Cycling the Coastal Route of Northern Norway

Bike to Saltstraumen

Rental bikes will be delivered to the hotel.

The first stage is short with some inclines.
Saltstraumen is the world`s strongest maelstrom, an is a powerful sight.

Dinner and accommodation at Saltstraumen Hotel.

We start the day with a bus transfer, before cycling around the island Sandhornøy, where mount Sandhornet (909m) rises above us. With a short detour we can go swimming on the beautiful, 2 km long beach, Langsanden.

We visit Elias Blix`s home farm, which has been made into a museum and cafè for some baked goods, before taking the ferry to Sund. 

The last part of todays stage takes us along the ocean, surrounded by mountains. We will also pass the viewpoint at Uredd Momorial rest area, offering magnificent views towards the ocean, Lofoten and the surrounding islands.

Dinner and accommodation at Ørnes Hotel.

We take the ferry to Vassdalsvik and cycle along the fjord Bjærangsfjorden, passing the sculpture Varde, which is part of the Cultural Heritage in the county. We take another ferry before cycling with the massive mount Blokktinden (1032m) in sight.

Next we go on a 1-hour ferry journey, crossing the Arctic Circle. Then we head for Stokkvågen by biking through the beautiful strait Aldersundet and passing the coastal fort Grønsvik. The expressboat trip taking us out to the island Lovund, is an adventure in itself.

Dinner and accommodation at Lovund Hotel.

Use the day to explore what Lovund has to offer.
This island has a population of just over 500 inhabitants, and feed on the sea, mainly salmon farming. You will see that it is a viable island community, and a nice place for activities such as hiking, fishing, kayaking and stand up paddling.

The mountain Lovundfjellet (625m) rises above the island community, and if you climb it you will get a beautiful view of the surrounding areas. Beware of steep sections.

Lovund is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Norway. They usually arrive 14 April, named 'Lundkommardagen',  and stay until breeding season is over at the end of August. For birdwatching, bring binoculars.

At the Coastal Cultural Centre you will find exhibitions on fisheries, wildlife and everyday life on the island. 

Dinner and accommodation at Lovund Hotel.

We take the ferry back to Stokkvågen and bike soutwards along the coastal route to Nesna. The express boat takes us to Sandnessjøen. If you wish to cycle the last 34 km to Sandnessjøen you must take the ferry to Levang before continuing on bike.

Dinner and accommodation at Scandic Syv Søstre, Sandnessjøen.

Any bike ride along the coast of Helgeland needs to inlcude cycling on the islands Dønna and Herøy with a beautiful view towards the mountain range The Seven Sisters. We have lunch in the idyllic place Selløy, and visit the famous floral shop Etcetera before heading back to the mainland by ferry. 

We bike towards Tjøtta. On the way you can visit The Petter Dass Museum, located on the countys millenium site, just south of Sandnessjøen. The museum is dedicated to the heritage of the priest and poet Petter Dass. On site you will find the old vicarage, a medieval chruch, and a modern museum building. The church, the cemetary and other buildings are protected by the Cultural Heritage. The museum has changing exhibitions and guided tours.

When we arrive the old trading post Forvik, we devide ourselves into two different accommodations, and are served the traditional dish Boknafisk for dinner.

Dinner and accommodation at Forvik/Vevelstad (shared bathroom).

Mostly flat cycling to Andalsvågen, from where we catch a ferry to Horn, and further out to the island Vega. This archipelago is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. We learn more about this unique cultural landscape and the interaction between man and nature, when we visit the Vega World Heritage Center.
We walk the nearly 2000 steps up the Vega stairway to get a fantastic view of Søla and the entire Vega Archipelago World Heritage area.

In the afternoon we take the express boat to mainland Brønnøysund.

Dinner and accommodation at Thon Hotel Brønnøysund.

After breakfast we  cycle to Torghatten. The famous mountain with the hole through it. We hike up to and through the hole in mount Torghatten, and further around the mountain.

Today is completely ferry- and boat free. We bike further south along the Coastal Route to Sømna.

Dinner and accommodation at Sømna Kro og Gjestegård.

We bike uphill to the ferry quay in Vennesund. The ferry will take us to Holm where a new demanding stage of hills awaits towards the ferry quay in Gutvik. We see the mighty mount Heilhornet (1070m) in sight.

We will visit the last island on the trip. Leka is Norway`s geological national monument. The red serpentine and olivine mountains and the special geology make Leka stand out from the other islands along the coast. It is otherwise only found on the American side of the Atlantic. We cycle around the island to see the special landscape (26 km).

The ferry takes us back to the mainland,where a bus is waiting to take us the last stage to Rørvik.

Dinner and accommodation at Kysthotellet Rørvik.

In Rørvik we find The Coastal Museum Norveg in a modern museum building designed like a sail. Here you will learn about the 10 000-year history, from when the first humans followed the ice northwards through to today`s challenges as one of the leading fishing nations.

We will also bike a short stage around the area today, heading out to Ytter-Vikna where we have our picnic lunch.

Dinner and accommodation at Kysthotellet Rørvik.

We cycle further along the coast to Namsos, the city of rock. Along the way we take the ferry from Hofles to Lund. This stage has some steep hills.

The cycling stage ends in Namsos, and we take the bus to Steinkjer to end the tour. From Steinkjer you can travel onwards by train/bus. The closest airport is Trondheim Airport Værnes.