Is Self-Guided Walking the Perfect Holiday for Introverts?

Sometimes the best part of a holiday is simply having time and space to yourself. Sweden has just made that idea official.

On 29 September, Visit Sweden launched The Introvert Travel Agency, which it calls the world's first travel agency for introverts. The campaign is tongue-in-cheek, but the message behind it is serious: not everyone wants a holiday packed with crowds and constant social interaction.

A YouGov survey commissioned by Visit Sweden across nine markets found that 41 per cent of travel respondents consider themselves introverted. The campaign highlights the things they value most: peace and quiet, personal space, and the freedom to enjoy a destination on their own terms.

To us, that sounds a lot like a self-guided walking holiday.

Your day, your pace

"Sometimes the luxury of a holiday is simply having time and space to yourself," says UTracks General Manager Kate Baker.

"On a self-guided walk, your accommodation, route information and many of the logistics are taken care of, but the day is yours. You decide when to start, where to stop and how long to linger somewhere along the way."

There's no group timetable and no need to keep pace with anyone else. Stop for coffee, take an hour over lunch, sit beside a lake on your own, or simply walk without feeling you need to be doing something every minute of the day.

Independent, but never unsupported

UTracks has offered self-guided active holidays in Europe for almost 20 years. They combine the independence of travelling on your own with the support of an organised holiday:

• Accommodation booked in advance
• Detailed route information and navigation tools
• Luggage transfers on many itineraries
• Local support if you need it

You set out on your own each day, but that doesn't mean you're travelling in isolation.

"You can chat to people in villages, restaurants and the places you stay, or simply enjoy your own company. That balance is one of the great things about self-guided travel," Kate says.

Why Sweden suits a quieter walk

Sweden is made for this style of holiday. It has vast forests, lakes, islands and coastal trails, and its culture has a strong connection to spending time in nature.

UTracks offers several self-guided walking holidays in Sweden:

• Sweden: Baltic Coastal Walk (7 days): through Tyresta National Park, forests, seaside trails and villages.
• Sweden: Island Hopping Walk (7 days): through Stockholm's southern archipelago.
• Highlights of the Sormland Trail (7 days): exploring sections of one of Sweden's longest walking trails.

Not just for introverts

"It is a great campaign from Visit Sweden, but you do not really have to be an introvert to want some breathing space on holiday," Kate says.

So while Sweden's new agency was created with introverts in mind, extroverts are very welcome on our walking holidays too.

Browse our self-guided walking holidays in Sweden