APRIL 2005

It's already the middle of April! We cant believe there's only 2 months left until we get to go play in Scandinavia all summer and take our lovely clients on exciting adventures! We still have spaces open on most of our adventures for those of you who are in the planning stages of your summer vacation, and we'd love to have you join us!

- Linda

Svea Adventures

Here's a summary of our planned adventures for the summer of 2005!

This summer, we're starting off our season with a trip to the High Coast World Heritage Site, on the central coast of eastern Sweden. Here we ride Icelandic Horses through a rolling landscape with mountains, fjords and the open ocean. We enjoy 2 nights in a country inn and 2 nights in a cabin. This time of the year offers close to 24 hrs of daylight in this part of Sweden, which is quite a magnificent experience. High Coast Horseback Adventure - June 13-17, 2005.  

Our next adventure takes place a couple of hours inland from the High Coast, in the mountains of Jamtland along the border of Norway. We team up with great Icelandic horses once again and ride across the mountains and valleys in what is often referred to as the Iceland of Sweden. We climb high above treeline and enjoy spectacular views and solitude. 3 nights are spent in a unique viking lodge and for the remaining 3 nights we camp out in the mountains. Raven's Eye Horseback Adventure - June 19-25, 2005.  

After Raven's Eye we take a break from the horses and we head to Stockholm's northern archipelago Roslagen, for a few days of sea kayaking. We spend 3 days paddling past remote islands and coves in what many call the most beautiful archipelago in the world. In the evenings we settle in at our cozy hostel on one of the islands and enjoy delicious dinners and an ocean-side sauna! Archipelago Sea Kayak Adventure - June 27-29, 2005

Then it's off to southern Sweden, where we ride North Swedish horses through the enchanted woods and highlands of the south. With pristine lakes and ancient, moss-covered forests, this region is taken right out of a Nordic Saga. We enjoy fast canters along quiet forest roads and wilderness gourmet dinners! We spend 3 nights in a beautiful farm house, and 1 night camping in the woods. Nordic Saga Horseback Adventure - July 4-8, 2005.  

Next, we put on our hiking boots and head to the far north, above the Polar Circle to the beautiful Abisko National Park. We enjoy day hikes in and around Abisko and all the way to the border of Norway, while cooking up fantastic wilderness meals and having close to 24 hrs of daylight! In the evenings, we settle in at our comfortable hotel and spoil ourselves with great dinners made from local specialties. One night is spent in a mountain cabin - a true Scandinavian mountain experience! Arctic Summer Hiking Adventure - July 10-15, 2005

At the end of July, we once again head down south to the highlands around Lake Sommen, and enjoy a multisport adventure that is worthy of its name. We ride horses through enchanted woods, hike through blueberry patches, paddle sea kayaks on Lake Sommen, bike along quiet country roads with scenic overlooks, and canoe down hidden forest streams - all in 5 days! At the end of a long day of fun we enjoy an evening at our farm B&B or underneath the stars at our forest camp. Nordic Saga Multisport Adventure - July 24-28, 2005

In early August, we head back to the water for another sea kayaking adventure in Roslagen Archipelago, outside of Stockholm. This time around, we make it just a bit more adventurous and we camp on the outer islands. We cruise past quiet coves and islets and enjoy warm water temperatures at this time of year. Archipelago Sea Kayak Adventure - August 1-3, 2005.

Next we head back to the High Coast World Heritage Site for another fun week - but this time we mix up the horseback riding with some hiking and sea kayaking. We hike to the top of mountains and enjoy panoramic views of both the ocean and the fjords. We kayak along the pebbled beaches and boulder fields, showing signs of an actively rising land in this region, and past quiet fjords. An active trip with plenty of kodak-moments and fresh air! High Coast Multisport Adventure - August 8-12, 2005.

We round up our riding adventures with a trip to Iceland in the middle of August! We ride across the Land of Fire and Ice, through a remote wilderness region, past glaciers and free-flowing rivers. We experience Icelandic horses in their true elements, and enjoy long days in the saddle. We view waterfalls and geysers and soak in natural hot springs. At night we stay in huts and mountain cabins. Icelandic Wilderness Horseback Adventure - August 15-22, 2005.

And last, but most definitely not the least (this one is actually one of my many favorites!), we head back to the small community of Jorm, along the border of Norway in the central Swedish mountains for a week of hiking, in an area that has no match. We hike above tree-line in a spectacular and very remote mountain region, while our four-legged Icelandic friends carry our belongings. We spend 4 nights at a phenomenal Viking Lodge, overlooking the waters of Jorm, and 2 nights camping in the mountains. If you truly enjoy hiking, this is a trip you should not miss. Raven's Eye Hiking Adventure - August 29-September 4, 2005.

Wow! That's a long list of fun adventures!

And don't forget our self-guided adventures, which are offered on a daily basis from May through September:

High Coast Self-Guided Biking Adventure - 5 days of biking in the High Coast World Heritage Site.

Lake Vättern Self-Guided Biking Adventure - 4 days of biking around Sweden's second largest lake.

Göta Canal Self-Guided Biking Adventure - 3 days of biking along one of Sweden's most beautiful water ways.

Are you having trouble finding good airfare to Sweden?? Contact us and we'll help you find great fares and seats that are still available! Call or email us today!

FEATURED TRIP OF THE MONTH

SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT OFFERED UNTIL MAY 1st!!

ARCHIPELAGO SEA KAYAK ADVENTURE - June 27-29, 2005

It's difficult to describe the feeling of gliding through calm waters, along a remote archipelago island - breathing fresh air, paddling crystal clear water, and stopping for lunch in an undiscovered cove. Relax a bit and soak up the sun. Enjoy a comfortable bed at an island hostel, a delicious meal at an ocean-side restaurant and watch as the sun slowly sets over the horizon. Nothing calms your soul, like a kayak trip.

Read more about this adventure:

Archipelago Sea Kayak Adventure

Continued: The Principles of Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands. You can read more about Leave No Trace and how to become a member by visiting www.lnt.org

Principle nr 4: Leave What You Find.

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

How can you make a difference?

Svea Adventures is a firm believer of "taking only pictures & memories and leaving only foot prints". If everyone brought something back from their trip into the wild, it would be a pretty emptly place for those who come after us. Instead, we bring our cameras and we take pictures until our fingers ache! We breathe in the fresh air, drink the water from streams and lakes, we listen to the sounds of the wind and the trees and we soak up the sun. The memories of your adventure that you keep in your heart and in your mind will never be lost or will never collect dust on your shelf.