New for summer 2012 we are pleased to introduce our new family adventure holiday taking in some of the most stunning scenery in West Sweden. We have designed this tour to be educational, cultural and exciting for all ages.

The locations have been hand picked by our specialists following personal experience of the activities and experiences available. We want you to feel the same passion for Sweden that we have, where you can explore and enjoy nature whilst taking every care not to have a detrimental impact on our environment. See, touch and be close to native Swedish animals and do something truly Swedish by staying in a traditional log cabin or stuga.

Book / enquire about this holiday

Itinerary
Day 1 - 3

Hotel Vanilla - Gothenburg

A small, personal & comfortable hotel right in the very heart of Gothenburg. With 32 unique rooms and cafe famous for it's home baked produce you can't go far wrong staying here. This hotel comes with a high recommendation from our colleagues at the Columbus Hotel in Stockholm. Hotel Vanilla is close to the cathedral in Gothenburg, the main shopping area and the extremely useful tourist office. It's also just a short walk from central station.

As a family at Hotel Vanilla you will stay in the spacious family room. We will provide you with a 48 Gothenburg Tourist Cards so you can fully explore this family friendly and compact city. A visit to Liseberg and Universium are a must for any child. Other options include a popular sightseeing boat tour, renting a bike and spacious parks.

Day 3-5
Kayaking close to Lysekil

Collect your rental car in the centre of Gothenburg and head to Lysekil where you will spend 2 nights at the Lysekil Havshotell. This small family run hotel is located in the centre of Lysekil and is on the shore line in this area of immense natural beauty. We recommend you ask for an upgrade to the Sea Suite (Havsatelijen).
With the help of our professional guides we have carefully selected Lysekil as the location for your kayaking tour due to the quiet, calm and protected waters of the bays and inlets where your kayaking will take place. There are no tides or strong currents so kayaking is extremely safe on the West Coast.
The kayaking will take place on day 4 between 10am and 4pm and start / finish at the kayaking centre in Lysekil. You will receive an introduction to sea kayaking and a safety briefing before taking to the water, usually around the Korn islands. Learn the skills required to steer your kayak around the islands and soak up the silence of nature. Keep your eyes open for seals popping up unexpectedly in front of you! Lunch will be served on the shores of the archipelago. There may also be time for a refreshing swim. You will also see traditional red fishing huts nestled in idyllic locations on the islands. As the fishing techniques have become more modernised these fishing huts are now no longer used for their original purpose and may have been turned into a summer escape.
Head back to Lysekil for a relaxing evening.

Days 5-6
Dalsland - Activity Day

A fun packed day in the Dalsland countryside and a step back in time. Arrive in Dalsland at 10am (approx 60miles / 100km) from Lysekil. A safety briefing precedes all of these activities.
10.00
Sweden's longest zip line. 40m high and 600m long! For those feeling a little less brave there is 200m version.
11.30
Visit the moose park and see these native animals close up. If they come close you may be able to feed them. Tour the pike aquarium and see the fish that live in the lakes.
12.00
Lunch is served at the activity centre restaurant and native moose is on the menu!
13.30
A short nature walk along the Steneby River and through the nature reserve. A chance to play in giant pot holes.
14.00
Challenge the children to an archery competition and see who can score the most golds and the most points.
15.00
Traditional Swedish fika with pastries, soft drinks, coffee and cake.
16.00
A 1hr horse trek through the forests of Dalsland. If children are under 10 this tour is 30mins long with the guide walking alongside the horse
17.30
Sit down and relax by the lake next to an open fire. You will be provided with the food and equipment to make your evening meal over the open fire.
19.30
Optional beaver safari (£96 per family of 2 adults and 2 children). This is suitable for older children as the beavers are very shy and very nervous. Younger children are not able to stay quiet for so long! There is a 3-4km walk and it takes 2 to 3 hours.

During the evening you will take a step back in time and do something that many Swedes do every summer. Stay in a traditional log cabin in the forest. A great cultural and typically Swedish experience. This is a basic comfortable cabin with no running water or electricity. Please see the photos above. Looking for a little bit more luxury? We recommend leaving for the Koster Islands after your evening meal.

Days 6-8

Syd Koster - The Koster Islands

Stay on the car free Koster islands at the Sydkoster Hotel Ekenäs and dive deep into this marine kaleidoscope. Park your car in, or catch the train to Strömstad and take the passenger ferry to Sweden's most westerly populated islands, terminating just 100m from this coastal hotel. Attractions include a unique seaside location, beaches, rocky islands and of course the magic "Koster light", which has inspired many artists on the island. Renting a bike and a guided tour are strongly recommended so you can appreciate all that is surrounding you. In 2009 the Koster Archipelago National Park was inaugurated and the Koster islands is now preserved as a spectacular marine nature reserve.

As a family you will stay in a suite with stunning views across the Koster Fjörd towards the mainland. On the afternoon of day 6 you will have a guided cycle tour showing the little secrets of the Koster Islands. This is the perfect introduction to your stay on the islands as you would not have found these little gems without the help of Stefan, your local guide and owner of the excellent Koster Trädgården cafe and restaurant.

Day 8
Catch the ferry back to Strömstad and head to the airport or continue your holiday in Sweden with Simply Sweden. On your way back to the airport we do recommend a stop at the ancient viking rock carvings in Tanumshede and an idea of what life was like during the bronze age. Drop the hire car off at the airport before catching your flight.

Book / enquire about this holiday

Price from £4490 per family
Price based on 2 adults & 2 children (min age 8yrs old) and includes
flights, bed and breakfast at all locations
Kayaking: double / single sea kayaks, specialist clothing & equipment and outdoor lunch
Activity Day: Activities as detailed above including any specialist equipment. Lunch, fika, evening meal and breakfast included. Accommodation is a traditional stuga (log cabin).
Guided cycle ride included on Koster Islands.
Please note the ferry between Strömstad and the Koster Islands is not included so you have maximum flexibility on arrival and departure. The cost is approx. 60sek (£6) one way per adult.