AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients' experiences of outdoor physical activity while admitted to the hospital. METHOD: The study is a descriptive, qualitative study. Fourteen first-time allogeneic stem cell transplantation recipients were included. After going through a tailored outdoor physical activity programme, the participants took part in individual in-depth interviews to describe their experiences of the physical activity programme. The interviews were analysed in accordance with the manifest level of content analysis by Graneheim and Lundman. RESULTS: The participants had different starting points, but the majority experienced taking part in physical activity as positive. The data analysis resulted in five categories: (1) Physical activity is positive
(2) Health condition might challenge activity
(3) Tailored activity
(4) Social aspects and (5) Feeling well. The interest in adherence to the programme seemed to be related to the participants' physical activity prior to admission to the hospital. Furthermore, somatic symptoms were the major challenges to participation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that participants viewed the physical outdoor programme as a positive reprieve from the hospital setting. The results demonstrate that an outdoor physical activity programme tailored to patients' health conditions is feasible and can have physical and social benefits.