Göta Canal & Lake Vättern Bike Tour
7 days / 6 nights
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Highlights
- Stand beside Sweden's oldest lock at Forsvik, in use since 1813
- Sleep in Karlsborg, a fortress town built to be the country's reserve capital
- Ride through the Tiveden forests to Askersund's wooden harbour town
- Follow the Vätternrundan's back roads over the hills into Motala
- Watch canal boats climb the seven-lock staircase at Berg
- Finish in Söderköping, a medieval spa town with the best ice cream in Sweden
What’s included in the price?
Self-guided
Those who like good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday. It offers complete freedom, multiple detour opportunities, and exploration at your own pace without having to adapt to a group.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Carefully selected 3- and 4-star hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs, all with private en-suite rooms and breakfast included. Expect comfortable, well-appointed rooms with attentive hospitality, typically in convenient and scenic locations — some properties also offer on-site dining.
These are examples of the type and standard you can expect. Actual properties may vary depending on availability.
The Göta Canal was Sweden's largest construction project when 58,000 soldiers finished digging it in 1832, and for a century it carried the country's freight between the west coast and the Baltic. Today it carries holidaymakers, on boats that move at walking pace, and beside it runs the towpath: gravel, car-free and flat.
This tour rides the canal from Töreboda to Söderköping and, where the canal gives way to Lake Vättern, goes round the top of the lake instead of across it. That adds two days the boats never see: the Tiveden forests along the west shore, a night in Askersund's wooden harbour town, and the back roads through Zinkgruvan and Godegård that bring you down to Motala with 500 metres of climbing in the legs.
The locks are the landmarks. The oldest in the country at Forsvik, the staircase of seven at Berg, where a boat takes an hour to climb what a bike passes in a minute, and the last flight down through the lakes to Söderköping. Around them: Karlsborg's fortress, Linköping's cathedral, and Söderköping with its spa hotel and its ice cream.
Five riding days average 51 km on gravel towpath and small roads, with two hillier lake days in the middle.
Your rooms and the daily luggage transfer are included; the bike is your choice, your own or one of ours, and an e-bike takes the sting out of the Motala hills.
Along the canal the nights alternate between hotels and the smaller places the towpath towns are made of: a pensionat by the locks, a B&B in a red-painted house, now and then a little canal-side cabin to yourselves. Evening meals are arranged with the house or at a restaurant a few minutes away, and the guidebook tells you which for each night.
If you would rather cross the lake by boat than ride round it, say so when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hassle-Free
We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree holiday.
Tried & Tested Adventures
Our cycling routes are hand-picked & tested, to ensure breathtaking landscapes, smooth roads, and maximum safety - giving you the perfect ride every day.
Unbeatable Support
Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, ensuring your cycling holiday runs smoothly and your well-being is always our top priority.
Book with Confidence
We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.
