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Sweden » Escorted Tours » The Great Swedish Cruise, 6 days Stockholm to Gothenburg

The Great Swedish Cruise, 6 days Stockholm to Gothenburg– Sweden –6 days / 5 nights, Stockholm - Lake Mälaren - Drottningholm - Söderköping - Berg - Motala - Lake Vättern - Töreboda - Sjötorp - Läckö Castle - GothenburgTwo seas, one river, three canals, eight lakes and 66 locks! Enjoy "The Great Swedish Cruise" - a six-day journey between Stockholm and Gothenburg, travelling serenely along the historic Göta Canal. Our journey follows a blue ribbon through the heart of Sweden. Let the Swedish countryside in the bloom of summer unfold, as the captain navigates his way along the peaceful waterways. Guided tours show you the foremost sights and treasures of Sweden.

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

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

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Day 1 DEPART STOCKHOLM - SÄVSUNDET (B, L, D) 10.00 Departure from Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen 103

10.30 Hammarby lock
The first lock on our journey divides Saltsjön from Lake Mälaren.

10.40-13.30 Lake Mälaren
0.3 metres above sea level. Sweden’s third largest lake.

11.25 Drottningholm Castle
Drottningholm Castle, the home of the Royal family since 1981, is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

13.30-13.40 Södertälje
Södertälje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.

13.40- The Baltic Sea
The archipelago of St Anna and Södermanland.

17.00-18.45 Trosa
The small town of Trosa dates all the way back to the 14th century. It was then known as a fishermens’ village. Regular steamer traffic from Stockholm and Nyköping began in 1860, bringing large numbers of summer visitors. Enjoy a walk around the canals and alleys of Trosa (app. 2.5 km).

Day 2 STEGEBORG - BERG (B, L, D) 00.30 Arr. Stegeborg

09.00-10.00 Stegeborg
The ruins of the Stegeborg Fortress are beautifully situated on a small island overlooking the bay of Slätbaken. The fort dates from the early Middle Ages and was built to guard the inlet to Söderköping. We are given a guided tour through the interesting history of Stegeborg. The walk is short, but somewhat uneven.

10.50 Mem
On 26th September 1832, the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family. We enter the Göta Canal through the first of the 58 narrow locks.

12.20-14.45 Söderköping
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. Söderköping is yours to explore on your own. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream!

15.15-16.25 Duvkullen - Mariehov - Carlsborg
There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks.

18.00-18.40 Lake Asplången
27 metres above sea level.

20.00-20.10 Norsholm lock
Here the canal crosses the main railway line Stockholm – Malmö.

20.10-22.10 Lake Roxen
33 metres above sea level.

22.10 Arr. Berg (Carl-Johan)
The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. We dock for the night at the bottom lock. Overnight stop.

Day 3 BERG - MOTALA (B, L, D) 09.00 Dep. Berg (Carl-Johan)
The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden’s most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors. The tour guide will take us on a walk (app. 3 km, partly uneven) to see the church and the remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal or take a swim in Lake Roxen.

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

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

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

15.00-16.00 Borensberg
At Borensberg you will see one of the hand-operated locks still in use in the canal. Shortly before the lock we pass a small gazebo leaning out over the canal in a sharp bend known as the "Helmsman's Horror". We walk the short distance to the well-known Göta Hotel, from 1908, where we are served coffe and waffles.

16.00-17.00 Lake Boren
73 metres above sea level.

17.00-17.40 Borenshult
Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

18.45 Arr. 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 Gota 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. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal. Overnight stop.

Day 4 MOTALA - HAJSTORP (B, L, D) 07.30 Dep. Motala
We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.

09.00-12.30 Vadstena
Today Vadstena is an idyllic little town. It evolved around the 14th century convent of the Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta), becoming a spiritual, cultural and commercial centre. The Abbey was built according to St. Bridget’s plans, and was consecrated in 1430. The Castle was built in the 1540s by King Gustav Vasa. Local guides will meet us here and take us with the sightseeing train to see the Abbey and the castle. You will also have time to walk around the town on your own, or go for a swim in the lake.

07.30-14.30 Lake Vättern
89 metres above sea level. Sweden’s second largest lake.

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

15.20-15.35 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 somtimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.

15.35-16.30 Billströmmen/the Spetsnäs Canal
Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken.

16.30-18.00 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.

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

18.35 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. After dinner we will be entertained by a music group.

20.50 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.

21.50 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 5 HAJSTORP - TROLLHÄTTAN (B, L, D) 05.30 Dep. Hajstorp
If you are an "early bird" you can take a wonderful morning walk from Hajstorp to Riksberg, app. 4 km.

08.15-09.15 Lyrestad
Jema Studioglas is located right by the canal and the guest harbour of Lyrestad. Here we experience at close hand the transformation of art glass sculpture from molten glass to its solid form.

11.00-12.30 Sjötorp
At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. Here it is possible to take a pleasant walk along the locks.

12.30- 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.

16.00-18.00 Läckö Castle
Läckö Castle was built in 1298 as a bishop’s residence. Its golden age was during the reign of Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who transformed it into a baroque castle in 1652. We are given a guided tour of the castle and the exhibitions (lots of stairs). App. 2 km walk.

24.00 Arr. Trollhättan Rysskajen
Overnight stop.

Day 6 TROLLHÄTTAN - ARRIVE GÖTEBORG (B, L) 08.30-10.00 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.

10.00-11.00 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.

12.00-12.15 Lilla Edet
The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the last on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.

15.30 Arr. Gothenburg, Packhuskajen 10
Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre in Gothenburg.

Subject to changes. Note! All times stated are approximate.