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Traveling with Atlas Obscura amid COVID-19 How We’re Adapting Our Trips Destination Requirements (via Embassy Pages)Deep in Sweden's boreal forests, the haunting howl of the European grey wolf can be heard at night, echoing through the towering pines and curtains of moss. Join Atlas Obscura and Tastemade on a six-day adventure where you'll have the chance to accompany experienced wildlife guides as they track the grey wolf and bear witness to its otherworldly call. We’ll journey into the wild in search of Sweden’s spectacular flora and fauna, pausing to bathe in the quiet of the woods, swim and canoe in secluded lakes, forage for wild mushrooms and bilberries, and learn the history of fire-making. Later in the week, we’ll hike into the woods at sundown to spend a night camping in wolf territory, where we’ll huddle together, waiting for the wailing of wild grey wolves to surround us.
Meet your guide and group at the Stockholm Airport and together we'll make our way two hours by road to Skinnskatteberg. Settle into your stately room and take a stroll around the manor grounds before regrouping for a festive welcome dinner of organic, locally sourced fare at the manor’s award-winning restaurant. Take a dip in one of the spa’s outdoor baths, or head to bed for a good night’s sleep; tomorrow we’ll begin our adventure in the Swedish wilderness.
Färna Herrgård, Skinnskatteberg
Welcome Dinner
We’ll meet with our guides for a canoeing excursion on a nearby lake, where we’ll search for some of Sweden’s most iconic birds, such as the black-throated diver, osprey, common tern, grey heron, and common crane. After lunch at Färna Manor, we’ll then have time to relax. This evening, we’ll head out into the surrounding forest in search of moose, accompanied by expert guides who will teach us how to identify their hoof prints and bite marks. After an afternoon of moose-watching, we’ll build a campfire and enjoy another locally-sourced meal by a small forest lake before returning to the manor for the night.
Färna Herrgård, Skinnskatteberg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We will meet to do a wood carving workshop this morning. After lunch at Färna Manor you’re free to explore the surrounding woods. In the summer, the forest floor is covered with berries and mushrooms of all kinds; collect as many as you’d like, or hop into the lake for a swim. This evening, we’ll head to a nearby lake and quietly cruise across the water at sunset, spotting beavers and their dams. We’ll pause for an evening meal on an island, and as darkness falls, we’ll use headlamps to spy on the beavers as they work fastidiously along the shoreline—listening for the cries of other creatures that call out in the night, such as the tawny owl.
Färna Herrgård, Skinnskatteberg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’re heading into the woods to track wolves! We'll have a leisurely morning in preparation for a late night of tracking wolves. After lunch and a discussion about wolves (and how to conduct ourselves when close to them), we’ll hike out to a secret location in a nearby forest where a family of wolves keeps its territory. We’ll search for paw prints, droppings, killed prey, and other signs of their presence, and meet with one of Sweden’s foremost wolf experts to learn about lupine behavior, land management issues, and conservation efforts. We’ll find a safe place to set up our tented camp, light a fire, and enjoy an evening meal together. As darkness falls, we’ll move closer to the wolves, walking through the darkness in silence to reach a strategic location where, if we're lucky, we'll hear them howl. We’ll return to our tents after midnight for a night of rest among the trees.
Tented camp, Skinnskatteberg
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a night spent among the trees, we’ll pack up our tented camp and head back to civilization for a well-deserved brunch at the manor. Return to your room for a nap or enjoy the spa before meeting with your guides for an afternoon of foraging in the woods. We’ll take a short excursion out into the forests near Färna, where our guides will teach us the art of bushcraft and the history of fire-making. We’ll return to the manor to put our fire-building skills to use, setting the scene for our outdoor workshop on open-flame cooking. We’ll bake bread and collect herbs from the surrounding woods for tea before settling in for our final meal together under the Swedish sky.
Färna Herrgård, Skinnskatteberg
Brunch, Dinner
The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
Shared Room: You’ll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $160. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
This itinerary involves staying up late for nighttime adventures that often last past midnight (varies with the time of year and sunset).
Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to three miles over the course of each day, spending time in nature, walking after dark in the woods with a headlamp, and sometimes walking on wet, uneven terrain. Since this is a wilderness trip, you should also be comfortable sleeping in a tent for one night.
Some of the walks will be difficult for example, rough terrain off-trail where it may be rocky, mossy, wet, and slippery (including some walks in the darkness with headlamps).
We’ll be staying at the Färna Herrgård (manor) for four nights of our trip, with one night spent camping in tents in the Swedish wilderness. All camping supplies will be provided, including a three-season Swedish sleeping bag. Please note that there may not be access to a toilet during the night spent in wolf territory.
Our trip begins at Stockholm's Arlanda airport at 3 p.m. on Day 1. We recommend you arrive in Stockholm by 2 p.m. that day so you can meet the group at Terminal 5 by Tourist Information at 3 p.m. We will transfer together by road for two hours to Skinnskatteberg. We cannot wait for delayed flights, so you'll have to hire a taxi for the two-hour transfer to Färna village if you miss the transfer. If traveling directly to Färna by car or public transport, please arrive by 5 p.m.
Our trip concludes on Day 6, with drop-off at Avesta Krylbo train station near Skinnskatteberg. We will book you a train ticket to Stockholm Central Station or Stockholm Arlanda Airport, whichever you prefer. If leaving Sweden directly after our trip, we recommend booking a flight that departs no earlier than 7 p.m. or planning to stay an extra night in Stockholm before heading onwards.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated including gluten-free and vegetairan. However, in some cases, it might mean limited options. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
We always stay at a respectful distance, as we don’t want to disturb the wolves. Our guides are experienced and know how to handle any situation that may arise.
This trip aims to promote the conservation of Sweden’s wildlife and wild lands by providing income for local people, businesses, and conservation groups. You’ll stay in locally owned accommodations, eat locally sourced meals, and learn about the efforts being taken by the Swedish tourism industry to conserve the fragile taiga forests of the region.