Swedish Cycling
Bohuslän/westcoast (ind.) Munkfors (ind/hotel)
On the Klarälven trail (Klarälvsbanen)
8 day cycling tour along hotels, lodges and inns.
Foto: fam. Schoenmakers
At the end of the 19th Century, there were trains riding straight through the middle of the Swedish nature areas. Now more than 100 years later the trains have disappeared and asphalted cycling tracks replace the old train tracks. Here you can enjoy your bike trip without having to worry about cars.
This cycling tour allows you to bask in the Swedish nature and culture. On this tour you will enjoy the tranquillity and vastness of the land as you ride at your own pace to the following destination. Your baggage will be transferred for you. During the cycling tour you will pass numerous villages and historical sights. When you feel like resting there are plenty of picnic spots to accommodate your needs. The accommodations have been carefully chosen to provide for a family friendly atmosphere. On this trail there are plenty of sights and activities for the children to enjoy such as: mini-golf, swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, horse riding etc.
The cycling tour will start in central Värmland at a place called Munkfors. From here you will be taken to Kil where you will cycle onwards to the province capital, Karlstad. It will then take 3 stages (or days) plus a rest day on 5th day, to reach Råda which is approx. 90km north of Kil. You then turn and head back to Munkfors. This tour is perfect for young children whether they ride themselves or not. For the most part you will be cycling on an asphalted trail that is inaccessible for cars. The traffic is very light for the rest of the trip except at the beginning of Karlstad city.
Program
Day 1: Arrival in Munkfors.
In the afternoon you arrive in Munkfors where you will stay at the Villahotel Klarälven, close to the Munkfors center and the “Klarälven” river (the clear river). Here you can rest and recuperate after you trip and you can get ready for the cycle tour. There is plenty of room for the children to play. A warm meal is available at the Villahoten. If you are hiring any materials such as the bikes, then you can organise that in the evening. You may also choose to go exploring around the town or indulge in a drink at the “Villacafé” and enjoy some of the various games on offer. Overnight stay: Munkfors
Day 2: Transfer: Munkfors – Deje + Stage 1: Deje – Karlstad. Approx. 35km.
After breakfast the organisation staff will bring you to Deje (about 35min). From here you cycle on the quiet roads to the province capital, Karlstad. This is a short stage, therefore you have plenty of opportunity to get to know the city. Karlstad lies on the biggest inland lake in Europe: “The Vänern”. After the bike ride you can relax in the “Mariebergskogen”, a beautiful park where you can swim, visit a petting farm or go for a walk. Of course you may also choose to go shopping, visit one of the many museums or relax at a café. Overnight stay: Karlstad
Day 3: Stage 2: Karlstad – Deje (Dömle) Approx. 25km.
You may choose to spend the morning visiting the shops or going to the big “Bergvik” shopping centre. When you are ready for the next stage you will ride to the edge of the city where the “Klarävsbanan” begins. Here you will have the chance to take a quick dip in the “Kroppkärrssjön” lake. The ride will take you past vast meadows and along the way you will come across various picnic spots. Before you reach Deje you will pass a picknic spot along the “Syrsjön” lake. There are also a number of places to have a coffee in Deje. Just past Deje you will leave the “Klarälvsbanan” to head for your accommodation. “Herrgård” lies about 3kms from the city centre. Overnight stay: Deje (Dömle)
Day 4: Stage 3: Deje – Ransberg. Approx 30km.
When you are ready, you cycle back to the “Klarävsbanan”. You will first cross the river “Klarälven” before heading off, via Forshaga, in a northerly direction. Before reaching Deje, you will pass a picnic spot close to the “Syrsjön” lake. You may also choose to have a coffee stop in Deje or visit the “Hembygdgård” in Edeby where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful view. If you choose to go for a walk here, you will come across animals you wouldn’t expect to find in Scandanavia such as Lama’s. In “Olsäter” you will come across the local store with diverse items on offer or you can choose to make another coffee stop. You will leave the “Klarävsbanan” again in Ransäter to go in the direction of Ransberg. The last 3km of the stage is undulating and on an unsealed path. Overnight stay: Ransberg
Day 5: Rest day in Ransberg.
You can choose to enjoy your rest day in any way you fancy. For example you may choose to visit the “Hembygdsgård” in Ransäter (one of the biggest in Värmland. Swedish traditions are upheld here and there are various small museums to visit such as the Erlandersgården and the Geijersgården museum. In the summer there are a number of festivals held such as the mid-summer fest and the enjoyable harmonica festival. Also the comedy “Värmlingerna” is performed annually in the open air theatre. You may also choose to have an active day by going for a local bike ride, going canoeing, swimming or indoor rock-climbing at Herrgård etc.Overnight stay: Ransberg
Day 6: Stage 4: Ransberg – Råda. Approx 34km.
The 4th stage is a beautiful ride to Råda which lies on the Råda lake. Along the way you will pass Munkfors, a small town in the hart on the Värmland province that is known for its steel industry and culture. You will find the Wild Animal Center where there is an exhibition on the wild animals in Värmland. At the lake is a sandy beach where you can go swimming. To finish off the day you can enjoy a Dutch frikandel or kroket at the local Dutch roadhouse. Overnight stay: Råda
Day 7: Stage 5: Råda – Munkfors. Approx 37km.
Today we leave the “Klarälvsbanan” and turn back towards Munkfors. Through beautiful and uncovered side roads, you will first head off in a northerly direction. At Skoga you will turn and head back down south. On your ride you may want to visit a cheese farm that you pass along the way. At Sörby you can make a brief detour to have a swim in the “Lakenesjön” lake. If you didn’t have time in the 3rd stage to visit the former industrial area “Gamla Bruket”, the sculpture museum or the Lars Lerin exhibition (a renowned Swedish painter) in Munkfors, then you now have the opportunity to do so. Overnight stay: Munkfors
Day 8:
After breakfast the last of the hired gear is handed over and it’s time to day goodbye. Have a safe trip home and we hope you enjoyed your trip.
Travel code: VAMU08Hik
Begin date:
Daily
Cost in 2008: SEK 5000:-
Children up to 12yrs SEK 4300:-
Children up to 1 yrs SEK 390:-
Min. 2 people per booking. On a family room basis: 2-4 people per room
Included:
All accommodation, bedding, breakfast, baggage transfers, transfer from Munkfors to Deje, a clear English route description, parking in Munkfors.
Not included: trip to Sweden, unmentioned meals, bike hire, museum visits or day trips.
Group size and composition
This bike tour is suitable for young children and/or people with little cycling experience.
Level:
With exception of the last stage, the cycling route is on flat, asphalted roads. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stages are almost always on the “Klarälvsbanan”. This cycle path is free of auto traffic and is therefore suitable for young children. The open road bike path in the 5th stage is still very good to ride on and there are no major climbs, only small, short inclinations.
Tour guides:
On arrival you will be greeted by an English speaking tour guide who will be available to you for the entire trip.
Accommodation:
The trip will offer diverse accommodation, varying from lodges to hotels and from simple to luxury facilities. The sanitary facilities are excellent however you will not always have a private bathroom. Bed linen is provided.
Meals:
You will be provided with a daily breakfast. There are places to eat at each overnight accommodation facility.
Family friendly:
The bike tour is developed in a way that there are regular interesting things for the children to see or do. At the accommodations there is always room for the children to play: more details are found with the accommodation description. It would be a good idea if you brought along some simple games for the kids.
Bike Hire: For more information on bike hire click here.
telephone: +46 (0)563 516 00 Mobile: +46 (0)73 052 70 27 info@swedishcycling.se