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Old Sweden is divided into three sections: The southern third is called Götaland; the northern third is called Norrland and the middle third is called Svealand.
 
"Svealand" or Middle Sweden, is the part of Sweden that most tours of Scandinavia and Sweden neglect to visit, with its many interesting sites and fantastic scenery.
 
For those of you that are  descendants of Swedish immigrants, we have noted the different  historic provinces we will be visiting in the tour itinerary descriptions.
 
If you are interested in seeing some of your ancestral sites, please let us know before traveling. We always make an effort to include other stops if our escorted tour happens to be close to those ancestral sites.
 
The provinces we will be visiting are Uppland; Gästrikland; Hälsingland; Medelpad; Ångermanland and Jämtland.
 
DAY 1: Saturday, July 24th - Meals Included: Dinner (on flight)
Depart USA for Stockholm 

Depart from Chicago O’Hare International Airport or East or West Coast to Stockholm, Sweden.
OR: request international departure from the city of your choice, dependent upon availability.

DAY 2: Sunday, July 25th - Meals Included: Breakfast (on flight) & Dinner Arlanda - Sigtuna - Norrtälje - Gävle
Arrival at Arlanda Airport outside of Stockholm, Sweden.

After clearing Customs, we will visit the ancient town of Sigtuna and its 1000 year old Main Street. Depart Sigtuna area and drive through the province of Uppland to the town of Norrtälje. Norrtälje serves as a marketplace for the nearby archipelago and its summer vacationers. We continue on to Gävle. Our final destination of the day is the city of Gävle located in the province of Gästrikland. Dinner and overnight at a four-star hotel. 

DAY 3: Monday, July 26th - Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Gävle - Bollnäs - Skärså - Hudiksvall - Sundsvall 

We will pay a visit to Gamla Gefle (Old Town Gävle) . From Gävle we will continue up the East Coast of Sweden towards the coastal city of Hudiksvall on the Bothnian Sea. Driving into the province of Hälsingland and very near Söderhamn we will visit Bollnäs. Just north of Söderhamn we'll visit the picturesque fishing village of Skärså. At Hudiksvall we will see the well-preserved 19th century wooden buildings in Sweden at Fiskarstan (Fishermen's Town).  Free time and lunch on your own along the way, before driving north into the province of Medelpad for a visit to the city of Sundsvall.  Dinner and overnight in Sundsvall at a four-star hotel.

DAY 4: Tuesday, July 27th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Sundsvall, Härnösand, Höga Kusten, Nordingrå, & Örnsköldsvik

Motoring further along the coast we enter the province of Ångermanland where we will visit the town of Härnösand and Sweden's second largest (only Skansen in Stockholm is larger) open-air and historical museum at Murberget.  Lunch on your own today. North of Härnösand the coast changes dramatically and forms Höga Kusten(The High Coast). This area of impressive and beautiful coastal landscape is perhaps Sweden's best kept secret.  We'll cross some impressive bridges and visit the heart of Höga Kusten on the Nordingrå Peninsula and its fishing villages. Dinner and overnight in Örnsköldsvik at a four-star hotel.

DAY 5:  Wednesday, July 28th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Örnsköldsvik, Indalsälven, Ragunda, Östersund, & Persåsen 

We'll enjoy the view from Varvsberget over the archipelago before departing for Östersund and Persåsen. As we travel to Östersund, just a ways past Långsele, we will enter the province of Jämtland. On the road, in the beautiful Indals River Valley, we will visit a Thai pavilion at Ragunda. The pavilion was a gift from the King of Siam (now Thailand) who visited King Oskar II and this part of Sweden in 1897. It is 30 meters tall and presents a noticeable contrast in this very Swedish landscape.  Lunch on your own today. Upon arrival in Östersund we will visit Jamtli museum and also Moose Park. We continue down the shores of Lake Storsjön to the village at Persåsen. After checking into our hotel for two nights, we'll enjoy an evening dinner at our hotel in Persåsen with views of Hoverberg Mountain and Lake Storsjön. Gift shop, art gallery and carpenter's workshop are located on the premises for your enjoyment.

DAY 6: Thursday, July 29th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Persåsen, Ovikens Parish, Fäbodvägen, & Persåsen 

Today we leave our suitcases at our hotel and enjoy a day trip through the area. We will travel along the well-known Fäbodvägen (High Pasture farm road).  This road meanders between the settlements of Persåsen and Börtnan where there are many fäbodar (high pasture farms) to see and visit. This route represents a time period which will take you back 300 years in time from present-day Sweden to see the Sweden of old. We'll make a stop at Östra Arådalen to see a fäbod which is still being used today. You will see the animals exactly like it was in the times gone by.  At Långbuan, halfway to Börtnan, we'll stop for Swedish Waffles with whipped cream and fruit preserves and enjoy the great Swedish coffee.  Back at Persåsen we'll visit our hosts' Leif and Margith Wikners' Carpentry Shop (Snickarboden). This 45-year-old family business produces wooden lamps, furniture and handcraft objects. We will enjoy dinner at our hotel.
 
DAY 7: - Friday, July 30th - 

Breakfast at our Hotel - Travel over to Hållandsgården near the town of Järpen for activities there. Meals included- To be announced.

 

Themes we can choose from to explore at Hallandsgården are:

-Life of the Sami People

-Local history and church history.

-Hikes that are easily accessible with outdoor cooking.

-Consert in the Stave Church.

-Baking “Tunnbröd” at the Hembygdsgård

-pilgrim walking to the waterfall Ristafallet and Swedens larget waterfall Tännforsen.

-Riding up on Åreskutan with the cable car.

 

Many of you participants may also just enjoy staying at Hållandsgården, eating homemade food and spending time in its surroundings.

 

Overnight at Hållandsgården 
See www.hallandsgarden.com for more options and ideas

 

Day 8 - Saturday, July 31st 
More fun at Hållandsgården  with side trips to Åreskutan, etc. depending on your ability. - Breakfast,  Lunch and Dinner.

Overnight at Hållandsgården 

 

Day 9 - Sunday, August 1st - Järpen, Sweden - Trondheim, Norway
Breakfast at Hotel and then depart Järpen, Sweden for Trondheim, Norway - Arrive Trondheim at noon.  We take a guided tour of Trondheim, visiting the sacred Nidaros Cathedral, resting place of St. OIav. We walk on the Gamle Bybro(Old VillageNorwegian Coastal Voyage - Trondheim to Bergen Breakfasts anddinners included. Bridge) for a photo opportunity over the Nidar River. Treat yourself to quality Norwegian coffee and a Norwegian Patisserie in one of the Bakklandet district's many chic cafés and then walk up to Kristiansten Fort for great views of Norway's third-largest city. Overnight in Trondheim at Home Hotel Grand Olav. Dinner at Hotel. 

 

Day 10 - Monday, August 2nd - Trondheim - Coastal Voyage - Kristiansund - 
Breakfast at our hotel. Depart Trondheim at 9:30 a.m. by Norwegian CoastalVoyage (Hurtigruten) and pass outstanding scenery along the West Coast and arrive around 4:30 p.m. in Kristiansund. Overnight in Scandic Hotel Kristiansund. 

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Day 11 - Tuesday, August 3rd - Kristiansund - 
Breakfast at our hotel. Sightseeing in and around Kristiansund. Hurtigruten departs at 5:30 p.m.

so we have time to explore, before checking in to our cabin on the ship for overnight sleeping. The town is spread over three islands accessible by free ferry. It is known for being the Cliff Fish capital of Norway or klippfisk. Lutefisk is made from Klippfisk. This salted cod is dried on the cliffs of the town. We'Il take a walk around the cobblestone streets of the old town and tour the lively port. You can also head up to the old watchtower at Varden Viewpoint for a lovely panorama. 

- Overnight Cabin and dinner on boat

Sun will be up late for late evening viewing of the coast of Norway. Norwegian Coastal Voyage - Trondheim to Bergen Breakfasts and dinners included.

We arrive at Molde at 9:15 p.m. The picturesque port for the day is Molde where you can spot the
tops of the Romsdal A1ps. It is nicknamed "The City of Roses". Half an hour stop here and then continue on at 9:45 p.m. to the next stop of at Ålesund arriving at and then departing
to Torvik at 2:35 a.m. and depart just ten minutes fater. At every stop there are goods and mail being delivered and loaded from and to the ship. Continue on to Måløy arriving at 5:45 a.m. Depart at 6:00 a.m. to Florø and then departing towards Bergen, arriving in
Bergen at 2:45 p.m. During the voyage this day and next day you'll have a chance to
view the Nordfjord and the Jostedal Glacier, mainland Europe's largest.
Leaving Florø' you'11 spot the Stabben Lighthouse a favorite subject  for photographers. There are also stunning views to enioy as we cross the mouth of the Sognefjord, the longest and widest in the whole of Norway' As we reach or final port in the afternoon, the ship will navigate
through the last islands and skerries of our Norway scenic route'
and sail down Hjeltefjord to arrive in Bergen'
 

Day 12 - Wednesday, August 4th - Bergen - 

Arrive in Bergen at 2:45 p.m. - Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.  On your own for free time in Bergen.

 

Day 13 - Thursday, August 5th
After breakfast at hotel, the tour ends.   

 

Options:   Fly home, or sign up for the Norwegian Fjords tour ending up in Oslo. Fly home from Oslo at date of your choice.

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