating conditions in Stockholm in this article.

As you know the most important now, let’s take a look where you can have the best skating experiences!

Stockholm City

The best winter I experienced in Stokholm was in 2019 when it was so cold that even the eastern part of the third largest lake of Sweden Mälaren froze. The lake flows to sea at Stockholm city centre, nearby Gamla Stan and the City Hall and it was all frozen! I will never forget our trip from Riddarfjärden via Barnhusviken, Ulsvsundasjön, Essingefjärden to Årstaviken. What a sightseeing on skates!

Höga Kusten

Have you heard about the High Coast area in Sweden (in Swedish Höga Kusten)? It’s a coastal region in northern Sweden that stretches for about 129 km along the Gulf of Bothnia. What makes Höga Kusten unique is its geological history. About 10,000 years ago, the land in the area was covered by ice sheets that were several kilometers thick. As the ice sheets retreated, the land slowly began to rise, at a rate of about 8 mm per year. This is one of the highest rates of land uplift in the world, and as a result, Höga Kusten is now one of the few places on earth where visitors can see the effects of post-glacial rebound in action.

Thanks to Höga Kusten history you can find there beautiful natural scenery, including towering cliffs, picturesque islands, and dense forests. I visited Höga Kusten many times before but my favourite visit was definitely in 2023 when the sea froze and we could skate all the way (with a short walk in between) from Docksta to Köpmanholmen. It was amazing to pass Skuleberget (the once nine-meter-high island which turned to today’s highest coastline mountain) and national park Skuleskogen!

The conditions we had at Höga Kusten don’t happen often since the area is known for a lot of snow precipitation but if you get a chance to skate there, don’t hesitate a minute!

Skating in front of Skuleberget, north of Sweden — *Skating in front of Skuleberget*

Uppsala – Stockholm

The same winter brought also the opportunity to skate on Mälaren from Uppsala to Stockholm which I did with my friends as a memory to old viking skating race Vikingarännet. What a pity this 80km race is not organized anymore due to weak winters.

*Wonderful end of a skating trip at Mälaren during sunset*

Vättern

The second largest lake in Sweden Vättern boasts of crystal clear water. Since it’s very deep, it hardly ever freezes all but its bays sometimes do! I had a chance to skate on a small part of the lake in 2021 and it was an unforgettable experience.

Siljan

The heart of Dalarna and its lake Siljan is not only famous for Midsummer celebrations. In winter, the whole lake usually freezes and you can make wonderful trips there. My trip in 2021 from Mora to Leksand was as long as famous Vasaloppet.

Karlholmfjärden

Skating on sea is special. Due to salt water and many currents it is definitely more tricky than on lakes and advanced ice knowledge experience is essential. If you dare though you are rewarded by wonderful trips among islands and cute villages. I made my favourite archipelago trip at Karlholmfjärden in 2023.

Saltsjöbaden

You can experience another great archipelago skating nearby Stockholm. Saltsjöbaden is a popular tourist destination reacheable by pubic transport in Stockholm and trips on Baggensfjärden and Erstaviken are wonderful.

Marvikarna

Sweden is a flat country in general. If you want to visit mountains, you have to head northwest to the border with Norway. It surprised me though that you can find though wonderful cliffs even in Stockholm area. I discovered them when I skated at Marvikarna lakes. It was a cool trip with wind in the back from Åkers Styckebruk via multiple lakes to Gnesta. If you want to try typical Nordic skating which combines skating and short hikes, this is a wonderful option.

360 picture of a skater on endless lake during sunset — *Long trip it Mavikarna was finished asfter sunset*

Ånnsjön

If you would like to skate next to real high mountains, you have to head to the north. Since mountains attract clouds and it snows there often, the skating season is usually very short. Lakes usually freeze already during October/November there and they are skateable until first snow comes. I got the chance to skate on wonderful Ånnsjön nearby ski resort Åre and it was amazing to skate with view over Jämtlands mountains.

Storsjön

You can skate at many places even if it snows because the municipalities clear skating tracks. The longest one is prepared every year on Storsjön in Östersund. The track is usually 30km long so you can enjoy new scenery during a whole skating day.

Norrviken – Edsviken – Brunnsviken

Let’s get back to Stockholm area. I will introduce to you the most popular lakes where you can usually skate from January to March. In the north of Stockholm it’s popular to make a trip on three different lakes with short walks in between. Try a trip on Norrviken, Edsviken and Brunnsviken. It’s easy to access these lakes by public transport and if you take a look at weather forecast in advance you can plan a one way trip with wind in the back from point A to B.

Skating on Brunnsviken with Swedish flag — *Brunnsviken is my “home” lake just a few hundred meters away from my home. Here I celebrated the first day of my Swedish citizenship*

Drevviken – Magelungen – Orlången

Similarly, you have great skating opportunities in the south. Drevviken, Magelungen and Orlången are Stockholm’s classics. There, I learnt also for example how it is to fall through the ice.

Bråviken

Let’s get once more on sea ice. Norrköping and it’s bay Bråviken offers often great skating conditions. In 2021, the conditions were there best of all Sweden and I made there multiple beautiful trips.

Ice sailing in Sweden — *You can also see ice sailers on ice in Sweden, like here at Bråviken*

Tyresta national park

Let’s end this summary by the unique opportunity of Stockholm region where you can go skate-hiking in national park Tyresta. There are multiple lakes in the national park and you can combine very well hiking and skating there!

More about ice skating in Sweden

Do you have any own tips on best skating locations in Sweden? Let me know! If you would like to read more about ice skting, I prepared a thorough guide how to skate safely. Take a look at my article here.

*Sunsets on frozen lakes are so beautiful!*

February 26, 2023 • 0 Comment

Falling Through Ice and Rescue

My last article about ice skating in Stockholm got a lot of attention. I received many messages that my readers are interested to try ice skating on natural ice! I am very happy about it and I understand! It is the best experience you can do in Stockholm in winter! Besides that I got several questions about safety and the experience of falling through ice. Even though I said that falling through ice never happened to any guest of the ice skating company The Green Trails where I work, I would like to share my experience with you. I tried falling through ice during an Ice knowledge course in Sweden. It was such a cool and valuable experience that I decided to devote a whole article to this topic.

Let’s start directly with a video of my own experience when I fell through ice. It might look scary but I am very happy for such an experience. Even though I guide with huge respect for the ice conditions, this experience can be extremely valuable in case of an accident. During the Ice knowledge course I could try it in a controlled environment. There were experienced guides with us and they found the perfect ice conditions for us. We did our practice where ice gets thinner and thinner and we could test how far you can go as a skater. Thanks to this experience, I now know what to do in case of an unplanned fall through ice. It was also a great test of my equipment. Here is the short movie!

What do you think? Would you like to try this too? Cool, right? 🙂 Please, just don’t get too excited and never try this on your own. Even though I enjoyed this experience and it might look like fun, we had multiple lectures before to get ready for this moment. We were instructed properly what to do and there was also a safety boat with a diver in case of emergency.

Safety boat saving poles on ice — *Safety boat is saving skating poles which one skater forgot to take out from thin ice before leaving the cold water*

As you can see in the movie, I still made some mistakes, even though I had multiple lectures beforehand:

I had a bit small backpack which caused that even my head went under water. This normally doesn’t happen with a bigger backpack.
I forgot to open the safety line before throwing it to my friends.

Otherwise, it went pretty well 🙂 I managed to get out of the water with the ice picks, I crawled enough to stand out on safe ice and the changing of clothes which you don’t see on the video went well too thanks to my friends.

SSSK skating group on ice in Stockholm — *Discussion about what went well and what could be done better for next time*

How does it feel when falling through ice?

I always say that it feels like jumping into a frozen lake after sauna, just without the sauna. It means it’s pretty nice! The problem is that you don’t have the sauna nearby to warm up again. That’s why it is important to be ready for such an experience. Here are my tips:

TIP 1: Avoid risky ice conditions

Let’s start with the most obvious tip. Avoiding falling through ice is the best way to enjoy skating. Go on ice only if you have enough experience about the lake/sea and bring all safety equipment. Bear in mind that the ice thickness can vary on different places of the surface. If you don’t have enough knowledge, go to the ice with someone experienced or book a guide.

TIP 2: Learn about ice and ice conditions

Are you a novice when it comes to ice knowledge and skating? Then, the best way is to get a guide. Check out my article about skating in Stockholm where you can book even me as your guide. Can you skate, do you have your own skating equipment and would you like to go on ice with other skaters like you? Join SSSK club (Swedish language necessary) in Stockholm and join their organized trips. This is the best way how to learn about ice. This is also the place where I learnt most. You can join trips on both sea and lakes, always on the best ice in the Stockholm area. Besides trips, they also organize ice knowledge courses, like the one I did.

Rescue of a skater from a fall into of frozen lake — *A friend trying to get out of water*

TIP 3: Prepare well for the worst

In case you fall through ice, you need great equipment. Be sure to have following with you if you go on risky ice:

A partner – most important thing. Never go on ice alone. In case of an accident, you want someone to help you.
Have proper rescue equipment with you when on ice: safety line, ice picks and a backpack with a strap between your legs which serves as a life jacket.
Spare clothes in a dry bag – always have clothes ready in a dry bag in your backpack to be able to change in case of fall through. I have a hat, gloves, three layers for both upper and lower part of the body as well as:
- Extra tip 1: Seal Skinz socks – special waterproof socks which will help your feet to be dry even in wet shoes after you fall through.
- Extra tip 2: Dishwashing gloves – they will help your hands to keep warm when you wring out your wet clothes.
- Extra tip 3: Don’t forget a towel in your backpack to dry your skin before you put on dry clothes.
- Extra tip 4: Have a spare Gore-Tex jacket or some light rain jacket so your wet backpack doesn’t make your back wet when you start skating again.

TIP 4: Get organized help from your friends

Hopefully, you listened to my advice and you skated in a group. There are four important tasks when someone falls through. Divide the help effectively:

Person 1: talks with the person in the water, helps with the rescue and helps to take off clothes
Person 2: unpacks the backpack and dry bag and prepares dry and warm clothes
Person 3: wrings out the wet clothes and the safety line and puts them back in the backpack
Person 4: prepares hot drinks and food
If you have a luxury of Person 5, he/she can make videos and pictures so you can share your experience with me and others on social media 🙂

TIP 5: Warm up after you are in dry clothes

Do you know what is the best way to warm up? Here are some of my tips:

Drink something warm and ideally sweet. Liquids with sugar warm up body better than without.
If you have some food, eat to get new energy.
Move as soon as you can. To warm up, walking is better than skating since you will do better movements to warm up your feet and you won’t be so quick that you are cooled down by the wind.

TIP 6: Try a fall through ice in safe conditions

If you would like to prepare mentally for the fall through ice, try it in an organized environment. There are various courses enabling such an experience or try at least to take an ice bath before going into the sauna.

TIP 7: Avoid swimming and join a guided tour to enjoy skating

If you would like to skate on endless Swedish lakes/sea, I wrote a special article about that experience. I’m guiding trips around Stockholm and it’s so much fun. If you are interested, read more here.

*Skating in Stokholm city centre is an unbelieveable experience*

February 19, 2023 • 0 Comment

How to find the cheapest flight to Sweden

Would you like to travel to Sweden but you can’t find reasonably priced flight tickets? Then, you have found a correct article. I am travelling very often and I have learnt some very good tricks to find cheaper flights. I decided to share them with you! This is a guide on how to find the cheapest flight tickets to Sweden wherever you are from.

This article is a memory to times when I was taking care of my first blog travelclever.se which helped Swedish travelers finding cheap flights around the world. It was an amazing time because lowcost airlines were booming and you could fly across Europe for 10 EUR or sometimes even cheaper! Such flights don’t occur often anymore but my tips to find cheap flights haven’t changed and they can still help you saving a lot of money! Let’s start with three important tips:

The key to find cheap flight tickets is to be flexible. If you have just a limited amount of holidays and if you can travel to Sweden only during certain and exact time period, this article will probably not help you much. However, if you are flexible and you can choose from multiple days, continue reading!
Learn to use flight search engine www.kiwi.com. It’s the best tool to find cheap flights. However, bear in mind that I don’t recommend to book on the website anything! Booking via third party can be risky especially in case your flight is delayed or cancelled. It is very difficult to ask for compensation. It’s always safer to book directly via the airline which kiwi.com will find for you.
Don’t look for a return trip. It brings too many options for the search engine and you can get very easily lost in the results. Try to find two one way trips instead. This applies for trip within Europe. If you are flying from another continent, then prices are better if you book directly a return flight.

The advantages of Kiwi.com

So why is Kiwi.com a great flight search engine? It enables you to use radius search and flexible dates for both departure and arrival. Moreover, Kiwi.com is the only search engine which combines flights of low cost airlines.

Before you start looking for flight tickets, keep in mind again the most important thing: Flexibility makes the flight tickets cheaper. Do you want to travel on an exact day? Are you in hurry and do you need the shortest travel time possible? Or can you fly flexibly anytime during week and can you spend more time on your journey? Both options will generate a completely different price. Let’s check it out. As an example I will use a case which I know personally very well. It is a trip from the city where my life journey started and where I come from – Olomouc, the Czech Republic to my new home Stockholm, Sweden. This is how I find the cheapest way to travel up north.

Aerial view of Olomouc, the Czech Republic — *The city of Olomouc. This is where the journey to Stockholm starts*

Step 1: The most comfortable option – exact day

I insert the most convenient departure city from Olomouc – the capital of Czech Republic – Prague and destination Stockholm in the Kiwi.com search engine. I select a date which would work best for my travel plan – 19th March. For this date Kiwi.com finds for me the cheapest flight for 988 SEK with Norwegian.

Step 2: Interval (recommended)

I am not satisfied with the price so I will use the interval searchnig. It works that the longer interval you choose, the bigger chance you have to find cheaper tickets. Let’s say that I can fly also one and two days earlier. I select interval from the 17th March to 19th March.

As you can see below, the prices got much better just because of the flexibility in days. Now, I have two options – a direct flight with Norwegian on 17th March with Norwegian for 659 SEK or a flight on 18th March with Ryanair which has extra stop in Gothenburg for 347 SEK. This sounds better but I will still try to find even cheaper flight.

Step 3: Radius search (Prague +250 km)

The best thing about kiwi.com search engine is that you can combine search to your destination from multiple cities at the same time. Let’s check it out. I will keep the same dates but I will click on Prague and extend the radius by 250km.

As you can see below, thanks to this additional flexibility not flying from Prague, I can find even cheaper flights. There is a very cheap option from Wroclaw (109 SEK) for example and the city is not much further from the origin of the journey Olomouc than Prague. Unfortunately, I checked and bus/train connection from Olomouc to Wroclaw is not the best for this date so I will try to find something even better.

Step 4: Additional cities

I haven’t found an ideal flight yet so I will add manually additional cities to my search. Kiwi.com recommends on its own the nearest ones. I will add Krakow. The city is nearby Olomouc and maybe, there is a cheap flight from there to Stockholm too.

Perfect, there is a perfect flight from Krakow. As the city is well connected to Olomouc by train/bus, actually similarly like my initial search Prague, I will book this flight and I will safe over 800 SEK. As I already mentioned, I will book this flight directly on Ryanair’s website because I don’t recommend to book via third party search engines.

Summary of tips for finding the cheapest flight to Sweden with Kiwi.com

As you can see, it took me a few clicks and I could find so many options to travel to Stockholm. It’s good not focusing on a certain date and the origin and it can help you save a lot of money. Here is a quick summary of how to find the cheap flights:

The longer interval you choose, the more likely you are to find cheaper tickets.
The larger radius search you choose the more likely you are to find cheaper tickets.
Try to find flights anywhere and anytime to discover the most interesting deals.
Are you from a city which doesn’t have an airport? Try search directly from your city with the radius search. Look what results I can directly from Olomouc. It would save my work looking from Prague actually. It would find my flight from Krakow directly.
Kiwi.com also develops adding train and bus connections. Check them out too.

Additional tips how to find cheap flight

Check out website Fly4free.com which is looking for the latest deals in the flight industry. They are very good with finding special offers and error fares. Good luck and looking forward to seeing you in Sweden!

If you are looking for what to do and experience in Sweden, I have many tips on my blog. Check them out.

February 12, 2023 • 0 Comment

Experience 33 winter activities in Sweden

Global warming makes winter sports less and less accessible around the world. I am very happy to live in Scandinavia which still guarantees wonderful winter conditions. I have tried multiple outdoor activities in Sweden and I have to say we have a real winter wonderland here. Check out both well-known and unknown sports activities you can experience in Sweden and ideally visit us to try them. They are so much fun!

I have recently seen a question in the Expats in Stockholm and Sweden Facebook group asking if it is a good idea to visit Sweden in March. The vast majority of people answered negatively: “To be honest, there really isn’t much to do here as a tourist destination, especially for a whole month, and March is still a relatively cold and dark period. I’d consider going somewhere on the Mediterranean. Don’t visit Stockholm.” After reading all the answers, I just thought: Oh my god. Why do people live in Sweden when they don’t enjoy March here? It is my favourite month! Let me explain you why.

First of all, let’s take a look at how dark March is. The fact is that we have a solstice on our planet and it is every year on the 21st of March. It means that day and night have the same length all around the world. After this date, Sweden has actually longer daylight than anywhere else further in the south. It means it is not dark during March in Sweden 😉

Now, let’s take a look at the main point of this article: there really isn’t much to do here as a tourist destination. I summarized what I experienced during the last 10 years in Sweden and what you should try out too! Look how many amazing winter activities you can do in Sweden! I have found 33 which means you can have one for every day in March and two extra for April 😉

Northern lights in Stockholm — Another answer to “There isn’t much to do and see in winter in Sweden!”

1. Ice skating

Let’s start with the best winter activity you can do in the capital of Sweden. The region of Stockholm has hundreds of lakes of different sizes and together with the large areas in Stockholm archipelago you have the best ice skating opportunities. Since it doesn’t snow much in Stockholm, you can skate pretty much anytime from the season start (usually November or December) until the ice melts (most often some time in April). If you would like to experience real freedom this is a winter activity for you. Imagine skating the whole day on the endless Swedish sea around islands and cute villages on islands. Would you like to join for a trip? I devoted a whole article to ice skating here.

2. Cross country skiing – classic style

Let’s move to another traditional Scandinavian winter sport – skiing. Did you know that there are several kinds of skiing? We will go through all of them in this article. Let’s start with the most known skiing style which is classic cross-country skiing. Have you heard about Vasaloppet? This oldest cross country skiing race in the world has already attracted more than 1,700,000 participants around the world. The race is 90km long and promises an unbelieveable atmosphere not only for the racers but also for the spectators. Visit the finish of the race Mora and you won’t regret it.

If you would like to try cross country skiing yourself, many places across the country offer cross country skiing courses. Try it, it’s so much fun and if you fall for skiing, after a few years training you can participate in Vasaloppet too. Take a look at what my experience was like.

Cross country skiing in Sweden at Vasaloppet — Vasaloppet

3. Cross country skiing – skating style

If you want to be faster on cross country skis, you can try skating style, also called freestyle cross country skiing. This new technique was developed at the beginning of 20th century and it was widely adopted in the 1980s after the success of Bill Koch in 1982 at the cross-country skiing championship. I personally prefer this style since it really feels like you are flying on the skis. So much fun! Similarly to the classic skiing style, you can find many courses across Sweden to learn it. If you are looking for great tracks nearby Stockholm, I highly recommend my favorite tracks in Falun, Lugnet. Otherwise you can find inspiration at skidspar.se.

4. Downhill Skiing

If you want to be even faster, go for downhill skiing. On downhill skis, you can easily reach speed above 100 km/h. There are many ski resorts around Sweden but you will find the best one in Åre. It offers the most tracks and most slopes. Another advantage is that Åre offers slopes for everyone regardless if you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced or pro skier.

You might be surprised but there is also a small ski resort in the middle of Stockholm. Hammarbybacken offers even a world cup competition for pro skiers. Even though the hill is relatively short, it also has its black slope which is perfect for a slalom race.

Skiing in Åre can lead to ski jumping too

5. Snowshoe hiking

Let’s take a break from skiing and let’s take a look at snowshoeing. Snow shoes are perfect for hikes in areas with a lot of snow. You’ll love the feeling of crunching snow under your feet. My personal favourite place for snow shoeing is Skuleskogen national park where you can hike daily 10-20 km and stay over in local huts, even free of charge. There you can have a great time making barbecue under the Northern lights.

Snowshoe hiking at Jämtlands Triangel during wonderful sunny day — This is another beautiful snowshoe location in Swedish mountains (Jämtlands Triangel)

6. Watching Northern lights shows

Have I just mentioned Northern lights? It is the most exciting phenomenon to witness in Sweden so let’s take a look at them. Aurora Borealis occurs sometimes all around Sweden but you have the biggest chance to witness them behind the polar circle. I’m myself fascinated by Northern lights so much that I’m hunting them every time we have a chance to see them in Stockholm. Just keep in mind, you have to be patient to see the lights. If you want to learn more tips about when and where to see Lady Aurora, you can take a look at my Practical Guide to see Northern Lights.

Watching northern lights from tent at Jämtlands Triangel — Watching Northern lights from our tent is one of the greatest experiences of my life

7. Ice fishing

Another activity which requires patience but brings a lot of joy is ice fishing. Create a hole in the ice with a special ice drill and catch your dinner. Ice fishing is so popular in Sweden that there are even competitions. Can you beat the largest fish ever caught on ice in Sweden – 7kg arctic char?

8. Sauna

Are you becoming cold from me talking about winter sports? I have something for you to warm up. Try a sauna with a jump into frozen water. It is not only a lot of fun but also healthy for your body. According to studies, taking a sauna helps with relaxing and detoxifying of your body and Scandinavian countries know it. Therefore, sauna use in Sweden, Finland and Norway already starts in early childhood.

Jumping in snow after sauna — If there is no lake or sea to jump in after sauna you can ask your friends to cover you in snow. It works well too!

9. Ice windsurfing

Let’s go from cold water back to ice. One of the most exciting winter sports I’ve ever tried is ice windsurfing. It is even more exciting than windsurfing on water. If you have a strong enough wind, you can reach speeds faster than 100km/h thanks to the very low resistence of the ice.

10. Snowkiting

The wind can also be utilized for snowkiting. Bring a kite and enjoy it either with skies in the mountains or with skates on a lake. Both are a lot of fun!

11. Ice hockey

Compared to summer, there are not many winter team sports but the existing ones are a lot of fun. You probably know ice hockey which is very popular around Sweden. Gather a group of friends to play a game or visit a match of Swedish hockey league and enjoy one of the best hockey games you can see in the world.

Outdoor ice hockey in Sweden — When I was studying in the north in Umeå we played ice hockey every week with other students

12. Bandy

Have you already seen ice hockey but would you like to see something even more unique? Visit a match of Bandy. Simply said, it is like ice hockey just on a frozen football field played by 11 players on every side. It is regarded as one of the fastest sports in the world and is only played in northern countries. To give you a taste of the game, look at the best goals made in the Swedish league below.

Take a look at some of the best goals in Bandy

13. Curling

Another winter team sport requires a lot of precision. Build a team and try curling in one of many curling halls around Sweden.

Deep focus before next move at curling — Deep focus before the next move

14. Biathlon

Currently, my favourite Olympic winter sport to watch is biathlon. Thanks to the shooting, the races are very unpredictable and that makes it very exciting! You can watch biathlon competitions every winter in Östersund which holds a world cup competition. When I visited one of the races, I was also happy to find out that you can even try biathlon yourself there. It was very cool to try to hit the targets like pro athletes. Now, I will not complain anymore about the biathletes who miss the targets. It’s pretty hard!

Shooting at biathlon range — Trying biathlon in Östersund

15. Winter camping

Do you like hiking and camping? Try it in winter too. There are much less hikers during winter so you can enjoy the nature on your own. It’s very cosy to wake up and have a view over a frozen landscape.

Winter camping at Jämtlands Triangel — Winter camping with my girlfriend at Jämtlands Triangel

16. Ice Hotel

Do you prefer sleeping inside? Then, try something special during winter in Sweden. Visit the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi and spend a night in an ice paradise. The hotel is unique every year with decorations made by artists from all around the world!

Once you’re there, don’t forget to take a shot in a glass made of ice and if you’re there with your fiancée, why not to get married there too? The Ice hotel also has a small chapel where couples from all around the world get married.

Kissing at Ice Hotel in Sweden — Testing if it’s a good idea to get married at the Ice Hotel

17. Back country skiing

Let’s get back to skiing. There are a few very popular ski activities you can try in Sweden. Let’s take a look first at ski touring and back country skiing. The difference is very small and the names are often exchanged with each other. In Sweden it’s two very different sports though. Back country skis in Sweden are very similar to cross country skis, they are just wider and they are used in free terrain. People often use these skis for travelling longer distances from hut to hut and they are also used for multiday trips with an extra sled where you can carry supplies. Try back country skis in popular mountain area in Sweden such as in Jämtland close to Åre or far in the north at Kungsleden.

A backcountry skier at Swedish mountains

18. Ski touring

Ski touring in Sweden is rather associated with off piste skiing. The skis are more similar to downhill skis and people use skins for going up in the hills. These skis are rather used to climb mountains and to enjoy downhill in free terrain rather than long distances. Thanks to ski touring you can for example climb Swedish highest mountain – Kebnekaise.

Ski touring in Jämtland - summit picture of Åreskutan (1420m) — Ski touring is very popular in Åre area too. This is my summit picture of Åreskutan (1420m)

19. Ski jumping

I wonder why Sweden sucks so much at international ski jumping competitions. Both neighbors Norway and Finland have world star ski jumpers but Sweden has none. Do you think it is because there are no ski jumps in Sweden? That’s not the problem. There is a large ski jumping area in Falun called Lugnet which held world championships in the past. Lacking a ski jumping tradition will be more likely the reason. Anyway, keep an eye on competitions at Falun and watch amazing jumps from athletes all around the worlds except Sweden 😀

*Ski jumping championship in Falun, Sweden*

20. Heliskiing

Let’s turn to another winter activity where Sweden excels. Would you like to try world class off piste skiing in the best possible conditions? Try heli skiing behind the polar circle. In Abisko you can join a group of skiers and experience heli skiing.

21. Ice Cross

Have you heard about Ice cross? It’s popular mostly thanks to exciting Red Bull events. Check it out and if you dare, visit the ice cross facility in Stockholm.

22. Dog sledding

One of the most popular activities among visitors to Sweden is dog sledding. I have to admit I am a bit afraid of dogs so I haven’t tried it yet but I will one day. It looks very cosy!

23. Ice climbing

If you like rock climbing you should definitely also try ice climbing. What about ice climbing directly on the highest waterfall in Sweden? It is also on my to do list this winter.

Take a look at a short ice climbing movie from Abisko

24. Winter swimming

We have already talked about sauna but did you know that it is very popular to swim in ice cold water without going to the sauna these days? There are even races in cold water in Sweden!

25. Winter kayaking

I prefer to utilize water in the solid state during winter for acivities such as skiing or skating but there is also an option to experience an adventure on unfrozen lakes. Enjoy views over snow covered national parks or cities from a kayak. Stockholm offers many opportunities for instance.

My frozen kayak during sunrise tour in Stockholm archipelago — *My frozen kayak during a sunrise tour in the Stockholm archipelago*

26. Fat biking

Biking and snow often don’t go together. Slippery roads can be tricky so bikers usually take a break from biking during winter months. Have you heard though about fat biking? These bikes have much thicker tyres so they can be used on snow. Would you like to try?

A girl on flat bike on a beach — *My girlfriend testing a fat bike on a beach. It also works very well there. Next time we have to try it on snow!*

27. Car drifting

Let’s stay on snowy roads. Do you like cars? Then, I have a winter activity for you too. North west of Stockholm, there is a special lake where ice drive races are organized. Visit Dalarna and test your driving skills on ice!

28. Yukigassen

Yukigassen will bring you back to the childhood times when you had snowball fights with your friends. It is actually an official snowball competition. As you might guess from the name, it comes from Japan but there are Yukigassen associations in all major northern countries including Sweden. Visit Luleå for a national competition.

Yukigassen snow ball fight in Umeå, Sweden — Yukigassen fight in Umeå, Sweden

29. Sled

Let’s stay in our childhood and let’s enjoy children’s favourite means of transport in winter. Sledding is so much fun even for adults and there is even a sled championship in Sweden every year. Visit SM veckan and compete in Alpin Rodel.

30. Skijoring

Do you have pets and would you like to train together with them? Then, skijouring is the best thing for you! Skijoring is basically any sport where a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog (or dogs), another animal, or a motor vehicle (snowmobile or car for instance). In Sweden, you can find many cross country skiing tracks where pets are allowed.

31. Reindeer race

If you own a typical Lappland pet – reindeer, you can participate in a Reindeer race during Jokkmokk winter market. This is a wonderful event when people gather from all around the world to admire Sámi traditions.

32. Snow mobiling

To be honest, I am not much of a fan of snow mobiling. I prefer moving in the pure nature with my own power but I understand snow mobiling is popular in Sweden. The machines are very quick and you can explore nature in much shorter time compared to skis or skates. For me, they are just very loud and smelly and I am not that happy to meet them on my trips. I am not surprised that they are banned in Norway in free nature and allowed only on specific paths. I hope Sweden will follow the rule in the future. Anyway, snow mobiles are allowed now so try them.

33. Snowboarding

I almost forgot about snowboarding. It’s not much a surprise because I am a skier and you know there is a small rivalry between both sports so maybe I forgot it on purpose 😉 Anyway, Sweden offers perfect conditions for snowboarding too. If you are a skier like me, why not trying a snowboard too? Look what Ms. Ledecka managed. She won a gold medal both in snowboarding and skiing at the Olympic games. I am proud to be a Czech 🙂

CONCLUSION: Is Swedish winter boring or not?

So what do you think? Is winter still boring in Sweden? Feel free to share my article if you have a friend who thinks winter sucks. I am sure you will change his/her mind 😉

February 5, 2023 • 0 Comment

The best Czech winter adventures

Winter is beautiful in the Czech Republic… if you have snow. Unfortunately, global warming makes snow more and more rare so my tips will guide you to mountains rather than to cities in lowland. If you are looking for fairy tale snowy cities like on the picture below you will likely be disappointed. For your information, Prague usually only has snow for a few days every winter. Instead, my tips will guide you to the mountains. Czech mountains are beautiful in winter and there is a snow guarantee!

During 2021-2022 I visited the highest 16 mountain ranges of Czech Republic both in summer and winter including their highest peaks and it was amazing! My trips brought so many stories, experiences and pictures that I even published a book Crown of Czech Republic describing all the Czech mountain ranges with a peak above 1000m. You can find the list at the end of the article.

Unfortunately, the book is available only in Czech language but I have something better for you – a thorough selection of the best Czech adventures and experiences 🙂 Today, we’ll start with winter activities. You will be surprised how much you can enjoy Czech winter. Below you can find a list of the best winter adventures.

Wonderful Prague under snow — *Snowy Prague looks like from a fairy tale*

Witness Czech winter at mountain ridges after a snowstorm

Winter can be rough in Czech mountains during snow storms but the toughest conditions create the most beautiful scenery. Visit Czech mountain ridges some time after a heavy snowfall and you will be amazed. Rocks, bushes and trees or cottages covered in frost and freshly blown snow look wonderful. Where will you find the best views? Visit Jeseníky or Krkonoše because their highest ridges lie above the tree line and that brings the best viewpoints.

*Sunset at Krkonoše in winter after snow storm*

Spend a night at one of the mountains of the Crown of the Czech Republic

Some peaks offer comfortable huts, other ones cosy shelters where you can spend a night on your own if you have a warm sleeping bag. You can also try bivouacing. It became very popular in Czech Republic during last years so you can find sleepers even on the highest mountain of the country – Sněžka.

Which ones do I recommend to you? You will find the best accommodation with wonderful views on Ještěd and Lysá hora. I found very cosy shelters in Jizerské hory (Smrk) and Deštné hory (Velké Deštná) and I tried a bivouac on Králický Sněžník. All these adventures weren’t only fun, they also rewarded me with unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.

The most spectacular building of all Czech mountains - Ještěd during sunset — *The most spectacular building of all Czech mountains – Ještěd*

Try snowshoe hiking in remote Czech mountains

I will never forget the beauty of a quiet winter night when I hiked on snowshoes in Hanušovická vrchovina from the highest point Jeřáb back to civilization. It was very cold but the windless evening was beautiful. There were no other people around so I could fully enjoy the sounds of crunching snow below me. Kamenec (Novohradské hory), Vysoká (Hostýnsko-vsetínská hornatina) or Smrk (Rychlebské hory) are other mountains of the Crown of Czech Republic which are not frequently visited but offer an amazing snoshoe experience. All of the starting points are comfortably accessible by car.

Sign up for one of many cross country skiing races

If you prefer spending time in the mountains with people, participate in a cross country skiing race instead. There you will experience an amazing atmosphere. Finishing a cross-country race with a long tradition is an experience for a lifetime. Similar to Vasaloppet in Sweden, the Czech Republic has the 50 km long race Jizerská 50. An amazing atmosphere is guaranteed. Music at the start and at the finish, cheering locals around the track and the squirell Jizerka at the finish will make your experience unforgettable. Besides this race, you can find many others around the country. For more information take a look here.

Tour skiing in the Czech Republic is getting more and more popular

Try the new trending winter sport. Ski touring is becoming very popular in the Czech Republic and I understand why. Climbing up on skis is a great experience as well as a good workout and you are rewarded both by beautiful views and downhills. So much better and also faster than summer hiking!

The highest point of Šumava - Plechý covered with snow during sunset — *I visited the highest point of Šumava – Plechý on skis and it was one of the best experiences of my trip*

Downhill skiing in the Czech Republic

Let’s finish the summary with the most popular winter sport among Czechs. Downhill skiing has been the most favourite winter activity in every corner of the country and there are many options to choose from. You can find the largest and best ski resort in the east of the country at Krušné hory at Klínovec skiareál. I just recommend to avoid skiing there during weekends as it gets many visitors and queues are likely.

Skiareál Klínovec from drone — *The top of Skiareál Klínovec offer wonderful views*

Which activity and which Czech mountain will you choose?

Did you find a winter activity you would like to try? Before you head to the mountains, please just make sure to be safe. There are more and more injuries every year. Underestimating weather conditions or equipment can cause fatalities.

Finally, here is the list of all Czech mountain ranges above 1000m including their highest peaks.

List of the highest Czech mountain ranges

Krkonoše – Sněžka – 1603 m
Hrubý Jeseník – Praděd – 1491 m
Králický Sněžník – Králický Sněžník – 1423 m
Šumava – Plechý – 1378 m
Moravskoslezské Beskydy – Lysá hora – 1324 m
Krušné hory – Klínovec – 1244 m
Rychlebské hory – Smrk – 1127 m
Jizerské hory – Smrk – 1124 m
Orlické hory – Velká Deštná – 1116 m
Šumavské podhůří – Libín – 1094 m
Novohradské hory – Kamenec – 1073 m
Český les – Čerchov – 1041 m
Hostýnsko-vsetínská hornatina – Vysoká – 1024 m
Javorníky Malý – Javorník – 1019 m
Ještědsko-kozákovský hřbet – Ještěd – 1012 m
Hanušovická vrchovina – Jeřáb – 1003 m

October 12, 2020 • 0 Comment

European Peaks – My book is published!

My dreams came true! In 2019 I completed my expedition European Peaks and I can happily say now that my book about the unforgettable journey has been published! It is now available in bookstores all over the Czech Republic. UPDATE: The first edition of the book has been sold out and you can find the updated and extended edition in the stores.

It isn’t an easy job to write a book. It took a similarly long time as the expedition itself but I am very proud of the outcome. Take a look at the cover.

What can you find in the book?

My book is kind of a hybrid. It serves both as a guide and also tells my own stories and experiences from the mountains. At the beginning of each chapter you can find practical information about the highest peak of every European country including a map and the chapters continue with my personal stories and of course my photographs.

The overall storyline tells that I start as a relative beginner climber and I learn on the way. The stories are accompanied by interviews with world famous climbers (Renata Chlumská – the first Swedish women to reach Seven Summits, Adam Ondra – professional rock climber, Radek Jaroš – climber who summited all the 8000m mountains) who will give the readers tips how to safely climb mountains.

Last and not least, you will find a lot of fun facts from every European country, not only mountains. Europe is so manifold. Did you know for instance that Sweden’s highest point changed last year because the previous highest one melted?

If you can read Czech, take a look at the book’s website for more information. For others, I have a short movie

Check out summary of the expedition in this short film

My book in other languages

My goal for 2024 is to publish my book in English and other languages. I prepared the cover of the English version as well as an example chapter. You can find them both of them below.

Here you can download the example chapter KebnekaiseDownload

Details of the book

Genre: Travel monograph
Number of pages: 304
Book dimensions: 210 × 247 mm
Release Date: May 28, 2020
Binding: Bound with laminated cover

Pictures from the book release

Baptism of Koruna Evropy book. From left actor Jan Révai, writer Ladislav Zibura, Jarda Zaoral and moderator Michal Kurtiš — Czech tradition: Baptism of the book. From left actor Jan Révai, writer Ladislav Zibura, me and moderator Michal Kurtiš

Book presentation and discussion about travelling 1 — Presentation of the book and discussion about travelling

Book presentation and discussion about travelling 2

March 30, 2020 • 0 Comment

I wrote a book!

I have taken a long break from writing on my blog. Sorry you had to wait a long time for a new article but I had, hopefully, an understandable reason. I wrote a book! In October 2019 I got an amazing opportunity to publish my mountain adventures via one of the largest book publishers in the Czech Republic – Albatros Media. During the last six months I have been working hard to fulfill my dream. I always wanted to become a writer and here is the result – Koruna Evropy (The Crown of Europe).

If you understand Czech you can look forward to 304 pages of exciting stories. There will be stories from every country of Europe and its highest mountains. It will be full of beautiful pictures and illustrations, interesting statistics and interviews with world class climbers and travelers. You can also look forward to fun facts and my humor 🙂

If you don’t speak Czech, don’t worry. My goal is also to publish the book in English. In the meantime I will work on this blog so you will be able to read my shortened stories here.

*Here is the book cover! How do you like it?*

When will the book be published?

We have a final date now. The book will be published on 28th May 2020 and it will be available in the majority of bookstores across Czech Republic. I am creating a Czech website for the book. You will get information very soon.

How will it be published?

I planned a big book release on the fair Svět knihy in Prague with a subsequent presentation and party but the circumstances changed. The safety is important these days so it will most likely just be released via a modest live video via social channels. Time will tell what will be possible.

Climber on top of mountain Vorder Grauspitz

June 28, 2019 • 0 Comment

Expedition completed! All highest points of European countries climbed!

After almost a year of frequent travelling, hiking and climbing I am lying on my bed without any specific further traveling plans. Now, I finally have time to go through the thousands of pictures and videos which I captured during my mountain expedition European Peaks. I still can hardly believe it but my pictures confirm that I made it! Despite all the obstacles I managed to climb the highest mountain of each European country and even during the shortest time ever. Liechtenstein and its surprisingly sharp mountain Vorder Grauspitz was the last mountain on my list. Here are my first reflections.

The largest obstacles brought most interesting stories

Vorder Grauspitz, the mountain which showed up several times in my nightmares, was conquered on 13th June, 2019, exactly 361 days after the first summit of a European mountain of my expedition which was a small but beautiful hill in Estonia. I expected to have difficulties with other giants such as Elbrus in Russia, Dufourspitze in Switzerland or Mont Blanc in Italy/France but it was this only 2599m high mountain in Liechtenstein which caused me the biggest troubles. I had to give up during the first summit attempt in the beginning of June due to high avalanche risk and this potential avalanche woke me up in the middle of several nights after our unsuccessful attempt.

Crazy a lot of snow in Liechtenstein shown by a closed tunnel — *Crazy a lot of snow at the beginning of June in Liechtenstein caused high avalanche danger. This is a wayout of a tunnel*

Surprisingly tough mountain in Liechtenstein

Who would expect such climbing difficulty from the fourth smallest country in Europe? I was so scared of an accident on this mountain but also so close to the end of my expedition that I decided to climb it for the second time with an experienced mountain guide. I just couldn’t leave the expedition unfinished. And it worked!

We waited for a perfect weather window and our summit day was just perfect. The freezing night made the snow stable for our summit and the weather even prepared impressive views for us. Can you imagine a better climbing day than above an ocean of clouds? The climb was actually not as difficult as my nightmares suggested. After a few hours I was already standing on Vorder Grauspitz and enjoying the last peak beer. That feeling of victory on the top of the mountain which scared me over two weeks was undescribable.

Climbing above clouds in the Alps — *Second attempt to climb Grauspitz during much better weather than for the first time*

Global warming took a short break

During the first part of my expedition (check the summary here) I climbed the highest mountains of all EU countries and I was pretty lucky with the weather. I had troubles with weather only once in the High Tatras when I was attempting to climb the highest mountain in Slovakia. However, the second part of the expedition prepared for me completely opposite conditions. I had difficulties with weather at almost each mountain due to never ending winter and lots of snow. The most crazy conditions waited for me besides the above mentioned Liechtenstein also in Russia where I had to wait 5 days for good weather. When it finally looked like the forecasts will recover my partners and I ended up in the biggest snowstorm I have ever seen.

Snow storm in Russian mountains nearby Elbrus — *Snowstorm in the base camp of Elbrus at 4100m. We had to return.*

However, we all know well that it was only a short global warming break. I have seen many glaciers melting during my expedition. The most significant change I experienced in Sweden when climbing Kebnekaise. The southern peak of the mountain got several meters lower in comparison to my first visit in 2014. Unfortunately, it will be soon glacier free completely.

Bear is not as fun to find as a beer.

Similarly, I faced complete winter conditions in all the Balkan countries where the summits would never be possible without crampons and an ice axe. Why do all articles I found online say that hiking in the Balkans in the end of May should be snowless? Besides snow difficulties, Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared for me another wildlife survival test – how to survive a meeting with a bear. I was very glad at that moment that I visited the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania where I was explained what to do not to be eaten as a desert (see the picture below). Despite almost getting my pants full I found out that it actually works to pretend you are big and to start a karaoke.

Description of what to do if you meet a bear — *I started to use a lot Instastories during my expedition. Very easy and quick way to share instant experiences. Check my Instagram account if you don’t follow me there yet.*

In Iceland, I faced another challenge. Since none of the mountain guiding operators to the highest peak Hvannadalshnjúkur offered a tour on the date we needed, my friend and I decided to reach the peak on our own. Since my friend was on a glacier for the first time, I didn’t have any other option than leading the climb over a glacier for the first time in my life. It was a very challenging experience. It was not only an extremely long climb but taking the responsibility is a much harder burden. Any mistake could result in an accident. I am very happy we had probably the best weather in Iceland’s history so we made it to the peak safely. At the end, we were even awarded by an amazing sunset on the peak and the shining northern lights on the way back.

Selfie from the top of Iceland's highest mountain — *The highest point of Iceland climbed!*

Waiting is worse than the toughest climbs

Climbing Elbrus is nothing technically difficult. But if weather goes bananas your butt will shake off as I could experience. I had to wait for good weather for five days in an improvised simple accommodation, lack of oxygen, eating freeze dried food and hearing mice running above my head. The biggest problem was though that the toilet outside and 100m far from our cottage. I knew that you must drink a lot when staying in high altitudes but I didn’t know that the bladder has much more difficulties to work. Running 5 times a night to the toilet in freezing temperatures is not an experience which I will miss after this expedition.

I found out that having “skiing instructor certificate” doesn’t mean anything if you go ski touring. Reaching peaks in in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Andorra was an amazing experience but followed with a number of non expected falls. The most crucial fall happened in Switzerland when I lost a pole. It taught me though that a broom can be an amazing pole too. Why spending so much money for new skiing poles when you can create your own?

Small mountains can surprise

I am glad that European highest points didn’t only bring me to high mountain ranges but also to countries which I would probably never visit without this challenge. The best example is Moldova, the poorest country in Europe and the least visited country of the European continent. I discovered completely untouched places there, met interesting people in tiny villages, celebrated orthodox Easter and visited the largest winery in the world. Yes, you read correctly. There is the largest winery in the world – Cricova with a huge underground city full of cellars and 100km of corridors. Even though the highest point itself of Moldova is very easy to climb, I had difficulties reaching it because before my summit day I spent in Moldova an intense prolonged weekend with surprisingly tasty wine, great people and one of the biggest parties in my life.

*Babushka selling Easter cakes in Moldova*

Climbing with the nearest

Since most of the climbs in the non EU countries were very demanding I never wanted to manage them on my own. Luckily, I have amazing people around me and I managed to find a climbing partner for every peak during the second part of my expedition. On the other hand, I learned that being scared for others can be much stronger feeling than being scared for myself. When my mum, my girlfriend and I walked off a snow covered walking path in the Balkans and we showed up in a very steep and insecure snow terrain, I was very worried something would happen to them. I was ready to cancel our summit attempts and return back down. Luckily, the women around me are so brave that they managed to pass these tough parts and we successfully made it to these amazing peaks.

Steep hike on top of Maglič, the highest peak of Bosnia and Herzegovina — *Joanne’s face explains exactly what she thinks about this steep part on the way to Maglič, the highest point of Bosnia and Herzegovina*

Overcoming prejudice and enjoying the simplicity of every day life

These were some of the strongest experiences I had during the second part of my expedition. As I said it was a very tough year with a lot of challenges but it was worth the pain and stress. The feeling when you successfully finish the whole expedition is simply amazing. I hope my story has motivated at least some of you reading this article. I wish everyone who has a dream expedition in mind to start. That’s the most difficult moment. Once you begin your adventure, the goal will be close.

If you don’t think of any dream adventure, consider climbing at least one highest point of a European country this summer. Europe is so beautiful and various that everyone is able to choose. The best thing is that if you decide to climb a mountain you don’t only make your body healthier by moving in the nature but you also meet interesting people and learn about different cultures. For me climbing the mountains was never only about the peaks. I always tried to find out as much as I could about the country and the region I visited. I liked especially participating in free guided tours in the cities on the way and of course talking with locals. I learned a lot of new interesting things about our continent and overcame lots of prejudice (you’ll see examples in my future blog posts).

Time to rest

Before my adventure I was very restless. I traveled to a new place and especially mountains every free moment I could. However, after this expedition, I never thought I would say this but I am happy that I have no travel plans at the moment. I am happy with my plan to stay in the lowland around Stockholm and Prague over the whole summer, just work with photography and go through all my pictures, videos and notes from my expedition. I am looking forward to complete my blog so you have tips for the highest mountain of each European country in one place. If you like reading my experiences and looking at mountain pictures, you have something to look forward to during this summer.

Two tourists chilling during sunrise in their sleeping bags on a Swedish island — *Time to enjoy Swedish summer and endless sunsets*

What will be the next expedition?

This is probably the most common question I am getting these days. My big challenge is to stay calm and not to travel much this summer. Haha. My current expedition will be to start writing a book which was always my dream. But for those who know me I will not be able to stay a long time without adrenaline. I have one big mountain dream in mind but I will keep it for myself at the moment. Stay tuned.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the people who helped me to make my dream come true. Especially, I am thankful for support and patience of my family and my girlfriend. Thanks also to all who decided to join me for a part of my expedition and to those who helped me in any other way.

Participants of project European Peaks — *The best people who joined me on my adventure this year*

PS: Thanks also the EU for its existence. I realized how easy it is to travel in the Shengen area during the second part of the expedition. I almost forgot how much pain in the ass it is to travel through borders with the security controls and bureaucracy. Similarly, I am happy to be back in the EU now where I can access internet on my phone anywhere without a problem. I spent hundreds of EUR only because I just needed to let my family know that I am alive.

Here is the list of mountains which I managed the climb

Country	Mountain	Elevation
Estonia	Suur Munamägi	318
Latvia	Gaiziņkalns	311
Lithuania	Aukštojas Hill	294
Denmark	Møllehøj	171
Netherlands	Vaalserberg	321
Belgium	Signal de Botrange	694
Luxembourg	Kneiff	560
Czech Republic	Sněžka	1,603
Slovakia	Gerlachovský štít	2,655
Poland	Rysy	2,499
Hungary	Kékes	1,014
Romania	Moldoveanu Peak	2,544
Bulgaria	Musala	2,925
Greece	Mount Olympus	2,917
Cyprus	Mount Olympus	1,952
Malta	Ta’ Dmejrek	253
Portugal	Torre	1,993
Spain	Mulhacén	3,479
Ireland	Carrauntoohil	1,041
United Kingdom	Ben Nevis	1,345
Austria	Grossglockner	3,798
Germany	Zugspitze	2,962
Slovenia	Triglav	2,864
Italy/France	Mont Blanc	4,809
Finland	Halti	1,324
Sweden	Kebnekaise	2,104
Croatia	Dinara	1,831
Vatican	Vatican Hill	75
San Marino	Monte Titano	749
Monaco	Chemin des Révoires	163
Norway	Galdhøpiggen	2,469
Andorra	Coma Pedrosa	2,942
Iceland	Hvannadalshnúkur	2,11
Belarus	Dzyarzhynskaya Hara	345
Ukraine	Hoverla	2,061
Moldova	Bălănești	430
Serbia	Midžor	2,169
Macedonia/Albania	Mount Korab	2,764
Kosovo	Rudoka e Madhe	2,658
Montenegro	Zla Kolata	2,534
Bosnia + Herzegovina	Maglić	2,386
Switzerland	Monte Rosa	4,634
Turkey	Mahya Dağı	1,031
Russia	Mount Elbrus	5,642
Liechtenstein	Vorder Grauspitz	2,599

September 16, 2018 • 0 Comment

Expedition EU Peaks completed!

I have just climbed the highest mountain of Croatia which was the last mountain of my expedition! That means only one thing: I managed the climb all the EU Peaks! I needed 88 days to conquer the highest mountain of each EU country. These 27 mountains created 27 amazing stories which I will bear in mind for the rest of my life. It really has been an extraordinary trip with many obstacles on the way but now I am very happy I made it. What a feeling to fulfill your dream. Look at a short movie from my adventure and my quick summary and reflections from my trip below and see what is coming next 🙂

*Sunrise over the highest mountain of my expedition – Mont Blanc; camera Nikon D750; lens Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8; Panorama made by 24 pictures – 4 pictures in 2 rows; 3x Exposure bracketing*

Dream coming true

I always wanted to accomplish a longer expedition. When I saw documentaries about reaching the North Pole, climbing Mount Everest or biking through the Sahara I was thinking what my expedition could be. After visiting over 55 countries around the world and completing the Adventure Academy course I felt prepared for my first big trip.

I decided to climb EU Peaks for simple reasons: I love mountains and viewpoints & I would like show how easy it is to travel nowadays in EU compared to problems which for example my parents had. In recent years one can read many negative things about EU in the news so I wanted to show also some positive ones. Don’t forget that the best thing we have nowadays is freedom and amazing opportunities to travel. Look how much beauty we have around us!

*View from the highest mountain of Sweden, Kebnekaise; camera Nikon D750; lens Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8; single exposure*

EU Peaks became inspiration for other adventures

During my journey I hoped that at least somebody was following my trip. Now I am sure. After the last summit I have received so many positive messages that I am glad I decided for such a trip. I am most happy for the messages telling me that I motivated people for their own adventures. If you also feel like making a similar trip or just climb some mountain, let me know. I will be glad to help you and answer your questions.

I found also other unique places on the way, not only mountains. Look at a hidden gem of Portugal – the amazing village Piodao; camera Nikon D750; lens Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8; Panorama made by 4 pictures – 2 vertical pictures; 2x Exposure bracketing

This trip was a huge lesson for me. I managed many things well but I also made many mistakes. I am really happy for the experience to work with my amazing sponsors (Interrail, Outnorth, Panosociety, Lifefood, Granitbiten, Pod 7 kilo). I am thankful as well for the experience to become a reporter for the largest Czech Radio Impuls or for cooperation with other media such as Aktuálně.cz, Hospodářské Noviny or Soffa.

Big life lesson

On the other hand I learnt a lot from mistakes that hurrying in the mountains doesn’t make sense and can cause accidents. I don’t want to come back in detail to our car accident which happened in Scotland but it was definitely the worst experience in my life. I am still so thankful that nobody got hurt. To be honest I’ve never felt worse in my life after that happened. Only thanks to my amazing family and friends I got over my depression quickly and I could continue on my journey.

Looking at the decision now I am sure it was the best I could do. The rest of the trip was just epic. Standing on the highest peaks in the Alps can’t be described by words. If you like mountains, please visit at least one of the peaks.

*On the way down from Grossglockner clouds suddenly disappeared and we had this amazing view; camera Nikon D750; lens Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8; single exposure*

You will see the rest of articles about each mountain soon on my blog but I would like to share with you some numbers and fun facts already now. Look at what all you can experience during just three months of travelling. Check also what country won in which of my charts 🙂

Statistics of EU Peaks

Countries visited: 28 (the whole EU)
Mountains climbed: 27 (the highest point of each EU country, France and Italy share Mont Blanc)
The overall elevation I climbed: 25 380 m (counting only the summit days, not extra hikes): 38m (Estonia), 45 m (Latvia), 12 m (Lithuania), 3 m (Denmark), 1451 m (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg- biking), 826m (Czech Republic), 1283 m (Poland), 1001 m (Slovakia), 22 m (Hungary), 1880m (Romania), 1463m (Bulgaria), 1862 m (Greece), 127 m (Cyprus), 1m (Portugal), 1237m (Spain), 1004m (Ireland), 1249m (United Kingdom); 1920m (Austria), 2151m (Germany), 1878m (Slovenia), 2474m (Italy/France); 626m (Finland); 1599m (Sweden); 1228m (Croatia)
Number of trains taken: 38 and the whole travel journey took ca 8400 km. All thanks to my Interrail card. Besides that I took 9 planes to reach islands and 1 ferry
Number of pictures and videos taken: 26 823 (731 GB)
Number of friends & family joined: 19
Summits during sunrises/sunsets: 14
Summits during middays with sunny weather: 9
Summits during cloudy/foggy/rainy weather: 4
Lifts taken: 0
Interviews for Radio Impuls: 28
Three best viewpoints from EU peaks: France/Italy – Mont Blanc, Sweden -Kebnekaise, Poland – Rysy
Three most impressive mountains: Greece – Mount Olympus, France/Italy – Mont Blanc, Triglav – Slovenia
The most busy EU peaks: Germany – Zugspitze, Austria – Grossglockner, Czech Republic – Sněžka
The most calm EU peaks: Romania – Moldoveanou Peak, Croatia – Dinara, Luxembourg – Kneiff
The toughest climb: Grossglockner, Austria (the most challenging climbing during freezing conditions)
The worst weather during my whole trip: Sněžka, Czech Republic – raining like hell
The longest climb: Kebnekaise, Sweden – 7 days
The shortest climb: Torre, Portugal – there is a roundabout on the top. I just drove there and I was there.
The most mosquitoes on the mountain: Suur Munamägi – Estonia
The most expensive summit: Slovakia – Gerlachovský Štít: It is the only mountain which you can’t climb on your own and you have to rent a guide. It costs 262 EUR
The most unpredictable weather: Carrauntoohil – Ireland: The only mountain where the forecast was completely wrong. It was supposed to be sunny and it was completely foggy
The most confusing story about the highest point of the country: Denmark – Danish people actually regard 4 mountains as their highest. Read the whole story here
The shortest distance to the sea from the highest point: Malta – the highest point is actually a cliff called Dingli
The best three peak beers: Prešovský Medový ležiak 14° (Slovakian honey lager) on the Slovakian peak Gerlachovský Štít; Belgium Peak Beer La Brune (A double highland beer, the brown Peak) on the highest Belgian Peak; Suur Munamäe vaatetorn (Wheat Ale) on the highest point of Estonia
The most visitors unfriendly mountain: Cyprus – Mont Olympos. There is a radar on the highest point. It is forbidden even take pictures there
Mountain where I felt most cold: Mulhacén – Spain: I simply underestimated how cold it can be in Spanish mountains. Temperatures around zero degrees Celsius together with strong wind caught me unprepared.
The most interesting story on the journey: From Ylko from Finland who came to mountain Halti to quit his drinking lifestyle. He drank 6000 beers during the last year and decided to stop. He symbolically poured the last one on the highest Finnish point.
The most cozy mountain huts: Slovakia – Chata Pod Rysmy (on the way to the Polish highest peak); Bulgaria – Ledeno Ezero; Greece – Kakkalos Refuge
The most tasty food on the way: Burger in Luxembourg
The most bizarre food on the way: Cold pink soup in Latvia
Three best accommodations: Germany – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Malta – Valletta, Sweden – Kiruna
The best bartender met on the way: Croatia, Pakoštane – bartender Nikola and his drink Piňa Colada
The easiest mountains to reach: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg (all three managed in one day by bike)

And what is coming next? My optimistic plan to update my blog after each climb didn’t work so I will finally have time now to make all the updates. You can look forward to read about tips for each EU Peak soon, nice pictures and my funny experiences. The articles will help you prepare for your own adventures so you will be able to enjoy your time in the mountains in a safe way. Besides the mountain posts, I am planning to disclose you also some photography tips. Stay tuned!

European Peaks are waiting

And what about my travelling and new peaks? Now I will take a short break to gain new power but the world record in managing all European highest points is very tempting. Since it is only 22 peaks left I have to give it a try 😉

*One of the nicest sunrises of the expedition – Triglav in Slovenia; camera Nikon D750; lens Tamron 15-30mm, f/2.8; 3times bracketing*

Lastly, I would like to thank to all my friends, my family and my girlfriend for incredible support. Without you I would never be able to make this trip come true. I hope that those who joined me along this trip enjoyed it as much I did and I hope to welcome you for future trips and expeditions. Thanks also to Adventure Academy and all my teachers for the amazing preparation especially during the course Hell Week and of course to my sponsors who helped me get new equipment to finish my expedition! Big thank comes also to those who helped me on the way with providing accommodation, food or just advice and finally thanks to all my readers for following. Now the exciting articles will come 😉 Stay tuned!

*My friends who joined me on my expedition; collage made by 16 pictures from my camera Nikon D750, GoPro 6 and iPhone X*

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