Sweden, 19 July 2016: Simply Sweden (01427 700115; www.simplysweden.co.uk), the Scandinavian travel specialist, is inviting guests to ride like a Viking through a Swedish forest as the autumn leaves turn to red and gold.

On Escape – Swedish Style, guests take the reins of an Icelandic horse, the sturdy and agile steeds favoured by the Vikings more than 1,000 years ago, to go in search of animal tracks beneath the autumn canopy of Ockelbo's forests, in the heart of the Swedish countryside. Led by an expert guide, they will learn how to spot the spoor of moose, deer, wolf and even brown bear.

The two-centre holiday is based at Stilleben, a stylish B&B in a former parish hall and blacksmith's forge, and Kabin, a little red cottage on a secret island deep in the forest. As part of the experience, guests will feast on locally grown and foraged foods typical of the season, such as earthy chanterelle mushrooms and juicy blueberries.

Guests can also join an overnight bear-watching safari and cultural tours, or go cycling, canoeing, and lake-swimming. The holiday costs from £1,250 per adult, £525 per child, based on two sharing, including return flights, transfers, and full-board accommodation Excursions are extra. Available until 31 October. The bear safari runs until 10 September.

Also recommended for autumn is Self-Catering in Swedish Lapland, a holiday based at Årrenjarka, a 19th-century homestead on an historic migration route for the Sami and their reindeer herds.

Here guests can join a Sami archaeologist to learn about the Stone Age man that is the subject of a nearby dig, as well as hearing stories about Sami life. Other excursions include mountain hikes, forest and beach walks with husky sled dogs, lake fishing, canoeing, helicopter sightseeing flights, and boat tours of the river delta.

Accommodation is in spacious log cabins on the banks of Lake Saggat, with terraces looking out over the water, saunas, fully equipped kitchens and lounges with open fires. The main building has a small shop and bar, as well as a renowned restaurant, where the owners' family tradition of living off the land is kept alive, with dishes using locally sourced Arctic char, reindeer and moose.

The seven-night holiday costs from £835 per person, based on six sharing a three-bedroom cabin on a self-catering basis, including return flights to Luleå via Stockholm and car rental. Available until 27 September.

For more information and prices, visit www.simplysweden.co.uk or to book call 01427 700115. Follow developments on Twitter @Simply_Sweden and facebook.com/simplysweden.

For further information, images, or to arrange press trips, please email: travelnews@traveltappers.co.uk. Alternatively, contact Simone Kane on 07811 161839 and simone@traveltappers.co.uk and Kate Simon on 07939 526109 and kate@traveltappers.co.uk. Traveltappers is a trading name of Little Black Book Creative Ltd.

Notes to editors:

Simply Sweden began selling holidays in 2006 and has become one of the UK's leading tailor-made tour operators to Scandinavia; in 2016, it added the Faroe Islands, in the Kingdom of Denmark, to its range of destinations. The company, founded by Chris and Karin Graham, draws on the inside knowledge of its small Sweden-based team, gained from travelling extensively across the territories, to create itineraries that offer customers the best experiences and deliver a genuine insight into the Scandinavian way of life.

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