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Detailed Itinerary: Motola to Söderköping

Day 1: Motola - Berg

11.30 Departure from Motala (Embarkation)

It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the canal, and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, as well as a number of museums, including the well-known Motor Museum. We pass Baltzar von Platen's grave along the canal. 

12.15-13.00 Borenshult

Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

13.00-14.00 Lake Boren

73 metres above sea level.

14.00-14.15 Borensberg

Borensberg has one of the canal's hand-operated locks, after which we see the well-known Göta Hotel from 1908. Just past the hotel there is a small gazebo leaning out over a sharp bend in the canal, known as "the Helmsman's Horror". This gazebo featured on a stamp in 2003.

14.15-17.30 Långkanalen

We travel 20 kms without passing any locks through the astonishing Östgöta scenery. We pass two aqueducts, eight bridges, Ljung castle and Brunneby manor.  

14.35 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct

Two more recent aqueducts have been built to carry the canal, this one at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.

17.15 Ljungsbro, aqueduct

We pass the second aqueduct on our journey. This one was built in 1970 over the new road into the community.

17.30 Berg (Heda/Brunnby)

We start our descent down 40 metres in the lock system of Berg (15 locks) towards Lake Roxen. Here you can stretch your legs between the locks, or walk along the canal to Vreta Convent ruins and church.

The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden’s most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it serves as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors.

18.20-18.55 Berg (Oscar)

After the road bridge in Berg we arrive at the four locks of Berg and Oscar. We dock for the night in the harbour basin between the locks of Oscar and Carl-Johan. 

19.00 Arrive in Berg (the basin)

The evening offers the possibility to take a walk along the canal, or to go for an evening swim in Lake Roxen below the Carl-Johan lock staircase.

Day 2: Berg - Söderköping

06.40 Depart Berg (the basin)

We leave the harbour basin and continue our journey. Take the opportunity to go for a morning swim in Lake Roxen or walk along the canal while the ship goes down the locks.

06.40-07.40 Berg (Carl-Johan)

The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks.

07.40-09.10 Lake Roxen

33 metres above sea level.

09.10-10.40 Runstorp

Runstorp is a manor house dating from Sweden’s period of greatness. The owners Louise and Eddie Uggla take us on a tour of their house with its Gustavian drawing room and interesting library, all while relating anecdotes from its history. Runstorp is not open to the public, which makes this an exclusive visit.

10.55-11.05 Norsholm lock

12.30-13.00 Lake Asplången

27 metres above sea level.

14.15-15.30 Carlsborg - Mariehov - Duvkullen

There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks.

16.00 Arrive in Söderköping (Disembarkation)

Our cruise ends in the idyllic town Söderköping, which was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and very interesting history as a spa. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream!

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Detailed Itinerary:Söderköping to Motola

Day 1: Söderköping - Berg

11.30 Departure from Söderköping (Embarkation)

The idyllic town Söderköping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and very interesting history as a spa. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream!

12.00-13.30 Duvkullen-Mariehov-Carlsborg

There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks.

14.45-15.15 Lake Asplången

27 metres above sea level.

16.45-17.00 Norsholm lock

Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö.

17.00-20.15 Lake Roxen

33 metres above sea level.

17.15-18.45 Runstorp

Runstorp is a manor house dating from Sweden’s period of greatness. The owners Louise and Eddie Uggla take us on a tour of their house with its Gustavian drawing room and interesting library, all while relating anecdotes from its history. Runstorp is not open to the public, which makes this an exclusive visit.

20.15-21.15 Berg (Carl-Johan)

The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. At Berg there is a system of a total of 15 locks.

21.15 Arrival in Berg (the basin) 

We dock for the night in the harbour basin between the locks of Carl-Johan and Oscar. The evening offers the possibility to take a walk along the canal, or to go for an evening swim in Lake Roxen below the Carl-Johan lock staircase.

Day 2: Berg - Motala

We leave the harbour basin and continue our ascent in the Berg lock system.

08.00-08.30 Berg (Oscar)

Four locks take us up to the road bridge at Berg. Here it is possible to take a walk along the canal to the Vreta convent ruins and church.

The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden’s most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it serves as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors.

08.45-09.30 Berg (Brunnby/Heda)

This stretch of the canal is regarded as one of the most beautiful with its views over Lake Roxen.

09.30-12.45 Långkanalen

We travel 20 kms without passing any locks through the astonishing Östgöta scenery. We pass two aqueducts, eight bridges, Ljung castle and Brunneby manor.

09.45 Ljungsbro, aqueduct

Two more recent aqueducts have been built to carry the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970 over the new road into the community.

12.20 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct

The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36. Shortly after the aqueduct there is a small gazebo leaning out over the canal in the sharp Västanå Bend, also known as the "Helmsman’s Horror".

12.45-13.00 Borensberg

Borensberg has one of the canal’s hand-operated locks. Right by the lock you can also see the well-known Göta Hotel from 1908.

73 metres above sea level.

14.00-14.45 Borenshult

Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

15.30-15.45 Lake Vättern

We take a little jaunt on Lake Vättern, 89 metres above sea level, to get a better view of Motala.

16.00 Arrival in Motala (Disembarkation)

It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the canal, and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, as well as a number of museums, including the well-known Motor Museum. Our cruise ends here.

Please Note:

All times stated are approximate, as weather and traffic conditions can cause some delays. For that reason you should arrange to have a good time margin for continued travel on the day of arrival. The shipping company can not be held responsible for any additional costs in conjunction with delays that are beyond the company’s control.