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If you love the outdoors, it is hard to find a country better suited to indulge your passion than Sweden. Sweden is an ideal location for outdoor and adventure holidays, whatever your age, interest or level of experience.
Sweden is a country which constantly challenges your preconceptions, and many first time visitors are amazed by the beauty and variety of its landscape, the overwhelming sense of quiet to be found in its truly wild places (Sweden contains some of the largest and last remaining areas of wilderness in Europe), and the wealth of possibilities the country offers as an outdoor holiday destination.
Within Sweden’s borders you can discover the peace of its huge expanses of forest, the barren beauty of the limitless mountain plains, mile upon mile of quiet beaches and the wonderful, accessible world of the archipelagos, remote yet just a short distance from the cultural attractions of the major cities.
From canoeing in the clear light of early dawn, to trip skating on the frozen sea, to snowshoeing expeditions under endless Arctic skies – Sweden has a great deal more to offer the outdoor enthusiast than you might imagine!
The North
Perhaps the image that springs to mind when many think of Sweden is the majestic mountain world of Lapland, in the north of Sweden. Lapland is certainly well-known as a fairytale winter destination, but far fewer consider the excellent opportunities offered by the area for a summer adventure holiday. With (almost literally) unending daylight during the summer season, Lapland is a wonderful destination for a summer holiday. The well-marked trails and freedom to camp wild make it a paradise for hikers, from novices to seasoned trekkers. And if you would rather explore the wilderness on four legs, Lapland also makes a wonderful destination for a mountain horse-riding holiday!
Northern Sweden accounts for more than half the total area of the country, but just over 10% of its population live in this vast region. It is a world of extremes: extreme beauty, extreme nature, extreme seasons of light and darkness, but despite its remoteness, northern Sweden is easily accessible from mainland Europe – the wilderness is closer than you think!
Central Sweden
The centre of the country is a land of contrasts – the rich cultural heritage of the capital, Stockholm, the economic heart of the country, sits comfortably alongside some of Sweden’s most scenic and wildlife-rich areas. Central Sweden is ideal for canoeing holidays, timber rafting on the wide meandering Klarälven river, or hiking and cross country skiing in the quiet mountains of Dalarna. It is also home to some of Sweden’s most fascinating large mammals, including the brown bear and the wolf.
The South
Southern Sweden has a very difficult feel from the wilder and more remote areas further north. In the south you will find a patchwork quilt of attractive rural landscapes – less untamed than other parts of the country but with their own special charm, and a wonderful area for hiking, cycling or horse riding.
Nature and the Swedes
Nature is very important to the Swedish people – it is part of their heart and soul. Indeed, many common Swedish names are taken from the natural world. For example, “Bergman” (as in Ingmar Bergman) means “man of the mountains; “Björn” (as in Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA) means “bear”. Swedes have a very intimate relationship with the flora and fauna of their country, and most Swedes have a keen interest in the outdoors.
One product of this deep-rooted love of the natural world and the enjoyment of the outdoors is “Allmansrätten”, or the “Every Man’s Right”, system of public access. These laws allow the visitor a unique freedom to explore Sweden’s natural areas, including the freedom to camp wild. Of course, such freedom comes with the responsibility to protect and conserve, and Swedish children learn the principles of the Right of Public Access at a very early age.
At Nature Travels we have a portfolio of experiences which represent the breadth of outdoor holiday possibilities that Sweden has to offer. We work only with small-scale, locally-owned companies in Sweden, all of whom are deeply committed to ecotourism and know and respect the flora and fauna of the regions in which they operate. Sweden is a wonderful destination for wildlife, outdoor and activity holidays, and we feel that by committing strongly to the principles of sustainable tourism, the natural beauty of Sweden can be conserved and enjoyed for generations to come!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
On a dog sledding holiday in Sweden, teamwork is very much the name of the game – working together with your dogs to lead your dogsled across the frozen wilderness is a unique and magical experience. By the end of your dog sledding tour you will be closer to the dogs, closer to your fellow travellers and even, perhaps, have come to know yourself a little better.
On a Nature Travels dog sledding holiday, each participant is responsible for his or her own sled, with 4-6 sled dogs. A large part of the thrill and adventure of this experience comes from the challenge of working with and handling your dog sled team effectively – from your first tentative steps at the beginning of the dog sledding tour to the spine-tingling moment when you start to feel properly in control and your confidence soars! By the time your dog sledding holiday in Sweden draws to a close, your skills with the sled and your knowledge of the dogs should have improved immeasurably.
In the early stages of your dog sledding holiday, it is easy to concentrate too much on yourself as you try to put into practice what you have been taught about handling the sled, but as you relax and begin to feel at home on your sled and in command of yourself and your team, you will find yourself thinking more and more about the dogs and marvel at their intelligence, strength and stamina.
As in any team, each member of a dog sledding team has a designated role, and though dogs may be placed in different positions within the team at different times, many dogs will display a particular aptitude for a particular position.
Each dog in the team is named according to its position. Positions are taken relative to the sled. There are “wheelers”, “team dogs”, “swing dogs” and of course the “lead dogs” out in front.
It is the responsibility of the lead dogs to set the pace for the rest of the dog sledding team and to steer the sled. Nowadays, it is common for a dog sledding team to be fronted by a pair of lead dogs, though a single dog was frequently used in the past. In some situations a wrong turn may of course be disastrous, so the lead dogs must be particularly intelligent and good at keeping to the trail when conditions and visibility are poor. The lead dogs will respond to commands given by the musher – but these commands do not need to be shouted, a spoken word is somehow picked up through the noise and clamour of the pack and the dogs obey immediately.
Behind the lead dogs come the swing, or point, dogs. It is their job to “swing” the dog sledding team around the twists and turns of the trail and maintain a smooth flow. For larger teams, behind the swing dogs will come the team dogs, who lend strength and power to the dog sledding team.
Nearest the sled come the wheel dogs. A good wheel dog should be strong, steady and calm. They should not be made nervous by the motion and noise of the sled behind them.
And finally, of course, comes the only two-legged member of the team – you! Your responsibility will be to guide your dog sledding team surely and safely to your destination, to watch out for obstacles and potential hazards on the trail, to brake the sled effectively when travelling downhill so as not to overtake and possibly injure the dogs with the sled, and finally, when your day of dog sledding draws to a close, to make sure that your team-mates are fed and watered and settled for the night before retiring to your cabin to dream of your next day on the trail!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
Nature Travels offers a wide range of dog sledding holidays in Sweden. Tours are available from 4 to 7 days with a variety of accommodation during your experience from tents to mountain cabins to hostels and lodges. We offer many opportunities to go dogsledding in Sweden with tours available on fixed dates in winter 2007/2008 between December and April. Groups of minimum 3 can organise dog sledding tours tours on other dates by arrangement. For a full list of our dog sledding holidays in Sweden please see our website at www.naturetravels.co.uk.
August is a lovely month in Sweden. The days are still long and warm, the evenings are bathed in a magical light, and it’s time for another important cultural event in Sweden – the crayfish party, or kräftskiva.
Crayfish have always been considered something of a delicacy in Sweden, as the Baltic crayfish population has long been at risk of overexploitation and catches have been restricted since the early 1900s. Even though today’s global marketplace means that crayfish are now on sale year-round in Sweden, it is really only in August that the Swedes turn to this very special dish as they make the most of the remaining days of summer. Those on a tight budget opt for crayfish imported from China or the US, but Swedish crayfish are of course considered far superior!
A crayfish party is an outdoor affair, with the dining area decorated with paper lanterns, many depicting a smiling full moon. Paper hats and bibs add to the jovial atmosphere. The crayfish, cooked in brine and seasoned with plenty of dill, are served in large bowls placed in the centre of the table and eaten cold with fresh bread and a strong cheese (such as a mature Västerbotten) on the side.
An evening of crayfish eating is a noisy business, both because of the cracking and sucking sounds, which are an integral part of crayfish consumption, and the frequent bursts of singing - an essential prelude to each toast and drink of schnapps! A number of flavoured schnapps from different regions are usually available, and everyone will have their favourite – some are instantly palatable, while others are very much an acquired taste!
If you are lucky enough to be invited to a Swedish crayfish party, it is a cultural experience you will not easily forget. The memories will stay with you long after your sticky hands have been washed and your head has been cleared by a bracing early morning dip in the lake – memories of an evening of companionship, wonderful food and some perhaps less than perfect singing!
Helan går
Sjung hopp faderallan lallan lej
Helan går
Sjung hopp faderallan lej
Och den som inte helan tar
Han heller inte halvan får
Helan går
Sjung hopp faderallan lej
Listen to ABBA’s rendition of Helan går (”the whole one goes” – roughly, you have to drink your schnapps in one, otherwise you can’t have any at all!) here.
Sweden is enjoying a beautiful warm August in many areas at the moment, so the outlook for crayfish party season looks good – have fun, and don’t forget: the whole one goes!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
Nature Travels is the UK specialist for responsible adventure holidays in Sweden with a wide range of ecotourism holidays including canoeing, dog sledding, and Swedish log cabin experiences.
