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

This early summer tour will be discovering the native land of the Norse seafaring traders and warriors known as the Vikings as well as tracing the footsteps of the world-famous naturalist Carl Linnaeus, the world’s first ethnobotanist and the father of modern taxonomy. The areas of Skåne, Småland, and the island of Öland in southern Sweden are famous for their migrating birds, orchid meadows, and rich cultural history, reaching back 10,000 years to the stone age. The area is characterized by its large biodiversity, both living and fossilized, and variety of habitats, from sandy beaches to limestone cliffs, meadows, steppe, and deciduous or conifer forests. Öland is of special importance for flora and fossils since it is one of the few places with Cambrian and Ordovician limestone, which creates unique vegetation types that affect the bird fauna as well.  

Sweden is among the most environmentally friendly countries in the world and examples of sustainable and highly developed ‘green’ projects will be visited. The tour fully integrates cultural and natural history with field experiences and guided tours by local experts.

You will learn about biodiversity and its history and preservation in Scandinavia, especially with regard to birds, orchids, and fossils, while experiencing the rich cultural heritage of the Vikings, fishermen, farmers and sustainable living in southern Sweden.

Cost per person, double occupancy: $4,975 single supplement applicable
Number of participants: 10
Duration: 9 days
Overnight stays:  Möckelsnäs Mansion (Småland), Solberga organic farm (Öland), Aspö historical marine pilot station (Blekinge), and Agda Lund farm (Skåne ), all in B&B or well-equipped smaller hostels in historical buildings in beautiful surroundings.
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.

Scandinavian breakfasts are hearty; lunch will either be at local restaurants or as lunch boxes in the field, and dinners will be at local restaurants or hotels.  Fresh, local and organically produced food will be emphasized.

Activities in Sweden

Field trips will include national parks, nature preserves, working farms and fishing villages, environmental education centers, research stations in ornithology and ecology.  There will be good opportunities for bird watching, fossil hunting (permits are required for collecting), and nature photography. Additional activities will be sampling of local, traditional, and organic food, sustainable agriculture demonstrations, and introduction to native medicinal plants. No formal lectures are planned, all activities are either hands-on and integrated into the field trips. The best migrating bird area in the Nordic countries (Ottenby) will be visited and there will be ample opportunities for photography of native plants, birds, cultural and archeological artifacts, and landscapes. We will visit the quaint birthplace of the founding father of biological taxonomy Carl Linnaeus in Småland, which is also part of a large emigration area to the US about 130 years ago, and now famous for mossy, virgin forests, old-fashioned agricultural heritage, and art glass production (Kosta-Boda and Orrefors).

Transportation in Sweden
During our trip trough Småland, Öland, Blekinge and Skåne we will have our own bus to transport us. The bus will escort us throughout the journey ensuring that we reach our destination on time for our next part of the adventure. The bus is equipped according to Swedish standards of safety.

Tour Leader - Dr. Lena Struwe

Dr. Lena Struwe, Associate Professor in plant evolutionary biology, Rutgers University; PhD in systematic botany from Stockholm University, Sweden; B. Sc. in Biology and Earth Sciences, Stockholm University (fluent in English and Swedish), 30 years experience in Swedish field studies with special expertise in botany, ornithology, geology, and cultural history. She has over 25 years of experience in giving training courses, field trips, and lectures from kindergarten level to advanced professional audiences, especially in conservation, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, and botanical biodiversity and evolution.
Read more about Lena Struwe