Hello scandis,
Det är så här...det gäller inte riktigt jakt men det gäller alla de mest intressant vildmarker här i Sverige, Norge o kanske Suomi...jag jobbar som guide åt några stycken amerikaner och annat varje år i Afrika och jag vill gärna presenterar någon tio/tolv dagars resa(icke jakt) för att de kunna uppleva Nordens Natur och vilt med jag som guide - vilken områder skulle du helst rekommenderas att INTE missa på en sådan resa? Jag har kommit fram till några dagar på västkusten i sverige, några dagar på Göta Kanal(kanske) - vet inte riktigt vilken sträcka men den skönaste(tips??) Varg och björn i Varmland/Norrland, Späckhuggare i Norge...och jag vet att det finns lite till...Hoppas att ni förlåter mig att börjar det här trådet härinne men har lite brist av kontakter som verkligen veta vilket områder kunna bjuder bästa djur och natur upplevelsor...tack i förhand för tips...ni får gärna skicka PM om ni vill ta bort trådet...

Bästa skogs hälsningar och Glad Påsk!!

Andy
fd Baboonbreeder

Andy,

No offence intended, but I'd prefer if your posts were in English...If everybody posted in their own language the forums would be in a real state. Obviously if your swapping PM's with somebody, use what ever language you like..

Regards,

Pete

Hello Scandis,
Its like this y'see- its not really hunting but more about the most interesting wilderness areas in Scandinavia - Sweden, Norway and maybe Finland. I guide some American groups and a few others in Africa(mainly Zimbabwe, Botswana & Uganda) each year and I would really like to put a ten/twelve day Scandinavian Wilderness Trail(non-hunting) together for marketing in North America and other parts of Europe. Which areas would you recommend NOT be missed on such a trail?

I have thought about a few days on the West Coast, maybe a few days on the Gota Canal - not sure which stretch but the most beautiful(tips??), wolf and bear in Varmland/Norrland, Killer Whales in Norway....and I know that there is more to do...

I trust you will forgive me posting this here but I have a shortage of good contacts who really know which areas could offer the best wilderness and wildlife experience...thanks in advance for your advice - feel free to PM me if you want to dump this thread.

Best bush greetings and Happy Easter!

Andy
PS: Pete - Apologies and none offence taken - I did look at the forum headings to try and figure out where to post this, but couldn't find an appropriate forum. Any non-nordic travellers with recommendations are welcome to drop me their recommendations as well.

Tigerfish

Maybe a little popular for your ideas - but certainly a location that needs including for the 'WOW' factor.

fficial%26sa%3DN" TARGET=_blank>http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sta...GBfficial%26sa%3DN

Sums up Norway and the Fjords for me!

http://www.gardkarlsen.com/preikestolen.htm

Rgds Ian

Hi Andy,

Glad to see that you're alive. Haven't seen you here for so long that I was sure you'd gone back to Zim!

As interesting places over here, Lofoten is undoubtably a worthwhile area to visit IMO. In fact, it's probaby my favorite area in Norway: http://info.lofoten.no/en/

Andy,

Grövelsjön i Dalarna och Sånfjällets nationalpark i Härjedalens kommun är väldigt vackra.
http://www.naturvardsverket.se/index.php3?main=/dokumen.../natpark/npstart.htm

http://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/templates/hostel.aspx?id=3459#

Bodö, Narvik och Lofoten är klart sevärda och bra resmål.
http://www.bodo.no/index.php?ID=423&tabID=423
Narvik http://www.narvikinfo.no/Default.aspx?meny_id=76&side_i...&ht=1&meny_parent=76
http://www.narvik.kommune.no/

Ett bekvämt sätt att se Norges fjordar är hurtigruten.
http://www.hurtigruten.com/no/default.aspx

/JOHAN

Thanks heaps those of you that have put forward ideas...much appreciated...yes that rock looks perfect for leaping off doesn't it....(Andy dreams himself into a BASE jump....)

Andy...
Erik got it spot on...Lofoten is a must, but as a mariner/sailor I have discoverd another part of the High North that has an unbelivable diversety.
That´s the coast of Helgeland, between Brønnøysund and Bodø. www.arctic-circle.no/oyhopping.htm. In addition to the places mentioned on that site, the island of Lovund with the uniqe seabird colony, and the small island Myken a bit further north. Myken have approx 18 inhabitans in the winter , but come summer and the place burst into life. Eat at the small summer restaurant "Karenstua" ( Karens cottage)... the best seafood aviable

One of my favorite's in Scandinavia is the Archipelago (Stockholm Åland)and for me the pearl in that is Björkö with Birka. You can take a trip over the day from Stockholm and have both fantastic nature and a good insight in the Scandinavien history of the Vikings. The you en the Stockholm visit by go to resturant nad/or pub in the old town (Gamla Stan) of Stockholm

The green surroundings of Mälaren will also make a good contrast to Lofoten more barren landscape.
If you by accident have chance to stop at Visby or Ölands Alvar I wood take it, by it is usually harder to drive by

WOW...Arild...that sounds really good....i will check...cancel that....I just had a look at he site....how often have you been there? And which times of year are good to go....man it looks simply unbelievable there....That looks awesome to do...maybe combine two or three nights there with three nights on a killer whale boat in Lofoten....so thats one week in Norway, three days in Dalarna/Varmland looking for wolf and bear...and three days for where else now....

Per...I have heard lots about the archipelago...but is it a Wilderness Area?? To me the archipelago can be done by yourself on a weekend trip into Stockholm...i am worried also that the number of people there and the air and boat traffic might detract from the wilderness feeling?? I have not been myself...but I do know that many english speaking people are wary of being in a country where they never know if they are being understood properly - not an issue in Stockholm, but out in the skogen in Varmland its not always easy to find a good english speaker...as such I feel that they do lose out in some cases just because of the communication issues...this is also not a problem in Stockholm...Goteborg etc....

Johan - the ferry may be comfy...but does anybody know of a smaller boat that does this kind of voyage?? i.e. a boat fitted for 12 passengers, plus crew, (passengers could be deck-hands...but only for light chores) I reckon a sail-boat is the way to go...but ideals and effectiveness seldom go hand in hand...
Once again - thanks for all the tips...I REALLY appreciate it!

Andy

True, the daytrip to Birka should maybe not be classified as a Wilderness tour
Maybe you could try to contact some of the people that arrange paddling tours
depending, if you contact them and decide how ofshore you want to go you can get as much wilderness as you like
Img from Björkö

http://www.skargardsgumman.com/turer.htm?OpenPage
http://www.aventyrsresor.se/main.asp
http://www.dalarokajak.se/

How do you plan to travel along Göta Kanal?
I have only been between Motala and Söderköping along the canal but I must agree that it is beautiful and maybe it is enough of our waterways

FWIW

Tigerfish
I have sailed the area twice, last time three years ago. This part of the magnificent Norwegian coast is a mix of Tolkiens elvish landscape and pure breathtaking impressions.
I sailed in late summer ( last part of July and August), and even if the midnight sun season was finished in August, those blond nordic summernights must be seen to belive.

Myken has an express boat connection with the mainland twice a day I belive.
There is also possible to rent the lighthouse and stay there on self catering.
I will see if I can find the site if you are interrested ?

I will be sailing there again the 4 weeks of July this year. Good luck with your project !

Arild - thanks for your input. I would very definitely be interested in any information about that part of the world that you are able to provide - you don't off hand know of any other sailors/mariners that charter their boats out for small groups as described?? That time of the year sounds perfect - Weather is what weather is, but i must say over the last three years that I have lived here the weather has always been better in July/August than over midsummer....its also a better time of the year for Salmon!!!

The site for the area is good, but I guess I am going to have to plan a visit to the area myself before I can include it in a wilderness trail(shucks!!) and see what I can work out while I am there....any idea what its like at this time of the year?? Maybe beginning of May??

Per - thanks too for your opinions - i didn't mean to sound offish, its just that I am trying to get into areas that would typically be more inaccessible to the non-nordic visitors. I appreciate your feedback though...how long does the Göta Kanal between Motala & Söderköping take to traverse??
Best regards,
Andy

No offense taken Tiger
I passed GT during a summer vacation on bike and have been in the vicinity of the canal later since my wife earlier lived in Finspång. But my suggestion is you take contakt with the people on http://www.gotakanal.se and check what they have to offer.
One place that I haven´t visit in Scandinavia yet is Muddus. One of the largest area of non tuched old forest and bogs. There is not the dramatic mountains that you have in Norway but a more low mountain area (Lågfjällsområde) which is also a typical ecosystem for Scandinavia. The wilderness coefficient should be wery high, including the mosquitoes rate, which they have to include in link
http://www.fjallen.nu/parker/muddus_besoka.htm
I knew that mosquitoes is nothing to fear but I remember when one of our field staff returned an complaind that she could not work any longer in the spruce forest (close to Sävar/Skeppsvik). When we asked why she explained that the tea strainer she breath through get filled and blocked by the Mosquiteos all the time
FWIW

Tigerfish...
Take a look at www.myken.no/hovedside
Unfortunately I can´t help you with sailcarther, but the cutter s/y Josefine has Myken as homeport, perhaps they can help you ??

Hi Tigerfish

I was in Sweden a few years ago and took a train from Uppsala to Kiruna (I think the same one that continues on to Narvik)and then went on a dogsled trip somewhere out near Jukas Järvi. We stayed overnight in a Same style hut lined with reindeer skins and ate raindeer for almost every meal! That was in mid winter and was an extroardinary experience. The Norsken are pretty spectacular that far up into Lappland too.

I also stayed at the IceHotel in Kiruna which was fun but a bit touristy.

Just a couple of thoughts

Tigerfish
If you are interested in the northenmost part of sweden, Lapland, I might be of some assistance perhaps.
I am working as a tour guide in Kiruna and can give advice on the surrounding area in sweden, norway and finland. The southern part of the country can be taken in just a few days. My best advice for such a short trip is to focus on the northern part of the countries in august. The area from Gällivare and north in sweden is spectacular as well are the fjords of norway, especially the E-fjord, trollfjord, lofoten area, as well as the lyngen alps around Tromsö. Please regard the distances up here. The municipality of kiruna is 19 000 sq km, or the size of Denmark. From the coast in luleå to the atlantic you will drive 530km. With good visibility from a mountain summit you will see around 80 km in each direction. Things like this need time. Theres 6000 lakes, 6 roaring rivers within the city limits, you can drink the water from each and every one and it is way better than bottled mineral water. There is also fish in virtually all waters. In the city lake a 6kg trout was taken on a mormyscka while ice fishing this season. There are much larger ones still there.
In short, if they want to see the best of sweden they should come to lapland. Pm me for further information if you feel like.

/Daniel