Finally: A last message to you

Now, after hearing all of this information, we're trully happy that you're still here reading this and haven't already made a mad dash away from the idea of visiting this unique destination. It will be a trip to remember, for sure, something you'll never forget about. So why not make this memories that will be burned into your head for the rest of your lives?

This is why The Viking Period is the best time that you should travel back to, you'll never do anything like it again in your life. So contact us now and begin booking your adventure.



Time Line: A detailed look into the past

793 - Really making themselves known, this was the date when the Vikings first raided England and sacked the Monestary
800 - The Oseberg longship is burried
840 - Viking settlers find a place in Dublin, Ireland

844 - Viking raid on Seville Spain
845 - Under Ragnor they travel up River Seine in France

845 - The french king paid ransom to keep paris from being ransacked

860 - They attacked Constantinopal

862 - Norvgood was founded in Russia
866 - Danish establish a kingdom in York, England
872 - Harold I gains control of Norway
886 - Alfred, after becoming King of Wessex, divides England with the Danes under the Danelaw pact

874 - Some Vikings settle in iceland

900 - They raid the Mediterranean coast
911 - Under Rollo they settle in Normandy

981 - Erik the Red discovers greenland
986 - Viking ships sail in Newfoundland waters
995 - Norway is conquered and named a Christian Kingdom
1000 - Greenland and Iceland find christianity
1015 - Vikings abandon the Vinland settlment in North America
1016 - Danes rule England


 

These are the biggest events that took place in the time period you will be joining them in. Do your homework and you wont be caught by suprise by any of these events if you pop up in the midst of it.

Photo Album: For your viewing pleasure

The long ship was what the Vikings used to sail over seas to other regions along the coasts. With all the rows, it was a very fast powerful ship, it's shape allowing quick easy movement across the water.

This is the typical home of a Viking. They're usually one to two roomed huts with wooden frames. Not much furniture would be found in them, perhaps only a table, stools and a chest for clothing. If you were of the richest class, you might even have a chair in your possession, but otherwise the homes were very empty. They had a hole in the roof where smoke would filted out from the cooking.

This is a piece of armor that the Vikings used during their raid. This particular item, the helmet, had protective strips going down the neck and shieling the face as well to help guard soft spots.

This is a drinking horn. Vikings would hollow an animals tusk or horn out, and it became a mug of sorts for them to drink out of.

This is the map of the world, showing Scandinavia, such a small place, a little ways away from greenland.

The typical viking man: Burly and rugged and in a stance that showed just how ready for battle he was.

The viking women: The very ones the men come back home to, the ones who dedicatingy do their job with the food and cleaning and farming. Busy ladies who could definitly live independant lives if the need came.



Terms: Keep in the Lingo

We know that there are many things you might be unfamiliar with. Because of this, we have put up list of terms that might help you gain a better understanding of the sort of thing you'll be getting yourself into.

1. Danegeld - Danish tax. A tax held to pay off the Vikings who fought to protect their land.

2.Long Ships - The type of boat that the Vikings used to travel. They had a larger length and a smaller width, making them faster.

4. Loot - Treasures and money.

5. Down - Young fluffy feathers that Vikings would stuff their matress with to try and make it more comfortable.

6. Pillaging - Robbing goods by force, especially in times of war.

7. Boendr - First class: Land owning nobles

8. Freemen - Second class: Majority of peoples.

9. Thralls - Third class: Slaves

10. Malt - Grain, usually barley, that has not been allowed to sprout. Used in brewing ale.

11. Polytheism - Believing in more than one god. This was how the Vikings were.

12. Viking - Means Pirate in Denmark

13. Old Norse - The laguage that they would speak.

14. Battling axe - A large and dangerous weapon for the raids and other battles.

15. Voyage - One of the many over sea expeditions they took part in.

Important Figures: Know your superiors

Thor

Vikings believed in many gods, and would have sacrifices for them. One of the most popular gods amung them was Thor. He happened to be the God of thunder. A strong man who was also a god of war, one that was both loved and also feared by the vikings, but always greatly respected. His weapon of choice would be a hammer that took the shape of a thunderbolt, this would inflect heavy damage, and then return to him so he could assault further. After him, we've derived the term Thursday (Thor's day).

Erik the Red

This famous Viking became so popular when he was thought to be the first to settle in greenland. However, he had been well known before this point as well, as his family had been exiled from Norway on account to the slaughtering of many. They had gone first to iceland where they settled for a while. That was until they were exiled from there too, due to the same offences. During this exile was when he traveled to greenland, and settled there instead.

Skagul Toste

This Viking was the man who first made the demand for Danegeld. Meaning exactly "Danish Tax" this is basically a tax raise to pay tribute to the Vikings for saving the land from being attacked. This tax money was used to both buy off the attackers as well as pay for the protection they needed.

Sagrid "The Haughty"

This was a viking woman who would soon become quite popular after her stance against King Olaf of Norway. He had decided to convert to christianity and was insisting that all follow his lead, or die. When she was proposed to marry this man, she blatently said in his face that she wouldn't. This rebeling against the king did owe her a slap to the face, but it built her character too high for him to simply knock down.

Odin

He was the "God of all gods". An infamous god of war. He was undeniably brave, and when he battled, he went for blood. He was also the god of poetry, magic and wisdom. Often, he is portrayed as an elder an with only one eye (as he sacrificed the other to drink from the fountain of wisdom), but despite this, he was worshipped intensely among the Vikings.

Your day in a nutshell: Read the experiance before you do it yourself

Men, don't you just love the feel of wood under your back as you wake up in the morning. Or perhaps a straw stuffed lumpy mattress. Both sleeping apparatus and both completely comfortable-- you wouldn't have it any other way. But be happy, smell that not quite appetizing scent? Choked by smoke yet? Have you felt the heat of the fire only a few feet away from you yet? Be happy for your woman has woken up before you to prepare what she believes is, and what you'll pretend to be, a delicious breakfast. All you have to worry about now is whether or not she'll give it to you in bed... No. No she wont. And out you get.

Women, don't you just love to watch your man sleep for the extra little while as you cook up a mean porridge that no man can resist? Oh dear, looks like you woke him up with the not so graceful clanging of the cooking cauldron. Here he comes. After exchanging a morning breath greeting, he will sit on the stool in front of the table, ready to chow down on your trademark breakfast. You'll join him. And after listening to some grunted noises from his manly lips, you'll both be done.

Today, however, is not like any other day. It's springtime, and the men will be going out on their voyages while the women stay home. Women, this sums up your next couple months: Cleaning, cooking, sewing, farming, milking and taking care of the kids. Terribly enthralling, actually. Enjoy it.

You men will leave your Viking women and head out to the long ships. All aboard! Now the real fun begins. Sail from village to village and ransack to your hearts content. Gather as much loot as you can to bring back to the ship. Slaughter those in your way, nobody pays much mind. And the women? Well, they just happen to be your prize in the end, don't they. You needn't worry. Enjoy yourself, we'll make sure the wife doesn't hear a thing about it. When it seems like there is nothing else you can possibly take and all treasures of riches and land alike, you'll find that the months have passed and it's about time to head back home. Try not to cringe to much at the thought of returning after such an advantageous way of living.

The return is nicer than you expected. Your woman is happy to see you, and has even cooked up a slab of beef from the finest cow on the farm. A delectable change of taste that waters your tongue. It's a grand feast really, and at the rate things are going, it is pretty well guaranteed there are more treats to come for you later in the night--- but we'll leave that bit of information for you to discover yourself.

Men & Women: Know your place

If you believe that there is a large difference between the women and men of today, you'll be rudely awakened when you're back in the time of the Vikings. Men and women had hugely different roles, both important, one perhaps more exciting than the other,  but both important none the less.

Men

Let's not pretend that you are going to be bored during this trip. You men live quite the exciting life during the Viking period. Made up of both Boendr and Freemen, the Vikings would leave during spring and summer for a few months. That alone should be a selling point for most of you. Months alone. Away from the wives and kids. Just you and the guys, something you've been begging for for a long time. However, this is not some silly poker match you'll be having. No, during this time, you will be gong overseas looking for glory and riches. During winter and fall is when the trip ends and you will bring yourself to return back to the main land.

Women

There are some very distinct ways of being a woman here. And none of which involve you being dainty and all too feminine. In actuallity, you are going to be working pretty hard, especially when your Husband is off pillaging. Women have to work the land, milk the cows and even prepare clothing for the whole family. There is no next door seamstress. It's all you. You'd also have the pleasure of taking care of the kids. Lucky you though, when they were old enough, they could lend a hand with the house labours. However, it wasn't encouraged to let them outside much while young. The cold weather was quicker to take innocent lives.

Social Classes / Gender Differences: Something you should consider

There were three main classes when it came to grouping the Vikings in society. They ranked from most powerful, to the least. (And when we say least, we mean very least.)

1. Land Owning Nobles:

Also called Boendr, these Vikings were the best pick of the crowd. Not very surprisingly, this group was populated by few people. They were the strongest of men, this could be easily seen from the circumferance of their arms. They also had in their burly grasps most of the money, and therefore lived the nicest lives one could have in those times. To get into this class, the fare is going to be more expensive than the other options. After all, luxury does not come without a pocket of cash.

2. Freemen:

This was the biggest of the three classes that was filled with mostly common people. Since Freemen do not consist of the richest burliest men, you may be wondering who does reside in this varied collection of Vikings. You'll find fishermen, ship wrights, metal workers, carpenters, craftsmen and farm workers. This class can only really be born into, unless one was a freed slave. This would be the moderate costing option, not as luxurious as the Land Owning Nobles, but still far better than the third option.

3. Slaves:

Also called Thralls, these people were the poorest of the poor and did the lowliest of low work. They were treated terribly, often no better than the Vikings would treat a horse or a dog. In fact, their owners also had the ability to put them down if they were to become sick or injured. In other words, if their owner deemed them no longer usefull, they could end the Thrall's life. However, a slave can buy their way out of this lifestyle and into that of Freemen. To do this the owner would have to give them a plot of pland to start working, so that they could save money for their freedom. But this wasn't enough. To get approval, they would have to host a spectacular feast with at the very least eight bushels of malt for the ale (they loved to drink, these Vikings), and six ounces of silver for their Master. Now, if you were to choose this package, it is indeed the cheapest choice you have. But if you are considering this, do consider the risks that it comes with.

Those are the class options. Choose carefully when you do.

Where you'll be staying: Scandinavia

Now, the Vikings did occupy more than one area. So you have the choice of three places to travel to. Through Way Back Play Back, we provide teleportation to the following places within Scandinavia: Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Each place is a good choice, so don't fret if you must use eeny meeny miny mo to decide--- we did that as well.

However, because this place is not something you'll be used to, we assume, so we're going to give you a few handy tips, and some details about the geographical description so you can prepare yourself.

The land's state is extremely varied around Scandinavia. It has a very mountainous area in some parts, and then in areas in Denmark there are many flat low plains. There are also the Archipelagos of Sweden and Norway, interesting groups of islands that are stunningly beautiful. As well, in Norway, Fjords have been sculpted into the land (which are inlets lined with steep cliffs/sides) that have formed by glaciers. There is also the climate that you need to worry about. See, these lands are generally pretty cool (and this time we don't mean in an awesome kind of way). A larger chunk of the lands is a Marine West Coast Climate. But again, between the places, it differs. In the south there is more precipitation, however not so much in Norway. The northern coast of Scandinavia has a Humid Continental Climate, which does indeed gradually give way to Subarctic Climate. Due to the mountainous ranges, those particular areas have a more Alpine Tundra Climate.

So basically, there are a lot of different factors of these lands, you'll just have to be ready for everything, won't you?

Of course, we're not abandoning you with just that information. We realise that many of you may not know what all that even means, so for you we've put together some important tips that just might help you on your way. These will also include suggestions that might help your stay, not only weather and climate wise.

1. Bring a heavy jacket to get through the cold times. (However, if you plan on blending in, nothing to extravagant. You may also get robbed for it. Keep that in mind, you're going to be living with Vikings, they're feisty things.) As well, the summers are not warm like you're used to. So make sure you do bring many layers, even if you are joining the trip during that season.

2. Women should probably start heading to the gym some time in advance to prepare for the work they're going to have to be taking on during their stay. The houses don't clean themselves, nor does the land farm itself, nor do the kids take care of themselves. And while the husband is gone for months at a time, you ladies are going to have to step up your game. (We suggest building up those biceps.)

3. However, you men aren't off the hook either. It's hard work being a viking man, and that is exactly what you're going to have to be to survive through this trip alright. So we suggest you too join your wife at the gym and get started.

4. Traveling lightly would probably be best. You'll be doing a lot of walking, and possibly getting across a mountain or two, if you pop up in the wrong place. And since you'd rather not get weighed down by your many bags (ones that will most definitely get stolen when you reach the village) we simply suggest you don't come with much. Not much to lose this way, right?

5. If you're bringing a camera, you should most probably make sure its shock proof. As mentioned in the previous point, the land might be a bit rugged. You wouldn't want your camera to break on you.

That's it for you!

Hope it helped.

New Destination: Vikings

We know you've been waiting patiently, and so as promised we're here supplying you with our time travel goodness! After some hard work, we've enabled the trip to the period of the vikings, all the way in Scandinavia. Now, don't get put off and intimidated so soon, you might end up thinking this is the right place for you!

Enjoy your way back play back,

The team.