Archeological Bike Ride
The Swedish Baltic island of --land is full of archaeological and natural history. It is also a perfect place to tour by cycling. Alma Adventures gives guided tours that are not only active but historically themed. May through October Alma Adventures leads a tour they call "Discovery of the Viking Island of --land: Nature and Archaeological Treasures." This seven day, eight night tour combines cycling, walking, driving and boating. While biking around this sunny island you will see steep sea cliffs, thick forest, flowering meadows and immense steppes. The tour leads north to south, covers 182km or 113 miles and passes more than 100 sites where Viking history can be studied. There are also nine natural reserves, four bird observation parks and a handful of archaeology museums. The tour begins and ends at the Kalmar Airport via Stockholm or the Kalmar Train Station via Stockholm or Copenhagen. Cost starts at $2,494 per person and the group caps at 15. Inquiries can be sent to helpdesk@infohub.com.
Explore Western Sweden by Cycle
In Sweden it is common to find companies that will set you up with what you need to tour by cycle in a self-guided manner. Nature Travels Ltd. offers you the opportunity to stay at a working sheep farm and take self-guided cycling day tours while using the farm as a base. There are two-person sleeping lofts on the farm that start at $116 per person per night and this includes breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee and dinner. Each morning you can choose your route with help from the owners (Monica and Lars) if need be and head out for a day of exploration on two wheels through the area of southwestern Herrljung. You will be provided with a trail map as well. This is an area abundant in meadows, forests, lakes wildlife and beautiful fauna. Bikes are adult sized and equipped with baskets. Though the farm is open to visitors year round the best cycling is during March through October and duration of stay can be anywhere from one to five nights or more if you wish. Call Nature Travels for more information or email booking@naturetravels.co.uk.
Nature Travels Ltd.
26 Andover Green
Bovington, Wareham
BH20 6LN
United Kingdom
01929 463 774
naturetravels.co.uk
Cycle Sweden's East Coast
The East Coast Cycle Route is marked by signposts along the 2,500km (250 miles) route from Ystad on Sweden's south coast to Haparanda on the northeastern coast on the boarder of Finland. According to Cykelframjandet, a local bicyclists association "You will enjoy long sandy beaches in the south and, as you go along, the unique Baltic archipelago with its thousands of Islands often within reach," as well as green pastures, lakes, quiet forests and raging rivers in the north. The route meanders through countryside as well as east coast villages including Stockholm, Sweden's capital city. Though this is a self guided route, Cykelframjandet strives to encourage cyclists by selling cycle maps and biking accessories in their online store. They also publish an English language guide to cycling trips. For more information contact them at 08/545 910 30 by phone or email at cyclamera@cykelframjandet.se.
Cycle the Promotion
Box 47
250 53 Helsingborg
08/545 910 30
www2.cykelframjandet.a.se
