St. Olav Waterway
- Olavinreitti -
THE ST. OLAV WATERWAY - OLAVINREITTI
The St. Olav Waterway starts in Turku (Finland) and ends in Eckerö (Åland). It follows the trail pilgrims walked and sailed in the Middle Ages on their way to Nidaros. Olav is the patron saint of Åland, and there are Olav churches on both the Finnish archipelago and Åland, meaning Olav himself may have passed through the area on his journey from Novgorod to Sweden. The St. Olav Waterway is the first pilgrim trail connecting Finland and Sweden over the sea.
This trail combines beautiful hikes with island hopping and takes about two weeks. The total distance is 340 kilometers, including ferries, while the distance you actually walk is approximately 215 kilometers. The average daily distance is 20 kilometers, which requires solid hiking experience. The route follows forest paths, gravel roads, asphalt, and grass paths. There are no significant height differences.
NORDIC PILGRIM
Since 2022, Nordic Pilgrim has offered self-guided hiking trips along St. Olav Waterway. We can arrange accommodation, meals, luggage transport, maps, and English-language information about points of interest.If you have questions or encounter problems during your trip, there is always an English-speaking contact available – either locally or via an app. Would you like to handle your own meals? We provide a
list of food shops, restaurants, and cooking facilities along the route.If you have limited time, we can select the best stages for you. Traveling with your own luggage can make the journey more budget-friendly. Special requests – such as bicycle rental or dietary needs – can be accommodated. We also assist with booking extra nights at the start or end of your journey and provide travel advice.