Sweden Tour - In Linnaeus' Footsteps: Orchids, Fossils, and Birds of Southern Sweden

Sweden - Orchids, Fossils and Birds of Southern Sweden

Preliminary Tour Itinerary

Itinerary: Sweden: Skane (Skåne): Malmö - Smaland (Småland): Råshult, Lake Möckeln, Möckelsnäs Mansion, Stenbrohult, Strömbergshyttan Glass Studio, Växjo Cathedral, Örarevet – Oland (Öland): Ölands Skogsby, Mörbylånga Trail, Bergsstigen, Degerhamn Ottenby Bird Observatory, Lunden, Alby, Eketorp, Stora Alvaret, Köpings Klint, Byrum, Neptuni Fields, Troll Forest, Borgholm castle – Blekinge: Baltic archipelago, Aspö, Drottningskär’s Fortress, Karlskrona – Skane (Skåne): Kivik, Ale’s Stones, Haväng, Stenshuvud National Park.
Duration: 9 days

Day 1, May 28: Arrive in Copenhagen and Tour Skane (Skåne)
Our Sweden tour will start by visiting cutting-edge sustainable living in architecturally award-winning neighborhoods in Malmö. Transportation to Småland and Möckelsnäs Country Estate and a tour of the neighborhood. Tour of medicinal plant garden then a field trip to area around Lake Möckeln with raptors, ancient cultural landscapes, geological glaciation artifacts and mossy and lush deciduous and evergreen forests.

Our tour and discussion will start with an introduction to Carl Linnaeus’ life and his scientific importance, history of agriculture in temperate areas, the history of botany and medicinal plants, how to read the history of a glaciated and historical cultural landscape.

Day 2, May 29: Visit Smaland (Småland) and Tour Oland (Öland)
In Smaland (Småland), we will tour of the orangery at Möckelsnäs Mansion, Stenbrohult church and its history center. Then we'll take a guided tour of Linnaeus’ birthplace Råshult, an 18th century self-sufficient farm, similar to many of the farms Swedish emigrants left in the 19th century for a new life in America.

On this part of the tour, we will learn about: Macro- and landscape photography. Heritage of Linnaeus in biology and ethnomedicine, the history of glass works in Sweden and emigration from Sweden.

Day 3, May 30: Tour Smaland (Småland) and Visit Oland (Öland)

In Småland, we will take a guided tour of the glass works at Strömbergshyttan, then move on to a guided tour of Växjö Cathedral, and finish with the Caroliner House where Carl Linnaeus went to school.

We will then travel to Öland, where we will drive over the several mile long bridge to the Baltic island of Öland. Field trip to northernmost tip of this long island, with fossilized coral reefs (raukar) at Byrum, Neptuni Fields (rocky costal fields named by Linnaeus), and the ancient ‘Troll Forest’ with an interactive museum. Rich fossil beds, good bird watching, and examples of sustainable ecotourism.

On this part of the tour, we will learn about: Introduction to Cambrian and Ordovician fossils and historical geology; the process of coastal environmental protection. Current environmental issues with the Baltic Sea, sea level changes due to glaciations, migration patterns of Scandinavian birds, orchid pollination, introduction to the unique flora and geology of Öland.

Day 4, May 31: Visit Oland (Öland)
In Öland, we will visit the historical agricultural area included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, tour of Alby, a 19th century farm village with roots in the bronze and Viking ages. Then we'll proceed to a guided tour at the iron age fortress of Eketorp with its historical museum with demonstrations. In the afternoon, we will hike on Stora Alvaret and its orchid meadows. Optional evening tour to nearby nature preserve with orchids and fossils at Köpings Klint.

On this part of the tour, we will learn about: Ecological restoration of industrial and other disturbed areas, possibilities in actions against invasive species. Experience life 1000 years ago.

Day 5, June 1: Hike in Oland (Öland)

Öland: Hike along Mörbylånga Trail, mixed habitats on western shore of the island. Visit to Uppsala University’s Ecological Research station Ölands Skogsby and “Porten till Alvaret”, with guided tour of steppe with orchids, Viking and bronze age cultural artifacts, and unique flora. Visit to Bergsstigen, a self-guided trail in a historical industrial heritage area of a lime plant closed in 1932. Tour of Borgholm castle on Öland, founded in the 12th century and ruined after a fire in the 1800s.

On this part of the tour, we will learn: How humans changed landscape and vegetation over thousands of years of history, Orchid observations. Organic and sustainable farming today, challenges and opportunities.

Day 6, June 2: Visit Northern Oland (Öland) and the Ottenby Bird Observatory
In Öland, we will spend a full day at Ottenby Bird Observatory, best birding and bird watching in Sweden, including a guided tour of a bird banding facility, visit to the light house and the museum, hike in nearby oak forest (Lunden) rich in migrant birds and view shorebirds in the coastal marshlands.

Småland: Field trip to coastal marshland at Örarevet, a mile-long esker stretching out into the Baltic Sea, the largest brackish sea in the world, with nesting of coastal birds, rocky fields, and salt marshes.

Blekinge: Karlskona marine history town, ferry to island of Aspö, in the middle of the Baltic archipelago. Dinner at Drottingskär’s Fortress.

On this part of the tour, we will learn: Migratory bird research in Scandinavia, bird song identification, bird photography. The role of the ruling (royal) class in culture, science and environmental protection (through wars with the Danish and the Russians).

Day 7, June 3: Tour Blekinge

In Blekinge, we will take a boat tour in the archipelago in the morning, which will give some good bird watching and we may even spot a few seals.

Returning to Skåne’s eastern coast with Kivik, a small fishing village with a large bronze-age royal grave.

Evening movie: “Äppelkriget”, classic Swedish 1970's comedy filmed in this area about the clash between environmental protection and business interests.

On this part of the tour, we will learn about: Baltic fishing heritage. Overview of the geologic and natural history of southernmost Sweden, conflicts in preservation of biodiversity and land development, Nordic mythology.

Day 8, June 4: Visit Skane (Skåne): Tour Orchid Meadows
Skåne; visit to Stenshuvud National Park, where you can sometimes find amber washed up on the sandy beach, visit to the rich orchid meadows and deciduous forest with many warblers. Visit to Kivik’s Apple Cider Co., Haväng glacial hills, and tours of local ecological living. Optional boat tour with M/S Klara-Marie to look at sunken forests and shipwrecks with university researchers.

On this part of the tour, we will learn: Orchid pollination and species conservation and discuss whether contemporary sustainable living is possible.

Day 9, June 5: Departure Day
Transportation to Kastrup airport in Copenhagen.