Wildlife in Sweden

Sweden is one of the world's most underrated wildlife destinations. Neighbouring Norway may grab all the glory for its mountains, dramatic coastline and polar bears, but Sweden's vast coniferous forests, pristine lakes and snowy northern valleys are some of the largest tracts of true wilderness in Europe, offering a plethora of adventure opportunities and packed with exciting species, too.

Sweden wildlife holidays bring you up close with everything from beavers and wild boar to reindeer, moose and even the elusive lynx as well as many species of birdlife. The tradition of allemansrätten (every man’s right) means you’re free to roam and wild camp just about anywhere you like so long as you don’t disturb the wildlife or harm the environment. Foraging is allowed, and, depending on the season you’ll find plenty of berries, mushrooms and fish.

Experienced guides will take you to find beaver dams, spot lynx footprints, photograph moose and reindeer in the snow and listen for wolves howling at night. And you can rest assured that your travels not only support communities in rural Sweden, they go towards raising funds for wildlife conservation, too. Read on to discover more.

The majority of wildlife holidays in Sweden are small group trips, but often with as little as seven people per guide. They last anything from four to nine days and are either centre based - where you’ll go out and explore the wilderness each day from a comfortable lodge or camp; or point-to-point, where you’ll move on to a different destination each day, either on foot or by canoe, with nights spent wild camping. Some trips are fully participatory, meaning that you’ll help setting up camp and cooking - though this all adds to the camaraderie.

On all our trips you’ll be introduced to the wildlife and landscape by experienced local guides, who are passionate about the landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it and are a dab hand at helping you spot some of the country’s shyer creatures.

If you prefer your wildlife watching to be water bound, then a small group kayaking holiday in the Saint Anna Archipelago is just the thing. You and your fellow travellers will glide quietly through the stunning marine landscape, marveling at large birds of prey, spotting seals and their cubs sunbathing on the flat rocks and camping on forested islands at night.

Alternatively, you could head north for your summer wildlife fix, to the truly wild and wonderful Sarek National Park. The most remote part of Laponia, in Swedish Lapland, it has no road access, so you’ll be dropped here by helicopter, for an adventurous break tracking wildlife on foot and wild camping and cooking underneath the stars. Chances are that you’ll have some exciting encounters with moose and reindeer and you may see eagles and buzzards soaring up above. If you’re very lucky, you could spot bears and wolverines, though probably through binoculars.

Winter holidays take place in Lapland, home to the largest moose in Europe. During winter, you can watch and photograph them, along with their much smaller cousins, reindeer, as they gather in the valleys in search for food. You could also take to the frozen wilderness with a team of huskies, stay in a Sámi tented camp, or go on a lynx tracking break in a remote corner of Lapland.