Arctic Coast & Vesterålen Cycling Tour

Tromsø is the capital of Northern-Norway, located at almost 70 degrees north.
You can experience the Midnight Sun in Tromsø from 19. May to 27. July.

Start following the waterfront around the south tip of Tromsøya Island. Then cross the longest bridge in Northern Norway (1.2 km long and approx. 45 m high) and continue southwest on the Kvaløya Island. Nice and easy biking along the fjords, but some steep accent leading up to the pass, Kattfjordeidet, 150 m.a.s.l. Enjoy some great views of the majestic peaks reaching up to 1040 meters high before some nice downhill and easy biking along the fjord to Sommarøy, a thriving coastal community based on fishing and tourism.

We recommend an evening hike to Hillesøytoppen, with magnificent views of the ocean and Senja Island.

Accommodation and dinner at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel

Start going back to the main road at Senjahopen, and then continue to the Geitskards Tunnel. From here you bike down to the beach at Ersfjorden and further along the fjord to the rest area at Tungeneset, where you a have stunning view of the mountain Oksen, also called the Devil's Teeth. The last challenge today is a steep climb up to Skaland Tunnel. Halfway up you can take a rest at a 44-metre long platform and enjoy the grand vista of the fjord and the surrounding peaks. After the tunnel, it’s easy biking all the way to Hamn in Senja.

On the road from Hamn to the ferry quay in Gryllefjord, you pass through the Ballesvikskar Tunnel or you can make a detour across the mountain pass. The tour is 11 or 17 km, depending on whether you go over the pass or not.

From Gryllefjord you go by ferry to the Island of Andøya. The ferry ride takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From Andenes, you bike to Bø on Andøye, 48 km. This is an easy and pleasant ride if the wind is not against you. The tour follows the outer coast of Andøya, and you will experience, among other things, the 2.5 km long sandy beach at Bleik. Sometimes the road follows the foot of steep mountainsides and then you go across some endless open marshes before returning to the mountains. You pass some nice rest areas along the Norwegian Scenic route Andøy.

From Bø you pass Risøyhamn and cross the steep bridge across Risøysundet. For those who want a longer ride today, we recommend a trip around the southern tip of Andøya (approximately 35 km) partly on a gravel road with almost no traffic.

The stage from Risøyhamn to Sortland is easy cycling. The only uphills are across 3 bridges.

The route takes you through slightly hilly terrain, partly along the fjord and partly inland. Along the way, you cycle through the town of Myre, which is the administrative center in Øksnes municipality. The last 10 kilometres of today's stage are on a narrow dirt road that follows a strip of land between the ocean and the steep mountainsides.

We recommend a hike along Dronningruta (The Queen's Route) between Nyksund and Stø. The route is named after Queen Sonja of Norway who fell in love with the trail and the landscapes when she was here in 1994. The route was voted Norway's most beautiful hike in 2012.
The entire round trip from Nyksund to Stø and back is approximately 15 km, but it is possible to walk just one way and take a boat back.

This is a long and partly demanding stage. Most of the day, you cycle in slightly hilly terrain, except for a long climb towards the Ryggedal tunnel and a slight climb through the 1600 meter-long-tunnel. Fortunately, you are rewarded with an equally long downhill on the other side. To shorten today's stage, we recommend going by boat from Myre to Skjellfjord. Unfortunately, the boat will not take you past the tunnel. The bike tour from Skjellfjord to Kråkberget is 21 km.

Short and easy day trip.
We recommend an optional tour to Nykvåg/Hovden (12/19 km each way). 

We recommend a bike tour, via Vinje (30 km). In Vinje there is a small center and a village museum. At the far end of the headland outside the museum is one of the region's finest sculptures - the 4.3 meters high 'The Man from the Sea'.

Other Activities:
- Combine bicycle and hiking in what is now called 'hiker's paradise'
- Rent a SUP board
- Boat trip
- Guided hikes
- Moose, sea eagle or midnight sun safari