Sognefjorden - Norway’s King of the Fjords
Norway Bike Tours
Explore the longest and deepest fjord in Norway by bike
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1810 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This bike tour and breathtaking experience starts in Bergen, Norway, one of the major Hanseatic cities in Europe and an important trade center throughout the ages. Since 1979, Bergen has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
From Bergen, an amazing boat journey takes you to Norway's longest and deepest fjord and one of the world's most magnificent travel destinations.
You will be enchanted with the Fjord landscape consisting of impressive waterfalls, small idyllic villages, stave churches, hamlets, and fjord side farms. It is a beautiful and dramatic landscape, one to be experienced, and what better way to do so than on a bike!
Highlights
- Small, idyllic villages along the fjords and in the valley
- Bergen - Unesco listed
- Sognefjorden, beautiful and dramatic landscape
- Balestrand
- Norwegian nature and culture
- Vik
- Idyllic Solvorn
- Hafslo, beautifully located by the lake
Sognefjorden is in the process of being certified as a Sustainable Destination, a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism and to preserve the pristine beauty of a region.
Itinerary
Day 1: Bergen
Day 2: Discover Bergen. Travel to Vik by boat (3h, 30 min)
Day 3: Vik - Arnafjord - Vik, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 4: Vik - Balestrand, 15 mi. (24 km)
Day 5: Balestrand - Menes - Balestrand, 37 mi. (59 km)
Day 6: Balestrand - Leikanger - Sogndal - Hafslo, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 7: Hafslo - Skjolden - Hafslo, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 8: Departure*Daily distances can easily be extended.
Day 1: Bergen
You will have time to explore Bergen as you will overnight here. We recommend that you add an extra night(s) before or after the biking tour to have more time in Bergen or Sognefjorden.The vibrant and historic city of Bergen is Norway's second-largest and has much to offer. The Hanseatic museum provides wonderful insight into the daily life of German merchants living and working here during the Hanseatic era. Located beside this is Norway's best-preserved fortresses, the Bergenhus. The oldest structure on-site, Håkon's Hall, dates to 1250 and was a royal residence during the Middle Ages.
Suggestions: You can take the cable car to the top of the famous mount Fløyen and enjoy a bird's eye view 1049 feet above the city. Enjoy the lively fish market beside Bryggen, where you find fresh fish and seafood and several restaurants serving a large selection of local dishes. Or meet the sea lions, the creepy - but great crocodiles, fish, and the fascinating snakes at Bergen Aquarium close to the Nordnes parc and the city center.
If you arrive early the cycling tour of Bergen can also be done on day 1 and you will have all day 2 to explore more on your own before the boat leaves at 16.30 to Sognefjorden.
Accommodation:
Comfort Hotel Holberg*** or Hotel Havnekontoret****(supplement)Day 2: Discover Bergen. Travel to Vik by fast boat (3h, 30 min)
After breakfast, you have the day to discover Bergen. If you want to do it by bike, you'll be provided with the necessary information and a roadbook with the suggested route (14 km). The famous wooden houses in different colors make Bryggen a perfect start to your day. It is a beautiful entrance to one of North Europe’s oldest port cities. Many of the city’s attractions are within walking distance. The port is close to your hotel, in the afternoon you will pick up your luggage, and walk to the boat.- Names as they appear on Passport
- Passport numbers
- Expiration
Boat departure is at 16.30, estimated arrival in Vik 20.10. You pass the western islands before entering stunning Sognefjorden Glacier waters mirror snow-covered majestic mountains and waterfalls cascade into the fjord. Your hotel in Vik is less than 100 meters from the quay to which you arrive with the boat.
Accommodation:
Blix Hotel***Day 3: Vik - Arnafjord - Vik, 32 mi. (52 km)
Today, you will be met by our local representative for bike handoff, welcome meeting, and tour explanation. You cycle on small, peaceful, back roads alongside the fjord to the hamlet of Arnafjord. We suggest a picnic in the port before biking back to Vik.Accommodation:
Blix Hotel***Day 4: Vik - Vangsnes - Dragsvik - Balestrand, 15 mi. (24 km)
Today a bit of culture is on the agenda as you cycle in Vik. You can taste the famous cheese only made in Vik and discover some amazing history as well.Continuing to Vangsnes, it is recommended to visit the big statue of “Fritjof” before crossing the fjord with the ferry to Dragsvik. From here you cycle the last 10 km to Balestrand. As early as the 18th century Balestrand was known as a popular tourist destination in Europe. Wealthy and distinguished people and artists from other parts of the country and from abroad came to the shores of Balestrand, attracted to the special fjord landscape you find here.
You stay at Kvikne's Hotel (1877) with its imposing façade facing the fjord, it is an excellent example of the so-called Swiss style, an extremely popular building style in this period. It is suggested to cycle along the fjord on what is now called King Bele's Road. A number of artists built their summer residences in the dragon style, another popular architectural style from the same period. Many of these houses are well preserved today, forming a building environment that is unique, even in a national context and Scandinavia's largest concentration of dragon style houses.
Accommodation:
Balestrand Kviknes Hotel****Day 5: Balestrand - Dragsvik - Sværefjord - Vetlefjord - Menes - Balestrand 37 mi. (59 km)
Ride to Esefjord and two other small "arms" of Sognefjord, ending in Menes with a population of eight! The first stop is Esefjorden where you can admire the famous mountains that inspired so many artists. Just before Dragsvik, you can visit the Arboretum which covers an area of about five acres, stretching from the road to the fjord. Today there are about 150 different varieties of trees and bushes from the entire world. The collection is not presented systematically according to family or genus, as is often the case in other Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, but after the geographical connection, such as Europe, Caucasus, Himalaya, China, Korea, Japan etc. Make time for a refreshment and a bath at the nice recreation area by the fjord. You continue along quiet roads, beside the fjord, the mountains, and some picturesque farms and hamlets along the way. You have wide and wonderful views over the fjord all the way with different mountains and valleys coming into view as you go along. The last 5 km you bike on a lovely little branch road to Menes. A picnic lunch soaking in the panoramic view is the perfect break before you cycle back to Balestrand.Mr. Tor in Balestrand can take you and your bike in his boat on the fjord and let you off in Menes. The distance will be 30 km cycling back to Menes – unless you want to cycle 15 -20 km more and go up to the viewpoint on Gaularfjell mountain. For the boat ride you have to add a supplement of 500 NOK pr person. Must be preordered.
Accommodation:
Kviknes Hotel****Day 6: Balestrand - Leikanger - Sogndal - Hafslo, 24 mi. (39 km)
Today you enter the inner part of Sognefjorden and take the boat from Balestrand to Leikanger at 11:50. It is also possible to bike from Balestrand, cycling Esefjorden again to Dragsvik and taking the ferry to Hella. From Hella to Leikanger it is 12 km. Sogn is the oldest fruit growing area in Norway and if you visit the area in spring, all the fruit trees are in blossom, from August they will be ladened with red apples and purple plums. You will be cycling outside two big tunnels and will have to share the road with the cars except for the last part into Sogndal.Through Sogndal, there is a bike path by the fjord. In Sogndal, you will find shops and cafes and a shopping center as well. Continuing to Hafslo another 18 km, you cycle along Barsnesfjorden until the end. The route climbs here, for 2 km, until you see Hafslo, beautifully located by the lake. Last 2 km from Galden to Hafslo is a bike path and your hotel is up from the small center of Hafslo with a good view.
Accommodation:
BesteBakken boutique hotelDay 7: Hafslo - Solvorn - Skjolden - Hafslo, 24 mi. (38 km)
After breakfast, you cycle the same bike path as yesterday to Galden before you cycle down to Solvorn. This idyllic small village with small, white wooden houses was built up when the fjord was the most important source of communication. Here the fjord is deep enough so larger boats could come to dock. Solvorn has a small grocery store and the hotel has a nice gallery. You will want to spend a little time here before you take the small ferry that leaves every hour from 10:00. Cost is NOK 42 (payable on arrival) and the crossing takes around 20 minutes. Upon arrival in Urnes, you should cycle up the 700 meters to Urnes stave church, a Unesco site. The stave churches are Norway’s most important contribution to European cultural heritage. You will have a great view to Solvorn from the church.Leaving Urnes on the small roads along Lusterfjorden, the innermost arm of the Sognefjord. About halfway you pass the impressive 218-meter high Feigumfossen waterfall. A 40-minute hike will allow you to get up close and personal, or you can admire the view of it from the road and have a swim in the fjord – or both! There is a small café by the fjord, but if it is closed, it is a lovely spot for a picnic. The last stage to Skjolden has two tunnels and you will need your light. Arriving in Skjolden, at the far end of the Sognefjord, you can have a drink on the terrace of the hotel, in the café, or enjoy a swim on the public beach. You are picked up at the agreed time unless you want to cycle back to your hotel (+ 39 km and two tunnels that are not possible to bike around).
Note: You need good shoes if you want to walk up to the waterfall, the ground can be very wet and slippery.
Accommodation:
BesteBakken boutique hotelDay 8: Departure from Hafslo
There are a couple of options for this last official day for your onward travel. Your included departure transfers to either Sogndal or Leikanger will depart very early in the morning so as to arrive to the ferry in time. You could plan for your last day to be on a Sunday for a later ferry time or cycle today to Sogndal (35 km) and book an extra night here to either depart at 7:05 Monday through Saturday or plan this extra night to be on Saturday so that you can depart by ferry from Sogndal at 10:40 am. You will find more details below:
At end of tour, you will be provided an included transfer either to Sogndal (20 min. drive from Hafslo) or to Leikanger (40 min. drive from Hafslo). Since the ferry leaves quite early from Sogndal and from Leikanger, your transfer time will be quite early in the morning if you are ending your tour Monday through Saturday. You could plan on taking the later ferry from Leikanger to Bergen and spend an additional night here or plan your tour so that you end on a Sunday fo allow for a later transfer time. Read the details below:
By ferry from Sogndal to Bergen:
Ferries depart from Sogndal at 7:05 am Monday through Saturday.
On Sunday, the ferry departs at 10:40 am.
By ferry from Leikanger to Bergen
The ferries depart from Leikanger at 7:30 am or 16:30 pm Monday through Saturday.
On Sunday, the ferry departs at 11:10 am and 16:30 pm. May we suggest planning your tour so that you end your tour on a Sunday fo allow for a later transfer time?
By bus from Sogndal to Bergen and onward to Oslo by bus
Transfer/or cycle to Sogndal:
There are buses that depart from SOGNDAL at 11:35, 14:30, and 22:30. Travel time is just under 7 hours.
Option 1: Jostedal Glacier
From your Hotel BesteBakken on the morning of Day 8, you take the bus that leaves at 8:50 from Hafslo. You change bus in Gaupne and arrive in Jostedalen at the Breheimsenter, the National Park Center at 9:55. From the parking by the lake, you walk approximately 45 minutes before you are in front of the glacier. The Breheimsenter, National Park Center, can be visited before or after you walk up to the glacier.It is also possible to take a boat transfer across the lake. This lessens the distance and walking. Cost is 60 NOK per person. The boat has departures close to where the bus stops.
Glacier walks can be ordered, in advance, or at the Breheimsenter. The Breheimsenter is the authorized center for Breheimen and Jostedalsbreen National Parks. These two National Parks have 9 of the 30 largest glaciers in Norway, with Jostedalsbreen as the largest, at 474 km2. The center has an interactive exhibition that covers Jostedalen, Jostedalsbreen, and Breheimen National Parks and focuses on climate and glaciers. In addition, there is a cinema which takes you on a tour around the glaciers through the years. http://jostedal.com/en/breheimsenteret/
Do you prefer to cycle? You can do that as well from your hotel in Hafslo. Distance is 47 km. If you prefer you can rent an electric bike for just that day from the hotel for NOK 600 per day. Overnight once again at Hotel BesteBakken in Hafslo.
Private transfer can be booked on request.
Option 2: The Nærøyfjord and Flåm railway
The narrow and spectacular Nærøyfjord and Aurlandfjord, arms of the Sognefjorden, are surrounded by steep mountains with snow-covered tops that stretch up to 1600 meters above sea level. Waterfalls cascade down the mountains and picturesque villages dot the landscape. UNESCO has included the Nærøyfjord in its famous World Heritage List. The fjords have also been awarded first place in the prestigious list of the National Geographic Traveller magazine.To arrive, you could take the famous railway from Flåm to Myrdal. This railway has been named one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. Over the course of one hour, the train takes you from sea level at the Sognefjord in Flåm to the Myrdal mountain station, situated at 867 meters above sea level. Myrdal is also a station on the Bergen Line, meaning the Flåm Railway connects with trains running between Bergen and Oslo, allowing you to return to Bergen or continue on to Oslo.
To get to Flam to access the famous railway, you can take the fast ferry from Leikanger at 12:20 pm. This is a very popular train ride so it is important to book in advance. We can provide any details you may need.
Other arrival options include bus travel. You can then book extra nights in Bergen or Oslo.
Option 3: Book a cruise! Travel with Hurtigruten from Bergen along the coast to the north of Norway
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Accommodation
Three and four star accommodations.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfast
- 1 night in Bergen at the 3 star Comfort Hotel Holberg
- 2 nights in Vik at the 3 star Blix Hotel
- 2 nights in Balestrand at 4 star Kviknes Hotel
- 2 nights in Hafslo at the 4 star BesteBakken Boutique Hotel
- Breakfast
- 5 dinners (2 in Vik, 1 in Balestrand, and 2 in Hafslo)
- 24 speed Scott hybrid bike rental, front suspension, mudguards, bottle holder, back carrier, bags, lock, and helmet
- Road book, map, & GPS files
- Luggage transfer
- Transfers from Skjolden to Hafslo on Day 7
- Departure transfer on Day 8 to Sogndal or Leikanger for onward travel by ferry back to Bergen or by bus to Oslo
What’s Not Included
- Lunches and dinners (in your roadbook, you will be provided information regarding lunches and dinners and where to enjoy them. Dinners may be included for a supplement. This is highly recommended!)
- Fast boat tickets: Bergen - Vik and Sogndal - Bergen. This can be purchased as a mandatory one-way ticket if you are not returning to Bergen. See pricing for further details
- Entrances churches, museums, etc.
- Ferry from Solvorn to Urnes (NOK 42)
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Daily arrivals possible from mid-May through until mid-September. This tour can be guided for a minimum of 4 people for an additional cost.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Double/twin
Based on two people: $ 2879 £ 1603 $ 2,773 € 1810 NZ$ 3100 kr 18706 $ 2,218 From four people: $ 2847 £ 1585 $ 2,743 € 1790 NZ$ 3066 kr 18499 $ 2,194 From six people: $ 2736 £ 1523 $ 2,635 € 1720 NZ$ 2946 kr 17776 $ 2,108 Single supplement: $ 461 £ 257 $ 444 € 290 NZ$ 497 kr 2997 $ 355
Upgrade in accommodations
Bergen:
4-star Hotel Havenkontoret in standard room: $ 57 £ 32 $ 55 € 36 NZ$ 62 kr 372 $ 44 4-star Hotel Havenkontoret in superior room with sea view, total per person: $ 81 £ 45 $ 78 € 51 NZ$ 87 kr 527 $ 62Hafslo:
Balestrand Kviknes Hotel in Historic building (two nights), total per person: $ 95 £ 53 $ 92 € 60 NZ$ 103 kr 620 $ 74 Balestrand Kviknes Hotel Demi suite Historic building (two nights), total per person: $ 154 £ 86 $ 149 € 97 NZ$ 166 kr 1002 $ 119Solvorn:
Information pendingExtra Options
Price $ 255 £ 142 $ 245 € 160 NZ$ 274 kr 1654 $ 196 Do note that this does not include the price for an electric bike in Bergen on Day 2. We will provide this price on request.
Fast boat tickets (must be booked through our partner)*:
Bergen - Vik and/or Sogndal - Bergen:
Roundtrip: $ 247 £ 137 $ 237 € 155 NZ$ 266 kr 1602 $ 190 One way, Bergen - Vik, mandatory: $ 124 £ 69 $ 120 € 78 NZ$ 134 kr 806 $ 96 * Discounts for families/groups will be applied
*A mandatory one-way ticket will be booked for you after tour confirmation. Travel within this part of Norway is complicated and due to logistics of tour, arrivals and departures must be organized within tight guidelines. If you are planning on returning to Bergen after your tour, please request a roundtrip ticket. Please provide:- Names as they appear on Passport
- Passport numbers
- Expiration
Please see the section Returning to Bergen in the Day to Day details for other return travel and onward travel options.
Hafslo:
BesteBakken Hotel
Double/twin, breakfast included: $ 167 £ 93 $ 161 € 105 NZ$ 180 kr 1085 $ 129 Double/twin, breakfast and dinner: $ 270 £ 151 $ 260 € 170 NZ$ 291 kr 1757 $ 208 Single supplement: $ 84 £ 47 $ 81 € 53 NZ$ 91 kr 548 $ 65 Sogndal:
Sogndal Hotel
Hofslund Hotel, breakfast included:
Double/twin: $ 127 £ 71 $ 123 € 80 NZ$ 137 kr 827 $ 98 Single supplement: $ 80 £ 44 $ 77 € 50 NZ$ 86 kr 517 $ 61 Bergen:
Comfort Hotel Holberg,
Double/twin, breakfast included: $ 119 £ 66 $ 115 € 75 NZ$ 128 kr 775 $ 92 Single supplement: $ 80 £ 44 $ 77 € 50 NZ$ 86 kr 517 $ 61The following should be requested at time of booking but you will pay upon your arrival.
Guided tour in Bergen, 2 hours: NOK 700
Guided cultural path in Vik, 2 hours: NOK 750
includes guide, entrance to two churches, and cheese and raspberry juice tasting
Guided tour Balestrand, per hour: NOK 750
Boat transfer to/from Menes with Mr. Tor(Day 5), minimum of 2 ppl.: NOK 500Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
Cycling in this area gives you the opportunity to experience breathtaking locations, as you pedal small main roads, with little or no traffic. The itinerary is approximately 260 km in length, to which distance can easily be added. The route is mostly flat but there are some minor ups and downs. There is one major hill of 2 km from Sogndal to Hafslo and two small uphills from Urnes to Skjolden.
Airport Info
The closest airport to your tour start is Bergen Airport (Flesland BGO)
Local Travel
From Flesland BGO to Bergen center:
Express bus (20 minutes)
The airport express bus is located right outside the arrival hall. The bus makes several stops in the city center. Tell the driver the name of your hotel and he will tell you where to get off.
Departure: Every 10 minutes in busy hours or otherwise every 20 min. Latest departure at 23.50.
Price:
One way ticket: NOK 115
Roundtrip: NOK 195
www.flybussen.noLight Rail (45 min.)
Taxi:
Several taxi companies operates from the airport. Estimated price between 500 and 600 NOK to the city center.
Train
The Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen is considered one of the world’s most scenic train rides. There are four daily departures from Oslo. The 7 hour journey brings you across one of Europe’s highest mountain plateaus, and takes you to through spectacular and varied nature.
Fjord Line Boat:
Travel by ferry between Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Langesund and Hirtshals in Denmark, and between Sandefjord and Strömstad.
Climate
From Tripsavvy: "Bergen is located in more temperate southwestern coast of Norway, and occupies the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen. It is thanks to this position on the peninsula that Bergen boasts the warmest temperatures in the country. The local climate is mostly oceanic, with mild winters and pleasant cool summers. Despite its northern latitude, the weather in Bergen is considered mild, at least by Scandinavian standards. However, rainfall is frequent! Best times to travel are July and August with May being the month that generally has the least rain. However, do note, every Norwegian knows that the weather changes quickly and if you are lucky you can experience all four seasons during one hour in the fjord landscape. Do check local conditions before you travel and plan on layers!
Recommended
You will be cycling in Norway’s countryside were beautiful nature and authentic fjord landscape and culture is the main attraction – nature’s own work of art. The dinners included in the half board supplement are prepared with local products and the best dinner you can have after your cycling day. As It is the only solution to have dinner, served we strongly recommend it.
Remarks
The tour is easily extended or shortened and if you wish to try something besides cycling, there is a large menu of other activities for you to choose from such as glacier hiking, kayaking on the fjord, or canyoning or rafting in the river. You can request a cider or beer tasting paired with local, delicious food. Kayaking can be enjoyed in Balestrand, in Marifjøra, and in Flåm.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Extra Options
Payable on arrival (Churches, museums, and other attractions)
- Hoppestad, Vik (70 NOK)
- Hove, Vik (50 NOK)
- Unesco listed Urnes stave church, Urnes (90 NOK)
- Ciderstasting, Balestrand (270 NOK)
- Aquarium and travel museum in Balestrand
- Ferry from Solvorn to Urnes (NOK 42)
Must be reserved in advance (guided city tours). See pricing.
- Guided tour in Bergen
- Guided cultural path in Vik
- Guided tour Balestrand
- Boat transfer from Balestrand to Menes with Mr. Tor (Day 5)
Extra Stay
Always recommended. Consider extending your vacation in Bergen, Flam, or glacier walking in Jostedal.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Fjord Cycling.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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