The Best of Sweden in 10 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience Stockholm with its famous Vasa museum, City Hall and the beautiful Old Town. Journey by a turn of the century ship to Drottningholm visit Birka founded in the 750s. See the beautiful surroundings of Taxinge and the magnificent Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred as well as Steninge Castle and cultural center. See how people lived generations ago at Vallby Open Air Museum then leave the modern world and comforts behind and live in harmony with nature for a while and join us on a genuine Scandinavian adventure to meet the king of the forest; the mighty moose. On this 9 day experience we´ll show you the stunning and extremely varied scenery of Sweden

Programme

Day 1                                                                                                                                                                                      Beijing - Stockholm
Arrival in Stockholm - one of the world´s most beautiful capitals. Built on 14 islands around one of Europe´s largest and best-preserved medieval city centres, the Swedish capital is superbly positioned, with stunning and extremely varied scenery in every direction. 
Transfer from the airport to Best Western Mornington Hotel Nybrogatan in Stockholm which is located five minutes’ walk from the business and leisure centre of Stockholm in the quiet residential area of Östermalm. Welcome-dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Day2                                                                                                                                                                                                        Stockholm
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel for a sightseeingtour by bus in Stockholm including visits to the famous Vasamuseum and the City Hall, where the Nobel Banquet takes place in the Blue Hall in December every year. What you perhaps did not know about the Blue Hall is that it is not at all blue...  After the sightseeing tour we will go on a cruise to Drottningholm Palace on the calm Lake Mälaren , in a turn of the century ship. On board we will enjoy lunch. Arriving at Drottningholm Palace, you will be welcomed by strong cultural Swedish history. The majestic garden, Royal Theatre, and a Chinese Pavillion each part a work of art it self. Drottningholm is one of the Swedish contributions to the World Heritage List and the home of the royal family. Return by ship to Stockholm.
Dinner at a restaurant in the Old Town and overnight stay in Stockholm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day3                                                                                                                                                                                                         Stockholm
Breakfast at the hotel. Departue from the hotel for a journey back in time to Birka which was founded in the 750s as Sweden´s first real town. Trade and barter flourished here for over 200 years before the town was suddenly abandoned.
You will travel over lake Mälaren with M/S Victoria from Stockholm (Stadshuskajen). On board you can enjoy delicious food and drinks or have a hot cup of coffee on the after deck.
Upon your arrival highly skilled archaeologists and educated guides will guide you through the ancient remains, and teach you about the viking era. You will also learn what life was like in this ancient town and be given the opportunity to visit the museum. Lunch will be served at restaurant Särimner, at Birka. Return by ship to Stockholm. 
Dinner and overnight stay in Stockholm.

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

Day4                                                                                                                                                                              Stockholm - Mariefred
Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.
Our tour starts with a stop in Taxinge with its castle and beautiful surroundings. In Taxinge we will visit the "Cake Castle" where you can get a taste of northern Europe's largest cake buffet. Everything is baked locally and there are about 60 different kinds, from Sacher torte to carrot cake. A big feast for both the eyes and the stomach. Choose to sit inside the castle, in the castle yard or in the promontory garden overlooking Gripsholm Bay. We will then continue to the small idyllic town of Mariefred and go on a guided tour of Gripsholm Castle. Lunch in Mariefred
Dinner and overnight stay at Gripsholm situated on the shore of lake Mälaren in the small town idyllic town of Mariefred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Day5                                                                                                                                               Mariefred - Kopparberg - Karmansbo
Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.
Today we will continue our tour in Frövifors Paper Mill and visit the museum of modern packaging. You will also have the opportunity to visit the papermaking studio and purchase beautiful paper.
Lunch on route after which we shall continue our journey to Kopparberg to learn the noble art of finding gold! We start off with an outdoor dinner including moose meat. After dinner we will be equipped with rubber boots and a copperstrainer and enter the river for "Guldvaskning"! 
Overnight stay at Karmansbo Herrgård

  

 

 

 

 

 

Day6                                                                                                                                        Karmansbo - Skinnskatteberg/Kolarbyn
Breakfast and check-out from the hotel. After breakfast departure to Norberg and New Lapphyttan. This reconstructed medieval blast furnace is created with the oldest known industrial iron production site in Sweden as a raw model. Lapphyttan originates from the 12th century and the aim is to reinvent the forgotten manufacturing process of iron and steel. Lunch at a restaurant in New Lapphyttan.  
In the afternoon we shall continue to Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge which is Swedens most primitive hostel where you leave the modern world and comforts behind and live in harmony with nature for a while. There are 12 forest huts, each with two berths for sheep skin rugs and sleeping bags. All huts have a wood heater. We will make our own dinner in the forest including woodchopping, potato peeling and breadbaking over open fire. Dinner will be served on wooden plates by the fire in the large hut. There is no electricity and the only light will be candles and torches.
After dinner we will go on a genuine Scandinavian adventure and meet the king of the forest; the mighty moose. As night falls in the dense forests with little lakes and evergreen woods, the forest is brought to life and moose awaken from their daytime slumber to feed. This means prime time for moose watching in the glades and meadows. Late at night we heat up a traditional sauna and, to cool down, we plunge into the cleansing water of lake Skärsjön.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day7                                                                                                                        Skinnskatteberg/Kolarbyn - Västerås - Uppsala
In the morning we are treated to a substantial breakfast and singing birds before we head back to civilization enriched by our new experiences. After breakfast we continue to Västerås to make a short stop at the impressive rune stones at Anundshög. The royal 6th century burial site is the largest in Sweden. After that it’s time to visit to the open air museum of Vallby where you can experience how Sweden was four generations ago. Walk through the centre and visit old buildings, the old school and the old grocery shop. You will also see the farm animals roaming free. In the small buildings there is a silver smith, brush maker and textile shop with items for sales. Lunch at the restaurant in Vallby.
Continue to Uppsala for a sightseeing tour including Uppsala Domkyrka and the famous Linnaeus's Garden. Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) was a natural scientist and flower king who lived and worked in Uppsala. He is well known for his systematization of all forms of life in Systema Naturae.
The sightseeing tour then continues in Sigtuna. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel Sigtunahöjden. The hotel has made a friendly tie with China. The world's most dynamic economy today is also the proud bearer of the world's oldest culture. It's this same fusion of ideals - efficiency and inspiration - that has spurred the hotel into action. The building of Shanghai's new satellite township Luodian Town, which was modelled on the Sigtuna ideal, marked the kick-off of the hotel´s new focus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day8                                                                                                                                                             Sigtuna -Steninge - Stockholm
Breakfast and check-out from the hotel. Followed by a sightseeing tour on foot of the ancient and well-preserved town of Sigtuna which has it all – history, beauty and exciting tales to tell. We shall continue to Steninge Castle and Cultural Centre where we will have lunch and view glassblowing. Enjoy a unique collection of crystal, ceramics and porcelain by Swedish and other Scandinavian designers. Time to visit the castle and opportunity to purchase souvenirs. Continue to Stockholm for dinner and overnight stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day9                                                                                                                                                                                     Stockholm - Beijing
Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Beijing.

 

Day 10                                                                                                                                                                                    Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing