Only 130 more days until Christmas!
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We have a very special trip planned for our annual Christmas tour this year and there are only 130 days left until our Stockholm Christmas Tour. This tour is a combination of birding and experiencing traditional Swedish Christmas customs. Stockholm has fantastic museums and we will be visiting a few of the best. We are only taking a small group of 5 people and so if you are thinking of joining the trip, now is the time to sign up because there are only 3 spots left.
Stockholm is city of islands, which makes it especially convenient for boats, sightseeing, walking and birding year-round. The city is full of great history, art, music, museums and restaurants. There are palaces, cathedrals and many historic buildings to visit. The Stockholm subway is considered the longest art gallery in the world at 68 miles in length.
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. The original old town, known as Gamla Stan, is in the heart of the city and is a charming, picturesque historic neighborhood. Just outside the city and along the Baltic Sea coast is the island chain known as the Stockholm archipelago, which includes approximately 24,000 islands and islets. The area has been settled since the Stone Age and was founded as a city in 1252.
Weather on Winter Solstice:
Sunrise 8:43 am, Sunset 2:48 pm, 6 hours of sunlight. Expected ranges for high temperatures during the day are mid 30’s – 40’s and expected ranges for low temperatures are 25 - 35. We expect some snow, but not a lot.
Lodging:
On this tour, all of the lodging will be aboard permanently moored boats and yachts in the Stockholm waterway. On all the boats, the rooms are small and “cozy”, like most ships, but all the rooms have beds “on the floor”, meaning no bunks. Please see the
Stockholm Christmas
web page for lodging details.
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Stockholm is an historic and beautiful city and winter is an especially wonderful time of year to visit. On this tour there will be boat cruises and great walks through the old town and visiting city parks for birding and fun.
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The Great Spotted Woodpecker, (
Dendrocopos major
) is often found in the city parks of Stockholm. The birds are omnivores and will eat insects, seeds, bird eggs, chicks and even scavenge carrion and trash.
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The Christmas lights of Stockholm shine and sparkle in the twilight of the short days of winter. Everything is lite up for the holiday season.
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Jackdaws (
Coloeus monedula
) are common birds that live year round in Stockholm. They are highly social and in the evening hundreds come to roost on the roof tops in the city. They are smart and curious birds.
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The Vasa Museum is amazing and a must see on any trip to Stockholm.
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Pictured is the Royal Swedish Opera House in Stockholm, which is an excellent place for winter birding. Often the water is open and becomes a large feeding station that attracts hundreds of birds who are spending the winter in Stockholm.
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In the heart of Gamla Stan (the old town center) is a small square where the Christmas market is held every year. Lots of gifts, treats and Christmas G
lögg (Swedish mulled wine) for everyone!
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Pictured is a Common Redpoll (
Acanthis flammea
), which is a member of the Finch Family. These very small birds are commonly seen in the winter throughout the city parks of Stockholm.
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The European Robin (
Erithacus rubecula),
is an adorable little bird found in Stockholm.
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The cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan are picturesque and will make you feel like your walking back in time.
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Swedish Christmas
Glögg is a special treat with a traditional Pepparkakor Cookie.
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Julbord is a Christmas
Smörgåsbord and every evening there will be a special Julbord dinner and sometimes dinner will be aboard an historic canal boat.
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(This is a checklist of birds that we have seen on this trip.
We don't see a lot different species, but we see birds in great numbers.)
- Travel Dates: December 20 - 27, 2019
- Group Size: 5 travelers plus guides, spaces left for 2019 = 3
- Trip Length: 8 days
- Rates: Rate per person = $3,650 (no extra fee for single occupancy)
- Rates include: Domestic transfers and transportation, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, group tours, entrance fees and Allianz travel medical insurance.
- Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
- Adventure level: Easy, please check the "Welcome" page for definition
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Pictured is the Swedish flag and coat of arms.
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Your Dedicated Guides
Kaiyote & Ed
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Photo: Here we are in Iceland at the massive Dynjandi Waterfall. We look forward to meeting and showing you all the great birds and wildlife and adventures that can be found around the world, the United States and in Washington state. Call us anytime! See you soon!
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