From Coast to Coast, 4 days Stockholm - Gothenburg

From Coast to Coast, 4 days Stockholm - Gothenburg– Sweden –4 days / 3 nights, Söderköping/Stockholm - Norshom - Berg - Motala - Lake Vättern - Tåtorp - Töreboda - Hajstorp - Vänersborg - Trollhättan - GothenburgA new cruise on the historic canal boat M/S Wilhelm Tham, celebrating its 100-year anniversary. Journey from Gothenburg to Söderköping/Stockholm or back. An affordable cruise where the boat is moored every night, so you can experience the entire voyage during the daylight hours. Travel through the impressive lock staircase in Trollhättan, Forsvik with the oldest lock in the canal, built in 1813, and the Carl-Johan staircase with seven connected locks.

Main deck C	Shelter deck B	Bridge deck A
$1,370	$1,920	$2,515

Rates are per person, June - September, excluding June 26 - August 6, 2012

Main deck C	Shelter deck B	Bridge deck A
$1,440	$2,160	$2,650

Rates are per person, Peak season June 26 - August 6, 2012


Operation	May 14 - September 12, 2012
Departure	Gothenburg - Söderköping/Stockholm May: Monday 14 / Wednesday 23 / Thursday 31 June: Saturday 9 July: Saturday 7 / Sunday 15 August: Tuesday 21 / Thursday 30 September: Saturday 8 Stockholm/Söderköping - Gothenburg May: Friday 18 / Sunday 27 June: Monday 4 July: Wednesday 11 August: Thursday 16 / Saturday 25 September: Monday 3 / Wednesday 12
Price	Prices in USD Category C (main deck) from $1,370 Double cabin per person $1,050 Extra bed $1,775 Single cabin
Included	Four days and three nights on board (at quayside) Full board:Three breakfasts Four two-course lunches Three three-course dinners Two stops for excursions/sightseeing
Not Included	International airfare Bus transfer Alcoholic beverages Personal items Travel insurance Gratuities $25 Service fee
Please Note	Departure from Gothenburg, Packhuskajen 10, at 09:00. Arrival to Söderköping day 4 at approx. 13:30. Bus arrives in Stockholm, Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Vasagatan 1 (next to the Central Station and the City Terminal) at approx. 16:00. Bus departs from Stockholm, Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Vasagatan 1 (next to the Central Station and the City Terminal) at 09:00. Boat departs from Söderköping at 11:30. Arrival in Gothenburg day 4 at approx. 16:00. Age minimum: 7 years. Children must have their own bed. Bus transfer (to be booked in advance) Söderköping-Stockholm or in reverse direction $50.
More Information	Itinerary in pdf Göta Canal ships Göta Canal cabin plans Useful information

Day 1 SÖDERKÖPING/STOCKHOLM - BERG (B, L, D) Optional bus transfer from Stockholm to Söderköping (to be booked in advance).

09.00 The bus departs from Stockholm, Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Vasagatan 1 (next to the Central Station and the City Terminal) at 09.00.

11.30 Dep. Söderköping Departure from Söderköping (next to the lock). The idyllic town Söderköping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and very interesting history as a spa.

12.00 - 13.15 Duvkullen - Mariehov - Carlsborg
From Söderköping to the lock Carlsborg Övre there are eight locks on a stretch of app. 4 km. 14.45 - 15.15 Lake Asplången 27 metres above sea level.

16.45 - 16.55 Norsholm lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö.

16.55 - 19.00 Lake Roxen 33 metres above sea level.

19.00 - 20.00 Berg (Carl-Johan) The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks.

20.00 Berg (the basin) We dock for the night in the harbour basin between the locks of Carl-Johan and Oscar. The evening offers the possibility to take a walk along the canal, or to go for an evening swim in Lake Roxen below the Carl-Johan lock staircase. Overnight stop.

Day 2 BERG - HAJSTORP (B, L, D) 05.45 Dep. Berg (the basin)

We leave the harbour basin and continue our journey. Take the opportunity to go for an early morning walk along the canal
05.45 - 06.15 Berg (Oscar) Four locks take us up to the road bridge at Berg.

07.15 Berg (Heda) The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure.

07.35 Ljungsbro, aqueduct
We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970.

10.15 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct
The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.

10.45 - 10.55 Borensberg
At Borensberg there is a hand-operated lock. Shortly before the lock we pass a small gazebo leaning out over the canal in a sharp bend known as the “Helmsman’s Horror”, and after that we see the well-known Göta Hotel, built in 1908.

10.55 - 11.55 Lake Boren
73 metres above sea level.

11.55 - 12.35 Borenshult
Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

13.40 - 14.50 Motala
It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Göta Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. As an alternative you can walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal.

14.50 Dep. Motala
We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.

14.50 - 16.50 Lake Vättern
89 metres above sea level. Sweden's second largest lake.

16.50 Karlsborg Fortress
We pass Karlsborg and will be able to see the roof of the fortress, which was built in 1819 - 1909.

17.40 - 17.50 Forsvik
Forsvik has a very interesting industrial history. The lock, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are sometimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.

17.50 - 18.50 Billströmmen/ the Spetsnäs Canal
Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken.

18.50 - 20.20 Lake Viken
The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal.

20.20 Tåtorp
At Tåtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards!

20.50 The Berg Canal/ the Obelisk
An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the Göta Canal. This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930 - 33.

23.00 Töreboda
The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden’s smallest ferry, "Lina", which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.

24.00 Arr. Hajstorp
A lock system consisting of four locks. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. The ship berths for the night, close to what used to be the home of the Canal Engineer. Overnight stop.

Day 3 HAJSTORP - VÄNERSBORG (B, L, D) 06.00 Dep. Hajstorp
If you are an "early bird" you can take a wonderful morning walk from Hajstorp to Godhögen ( app. 1.5 km) or to Norrkvarn (app. 5 km).

07.40 Norrkvarn
All onboard!

09.45 - 11.15 Sjötorp
At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. Here it is also possible to take a pleasant walk along the locks.

11.15 - 19.45 Lake Vänern
44 metres above sea level. Sweden's largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

19.45 Arr. Vänersborg
Overnight stop.

Day 4 VÄNERSBORG - GOTHENBURG (B, L) 07.30 Dep. Vänersborg

08.30 - 10.30 Trollhättan
The Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful old lock area.

10.30 - 11.30 Trollhättan, locks
The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.

12.30 - 12.45 Lilla Edet
The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the last lock on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.

16.00 Arr. Gothenburg,
Packhuskajen 10

Subject to changes. Please note! All times stated are approximate.