Europe

If we were to mention ABBA, Björn Borg, Greta Garbo or Santa Claus, what would it conjure up for you? No need to contemplate for long, it’s Sweden, of course! A magical land on the Baltic Sea, as cold as it is unpopulated. Because that’s what Sweden is: a land where there are more pine trees than people, a country undiscovered by tourists and unspoiled by the madness of men. Between stretches of water,&nbsp;sleigh dogs, herds of reindeer, the aurora borealis and royal castles, Sweden offers a dazzling spectacle of beauty and nature, particularly in Lapland. That’s one side. On its other side, you will find urban Sweden, modern and busy, the forerunner of design and the grande dame of music. You will visit the lively districts of the Stockholm archipelago and its 24,000 isles and islands. You’ll be carried away by a very special atmosphere, unique to the north, and perhaps you’ll even be taken for a Viking on the island of Björkö!

Sweden

Örebro

Located in Stockholm, this museum is named after its treasure: the immense warship "Vasa". You can explore its 69 metre long keel, its 64 canons and 3 decks.

Musée Vasa

Motala

The capital of Sweden and the largest city in Scandinavia, Stockholm is an elegant and majestic city, made up of both land and sea.

Stockholm

The largest national park in Sweden, Padjelanta is an authentic natural wonder that has been incredibly well preserved. 

Padjelante

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I spent 8 days walking along the Padjelanta path which goes from Kvikkjokk to Ritsem. After preparing the last few details in Kvikkjokk (gas, map, weather), I was able to stride through the boreal forests and experience the raw nature. Bear droppings are even along the route! 
We only managed to get up to the deserted plateaus with gently sloping hills once in the Padjelanta National Park. These open spaces are a good opportunity to see the wild reindeer gambol around. What a memory to take away when I saw them. 
One of the interesting aspects of the trek is also to go through several minuscule Sami villages like Staloluokta on the banks of Lake Virihaure. A good sauna before watching the sometimes magnificent sunset is lively recommended before considering the other trips off the beaten track.

The Padjelanta National Park is ideal for an easy hike over several days to discover the last big wild space in Europe. Boreal forests, tundra and a small chance of rather timid bears!

Situated above the treelike, the national park of Padjelanta offers incredible views from its high, arid plateaux over crystalline lakes, imposing mountains with snow-capped summits, and abundant flora and fauna. Inside the park there are numerous hiking trails; to walk from one end to the other is achievable in a dozen days or so, but you'd have to come well equipped! As you might imagine, signs of human life are rather rare here. I visited the place one summer, and remember the park as one of the highlights of my trip to Sweden. It also acted as an initiation into the culture of the Samis, a formerly nomadic people from the North of Europe, who today make their livelihood from rearing reindeer and managing the accommodation along these hiking trails. <a href="/sweden/">It's an experience I'd strongly recommend to anyone in that region of Sweden!</a>

The largest national park in Sweden, Padjelanta is an authentic natural wonder that has been incredibly well preserved.

Padjelante Holidays

Padjelante: How to get there?

Padjelante: See when to go?

Padjelante: For how long?

Padjelante: What to see nearby?