A 5-day wildlife watching tour in Central Sweden with focus on Moose, Wolf, Beaver and Brown Bear.

During the Summer season (May-September) we offer good chances to see Moose, Beaver, Brown Bear and to howl along with Wolves in their natural habitat. Join our experienced guides for a 5-day tour to the Bergslagen forest, one of the best places in Sweden for wildlife watching. Our tours involve various walking, driving and boating excursions in combination with sitting in hides which means you will get to spend a lot of time out in the nature. However, you will always have access to a room at one of our partner guesthouses where you can sleep comfortably between the guided excursions. The following tour is designed to make the most out of your wildlife watching holiday during the Summer season.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Bergslagen forest, Moose watching

Meet up with your guide at the guesthouse in the afternoon. We sit down for some information about the tour as well as an introduction to Sweden’s wildlife. We eat a dinner together before we head out for a Moose watching tour. Alternatively you can choose to spend the evening in one of our purpose built Moose or Beaver watching hides. Night at guesthouse.

Day 2 Bergslagen forest, Beaver watching

Morning rest and time to explore at your own. You have access to our Moose and Beaver hides which are located near the guesthouse. Lunch at the guesthouse. In the late afternoon we head out for a Beaver excursion using a rubber boat with electric engine that increases our chances to get near to the Beavers during sunset. Alternatively you can choose to spend the evening in one of our purpose built Moose or Beaver watching hides. Night at guesthouse.

Day 3 Bergslagen forest, Wolf howling tour

After breakfast you have some free time to explore the area around the guesthouse at your own or use one of our hides. Lunch at guesthouse. Later during the day we visit Grimsö Wildlife Research Station where we are welcomed by one of Sweden’s foremost Wolf researchers who gives us an in-depth lecture on Wolves. In the late afternoon we head out to the nearby Wolf territory and set up a camp nearby the Wolves current position. We eat an outdoor dinner by the fire and then spend the evening and night watching and listening for Wolves. After a late night we sleep in a traditional tent together.

Day 4 Departure day

Morning in the Wolf territory. After a long night we return back to the guesthouse for showers, rest and brunch. Departure or add the extra optional day of Bear watching.

Optional extra day/night: Hälsingland forest, Brown Bear watching

Note: This day is an optional add-on to the above tour.

Transfer by your own car 4 hours North to the Hälsingland forest and arrive (before 3pm) at a lodge where you are welcomed by our Bear guides. We have two different lodges at two different locations, one is 3,5 hours North and the other is 4,5 hours North. (Note that this transfer is not included in the price since many of our guests prefer to travel by own car.) You will be served a late lunch at arrival to the lodge. After an introduction to Brown Bears you walk about 20 minutes to a Brown Bear hide. The hide is built for Brown Bear watching with windows and photo slots for each participant and comfortable chairs, berths and a simple toilet. You eat a packed dinner and spend the evening watching for Bears. You are free to rest and sleep at any time during the night. You can also choose to use the early morning hours to watch out for Bears. Then walk back to the lodge for a nice breakfast. Conclusion of the tour and departure by own car.

Tour details

Rates (valid until 31 October, 2012)

• SEK 6950 per person Sweden’s Wildlife Tour 4 days / 3 nights.
  Included: Guide. Full board from dinner day 1 until breakfast day 4. Lodging 2 nights at guesthouse and 1 night in traditional tent.
• SEK 2750 per person Optional extra day/night of Brown Bear watching.
  Included: Guide. Lunch, packed dinner and breakfast. Lodging 1 night in Brown Bear hide.
• SEK 195 per person Single room supplement per night (applicable for the first 2 nights).
• We recommend you to add more nights at one of our partner guesthouses before or after the tour. See Guesthouses.

Not included: Travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, travel to and from the starting point (travel to and from the Brown Bear hide in Hälsingland).

Tour dates: See our tour calendar for available dates.

When is best: May-September is usually good for the above mentioned wildlife although the chances to see certain species may vary during the season. May means more Moose sightings because the calves are born. Second half of August and all of September means bigger chances to see Moose bulls with antlers because of mating season. Beavers and Brown Bears can be seen during the entire period, although May is not always a good time for Brown Bear watching because of mating season. July-September is best for Wolves.

Guided activities: All tours include at least one guided excursion per day which typically lasts for 4-6 hours in the evening depending on weather conditions. There are also some guided morning tours, please see itinerary for details. During most excursions we transfer by van and then walk through the forest. The Beaver excursion is usually made by rubber boat with electric engine. The Brown Bear watching is made from a hide with berths and toilet.

Lodging: This tour includes lodging at one of our partner guesthouses. You can choose between double or twin room. Please note that some of the guesthouses have private bathroom and some have shared bathroom. We will choose the most suitable guesthouse according to the current wildlife situation. During the Wolf excursion we stay out in a tent using sleeping bags. During the Brown Bear night we will sleep in a hide with berths using sleeping bags.

Times: This tour starts at 13 hours day 1 and finishes after breakfast on the last day. Please arrive day 1 between 14-16. Please make sure that you are at the meeting location in time. Give us a call if you are late.

Location: This tour starts and finishes at one of our partner guesthouses. Directions to the guesthouse will be given prior to the tour. Note that the 5-day tour that includes Brown Bear watching ends at one of our two Brown Bear lodges in Hälsingland. See Map.

Suitability: Recommended minimum age is 15 years. Please note that the long sun hours during June and July means we have to stay out until late, often after midnight, but we often get the chance to sleep in the mornings. Participants should be able to walk in the forest without difficulties. The amount of walking is dependent on the current wildlife situation. Walking level is medium. We may walk 1-2 hours on gravel roads as well as in uneven terrain off trails, even in darkness at night. Walks include many stops along the way.

Group size: Maximum 8 participants per guide. With 2 guides there may be up to 16 participants.

Wildlife information: Please note that Wolves in Sweden are very shy and difficult to see in the wild. Our main focus is to listen for howls, to see prints, territorial markings, killed prey and to feel their presence. If the situation is promising, we will also try to see Wolves at some strategic location. Although we rarely see Wolves it does happen occasionally. Our guides work hard and spend a lot of time tracking in several Wolf territories to be able to locate the Wolves all year around.

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