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    [name] => Sweden - Spring Birds & Flowers of Oland
    [code] => SWE01
    [slug] => sweden-spring-birds-and-flowers-of-oland
    [description] => 
Oland is a special place. A limestone island lying off Sweden’s east coast, Oland offers a unique blend of natural history and cultural attractions and we’ll go in search of its exceptional flora, special breeding and resident birdlife, and rich historical remains. By June, waders such as Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin are breeding in meadows and flat coastal pastures, rarities can be observed as they head north on migration, and spectacular orchid displays should be at their peak – and nowhere are they more splendid than on the Great Alvar Plain. After long leisurely days in search of wildlife, we’ll head back to our charming family-run guesthouse to discuss the day’s finds over a hearty home-cooked dinner!

Ruff, Avocet & Redshank among breeding waders
Collared Flycatcher, Montagu’s Harrier & Corncrake are summer visitors
White-tailed Eagle seen regularly
Late May/early June is best time for migrant rarities such as Red-footed Falcon
Alpine, Siberian & southern European plants coexist on the Great Alvar Plain
Spectacular & colourful orchid displays
Oland Rockrose & Oland Wormwood among plant rarities
Iron Age, Stone Age & medieval remains
Led by an expert naturalist guide

    [introduction] => A 7-day holiday to enjoy both the breeding birds and spring migrants, as well as the spectacular display of flowering orchids and other plants, to be found on the limestone island of Oland off the east coast of Sweden.
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                    [description] => 
With a landmass far exceeding the UK, but with nearly seven times less humans, Europe’s largest Nordic country offers superb opportunities for budding and experienced naturalists alike. Vibrant cities such as Stockholm and Gothenburg offer an eclectic mix of modernity combined with a far-spanning and fascinating cultural heritage, and also support 85% of Sweden’s population, leaving vast tracts of pristine natural habitats to explore. Extensive, untouched primeval forest, dramatic mountain ranges and tundra beckon, alongside glittering azure lakes, wetlands alive with fabulous avifauna and an extensive and varied coastline dotted with over 8,000 islands, all teeming with a wonderful array of wildlife.
 Read More 
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Oland
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                    [title] => Holiday Details (SWE01)
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The limestone island of Öland lies just off the coast of south-eastern Sweden. Although connected by a bridge since 1974, the island’s rugged, rural flavour is quite unique. Like the Orkneys in Britain, Öland has a rich blend of natural, cultural and historic attractions: its Great Alvar Plain, divided by immaculately fashioned dry stone walls; ancient coastal hay meadows and pasturelands; unusual linear villages fashioned in the Middle Ages; many Iron Age, Stone Age and medieval remains; and an exceptional flora and rich birdlife have all earned southern Öland World Heritage status.
The island is particularly well known for its birdlife. By early June a host of breeding waders will have arrived to establish their territories amongst the damp meadows and flat coastal pastures. This land has been cut or grazed over thousands of years, without the use of any fertilisers, and the flora is very rich; by late spring the ground is pink with Bird’s-eye Primroses (Primula farinosa) and a profusion of orchids. Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Avocet breed in these meadows which, during the early summer, are full of colour and activity. The island’s meadows and woodlands are also the summer home of such localised breeding species as Montagu’s Harrier and Corncrake, as well as Thrush Nightingale, Barred and Icterine Warblers, Collared Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch.
At the southern tip of this long sinuous island lies the famous Ottenby Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve, the oldest bird observatory in Sweden (established in 1946) and a place of pilgrimage for Scandinavian birders. Here, tired spring migrants take a break in the bushy gardens around the old stone lighthouse, or the adjacent meadows, after their 300-kilometre northbound journey across the Baltic Sea. Late May and early June is the best time for rarities from south-east and eastern Europe, with such species as Red-footed Falcon, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler and Rose-coloured Starling being amongst the more regular of the unusual visitors at this time. The wet meadows to the north-east of the observatory have benefitted from centuries of hay-making and grazing. Filled with such typical plants of this habitat as Glossy Eyebright, Common Milkwort, a host of different grasses and sedges, and many orchids, the area is very colourful at this time of year, and also provides a wonderful environment for breeding waders. Inland, and to the west of these meadows, lies Ottenby Wood, the largest deciduous woodland in southern Öland. Here, birch and oak trees dominate and host such rare breeding species as Red-breasted Flycatcher and Golden Oriole, whose songs fill the wood at the time of our visit. To the west of the wood lie the ancient grazing pastures of the Västra Mark. Still grazed today by cattle and sheep, such plants as Burnt-tip Orchid, Yellow Milkvetch, Buckshorn Plantain and Glasswort are common, whilst breeding birds include Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, Turnstones, Redshanks, gulls, Little Terns and Northern Wheatears.
The lighthouse gardens and point at Segerstad offers an outstanding spot for incoming migrants and vagrants, as well as a chance for a little sea-watching; here too, delightful flower-filled pastures are filled with breeding waders and the dry stone walls that divide them make ideal resting spots for tired migrants. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded here by our resident guide, perhaps the highest number ever recorded from a private European garden! White-tailed Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Caspian and Black Terns are amongst the breeding birds of the region, and such species as Black Stork, plus a host of rare passerine migrants, have been recorded in spring.
The most striking characteristic of Öland, though, is the Great Alvar Plain. An alvar occurs on hard limestone bedrock and is a flat area where bare rock breaks through thin soil. The Great Alvar Plain is the largest grazed alvar in the world, and is an extensive limestone plateau strewn with windswept junipers, and granite boulders deposited during the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago. The plateau has been grazed continuously from the Neolithic period until relatively recently, thus, in early summer, this wild area is carpeted by many species of colourful orchids. Further, the thin alvar soil is subject to both extreme drought and flooding, and the plants living here are particularly well adapted to this peculiar and harsh environment in which both alpine and Siberian species live side by side with sun-loving species from southern Europe and a number of endemics, including the Öland Rockrose (Helianthemum oelandicum) and Öland Wormwood (Artemisia oelandica).
During the week our superb resident guide, Christian Cederroth, will introduce us to this wealth of flora and birdlife on the peaceful island that he calls home, with the island’s ambience, manageable size and quiet roads ensuring a most leisurely and enjoyable break.
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                    [title] => SWE01    Accommodation
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We stay in a charming, family-run guesthouse that was formerly a traditional Oland farmhouse. All rooms have private facilities.
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All food is included in the price.
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Birds, plants (particularly the spectacular carpets of orchids) and other natural history.
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                    [title] => Why Naturetrek?
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At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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A Naturetrek Tailormade holiday allows you, with the benefit of our wildlife travel expertise and destination experience, to enjoy the perfect private wildlife holiday – one that truly matches your requirements, expectations and ambitions. We will ensure the most competitive prices, superb naturalist guides and seamless ground services.
Some of the benefits of Naturetrek Tailormade travel include:
• A bespoke itinerary which is crafted by experts and designed specifically for you
• Private guiding by the very best local naturalists 
• Travel with people you know, at your own pace
• Incorporate as much culture, history or relaxation time as you wish
• Choose dates to suit you
• Select your preferred style of accommodation
• Travel with families and children of any age
Furthermore, our Tailormade team are always on hand to help and guide you along the way, with friendly advice, first-hand knowledge and inside information specific to your destination of choice. So if you have any queries about your holiday, we will be delighted to answer them. Please just give us a call!
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For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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                    [name] => Sweden - Spring Birds & Flowers of Oland
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A 7-day holiday to enjoy both the breeding birds and spring migrants, as well as the spectacular display of flowering orchids and other plants, to be found on the limestone island of Öland off the east coast of Sweden.
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                                    [name] => Kolarbyn Eco Lodge
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                                    [introduction] => Those who venture to Kolarbyn Ecolodge do so for its charming and rustic setting.  The lodge is designed to help guests become intimate with nature. Huts are extremely basic with no electricity, showers or Wi-Fi – but that is exactly its draw. Evenings are spent around warming camp fires and cabins are lit by flickering candles. Guests are even invited to forage for their own firewood. Set within a lush spruce forest on the banks of a bubbling brook, one can awaken to total peace and tranquillity, with birdsong the only sound to be heard. Accommodation comprises 12 traditional charcoal huts and one more luxurious lumberjack hut, all with fireplaces, and access to a wood-fired sauna. You will soon forget you are only a couple of hours from the city!
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                                    [name] => Pension Udden Guesthouse
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                                    [introduction] => This delightful small, family-run, guesthouse is set within the forests of Bergslagen, overlooking the tranquil, sparkling Lake Storsjön. The Bergslagen Wildlife Research Station is a short drive from the guesthouse. Here, researchers work to conserve such species as Wolf, Lynx and Brown Bear, and share their knowledge of the lives of these rare and secretive predators with visitors. Rooms at the guesthouse are en suite, and delicious meals are prepared on site, often using products from the owners’ farm.
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                                    [introduction] => Färna Manor & Spa comprises a waterside historical estate, with accommodation provided in a grand manor house set within beautifully maintained grounds. Elegantly decorated rooms are situated in the building’s six different wings, and the on-site spa offers a variety of wellness options. Meals are prepared using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers and the hotel’s own gardens, and are a gastronomic delight. Nature sits right on the doorstep, and there are many activities on offer, including wild foraging in the lush forest. The hotel provides a truly relaxing, tranquil atmosphere and is an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding region.
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                                    [name] => Hotel Åkerlund
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                                    [introduction] => This simple yet charming and very welcoming hotel is situated in central Jokkmokk, only a couple of hours’ drive from Luleä.  All rooms are en suite, free Wi-Fi is available, and there is even a sauna available for guests to relax in after days spent exploring the beautiful surroundings. Meals largely comprise Swedish cuisine, freshly prepared with local ingredients.
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                                    [name] => Sápmi Nature Camp
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                                    [introduction] => Driving further north yet deep into the wilderness, a stay at Sápmi Nature Camp is to truly immerse oneself in the wonders of the Swedish landscape. Here, five lavvu tents (which look like teepees) are set deep within the forest. But this is not camping as you know it; the tents are furnished with comfortable beds, stoves and cosy furnishings which keep guests toasty all night long. Toilets (incineration toilets running on propane) are situated in a warm outhouse, just a few metres from the laavus. The woods and frozen lake surrounding the camp can be explored on Nordic skis or using snowshoes, and guests enjoy searching for animal tracks, learning about the different types of snow, listening out for birds in the trees and enjoying the stunning landscapes all around. Evenings are spent dining beside the fire, followed by marvelling at the vibrant colours of the Aurora Borealis as it dances across the sky. The illuminated tents also provide an ideal foreground for night sky photography and, if the skies are clear, the sheer number of stars overhead and the sweeping arc of the Milky Way will be spellbinding.
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Sweden - Spring Birds & Flowers of Oland

Tour Code: SWE01

A 7-day holiday to enjoy both the breeding birds and spring migrants, as well as the spectacular display of flowering orchids and other plants, to be found on the limestone island of Oland off the east coast of Sweden.

£3,295

Flight Inclusive

£2,995

Land Only

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1 Itinerary 7 Tour Reports

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Email Call 1-844-433-9473

Carbon Footprint

929kg CO2e

With International Flights

383.6kg CO2e

Tour Only

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Highlights

• Ruff, Avocet & Redshank among breeding waders
• Collared Flycatcher, Montagu’s Harrier & Corncrake are summer visitors
• White-tailed Eagle seen regularly
• Late May/early June is best time for migrant rarities such as Red-footed Falcon
• Alpine, Siberian & southern European plants coexist on the Great Alvar Plain
• Spectacular & colourful orchid displays
• Oland Rockrose & Oland Wormwood among plant rarities
• Iron Age, Stone Age & medieval remains
• Led by an expert naturalist guide

Summary

The limestone island of Öland lies just off the coast of south-eastern Sweden. Although connected by a bridge since 1974, the island’s rugged, rural flavour is quite unique. Like the Orkneys in Britain, Öland has a rich blend of natural, cultural and historic attractions: its Great Alvar Plain, divided by immaculately fashioned dry stone walls; ancient coastal hay meadows and pasturelands; unusual linear villages fashioned in the Middle Ages; many Iron Age, Stone Age and medieval remains; and an exceptional flora and rich birdlife have all earned southern Öland World Heritage status.

The island is particularly well known for its birdlife. By early June a host of breeding waders will have arrived to establish their territories amongst the damp meadows and flat coastal pastures. This land has been cut or grazed over thousands of years, without the use of any fertilisers, and the flora is very rich; by late spring the ground is pink with Bird’s-eye Primroses (Primula farinosa) and a profusion of orchids. Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Avocet breed in these meadows which, during the early summer, are full of colour and activity. The island’s meadows and woodlands are also the summer home of such localised breeding species as Montagu’s Harrier and Corncrake, as well as Thrush Nightingale, Barred and Icterine Warblers, Collared Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch.

At the southern tip of this long sinuous island lies the famous Ottenby Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve, the oldest bird observatory in Sweden (established in 1946) and a place of pilgrimage for Scandinavian birders. Here, tired spring migrants take a break in the bushy gardens around the old stone lighthouse, or the adjacent meadows, after their 300-kilometre northbound journey across the Baltic Sea. Late May and early June is the best time for rarities from south-east and eastern Europe, with such species as Red-footed Falcon, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler and Rose-coloured Starling being amongst the more regular of the unusual visitors at this time. The wet meadows to the north-east of the observatory have benefitted from centuries of hay-making and grazing. Filled with such typical plants of this habitat as Glossy Eyebright, Common Milkwort, a host of different grasses and sedges, and many orchids, the area is very colourful at this time of year, and also provides a wonderful environment for breeding waders. Inland, and to the west of these meadows, lies Ottenby Wood, the largest deciduous woodland in southern Öland. Here, birch and oak trees dominate and host such rare breeding species as Red-breasted Flycatcher and Golden Oriole, whose songs fill the wood at the time of our visit. To the west of the wood lie the ancient grazing pastures of the Västra Mark. Still grazed today by cattle and sheep, such plants as Burnt-tip Orchid, Yellow Milkvetch, Buckshorn Plantain and Glasswort are common, whilst breeding birds include Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, Turnstones, Redshanks, gulls, Little Terns and Northern Wheatears.

The lighthouse gardens and point at Segerstad offers an outstanding spot for incoming migrants and vagrants, as well as a chance for a little sea-watching; here too, delightful flower-filled pastures are filled with breeding waders and the dry stone walls that divide them make ideal resting spots for tired migrants. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded here by our resident guide, perhaps the highest number ever recorded from a private European garden! White-tailed Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Caspian and Black Terns are amongst the breeding birds of the region, and such species as Black Stork, plus a host of rare passerine migrants, have been recorded in spring.

The most striking characteristic of Öland, though, is the Great Alvar Plain. An alvar occurs on hard limestone bedrock and is a flat area where bare rock breaks through thin soil. The Great Alvar Plain is the largest grazed alvar in the world, and is an extensive limestone plateau strewn with windswept junipers, and granite boulders deposited during the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago. The plateau has been grazed continuously from the Neolithic period until relatively recently, thus, in early summer, this wild area is carpeted by many species of colourful orchids. Further, the thin alvar soil is subject to both extreme drought and flooding, and the plants living here are particularly well adapted to this peculiar and harsh environment in which both alpine and Siberian species live side by side with sun-loving species from southern Europe and a number of endemics, including the Öland Rockrose (Helianthemum oelandicum) and Öland Wormwood (Artemisia oelandica).

During the week our superb resident guide, Christian Cederroth, will introduce us to this wealth of flora and birdlife on the peaceful island that he calls home, with the island’s ambience, manageable size and quiet roads ensuring a most leisurely and enjoyable break.

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Outline Itinerary

Day

1

Fly Kalmar (via Stockholm); transfer to Oland

Days

2 - 6

Daily birding and botanical excursions around Oland

Day

7

Transfer Kalmar; fly London

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Itinerary Map

What's Included?

Food

All food is included in the price.

Accommodation

We stay in a charming, family-run guesthouse that was formerly a traditional Oland farmhouse. All rooms have private facilities.

Documents

Itineraries

Itinerary

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Tour Reports

May 2024

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May 2023

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May 2022

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May 2017

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May 2016

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May 2010

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June 2006

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Dates & Prices

2027

Tue 1st - Mon 7th Jun

SPACES £3,295

Book Now

Flight Inclusive

£3,295

Land Only

£2,995

Single Supplement

£295

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

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2028

Tue 30th May - Mon 5th Jun

SPACES £3,295

Book Now

Flight Inclusive

£3,295

Land Only

£3,095

Single Supplement

£295

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

• The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
• Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
• Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

Why Choose Naturetrek?

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