Sognefjorden - Norway’s King of the Fjords Bike Tour

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Bergen
Day 2: Bergen by bike, 9 mi. (14 km).  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 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 fishmarket beside Bryggen, here 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 centre.  

If you arrive early the cycling tour of Bergen can also be done 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: Bergen by bike, 9 mi. (14 km).  Travel to Vik by fastboat (3h, 30 min)
You will pick up your bikes at Bryggen and can then discover the city by bike. Bryggen is a historic harbor district in Bergen, one of North Europe’s oldest port cities on the west coast of Norway which was established as a center for trade by the 12th century. Though many recent fires have ravaged the old wooden houses, the rebuilding has remained faithful to the original. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape. As you cycle, you have the opportunity to visit, many of the city’s attractions. You will leave your bike (s) at the pick up location. The port is very close to the bike rental shop and your tour hotel so after dropping the bikes, you will pick up your luggage, and walk to the boat.  Boat departure is at 16.30, estimated arrival in Vik 20.10, but first you pass the western islands before entering Sognefjorden, whose 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 your 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 Scandinavias 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 population of eight! 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 view point 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 hotel

Day 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 hotel

Day 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:

Returning to Bergen

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• Sognefjorden - Norway’s King of the Fjords