Archaeoexpeditions

ArchaeoExpeditions

"STOCKHOLM & ÖLAND: CYCLING THE VIKING TRAIL"

Archaeological Discovery of the Viking Island of Öland:

The Middle Forest and Southern Steppes

Your Hosts : The Nature and Archeology Cycling Company

This 7-day tour starts in Stockholm with guided tours, museum visits and fine accommodations. Then travel south by train to Kalmar for an in-depth look at the central and southern regions Oland, relaxing on a fully escorted cycling tour. Visit impressive archaeological sites, open air museums, and medieval villages. The arid open southern steppes are a contrast and are excellent for cycling - relatively flat with wide limestone plains and open meadows and bird sanctuaries. For a visit to the north island see Tour I

TOUR STATS:

7 days, 8 nights

Guided bicycle tour - Archaeology detection and study – Natural reserves exploration

170 km total distance covered (105 Miles). Difficulty level: For all

Max - Min distance per day: 36-48 km (22.5 - 29.8 miles).

Mostly back-roads, dirt roads and trails.

Guided visit of Stockholm’s Old Town and main ancient historic sites

Visit of Museum of Archeology and Museum of Medieval History in Stockholm with special exhibits

Over 70 archeological sites visited, mostly dating from Iron Age and Viking times.

5 natural reserves, 2 bird observation reserves, 3 museums (2 history + 1 ornithology).

Accommodation and breakfast at best hotels available on the island and in Stockholm’s Old Town.

Transport of luggage and bags by van or taxi from one accommodation to another.

2 optional mornings of rest (days 4 & 5) 1 free afternoon & morning in Stockholm

Minimum: 4, Maximum: 10 persons per tour. If more need to be customized.

The Tour management reserves the right to modify the final itinerary if suitable and appropriate to the good conduct of the Tour.

DEPARTURES SEASON 2003:

June 7-15

July 26-August 03

August 16-24

September 6-14

September 27-October 5

* Other dates are previously reserved for the larger tour, but can be made available for the shorter version – Check for availability

DETAILS:

Saturday - arrive at Arlanda Airport and escort to Hotel

Day One- Sunday

After your arrival at Stockholm Arlanda airport and a night spent in the center of the city, we begin with the visit of the Medieval Museum, right underneath the Royal Castle and a guided tour of the Old City. After a lunch in the delicious gardens of Djugarden, we spend the afternoon at the Swedish Archeology and History Museum, where most of the ancient treasures discovered on Öland and throughout Sweden are being preserved. The rest of the afternoon and evening is open with a few suggestions.

Day Two - Monday

We board a very scenic train around lunch time in Stockholm central station to arrive in Kalmar and then on Öland 5 hours later. Dinner at the hotel and debriefing on the rest of the trip.

Day Three- Tuesday

Starting early, we leave the comfort of Farjestaden’s Hotel Skansen to ride north along the Kalmar Sound coastline. We stop to detect a few sites on the way to the charming small harbor of Stora Rör where we stop for coffee and croissants. The rest of the day then takes us to the most impressive archeological sites of the island, including Odin’s raised stones, Noah’s Arch (a boat setting), Ismanstorp Borg (lost fortified city), and the East Coast collection of Rune stones. A stop at the open-air museum of Himmelsberga gives us the opportunity for lunch and coffee before riding south to a number of other sites and to our newly renovated Swedish 18 century-style residence hotel with its magnificent dining hall.

Day Four - Wednesday

After the optional morning loop, including the detection of a few sites, a stop at the beach, the visit of the island’s largest field of Iron Age raised stones and the deciphering of a few rune stones, we are heading South to the seaside Viking fort of Sandbyborg. We then ride West across the "Alvaret", this very peculiar Nordic arid steppe named in 1992 on the World Heritage list, with a stop to detect a few Iron Age villages foundations still visible thanks to this peculiar environment. We stop for coffee at Vickleby, named as the most charming village on the island and principally inhabited by sculptors and painters, before heading West to a natural reserve with bird observation posts and to the beach of Haga. The road then takes us to a number of prehistoric and Bronze Age sites as well as to another impressive Viking ring fort. We spend the night at Kastlosa, under the substantial comfort of the local clergy who happens to host one of the best accommodations on the island.

Day 5 - Thursday

An optional morning loop takes us to the forest and trail of the West Coast and to detect the remains of Risinge, a Viking harbor that used to be a city of 3,000. The loop then takes us to a few sites and to Stora Dalby, the island’s most prominent burial ground with nearby traces of an Iron Age village. The loop ends with the gloomy detection of an Iron Age burial ground for children, following epidemics. After lunch at Kastlosa or a picnic nearby, we are crossing the "Alvaret" again to the Baltic Coast, crossing vast plains of wild horses, to detect a number of sites on our way South to the splendidly renovated hotel of Grasgard.

Day 6 - Friday

After a garden breakfast, we head south to the rebuilt ring fort, re-enactment and museum of Eketorps. By this time, you are already expert on the early medieval history of the island…We ride West and stop at a few sites before entering the King’s domain of the Southern tip, which hosts an impressive concentration of Iron Age raised stones, burial grounds, deer and other animals. At the Southernmost point of the island, we stop at Scandinavia’s most famous bird observatory and visit the small but instructive museum there. On our way back to the Grasgard hotel, we ride on small trails across the King’s natural reserve.

Day Seven - Saturday

After a night spent at Grasgard and breakfast, the shuttle picks us up, stop at the Gettlinge burial ground for a short visit and drives you back to your scheduled train to Stockholm. Night spent in Stockholm.

Day Eight - Sunday

Departure from Stockholm

Price:

US $2300.00 per person double occupancy

US$2650.00 single

Price Includes:

Tours begin with Stockholm Arlanda airport pickups on Saturdays and end with a Sunday morning drop-off at the airport a week later.Guided Tour in Stockholm by foot and on Öland by bicycle

Round trip train transportation between Stockholm and Öland

Daily transportation of bikes, supplies & belongings by taxi.

1^st Class Accommodations

Smorgasbord Breakfasts every morning + daily individual bottled water (1.5 L)

Individual archeological documentation and brochures + Entrance fees to museums and sites

Bicycle rental and servicing en route

Price does not include:

Airfare

Lunch & dinners

Travel & health insurance

Contact Us : info@archaeoexpeditions.com

PLEASE NOTE :    The organization and delivery of the Stockholm and Oland Cycling the Viking Trail tour(s) are the sole responsibility of the Nature and Archaeology Cycling Company of Sweden and are not in any way the responsibility of Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc.

Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc. is not a travel service and the participant and / or the Nature and Archaeology Cycling Company of Sweden are responsible for making all transportation and/or accommodation arrangements related to the ArchaeoExpedition advertised.

The participant whose signature appears below, agrees to take full responsibility for his or her decision to participate in the stated project and to act prudently and with responsibility toward the project authority who has undertaken the organization of the opportunity on their behalf. The participant further agrees to absolve and release Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc. from any responsibility for the organization, delivery, nature or extent of experience resulting from the project, and for any accommodation, transportation or funding arrangements and any and all other activities or arrangements that may be provided by the project authority or any of its suppliers or agents.

To ensure a successful and enjoyable ArchaeoExpedition experience, participants should independently inform themselves about the project, conditions in the host country and about tourist visas, health, accident and other insurances, currency matters, local customs and traditions, etc. Briefing material may be available for your project - please inquire.

Participants agree to their first name and country being used in stories about their ArchaeoExpedition which may be published from time to time by Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc.. Cultural Expeditions will not release full names, addresses or contact information of any of its clients without prior permission.

The rights and obligations of Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc. and the participant shall be determined by the laws of Canada and any dispute shall be resolved exclusively in the courts in Canada.

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Cultural Expeditions MEC Canada Inc.
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Ottawa Canada K1Z 1A2
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info@archaeoexpeditions.com