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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 in Stockholm and make your way to Färna Manor. 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 Manor
Welcome Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the manor before meeting the group for a walk through a nearby old-growth forest. Here, we’ll learn about the native fauna of Sweden’s taiga ecosystem while searching for signs of wolves, beavers, and lynx. After lunch at a forest café, we’ll relax at a nearby lake, where you’ll be free to swim, hike, or take a canoe out for a relaxing paddle. This afternoon, 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 Manor
Breakfast, Lunch, 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 on the lake, 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. We’ll head back to the manor, where you’ll have some downtime to rest or enjoy the spa. This evening, we’ll head to a hidden 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 Manor
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’re heading into the woods to track wolves! After a discussion about wolves (and how to conduct ourselves when close to them), we’ll hike out to 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.
Camping
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 to Kolarbyn Ecolodge, 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 Manor
Brunch, Dinner
The total cost of this trip is $3100, 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. When booking, please select the single room package option.
We’ll be staying at the Färna 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 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 and make our way to Skinnskatteberg. Our trip concludes in the morning on Day 6. If leaving Sweden directly after our trip, we recommend departing any time that evening. If you’d like to extend your trip, we’re happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the area on your own.
Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to five miles over the course of each day, spending time in nature, remaining on their feet for long periods of time, walking after dark in the woods with a headlamp, and sometimes walking on uneven terrain. Since this is a wilderness trip, you should also be comfortable sleeping in a tent for one night.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though in most cases ingredients can’t be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. 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.