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Day 1 - Introduction day
Fly to Stockholm Arlanda airport. Meet your guide for the two hour drive to Skinnskatteberg.
When you arrive at the guesthouse you will be greeted by your hosts Eva and Allan who are running the lovely little guesthouse Pensionat Udden overlooking lake Storsjon. Move your bags into your room and feel like home.
We soon begin with an introduction to Sweden's wildlife. While we will focus on Sweden's large carnivores Wolves, Brown Bears, Lynx and Wolverine, we will also go through the other mammals and some of the birds that we have a chance to see. You will be given and introduced to a high quality tracker's book translated into English that we will use as our study material throughout the trip. The book is called Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of Britain and Europe by Lars-Henrik Olsen.
Enjoy a hearty dinner cooked on local produce served by Allan in the small restaurant overlooking the lake.
In the evening we head out for a canoe trip at lake Storsjon. Our Canadian style canoes are stable, easy to use and fits up to three adults. Canoeing is the ideal way to explore the lake and its pristine surrounding forests, which will serve as a good introduction to the tour. We visit some of the islands and the two connecting streams where Beavers can be seen.
We return before dark and sleep well at the guesthouse.
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Day 2 - Lynx and Beaver day
In the morning we head out into a natural area which is home to a female Lynx and her kittens. Please note that Lynx are extremely shy and difficult to spot. So while we can't expect to actually see any Lynx we will feel their presence and enjoy the scenery. We walk in open areas and watch out for wildlife and birds such as Capercaillie, Black Grouse and woodpeckers. Your guide will explain about the Lynx biology and behavior, it's threats and the current status of the population.
We return to the guesthouse for a lunch. Here we will take the chance to listen to Alan and Eva who will share their experiences on how they manage to farm sheep and the difficulties in avoiding Wolf attacks.
In the afternoon you have a few hours to explore the surroundings at your own. Either on foot or by canoe. You may spot the Black-throated divers, an Osprey catching a fish, a Black woodpecker or one of the Red Squirrels regularly visiting the guesthouse.
In the evening it is time to to head out for a boat trip on another nearby lake. We are using a rubber boat with electric engine to increase our chances to get closer to wildlife during sunset. During the evening we will visit several active Beaver lodges and hopefully spot some Beavers up close from the boat. Other wildlife seen in the area is Moose, Roedeer, Red Fox, Badger and Tawny Owls. We stop for an outdoor dinner on an island where the Beavers are active and have fell some Aspen trees. On our way back we may stop to listen for Wolves before we return to the guesthouse late at night.
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Day 3 - Wolf and Moose day
After breakfast you will have a free morning to go for a hike or even another excursion in the canoe. Perhaps you just need some rest at the veranda of the guesthouse.
In the morning we head out for an excursion in one of Sweden's Wolf territories. Learn how to track Wolves by looking for paw prints in mud and sand, collect droppings for DNA analysis, check common trails and localize killed prey.
Lunch at the guesthouse and a meeting with one of the local hunters who will share his experiences about large carnivores.
In the evening we will visit another part of the forest, an area which has proven to be exceptionally good for Moose viewing. Our guides have succeeded in finding wild Moose on each tour since 2003 so chances of seeing them is very good. We will also look out for Wolf, Lynx, Red Fox, Badger and other mammals as well as birds.
Return to the guesthouse after sunset late at night.
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Day 4 - Night in Wolf territory
Free morning for rest or explore at your own.
Later during the day we will attend at a detailed lecture on Wolves by an expert with years of experience of field work with the Scandinavian Wolf population. He will share his stories and teach us more about Wolves in an exclusive in-depth lecture. We will also take part in the latest studies on Lynx and Wolverines.
In the afternoon we travel together by foot and by car under skilled guidance in one of Sweden´s wolf territories. We set up a tented camp together at a strategic location. There are big chances to hear and howl along with wolves, see tracks and feel their presence. While few people ever get to actually see a wolf, many of our guests have listened to wolves’ howling, and hearing a wolf pack howl in their natural habitat certainly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We spend the night in tents using comfortable sleeping bags, inflatable mats and pillows.
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Day 5 - Wolf extension day
After a long night out we may choose to get up early for an additional morning excursion in the Wolf territory. Whether we do this or not depends on what we experienced during the previous evening and the current situation with the Wolves. In the late morning we pack the tented camp and head back to civilisation for a well deserved brunch at the guesthouse.
In the afternoon we return to the Wolves for more watching and listening. This may involve waiting for several hours.
Night at guesthouse.
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Day 6 - Brown Bear research day
It is time to pack our bags and move on. We transfer by minivan a few hours North and arrive at Kvarnberg in Dalarna. This area is one of Europe's densest forests with Brown Bears. Here we are greeted by Andrea and Gunther, two of Sweden's foremost Brown Bear researchers and experts. They will share their knowledge about Brown Bears and take us for an exclusive excursion on foot into a wild and remote forest where bears roam freely. During the day we will try a method that is used for localizing radio collared bears without disturbing them. We will also visit a recently used den and collect hair and droppings for DNA analysis.
At sunset we continue to a scenic spot and have a meal by a campfire in the wilderness. Here we will learn how to behave in case of a Bear encounter, and listen to fascinating stories of Andrea and Gunter's experiences in the field as researchers.
Accommodation in shared wooden cabins with good views across the vast forests of Dalarna.
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Day 7 - Brown Bear watching day
This morning we continue our journey through the forests to arrive at The Big 5 Carnivore Center in Jarvso. In this up-to-date exhibition we will get in-depth information about the large predators of Sweden. The Big 5 Carnivore Center has been established with the aim to educate and foster a better understanding between community and carnivore. Education, especially for young people is vital if society is to better understand how to coexist with these charismatic creatures.
We will also be guided through their renown wildlife park Jarvzoo where you will have the chance to view these carnivores and many of the other Nordic wild animals up close. We normally avoid zoo's on our trips but this zoo is something different. The animals are kept in relatively large enclosures with natural habitats. We walk safely and protected through the animals’ natural environments along a wooden walkway with scenic viewpoints. Jarvzoo has participated in several national and international conservation projects throughout the years, involving species like Brown Bear, Lynx, Wolf, Wolverine, Snowy Owl and Forest Reindeer.
In the afternoon we continue our travels to Vargas wilderness lodge in Halsingland, which is probably the best place in Sweden to view and photograph wild Brown Bears. Vargas has a very high success rate and you often see them up close from a safe and comfortable wooden hide. Although Bears do show up most of the nights, there is no guarantee.
During the dark hours of the night you can rest in one of the beds inside the hide.
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Day 8 - Departure day
Wake up in the bear hide and walk back to the lodge. We conclude the tour before we drive to the train station in Bollnäs where a train will take you straight back to Stockholm Arlanda airport.
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Included
• Experienced and passionate naturalist guides with trained eyes for spotting wildlife
• Lodging* seven nights and all meals
• Transportation in minibus from Stockholm Arlanda airport with train transfer back on the last day
• All entrance fees
• A professional trackers guidebook for each participant
• Use of good quality binoculars.
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