The Story of Sweden Offroad Tour
– A Rolling Adventure Since 1995

How did it all start?

Back in the 1980s, offroading in Sweden was mostly about tough terrain, military zones, and heavily modified vehicles. If you had a regular 4×4, you were pretty much left on the sidelines.

That changed in 1991 when motor journalist Peter Örjeskog introduced a new concept called “Terrain Touring”—offroad events designed for all types of 4x4s, not just the extreme builds. The idea made offroading more accessible, and the community quickly grew.

In 1995, Peter took things further by combining several events into one long offroad journey across Sweden—from the far south to the Midnight Sun in the north. With 170 vehicles from multiple countries, it was meant to be a one-time adventure. But the concept struck a chord, and the Sweden Offroad Tour was born.

In 1997, the concept of Terrain Touring evolved into something bigger: Sweden Offroad Tour (SOT). The new format expanded into a full-scale summer tour, with offroading almost every day and just a few travel breaks in the north to cover the long distances. The vision was clear—to make it all the way from the southern forests to the treeless mountains outside Kiruna and experience the magic of the Midnight Sun.

Participation grew steadily, and the event began drawing hundreds of vehicles each year, including international guests. SOT quickly gained national attention, appearing in local newspapers, radio, TV, and specialized offroad magazines. It even caught international media interest: Swedish public television SVT featured the tour in a segment watched by over 1.3 million viewers, and major publications like Four Wheeler (USA) and Land Rover Owner (UK) ran extensive coverage.

By the early 2000s, Sweden Offroad Tour had firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the Nordic offroad calendar—welcoming all types of drivers and vehicles, and showcasing the country’s stunning and varied terrain.

The Road Evolves

As time changed in Sweden, access to military training areas became more restricted for private events. Sweden Offroad Tour adapted by shifting entirely to private land and offroad club areas, strengthening ties with the grassroots 4×4 community. In 2010, the last stage to Kiruna was completed. The long distances in the north meant more days spent on transport than actually driving offroad—so the tour was reshaped into a more compact loop through southern Sweden, home to most of the country’s population and a rich variety of offroad terrain.

In 2015, SOT reached a new milestone with 500 participating vehicles. With consistent media interest, support from long-term sponsors like Rindab (Warn) and Proimp (Cooper Tires), and regular coverage from ATV-QUAD.se, the tour cemented its status as Sweden’s largest offroad event.

The pandemic years 2020–2021 marked the first time the tour was run without its original tour leader. But the strength of the offroad community carried it through. Anders Forsell (HLMK Offroad) stepped in to lead the first stage of 2020, while Stefan Nyblom (Ludvika MS Offroad) took over the final days. In 2021, Frida Larsson (Wäxjö MS Offroad) served as tour leader, and the tour not only continued—it grew.

Today, SOT welcomes 400 to 500 vehicles each summer, from across Sweden and Europe. With an average of 16 offroad days, it’s likely the world’s longest-running non-competitive 4×4 event. And while the route and format have evolved, the core idea remains the same: drive, explore, and enjoy the outdoors—together.