Day 1: Meet and Greet in Stockholm
Individual arrivals in Stockholm or second day in the capital if you have chosen the extra night in Stockholm preceeding departure.
The three or four-star hotel is opposite the main line railway station, arrival and departure point of trains to the rest of Sweden and to Arlanda and Skavsta airports. It is also close to Drottningsgatan (Queen Street), Stockholm's main thoroughfare, where shops, restaurants and cafés abound.
All of Stockholm's city center sights are within easy reach on foot: the Town hall, the Royal Palace, the Old Town (Gamla Stan), and of course the harbor, gateway to Stockholm's archipelago and from which a myriad of ferries leave for the nearby islands. Day 2: En Route to Dalarna Province
After a Scandinavian buffet breakfast, leave around 9:00am and take a main line train for Mora, a picturesque town situated on the shores of lake Siljan in Dalarna. Arrive around 1:30pm and have plenty of time available to discover the town in the afternoon and the following morning.
The two/three-star hotel is in the center of Mora and ideally situated for exploring the attractions the town has to offer... the lakeshore, the old town, the Zorn Museum and gardens, the local handicrafts... Day 3: Northwards to Lapland's Gateway
After breakfast, there is free time to continue the visit of Mora and in the beginning of the afternoon a special railcar will draw into the station to take you on the first leg of the journey northward.
As you leave the lakeside setting, climb slowly towards the region of "Orsa Finnmark", a relatively desolate area, and so called because many settlers from Finland came there to work in the forestry industry that developed there. Stop en route for refreshments and visits.
After crossing the region, descend towards the shores of lake Storsjön (Great Lake) and arrive in the town of Östersund around 8:30pm. The two/three-star hotel for the next two nights is close to the station and the town center. Day 4: Discovering Jämtland
Nestling on a hill above the lake, Östersund with its 45,000 inhabitants is almost on the same latitude as Reykjavik and is both a unviversity town and gateway to Southern Lapland.
After a buffet breakfast, visit the nearby Jämtli musuem that retraces the history and culutre of the province of Jämtland.
The afternoon and evening are free to continue exploring the town and its environs: the lake, the island of Fröso, the handicraft shops, the typical wooden houses ... Day 5: Discovering Sami Culture and Reindeer Herding
After a copious breakfast, leave at 7:15am via special railcar for Southern Lapland, making several stops en route, including an early lunch in Vilhemina before midday. Arrive in Slagnäs mid afternoon where you take a short coach ride to Båtsuoj.
Your visit to the Sami center in Båtsuoj is an opportunity to discover the lifestyle of the Sami and to learn all about rearing deer, central to their survival in times gone by. After sampling a typical Sami meal towards the end of the afternoon, continue the journey by coach to Arjeplog where you lodge for the night in a comfortable two/three-star hotel. Day 6: Silver Mining and the Arctic Circle
Situated not far from the Norwegian border, in the foothills of the mountains separating the two countries, the town of Arjeplog has approximatley 2,000 inhabitants and the silver mines were its raison d'être.
After breakfast, make a visit to the excellent Silver Mine Musuem and take a short guided tour of the town before having lunch in the town center.
Around 1:30pm, take a local coach for a short (one hour) ride through the forests and lakes of Lapland to Arvidsjaur, where you rejoin the railcar. The train takes us on to Jokkmokk, where you arrive early evening and take a short walk to a three/four-star hotel on the shores of Lake Talvit. Day 7: Sami Culture and the Muddus World Heritage Park
After breakfast, visit the Sami Attje Museum for a closer look at Sami culutre, and take a tour of the Mountain Gardens near the lakeside. The rest of the day is free to walk around the lake, have lunch, buy some souvenirs, and just take in the lifestyle of this small community on the Arctic Circle.
The railcar draws in to town early evening and on the way to Gällivare, travel through the Muddus World Heritage National Park and make a stop for an evening meal in this delightful setting. You reach Gällivare late evening and check in at a two/three-star hotel that is opposite the station. Day 8: The Mining Town of Gällivare
After breakfast, take a guided visit of Gällivare and its environs. After lunch, board a train at 3:00pm for a short journey east to Boden, where there is a connecting overnight sleeper for Stockholm.
In Boden, cross to the other side of the platform to board the sleeper train. Each berth has two beds and a washbasin, and shower and WC are at the end of the carriage. The train also has a self-service restaurant car serving evening dinner and breakfast.
Day 9: Arrival in Stockholm
Arrival in Stockholm and the end of the tour is at 7:00am. This early arrival is preferable as it leaves plenty of time for connecting flights or trains later in the day. Sometimes long-distance trains can be late so you are strongly advised not to schedule your connecting return trip the same morning. |
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