Gävleborg: Authentic Swedish Summer Holiday

Day by day itinerary

• Day 1 » UK/Sandviken

  Flying out to Stockholm, pick up your hire car for the scenic drive north, winding through old-growth forests to pause for national-park hikes and the old town of Gävle. Although your accommodation dates to the 1600s, your cosy red-timber cabin has a contemporary-sleek interior and the modern spa is fantastic. Dining is also superb, spanning multiple courses all sourced from the onsite dairy, farmlands and greenhouse. Indeed, there’s a real village feel to it all.

  Stay: Högbo Brukshotell

• Day 2 » Day at leisure

  There’s so much to do on your doorstep, taking in the region’s waterways and forests with everything from hikes and bike rides to canoes and SUPs. Or, you might simply want to unwind with a spa treatment and a dip in the lake or pool. Then, after calling into the on-site iron monger and organic bath-product producer, perhaps turn out to discover the region’s other cottage industries, promoting the likes of local food and traditional textile crafts. The 19th-century farmhouses of Hälsingland are a further UNESCO-listed favourite, all delightfully painted.
  

  Stay: Högbo Brukshotell

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 3 » Drive to Vallsta

  Continuing north, you’ll follow the historic Tidernas Väg trading route, tracing forested ridgelines and quiet rural landscapes. Pause at the Wij Trädgårdar show gardens, where kitchen‑garden produce and floral displays make a charming stop before you continue into Hälsingland. Arriving at Orbaden Spa & Resort, settle in for an included lunch showcasing regional flavours, served with sweeping views over Lake Orsjön, Mount Åsberget and the Ljusnan River valley. After check‑in, spend the afternoon on a gentle, one‑hour hike up Mount Åsberget, carrying only a small daypack. At the summit, your retreat awaits: a secluded, architect‑designed cabin elevated above the treetops in clean, contemporary Scandinavian style.

  The rest of the day is yours to savour the silence of the forest, the wide‑open valley views and the deep sense of Nordic stillness. As dusk settles, the cultural landscape of Hälsingland spreads out below. Your cabin is simply equipped with all of the essentials, and a delicatessen supper will be ready for you on arrival. Spend the night on traditional Japanese futons, surrounded by the calm of the mountain.

  
  

  Stay: Bergeliv Treetop Cabin

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Days 4-5 » Days at leisure

  Enjoy breakfast at leisure in the cabin on Mount Åsberget before walking back down through the forest to the spa hotel. You’ll have two full days here to enjoy the best that the Swedish summer has to offer. Enjoy local cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients for lunch and dinner at the spa hotel, with plenty of free time to explore the picturesque surroundings of Orbaden. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking or ziplining, there’s plenty for the active-minded, while the beach and nearby microbrewery offer further opportunity for relaxation. However, for something truly unique, consider an evening’s bear-watching. The spa is accessible throughout your stay.

  Stay: Orbaden Spa & Resort
  

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 6 » Depart for UK

  After a final gourmet breakfast, enjoy the scenic drive back to Stockholm, dropping off your hire car and boarding your flight home. There’s also always the chance to extend with a night or two in the Swedish capital.
  

  Meals: Breakfast