Explore Sweden

Explore Swedenhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/swedenExplore Swedenhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/sauna-and-slopesJoin Jordan Nicholson as she gets her adrenalin pumping by heading down Sweden’s beautiful Mt Åreskutan in a lowrider mountain cart. 2019-04-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/sauna-and-slopeshttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>First, Jordan relaxes in a Swedish sauna, before trying a little more action-packed - heading down the beautiful Mt Åreskutan in a lowrider mountain cart. Join Jordan as she takes in the stunning Swedish scenery.</p> <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner">Jordan Nicholson: The sauna is the perfect way to relax, but if you want something a little bit more action packed, you can go mountain biking... One, two, three, go! <br /> <br /> Guide: So when we'd arrive at the mountain top, we've been making sure that everyone's safe. So we wear helmets at all times and glasses, and you've got some really sturdy brakes on the mountain car. Me as a guide, I would make sure that everyone gets down safe. So I ride first. <br /> <br /> Jordan Nicholson: When we were going down the mountain in the car, I was thinking, I really want to go faster, but I knew I needed to be safe. So I was thinking about my safety and trying not to crash.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/wakeboarding-swedenTravel with Jordan Nicholson to Surfbukten, an amazing Swedish electric cable wakeboarding water park.2019-04-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/wakeboarding-swedenhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Join Jordan Nicholson from World Nomads as she straps on a board and has a whisk around Surfbukten, also known as Surfers Bay, an amazing electric cable wakeboarding water park, located in Jämtland Härjedalen, Sweden. Jordan gets her adrenalin pumping and discovers how Sweden is using electric wakeboarding to minimize pollution and environmental damage.<br /><br /></p> <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner">Jordan Nicholson: We are in Östersund and today we're going to surf in the Bay, the big Lake, what's it called? ‘Surfboden’. Then let's go. <br /> <br /> Guide: Electric cable, You can make you go wakeboarding in that city with no pollution and a very good fun environment. <br /><br />Jordan Nicholson: Before I start I have to be safe. I have my suit, I have my life vest and my helmet, but where's the helmet? <br /> <br /> Guide: We care a lot about safety. Uh, so of course we have a vest and a helmet for the rider and know that they're able to swim. <br /> <br /> Jordan Nicholson: The first thing that went through my mind was not to fall too much, but once I got used to the board, I was very excited and it was exhilarating and I loved doing it because you get to fly through the water and see the landscape and just get an adrenaline rush.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/gastronomy-bike-tourTravel to Sweden with Jordan Nicholson as she goes on a delicious gastronomic bike tour in the charming Klövsjö village. 2019-04-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/gastronomy-bike-tourhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Join Jordan as she visits a brewery and samples some of the delicious beer while soaking up the idyllic views of the Swedish mountains, and testing some of the other local produce the region is known for.</p> <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"><br /> Jordan Nicholson: Right now, we are in Klövsjö for a gastronomy bicycle tour of the town. We're going to go around and sample different foods, different bread and chocolate and other things. This is Colin's dairy. Now we're going to have some cheese, the first one, my favorite one. So right now we're at the brewery and we're going to taste some beer. Smells really good. We're going to try some beer, uh, British ale. Yeah, this is the fun part. There's no better way to end this tour with this beer and this view.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/trout-fishingJoin Jordan Nicholson on her trip to Jämtland Härjedalen as she tries her hand at trout fishing in Sweden.2019-04-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/trout-fishinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Discover beautiful Hosjöbottnarna i Bydalsfjällen with World Nomads’ Jordan Nicholson on her whirlwind trip to Jämtland Härjedalen, Sweden. Watch as Jordan tries her hand at trout fishing and gets some local tips on how to hook the catch of the day.</p> <br /> <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"><br /> Jordan Nicholson: Today we're going to the Sami village and Lake that’s called Hosjö, and we're going to be fishing out there today, and usually they don't let anybody else fish there, but they're letting us fish there today. So hopefully I'm lucky and we catch some trout. Okay, let's go fishing. I didn't catch any yet, but we'll keep trying and hopefully I'll catch something. This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and the water is clear, you can drink it, and the air is cool and clean and the trees and the breeze. It's Perfect.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/bear-watchingJordan Nicholson retreats to Sweden’s Lofsdalen Bear’s Den, where she spots one of the majestic beasts in their natural habitat. 2019-03-28T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/bear-watchinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Travel to the Scandinavian gem, Sweden, with World Nomads’ Jordan Nicholson on a whirlwind trip to Jämtland Härjedalen. Here, Jordan retreats to Lofsdalen Bear’s Den where, with just the right amount of quiet and a little luck, Jordan manages to spot one of the majestic beasts in their natural habitat.<br /><br /></p> <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner">Jordan Nicholson: The wildlife here has been very beautiful and the wilderness has been very beautiful. As you can see, it's been raining, but it's made, uh, some of the wildlife come out like the reindeer and the crane. And we're hoping to see some bears today. We're going to go to a bear den. Right now we're in the cabin out in the wilderness, cabin out here. It's been raining all day, but we're still hoping that we'll be able to see some wildlife. ...It's a bear. <br /><br />Speaker 2: Plus, if you're in the woods by yourself, you should yell. So the bear knows you're coming. If you come close to a bear, you said yell, yell at him, because if you run, she's going to run after you and then you're screwed.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/northern-europe/sweden/get-the-skinny-on-swedens-pagan-partiesA long, dark and frigid winter sends many parts of Sweden into a sort of hibernation. After months battling ice and perpetual gloom it is only natural that the first signs of spring bring an explosion of celebration and socialising. 2015-07-12T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/northern-europe/sweden/get-the-skinny-on-swedens-pagan-partieshttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>A long, dark and frigid winter sends many parts of Sweden into a sort of hibernation. After months battling ice and perpetual gloom it's only natural that the first signs of spring bring an explosion of celebration and socialising. This historic festivity has seen the Swedes and all of Scandinavia scramble to make the most of the warmer months since summer was invented in 1428.</p> <p>But despite all you may have heard about drunken mayhem, malodorous fish and frog-hopping around giant phallic symbols, the Swede's spring and summer celebrations can be very family friendly and community-oriented affairs. Plus, the perseverant traditions of these pre-Christian pagan parties are the best way to experience truly unique Swedish culture.</p> <h2>Easter weekend in Sweden</h2> <p>It begins with <a href="/stories/discovery/culture-of-the-seto">Easter</a> or Påsk weekend, which is still sacred for Sweden, although this reverence is only loosely tied to religion. Totems of birch twigs and feathers hang in place of crosses. Young girls dress as witches, with painted faces and broomsticks, harking back to folk tales about witches flying off to dance with the devil at Blue Mountain. These <em>påskkarring</em> or Easter hags trawl the neighborhood for beautifully decorated eggs, both the chocolate and chicken variety, often with younger brothers tagging along. Keep an eye out for children on the street if you're driving, especially in country villages.<br /><br />Good Friday remains a solemn affair, perhaps more appropriately named in Swedish: Langfredag or long Friday, when fun is forbidden. Despite Sweden's increasing secularism, overt celebration or drunkenness on Langfredag is still frowned upon. Shops are often closed on both Friday and Sunday, so make sure you're stocked up for the weekend. Also try to avoid getting married or baptising any children during this week, it's considered to be very poor form.<br /><br />But come Saturday and Sweden comes to life again. Like the Christian Easter, resurrection is the theme, although more in reference to nature's re-emergence after a long winter, as connoted by the traditional meals of lamb and eggs.</p> <h2>Sweden's DIY accommodation</h2> <p>Påsk weekend marks the real beginning of the Swedish holiday season, when tourists and locals roam the countryside. Accommodation can fill up quickly, especially around school and university holidays, but there are also some great discounts to be found. Swedish youth hostels, or <em>Vandrarhem,</em> are great low-budget option for anyone from backpackers to family groups. Unlike the hostels you'd expect in Australia and the rest of Europe, vandrarhem are clean, good quality and mostly quiet. They remain affordable because they're run on a skeleton staff, which means the trade-off is you have to clean the place yourself. But a quick dust and vacuum is hardly a high price to pay.</p> <h2><span>Valborg and Uppsala</span></h2> <p>Things only heat up as you move into Valborg on the 30th of April, when blazing bonfires dot the countryside and cities alike. Another amalgamation of Christian and pagan traditions, the holiday's name refers to an 8th century German Abbess, St Walpurga, but the festival's roots are deeper still. The bonfires that characterise <em>Valborgsmässoafton</em> (Walpurgis Night) are a symbolic end to winter, meant to clear the dried and dead remnants of the cold. However the flames don't discriminate between flesh and foliage so keep your distance. If you're traveling with children make sure to keep an eye on them. They may be tempted to join the cheekier Swedish kids, who'll toss anything they can get their hands on into the flames. Aside from this it is a great night for family as the Swedish community really comes out from hibernation to meet and be merry.<br /><br />If you want to really throw yourself into spring the students in Uppsala or Lund can put on a wild show. In Uppsala a rather civilised breakfast of champagne and strawberries quickly progresses into a raucous mix of rafting, dancing, champagne fights and the traditional <em>Champangegalop</em>. While most carousers are out for a good time, accidents and injuries do skyrocket in Lund around Valborg and Uppsala's 2011 festivities were marred by almost 100 arrests for drunkenness, several assaults and an attempted rape. If you do decide to partake, try not to become a statistic and remember that alcohol and flames are an explosive combination.</p> <h2>Making sense of Midsummer madness</h2> <p>The height of Sweden's summer revelry comes, appropriately enough, at the height of summer. <em>Midsommeroafton</em> (Midsummer's Eve) is Sweden's most unique and popular celebration. Steeped in bizarre tradition and often mocked by their European neighbours, this marathon event is an attractive but somewhat intimidating prospect for tourists.<br /><br />Central to the party is the Maypole, a barely disguised phallic symbol of fertility. This giant, decorated dong indicates from the outset that there is to be no pretence of Christian restraint on this holiday; just pure and joyous pagan debauchery. You'll recognise this in a few hours when everyone starts singing and hopping madly around it like a frog.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u8ZLpGOOA1Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Besides this somewhat confusing spectacle, the biggest threat for a Midsommeroafton tourist is what you'll consume. The drink of choice for the day is flavored <em>brännvin</em>. These fiery liquors are usually taken straight and will have you frog-hopping with the best of them in no time. Even some Swedes have trouble with it and there is an unfortunate rise in accidents and brawls over Midsummer.<br /><br />The best way to avoid a brännvin blowout is to fill up on the traditional smörgåsbord beforehand. However this can be a challenge in itself. Pickled herring is traditional fare and Swedes delight in watching foreigners struggle with this pungent delicacy. Usually only eaten outside because of the stench, some hilarious hosts like to serve it indoors to enhance the experience for tourists. Never fear if you aren't up to the challenge. There are plenty of other, less potent dishes to deal with.<br /><br />Despite all the hype, there are plenty of respectable, restrained Midsummer parties for those more interested in immersing themselves in the culture than ingesting it. However, if you're planning on throwing back a few brännvins your best bet is to try and find a party in a field or by a lake in the country: somewhere soft that limits the amount of damage you can do to yourself or others.<br /><br />Having said that, Sweden's mosquitoes go for broke during the summer and tend to swarm around water sources. They are very persistent and have particularly itchy bites so you might want to cover up, or at least bring some strong repellent. Aside from the buzzing threat, there's also a mystical reason to avoid the water over Midsummer. Folklore suggests those who take a dip are likely to fall victim to a Näck, or water spirit. Like most myths, there's a grain of sense to this story: Just because you've been drinking like a fish doesn't mean you'll swim like one.</p>iStock/scanrail 0904315554 iStock Aerial panorama of Stockholm, Sweden