ARCHIPELAGO SEA KAYAK ADVENTURE
Everyone was just great! Linda met us at our hotel and was a charming and informative first contact. Our guide, Jens, was absolutely wonderful and made us feel completely taken care of. We loved the days spent kayaking and learning about Sweden, Swedish and the archipelago. I had been concerned that I wouldn’t be able to manage the kayak well enough, but Jens helped me and made me feel competent and strong. It was a fabulous experience that left me with a heightened appreciation for both Sweden and the beauty and serenity provided by kayaking. Loved it! The food was way better than expected! Delicious and innovative creations from the kitchen on Fejan surprised and delighted us. The lunches were huge and excellent and I appreciated the coffee breaks with snacks. Our trip was just perfect.
Barbara & Charles Curtis, California - July, 2005
ARCHIPELAGO SEA KAYAK ADVENTURE
Great experience – Angel was very capable and knowledgeable. Left to myself, I probably would have liked to cover a bit more ground, but compromises are part of the group experience.
Great campsites; having my own tent was a luxury.
Excellent food – liked the efforts to incorporate typical swedish dishes, and everyone I’ve talked to about the trip was impressed by the tale of the support launch appearing with the smoked sik! (Mind you, real coffee at breakfast would have been a plus, but then I forgot to mention caffeine addiction in the medical info!)
Really pleased I signed up for the trip – best of luck for your future expeditions.
Alastair Smith, New Zealand - August, 2005
ARCHIPELAGO SEA KAYAK ADVENTURE
Great sauna at Fejan!
"I have fika, happy tasty fika"
"I have fika, to last me all my life"
"I have fika to spend, and fika to lend"
"and fika to take home to my wife, dear wife"
Everything was superb! Thank you.
Norm & Jane Hanson, Arizona - June, 2005
ARCTIC SUMMER HIKING ADVENTURE
You provided us with great times, meeting of wonderful people also involved with your planning of the trips, tremendous food and unforgettable adventures. You couldn't have provided us with better trips. We hadn't thought that returning to Sweden would remain near the top of our list of travels but it has. Maybe we can have another adventure with you in a few years.We thoroughly enjoyed the hut experience. Even though the hike there was challenging. We are happy that we did it as it was worth it. Stefan was a tremendous chef. You were wonderful not only with all the details for the trip but with all the suggestions for helping us plan the route to Kiruna and other aspects of our time in Scandinavia. Our Norway segment was great. Thanks for putting us in touch with Susie.
The only thing that could have made it more perfect would have been a little more sun, especially for one night to see the midnight sun.
Jane & Norm Hanson, Arizona - July, 2005
AROUND THE VOLCANO HORSEBACK ADVENTURE
Once again, you have provided us with an excellent adventure in travel! You sent us all required travel documents. We had no problems with vouchers or payments. Most of the questions I had were already answered in the information you sent us. I am always amazed that you respond so quickly to my Email, given all that you have to do. Since you go on most of these trips, you know what the accomodations are like and what one can expect. You were exactly right about the changeable weather in Island. We were picked up at the bus station, immediately after we arrived in Reykjavik, and transported to Eldhestar. All the staff were very friendly. We were given a great room with a view of the horses. Our room was large and well lit, as were all the rooms. Hrodmar Bjarnason, Manager, met the group the first night, after dinner. He went over all the details of the trip and answered any questions we had. The next morning, our guide, Veronica,showed us all how to mount and dismount, put a nose band on the horse, and how to saddle the horse, among other important things. Please tell Alex that I FINALLY figured out how to dismount this type of saddle after being used to a western saddle. Veronica was always there to help us with the saddling and she ensured everything was OK before we left out for the trail. All the meals were really good. No pickled herring for us, only the horses. There was always plenty of food. John liked the fact that the hotel had a small bar where he could buy some Icelandic beer after a day of riding. The soup was always delicious! Made with real cream, butter, and vegetables. Since the ranch is located near the greenhouse area, we always had fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. The only thing we all would have enjoyed,was something for dessert after the main meal. We mentioned this to Veronica who promptly went into the kitchen and retrieved some chocolate. We were in heaven and gave her a hearty thank you. The horses were strong, well mannnered, and well trained. The horses were not bothered by the geothermal areas, by cars on the road, or by tourist rookies trying to put the saddle on correctly. They were exceptionally adroit at walking over the lava fields. We loved tolting for long distances on flat roads. The trails were magnificent! Iceland is wild,wet,windy, and wonderful! It's a combination of Alaska, Yellowstone, and all the best of the wild West! On one ride,there was a very steep climb ,where we walked the horses. I about died as I was dressed in several layers and got pretty overheated and exhausted. I should have removed my jacket and helmet earlier. Then, on another ride, there was a steep decline where we walked the horses. It was easier then the climb but still kinda of tricky. Overall, we loved every ride!! A questionaire was given to us before we left. Its nice to know that they care about what we thought, too. We would definitely return to Eldhestar and to Island. The waterfalls, horses, and mountains are just incredible! One other important thing is that everyone spoke English. There was no communication barrier anywhere. It was great that we were lucky enough to see Hrodmar show us the flying pace. Wow! can he ride and I absolutely love his curley hair!! After the demonstartion, we were invited into the hotel for sandwiches and coffee/tea. Hrodmar was kind enough to transport us to Guesthous Odinn. This is a very nice place. Our room was on the top floor and John had to carry our suitcases up the stairs. It was no problem. We loved the view of the church steeple from our room. The owners, I am sorry I forgot their name, said to say hello to you. We really enjoyed them both. I love the view of the ocean and mountains from their kitchen window. We asked the owner if there was a place to eat nearby. He directed us to a café called ,"The Three Frenchmen". We had the best seafood ever! Not only that, but for dessert, we had the incredibly good Island ice cream on a piece of chocolate cake. Wow! the calories were worth it! The Around the Volcano Tour is definitely worth a trip to Island. There was a couple from Minnesota who had never been on a horse before and they completed the tour. They were very happy at having done this! Linda, thank you for providing us with good folks in Sweden and Island who are worth returning to again and again. I can't wait until your new brochure comes out for 2007.
Ilene & John Kummer, Florida - May, 2006
AROUND THE VOLCANO HORSEBACK ADVENTURE
We had a great time. Around the Volcano was a great experience. The guide and operation were excellent, as were the horses. We were very fortunate with the weather. It was sunny or partly sunny each day, for riding. The last day was threatening and rain was predicted, but held off. The length of the ride was just right for me. I also learned a lot from the people at Eldhestar and the other riders. My riding was much improved by the end of the trip. Donna was also impressed by the knowledge of the Eldhestar staff and enjoyed the opportunity to ride different horses. We would recommend this to anyone that like to ride. We also enjoyed Reykjavik. This is the 4th time we have been there and always find new and interesting things to see. One hint to give people that plan to spend any time there, is to stop in the Information office and get the "Reykjavik card" for how ever may days they plan to be there. It gives you access to most museums that charge and free bus service in town. A great deal.
Bruce Schwartz & Donna Antonucci - June, 2007
HIGH COAST HORSEBACK ADVENTURE
I don't know if there are enough adjectives to describe our trip. Thanks to some excellent planning by you, we had a horse riding adventure that we will never forget. The Icelandic horses may be small but they are so strong,surefooted, fast, and gentle that we always felt completely confortable riding them. John and I both liked the fact that we could put our arms around their neck and hug them. It was a simple thing but very nice. The trails that we rode were all world class. It's not possible to pick the best one. The views of the Baltic Sea,lakes and fjords were worthy of the area's World Heritage Site classification. Jenny and Jonas inspired us with their obvious care and concern for their horses and their guests. It was very easy to trust Jonas completely. He did not put us in situations that threatened our safety. Yet, some of the rides up the mountains were both challenging and exhilarating!!...I must also mention the food. We were not certain if we would be eating dried cod and pickled herring all week! The food was worthy of a five star restaurant! I loved the fresh sweet Swedish strawberries, rhubarb lemonade, and the home made cinnamon buns. The freshly caught salmon was simply incredible! Sonya is a great cook! Her country home was o comfortable. I felt like we were visitng long lost relatives in Sweden...Next to the horses(of course) we truly enjoyed the company of you, Alex, and the other Swedish guests at the camp. It was wonderful sharing stories. I am glad that most Swedes speak English. One more thing. You have chosen the best time of year for this trip. The abundant wildflowers along the road and in the forests were stunning.The cuckoo bird calling for his mate in the morning, and the remarkable sight of daylight at night!!! I am hoping we can return, even if I don't win the lottery.
Ilene & John Kummer, Florida - June, 2005
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED BIKING ADVENTURE
Regarding the actual organization and the development of the trip, everything was up to our expectations. Well, Monica in Lövvik quite exceeded them. Supper at her dinning room, with Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto as background music (I play the clarinet!) and the nicest food served in the most exquisite way was probably the highest point of the whole trip… Accommodations were excellent all along. Lövvik is a must, with the nice cottage all for ourselves and superb food. Mannamine is a category on its own right; it pays off to set up a bit later the following morning and enjoy part of what they have to show. We were alone at the Norge Hus, so we had the facilities for ourselves! We also had a whole cabin in Norrfälsviken. The apartment in Harnosänd was the icing of the cake. Altogether a great and varied experience…I’m honestly searching for a complaint, but I can’t quite find one. Even the cycling was milder than I expected – I got a bit worried with the explanations in the previous material - but I guess it is better than the other way around.
Natalia Martinez, Spain - August, 2006
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED BIKING ADVENTURE
I thought you exceeded my expectations as far as answering questions and giving me additional information about other parts of the trip I was planning as well as the high coast tour. I received all the information in plenty of time. All the suggestions for what to pack for the trip were good. It might be good to know ahead of time that you can carry stuff on the bikes in saddlebags and to bring lots of ziplock bags in case of a rainy day. I had quite a few, but I wished I had more...I think the “high coast” terrain should have been described more in detail on the website, rather than just “advanced”. I expected the route to be similar to what I’m familiar with in northwestern New Jersey, but I would have liked to know that it was just up & down hill with few flat areas so I would have been mentally prepared. Also I was concerned about not having spare bike tire tubes in case of a flat. Once we started riding I realized why we probably wouldn’t get a flat tire at all – there was no broken glass or garbage on the side of the road! (like at home) Amazing! Anna-Lena’s son met us at the train station in Harnosand and took us to the hostel and set us up with the bikes. He was on time and very nice...I thought all the meals we had on the tour were good… The first B&B we stayed at in Lovvik was wonderful with a comfortable bed, dark curtains, great food and easy access to the hiking trail...Overall my experience with Svea Adventures was a good one. My surprise at the difficulty of the terrain is mostly my own fault for not asking enough questions. We had plenty of time to make it to our destination every day and there was never an issue with any of our reservations or food vouchers. I wouldn’t hesitate in booking a tour with your company again.
Donna Benson, New Jersey - July, 2005
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED HIKING ADVENTURE
Responses to emails were always prompt and Linda was willing + available to conference call for questions. We received all the info well in advance of our trip. The info was very helpful and the maps were very detailed. I like the packing list as it had items listed on it I might have forgotten. I think the website described the hike as challenging - which was a fair assessment. The trail was rocky and somehwat different that the northwest U.S. I was very impressed that everyone we were scheduled to meet was on time and easy to find. The hike was our favorite part of our trip!We loved seeing the different terrain - both natural and the countryside of Sweden. The maps were very detailed and the additional "day descriptions" were helpful. We especially loved Lovviks B&B - what a wonderful place. Monika + Bengt-Ake were wonderful hosts and the foold was really special. The accommodations along the way were comfortable and clean...I was very impressed with everyone along the way. Everyone was helpful and responsive. When you're away from home, you never know how things are going to go, but everyone was on time, and easy to find and contact. Your business is run very well!
Kristin Erickson, Washington - July, 2006
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED HIKING ADVENTURE
The trip was exactly as presented. We really appreciated Anna-Lena meeting us at the train station despite our late night arrival. She was extremely helpful. We absolutely loved the hike. The scenery couldn’t have more inspiring and interesting. The maps we were given were very clear. The only confusion was not realizing that some of the orange markings led off the main path to side trails (to huts, etc.) And thanks for the great weather! Wow! We must start by telling you what a fantastic experience we had at the Lovvik B&B. Bengt-Ake and Monica Lindquist could not have been better hosts. And the meals they served us could have been out of a gourmet cookbook. The lunches we were given from all sources were also amazing – more than we could eat despite the calories we were expending. And Manneminne was a place not to be missed (with great meals, as well). Finally Sara at The Harnosand B&B was also very accommodating. This hike was everything we had imagined and more. I recommend it for anyone who likes to hike and wants to see a very beautiful and interesting part of Sweden.
Steve Korn & Theresa Hite, California - June, 2006
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED HIKING ADVENTURE
The trip was well-described, and the meeting place was fine. It was very helpful to have Anna-Lena go over the arrangements on the first day. The route was well marked, and the escription was fine. The maps were excellent - my husband liked being able to use the grid markings for his GPS… The accommodations were fine, especially the B&B in Lövvik. The host there was extremely friendly and helpful. The meals were good. The trip was well-planned and organized, and we enjoyed the rural country-side and the tranquility.
Client prefers to be kept anonymous - June, 2006
HIGH COAST SELF-GUIDED HIKING ADVENTURE
Yes, we very much enjoyed our holiday. The only problem is, it is so hard to get back to the daily life after such a wonderful experience. Walking in the rain, in the woods and feeling one with god's creation...a very strong feeling indeed. Be sure to be in good physical form, take the appropriate clothing and....enjoy. Rating: very enjoyable, would appreciate more contact with the local people.
Freddy & Ariella Leiser, Israel - August, 2005
ICELANDIC WILDERNESS HORSEBACK ADVENTURE - KJOLUR TOUR
A wonderful unique experience - guides were helpful and experienced. Horses were well looked after and very sure footed. (accommodations) Good - at times basic but that was OK and enhanced the experience, i.e. less is often more. After the trip, a couple of times, I woke from a dream where I was "tolting" and feeling the constant rythm of the tolt - only to find it was my heart beating. So now when I stop and hear my heartbeat - I think of the tolt and our short journey thru the Icelandic wilderness and the good people I shared this unique experience with. So as long as my heart beats - I have this - NOT WHAT YOU WOULD USUALLY EXPECT FROM A HOLIDAY.
David Gath, Australia - July, 2006
ICELANDIC WILDERNESS HORSEBACK ADVENTURE - KJOLUR TOUR
The trip was described correctly and it was easy to find the meeting place and it all ran very smoothly. The only thing I would say is that the photos don’t convey the majesty of the landscape and it’s hard to describe the tolt in a way that does it justice but I am not sure how to improve that! The trip was wonderful. The guides were fun and interesting and the horses well trained and good to ride. The trip exceeded my expectations in all ways. Thank you! The accommodations were mountain huts – these were very basic but it enhanced the trip for me. Everything was well organized and we always had everything we needed. The meals were excellent. It’s not the sort of food I eat a lot (ie a lot of meat and potatoes and I eat mainly vegetarian) but it was good and tasty and plenty o f it! I didn’t request anything special so I can’t comment on that! Overall the experience was excellent – I can’t think of anything that needs to be improved on. The only thing I could say is that the description of the trip doesn’t adequately convey the experience of being on it, but then again I am not sure any description really could.
Christina Pagel, United Kingdom - August, 2006
LAKE VATTERN SELF-GUIDED BIKING ADVENTURE
Thanks for all the pre-trip planning and information Everyone treated us very well, and we feel that we gained weight from all the wonderful food. We liked all the places, food, and people, especially Bastedalen; an extra day there would have been great.
Frank & Linda Selto, Colorado - May, 2005
NORDIC SAGA ADVENTURE
I had a very good experience. It was more personalized that I had imagined it would be. I didn’t get the sense that our guide, Olle was performing a job, but more that we were out-of-town guests that he was showing around. Olle was very knowledgeable about a multitude of things, the two Peters on the farm were very nice, as was Annette, and the main cook, Karin, was very warm and personable. They all accommodated my special dietary needs very graciously, and I enjoyed the meals. I enjoyed all the activities, although I could have done with a bit more horseback riding and just slightly less hiking and/or canoeing... I was very comfortable during the trip. The accommodations were newly made, and I appreciated the private bathroom. It was also nice to have our own kitchen in the downstairs of the house, although I did not use it during the trip. I slept very well given the levels of exhaustion I experienced from a full day of exertion... I enjoyed the food, especially since the food was varied and interesting. Meals were always an experience. I found everyone to be helpful and very much enjoyed the experience. Thank you!
Meredith Lewis, New York - June, 2006
NORDIC SAGA HORSEBACK ADVENTURE
Linda was timely, consistent and efficient. All materials were delivered on time and provided adequate information. The trip was represented correctly. It even exceeded our expectations! It was a perfect vacation. Our hosts were warm, welcoming and skilled. The cottage at the farm was positively charming! We loved it. Meals were plentiful and fun...
The horses were wonderful and the landscape breathtaking. Your help with hotel reservations and transportation was terrific. We would love to visit there again some day, and have already told several friends who we think would enjoy that type of vacation.
Stacee Solotorovsky, Illinois - September, 2006
RAVEN'S EYE HIKING ADVENTURE
It was very rewarding and stimulating. The scenery was spectacular and the food a culinary delight. Meeting your guides at the airport was very convenient which we appreciated. The trip was very rewarding and one we would put on our list for a possible repeat. Our guide was well versed on the culture and folklore of the region, certainly had a great sense of humor and was a cook extraordinaire... I'm glad we had the flexibility to change the daily activities, especially on the day we had the rainy weather. When we first arrived at the unique lodge, I got the feeling that this was going to be an exciting trip - and I was right on. The lodge was extremely comfortable and had all the facilities of a first rate hotel. I looked forward to the variety of our Swedish meals which were served, a neat change from our usual American diet. All in all, we had a fantastic time. We've been on a number of foreign trekking trips and this one was one of the tops. I wish you continued success in the coming year and lots of clients to experience what we did.
Hank Meyer, Virginia - August 2005
SCANIA SELF-GUIDED BIKING ADVENTURE
We just got home yesterday from a wonderful trip abroad. The bike tour was fantastic - what a beautiful and picturesque countryside, and so calm and peaceful - just what we needed after a whirlwind adventure! Thank you for coordinating everything - it was wonderful!
Susan Gruner & Matt Kangas - July 2007
THORSMORK HORSEBACK ADVENTURE
I had a terrific time. The guides were very proficient with the horses and were also wonderful hosts. The accommodations were as advertised. They were somewhat spartan and cramped but always tidy and comfortable. After a long day’s ride in tough weather a bed almost anywhere and in any condition would be adequate. The food was simple but plentiful. The highlights were the seasoned haddock and grilled Icelandic lamb. I would recommend the Thorsmork trip to someone looking for a true wilderness adventure. The Icelandic weather and terrain were tougher than I had anticipated, but the guides did an excellent job instilling confidence and ensuring safety. It was a very memorable journey across beautiful countryside that many tourists don’t get to see.
Dallas Davidson, California - July, 2006
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