5 surprising things to do in Swedish nature

Ever wondered what it might be like to go ice fishing on a frozen lake, drill a hole in the ice and jig for trout, pike, perch and char? Wonder no more. 

You can do it all over Sweden in winter and early spring. If you are first-timer go out with an experienced guide who has all the safety gear and knowhow. And dress for the occasion: woolen first layer, sturdy boots, warm gloves, warm hat…And don’t forget the coffee and buns!

For additional information, visit adventuresweden.com for all things ice fishing.

For worldclass bouldering head for Bohuslän province on our west coast. The combination of pink granite rock and seascapes stretching up to the border with Norway is unbeatable. There’s great bouldering close to Stockholm too, in Västervik, an area famed for its vast array of giant boulders strewn across its coastal inlets, islands and forest. 

Other bouldering names to drop include Kjugekull, about a one-hour drive from the city of Malmö in southern Sweden, and the Niemisel area in the north of the country. And do remember the right of public access code in Sweden; leave the area the way you find it.

For more information about great bouldering sites in Sweden visit 27crags.com or book a climbing experience in Sweden right away on Nature's Best.

Sweden is a very large country measuring in at 450,000 km2, with a population of just ten million people. From the Arctic north to the more temperate south, there are some 100,000 lakes in forest-covered Sweden.

There are a huge number of natural habitats for the more than five hundred species of land and seabirds bird here. The hot spot for birders in Sweden is at Lake Hornborga in the southwest of the country. Come spring this is where thousands of common crane come to dance and you might just see ospreys and white-tailed eagles.

For more information visit birdlife.se. The site is in Swedish but if you send them an email they will be more than happy to help you.

Sweden’s coastline is 3 200 km long and off our east and west coasts lie two of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world, with thousands of uninhabited islands. 

For fish and reef diving head for the towns of Lysekil, Grebbestad and Smögen on the west coast, as well as the fantastic Kosterhavet Marine National Park and Väderöarna (Weather Islands). The marine life and environs you will see here are unique and spectacular. On the east coast there is world-class wreck diving off the island of Öland. Otherwise, Sweden also offers ice, quarry and cave diving. Bring your dry suit.

For additional information about diving on the west coast, visit vastsverige.com.

The ‘King of the Forest’ is what they call the moose in Sweden and with a bull weighing in at almost 500 kg and standing 230 cm at the shoulder – it is kind of stately. 

Moose can be found in boreal forest and wetlands all over Sweden but even though they number around 350,000, the chances of spotting one in the countryside are slim – without an expert guide. Luckily, there are wildlife adventure companies dotted around Sweden offering moose spotting trips and some even guarantee that you will see one. Just search for ‘Moose safari Sweden’ on your browser and you will find them.

On the site wildsweden.com you can find e g a moose-spotting trip near Stockholm.