swedentour

*DAY 1 - Tuesday, June 20* - *Departure from U.S.A. (D on Flight)*

Today, depart from O’Hare International Airport to Stockholm, Sweden. Or request international departure from the city of your choice. Many options available.


*DAY 2 - Wednesday, June 21 -Arlanda Airport - Uppsala - (B on flight, D)*

Morning arrival at Arlanda International airport near Stockholm. Journey through the province of Uppland to beautiful Uppsala. In Uppsala, enjoy a tour of magnificent Uppsala Cathedral whose construction began in 1260 and is today the largest Cathedral in Scandinavia. Visit the amazing Viking burial mounds at Gamla Uppsala. Dinner and overnight in Uppsala.


*DAY 3 - Thursday, 22 - *Uppsala -- Avesta -- Sundborn -- Falun --  (B,D)

*Travel to the tradition rich and folkloristic province of Dalarna today. Stop at Avesta to see the World’s Largest Dala Horse, standing almost 43 feet high and weighing 67 tons. In the village of Sundborn, tour the beautiful home and studio of beloved artists Carl and Karin Larsson. Also visit the Sundborn Church and the Larsson family grave site. Also of interest is the Carl Larsson portrait collection. Continue to Falun to our hotel where we will dine before
returning to Sundborn. At Sundborn we have arrangements with the Hembygdsförening to enjoy Pre-Midsummer activities this evening. Return to Falun for overnight.


*DAY 4 - Friday, June 23* - Falun - Rättvik -- Nusnäs -- Mora -- Falun
(B,D)

*Today is Midsummer’s Eve, the largest and best summer celebration in Scandinavia. . Enjoy the beauty of idyllic Lake Siljan as you explore the region today. Visit centuries old Rättvik Church with its hundreds of tiny wooden “houses” used centuries ago, to stable horses in winter during the long church services. Travel to Nusnäs to visit Nils Olsson’s Hemslöjd, gift shop and Dala Horse factory, watch as expert painters hand paint a Dala horse in a matter of minutes.
Take time to shop, enjoy a cup of coffee, or stroll across the street to Grannas Olsson’s for more shopping. In Mora, tour the fantastic home(Zorngården) of world-renowned  artist Anders Zorn. The main room here is reminiscent of a
Viking ship. Early afternoon return to Rättvik for a late afternoon dinner, followed by the Midsummer Procession, folk music, folk dancing, fun, food, and the raising of the Midsummer Pole(Midsommarstång). Overnight again in Falun.


*DAY 5 - Saturday, June 24 (Midsummer Day)* - Falun - Sunnemo - Medskog - Mårbacka - Karlstad - (B,L,D) -

Depart the beautiful Lake Siljan area, traveling into the province of Värmland to visit the quaint village of Sunnemo where Mr. Alf Brorson, historian and educator will talk about Swedish religion and emigration to America in the early 19th century. We will take part in a special Swedish-American church service at Sunnemo Church. After Noon, enjoy a
delicious traditional Värmland lunch of potatiskorv (potato sausage), fresh potatoes, ostkaka and lingonberries at a delightful country inn. After lunch take the short drive for a visit to Selma Lagerlöf's home of Mårbacka. Lagerlöf was the first woman recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909. Continue to Karlstad(Värmland's major city) for dinner and overnight.

*DAY 6 - Sunday, June 25 - Karlstad - Sjötorp -  Åsle Tå - Habo -
Gothenburg - (B,L)

This morning travel south into the province of Västergotland to see the locks at work at Sjötorp where the Göta Canal meets Lake Vänern. Just outside of Falköping visit Åsle Tå, the incredibly well preserved peasant village from the
19-20th centuries. We'll enjoy a lunch buffet at Åsle Tå. Travel to the western shore of Lake Vättern to visit beautiful Habo Church, famous for the interior biblical paintings on walls and ceilings. Continue to the west coast of Sweden to Göteborg (Gothenburg), the second largest city in Sweden. Overnight in Gothenburg. It is suggested to visit Liseberg
Amusement Park this evening and enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many fantastic restaurants.

*DAY 7 - Monday, June 26-  Gothenburg - Varberg - Helsingborg  (B,D)

In Gothenburg this morning enjoy the highlights of this lively West Coast city founded in 1621. Included in the tour of Gothenburg will be a visit to the Emigrants' House (Emigranternas Hus) located in the same old Customs House from which
many emigrants left Sweden for the USA. Research archives have been moved here from Växjö. Travel to the province of Halland and the small town of Varberg chartered in 1100 A.D. and the site of the Varberg Fortress. We'll drive along Varberg’s beautiful sandy beaches which have earned it the nickname of the “Swedish Riviera”. At Ängelholm we will swing off the main road to admire the landscape and idyllic half-timbered houses of The Kullen Peninsula. In Helsingborg take a stroll on the walking street or take in the view across the Öresund Strait from the Kärnan Castle.  Look across to
Denmark and Kronborg Castle (Elsinore - the home of Shakespeare’s Hamlet) at Helsingør. Three miles of water separate these two cities. On your own time feel free to  enjoy the opportunity of taking the 15 minute ferry ride across the Öresund to visit Denmark. Perhaps investigate the Kärnan tower, Helsingborg's most famous landmark, which has guarded the city for over 600 years.  Dinner and overnight in Helsingborg.


*DAY 8 - Tuesday, June 27 - Helsingborg -- Lund -- Karlshamn -- Växjö -  (B,D)

We motor to the University town of Lund to visit the beautiful 12th century Lund Cathedral with its amazing astronomical clock dating from 1424. Travel through the province of Blekinge, known as the “Garden of Sweden”, to view the Emigrant Monument in Karlshamn, commemorating emigration to America through characters from Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel “The Emigrants”. Enjoy a little free time for shopping or leisure in Karlshamn. This afternoon travel to Växjö in the
province of Småland where we will enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum at the Emigrant Institute(Utvandrarnas Hus). Dinner and overnight in Växjö. Växjö is the administrative center for the province of Småland.


*DAY 9 - Wednesday June 28 - Växjö -- Långasjö -- Kosta Boda -- Nybro -
Öland - (B,D)

Travel the “Emigrant Trail” to Långasjö to tour the living museum at Klasatorpet where parts of the movie, “The Emigrants”, were made. Deep in the forests of Småland enter the “Crystal Kingdom” to tour the 275-year old Kosta-Boda Glassworks. Continuing the day's glass and crystal theme, on to your next stop at the world famous Nybro Glasbruk Crystal factory. Then end the day on the beautiful island of Öland(four miles off of the mainland) for dinner and overnight at a country inn.


*Day 10 - Thursday, June 29 -- Öland - Kalmar - Oskarshamn - Eksjö - Jönköping - (B,D)

This morning tour 13th Century Kalmar Castle, once a vital defense along the Old Danish sea border. Falling on hard times, the castle had been used as a prison and as a storage facility for salt and grain; today it is one of Sweden’s
best-preserved renaissance castles. Travel north along the East Coast to Oskarshamn for a tour at the Axel Pettersson Woodcarving Museum. Axel, also known as "Döderhultarn" was one of Sweden's most prolific woodcarvers of the 19th and 20th Centuries. We continue to Eksjö to enjoy a walking tour of the wonderfully preserved Old Town area from the 17th century. Burned to the ground by the Danish in 1568, the town was redeveloped in 1569. Dinner and overnight in Jönköping on the south shore of Lake Vättern.