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Archaeological
Discovery of the Viking Island of Öland
ÖLAND'S FANTASTIC "ALVARET"
(Lost Viking Cities, Southern Steppes and Rare
Species)
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This is a
“redux” version of the “Oland from South to North” 7-day
cycling tour. This archeological tour concentrates on the
Southern half of the island of Öland, the part that is
actually listed on the World Heritage List. The tour was
specifically designed for bicycle, history and nature
lovers. The Swedish Baltic island of Öland is characterized
by a sunny microclimate, a large variety of magical
landscapes - from seaside cliffs to vast arid steppes and
deep forests - very welcoming people and by an impressive
density of archeological sites, only comparable to densities
found in the Holy Land or the Etruscan countryside. Öland is
also a world-renowned refuge for rare birds and flower
species. The large majority of archeological sites there
date back to the Iron Age and the Viking times. But the list
also includes a few prehistoric and medieval sites. Öland is
actually the best and sunniest location to study populations
who preceded the Vikings, their religion, ways of life,
architecture, agricultural and military skills and
understand the fundamental reasons that pressed the Nordic
people to sail, explore, trade and plunder in far lands. |
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TOUR KEY STATS
- 4 days, 5 nights
- Guided bicycle tour - Archaeology detection and
study – Natural reserves exploration.
- 170 km total distance covered (105 Miles).
Difficulty level: For all
- Min - Max distance per day: 36-48 km (22.5 - 29.8
miles).
- Mostly back-roads, dirt roads and trails.
- Over 70 archeological sites visited, mostly
dating from Iron Age and Viking times.
- 5 natural reserves, 2 bird observation reserves, 3
museums (2 history + 1 ornithology).
- Accommodations, dinner and breakfast at best hotels
available on the island.
- Luggage transfer from one hotel to another.
- 2 optional mornings of rest (days 2 & 3)
- Minimum: 4, Maximum: 10 persons per tour. If more
need to be customized.
- Season: May-September.
- Language available: English, Swedish, French,
Italian
- The Tour management reserves the right to modify the
final itinerary if suitable and appropriate to the good
conduct of the Tour.
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Day One
After a typical Swedish breakfast, the shuttle-van takes
us south to the entrance of the King’s natural wildlife
reserve in the southern tip of the island. We ride
across the reserve to reach the Ottenby bird
observatory, one of the best-known bird observation
points in Scandinavia. We then head north to reach the
Royal burial grounds, a magnificent Iron Age burial
ground stretching along the seashores. We stop for lunch
at the Grönhögen windmill and head east toward a number
of Iron Age house grounds and religious sanctuaries to
reach the Eketorp Fort, the most excavated site on the
island although partly reconstructed. The fort hosts a
nice museum and open air exhibits about the island’s
rich past during the Iron Age and life during the Viking
times. We stay at our very charming hotel newly
renovated in the traditional local architectural style.
An evening trip to the beach is an option.
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Day Two
From our hotel, we are heading north and stop on the way
to decipher a number of Viking rune stones. We then
begin to cross the Alvaret, the semi-desert steppes of
the island, famous enough to be listed on the World’s
Heritage List, and populated by sheep and wild horses.
Reaching Kastlösa, there is an option to rest by the
pool or to continue with the guide for an afternoon loop
to detect the remains of Risinge, a Viking harbor that
used to be a city of 2,000. The loop then takes us to a
few bronze age sites and to Stora Dalby, the island’s
most prominent burial ground with nearby traces of an
Iron Age village. The loop ends with the gloomy
detection of an Iron Age burial ground for children,
following epidemics. We spend the night at Kastlösa,
welcomed by the local clergy who happens to host one of
the best accommodations on the island.
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Day Three
From Kastlösa, we are heading
north and stop at a number of very ancient sites and
burial grounds, including Mysinge, a Bronze Age mound
dominating the rest of the island. After a stop to
admire the medieval frescoes of Resmo church, we cross
the Alvaret east and stop at the bird reserve of
Möcklemossen to detect a number of Iron Age house
grounds. After lunch, an optional loop takes us to a
number of burial grounds, to the seaside fort of
Sandbyborg and to a rune deciphering experience at the
church of Sandby. We spend the night at the very
charming Eksgarden with a Viking style dinning hall.
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Day Four
After breakfast in the garden of
Eksgarden, we leave north toward some of the most
impressive sites the island has to offer. We begin by a
stop at Bläsinge’s burial mounds, the harbor and the
beach. We then stop at the magnificent sanctuary and
burial field of Dörby and head north toward Runsten and
the open-air museum of Himmelsberga, where we stop for
lunch. We then cross the main forest to reach the lost
Iron Age fortified city of Ismanstorp, “Odin’s Teeth”
and the field of Karum with “Noah’s Ark”, a boat shaped
grave. Riding in the magic forest along the Western
Coast, we stop at the little harbour of Stora Rör on the
way back to Färjestaden where we will spend the last
night at hotel Skansen.
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PRICE AND RESERVATIONS
- Price info available on
request via e-mail:
booking@alma-adventures.com, or you can use our
request form here.
- Price varies with dates and attendance
- Reservations two months prior to starting dates
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