CYCLE TOUR OF NORWAY 2028 |
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2 - 14 August 2028, 13 days / 12 nightsAfter three very successful trips to the Arctic in 2019, 2024 & 2026 this is a permanent fixture on the RH calendar. It was one of the best trips we’ve ever organised. We have tweaked this edition to finish in Bodo rather than spend 2 days transferring back to Tromso. Norway is simply stunning as you can see by the photos. The locals are incredibly friendly and embrace those who ride bikes. Each year we have been lucky to be riding in warm temperatures. (Early 20's most days). 2026 was an exception with a few wet / cold days. Let's hope for more warm conditions in 2028. Non-riders (Team Macchiato) are very welcome. Team Mac will need to be active. Think of it as more of a guided walking tour than cycling. We’ve got a great mix of local Norwegian guides and regular RH staff. You will be well looked after. There’s plenty of time to relax on this trip as we aren’t following a race or doing an event. Each hotel we stay at is special. There’s a lot of off the bike activities and we have plenty of free time. You will see that we’ve included the majority of meals. That’s because many of the areas we visit are remote. Beautifully remote. Look forward to seeing you in the Arctic. |
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Overview of the Tour |
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Our trip starts and finishes in Tromso – known for being the capital city of the Arctic. It’s a stunning city and well worth the 3 nights we stay here. We then embark on up to 750km of pure Norwegian bliss. The majority of which hugs the coast. Yes, you can opt in or out as much as you like. Some of the days will only be 60km. Others will reach into the triple figures. Navigation is pretty easy – often there’s only one road. Our days are long though, as it’s almost 24 hours of light at this time of the year. That’s just as well as there’s plenty to fit in. Yes, the cycling is fantastic however it’s the whole adventure package that makes this one of our best trips. We are really looking forward to returning. Hope you’ll join us. |
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Cycle Tour of Norway - Tour Details |
Tour Inclusions
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The Tour Price Excludes
Approximate Tour Cost (per person - New Zealand Dollars)$13150.00 NZD per person (Norway is expensive) $2050.00 NZD - Single room supplement Bike Hire$1100.00 NZD - Bike Hire - standard road bike
$1600.00 NZD - Bike Hire - e-Touring bikes $1600.00 NZD - Bike Hire - e-Road bikes (limited availability and sizes)
The initial deposit is $2500.00 NZD per person. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. There are a lot of factors outside of our control like exchange rates, hotel closures, etc, etc. We will do our best to stay within what you see here and will only alter things if we have to. |
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Cycle Tour of Norway 2028 | Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday 02 AugustWelcome to TromsoThe Arctic Capital and your home for the next two nights. We will meet you at the airport. Some of you may want to arrive early which is also fine. We’ll organise any extra accommodation you need. Our Tromso hotel is stunning. The Raddison Blu because is located on the water’s edge. Right in the middle of Tromso but down by the harbour. A great place to start our trip. Day 1 is all about putting the bikes together and popping out for a short ride. If renting a bike, then the team will make sure you feel comfortable. There’s no pressure in August to ride before it gets dark. That’s because – it doesn’t. Happy hour isn't until 10pm. (just Kidding) Tonight we dine at the Hotel. Over dinner (with Arctic bubbles) we'll discuss the plan for the next few days and introduce the team. It's great to have you here. /Accommodation – Raddison Blu
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Day 2 - Thursday 03 AugustPicnic on the Oldvik Beach5am yoga Nope, we’re not doing that. There's no need to get up early. It’s a holiday after all. We start our ride by crossing the Tromsøbrua (Tromsø Bridge). This will be the first of many over the next 14 days. We hug the coastline north for approx. 30km before turning right. At this turning point, we will stop for a photo as this is the northern most point of our journey. (69°47'86.4"N 19°32'75.0"E) Continuing on, we reach the small fishing Village of Oldvik with incredible views of the Lyngen alps. The beach front is a geological masterpiece with its Nepheline Syenites (slate like) rocks forming the beach front. Norway is not short on wildlife opportunities and today's a pretty good day to keep an eye open. Both on land and sea. If it's white big and kind of fluffy then - bike faster. Like all our rides over the next two weeks we'll have a support vehicle on hand if you don't want to ride back. We see today as a great opportunity for some of you to tick off 100km. Others will be happy with 60 – 80km which is also fine. Team Mac – you have the opportunity to explore Oldervik’s peaceful slate coastline. You can walk the 3km return to the Aurora Viewpoint. Keep an eye out for the many birds in the area from sea eagles soaring overhead and seasonal puffins. /Accommodation - Raddison Blu
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Day 3 - Friday 04 AugustSommarøyThe next week or so are more about quality than quantity. Put simply - they aren't long days in the saddle however you won't be complaining. The scenery is breath-taking. There are numerous ferries (up to 2hrs long) that we need to factor in. So, 70km could in fact take us the whole day. Especially when we stop for a picnic lunch each day. Anyway, day 3 takes us to Sommarøy. Door to door is about 65km. The actual cycling is reasonably flat (false flat) except for one 200m climb. It's the 1000m peaks that spring up out of the sea which are much more impressive - we won't make you bike up those. Team Mac – before meeting the cyclists at our lunch venue approx. 45km up the road, you will visit the Arctic Alpine Botanic Gardens. The garden displays Arctic and alpine plants from all over the Northern Hemisphere. After lunch you will head directly to our next hotel as it’s surrounded by beautiful beaches and sandy coastline walks. Tonight, we dine on Summer Island. This afternoon, we'd recommend a stroll around Hillesøytoppen (top of the hill?) which gives you stunning views of Senja island. On that note, please bring good walking shoes. The off-road strolling opportunities are endless, and sneakers aren’t going to cut it. There will be as many memorable experiences off the bikes as on them. /Accommodation - Sommarøy Arctic Hotel
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Day 4 - Saturday 05 AugustThe Golden Toilet!Total ride distance today is 70km however it will take us most of the day to do this. Please keep in mind that we'll have a support vehicle around us at all times. Today starts with a 7km ride from Sommarøy to Brensholmen fergekai where we board a ferry (35 min) to the small village of Botnhamn on Senja island. It's then we ride 60km to Hamn. This majestic former fishing hamlet will be our home for tonight. Our first stop today is Ersfjorden which is our halfway point and lunch. It’s not the white sandy beaches that people flock to, Its Gulldassen (the Golden Toilet). This toilet cost NOK 3.75 million to build. A few things about the many tunnels you’ll ride through. They are really safe and very cycle friendly. Often the tunnel will have a button to push to notify motorists that cyclists are in the tunnel. It is important that you have lights on your bike though. If fact, in Norway you must also ware a HI-VIS vest – it’s law. Team Mac –once you are off the ferry, there are plenty of amazing viewing points along our route today. One mandatory stop is at the 42km mark. Not only is it the picture-perfect postcard shot, it’s also where the riders will need a little encouragement up the climb. From Hamn, there's a short out and back walk that also needs to be done. (Or maybe we could run it. Let's see) A little known fact about Hamn i Senja, nearby is the small dam that held back the waters for what is claimed to be the world's first hydroelectric plant, established in 1882. /Accommodation - Hamn i Senja
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Day 5 - Sunday 06 AugustHas anyone seen a whale?Today is a reasonably short ride day with a 1h30min ferry thrown in. Tomorrow offers quite a long 110km ride so having a quiet day today isn’t such a bad thing. Our destination for this evening is Andenes. The village is the northernmost settlement of the island of Andøya. To the west the endless horizon of the North Atlantic Ocean. This particular part of Norway is known for having the country’s best beaches. There are also great opportunities to see wildlife and birdlife. Watch out for sea eagles swooping overhead. It’s also one of the world’s premier whale watching spots – there’s plenty of time to hop on a whale safari later on this afternoon although you may be lucky to see one if you keep an eye on the ocean while riding. /Accommodation - Andenes
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Day 6 - Monday 07 AugustSortland Century TourAt all times we will have two vans around us. There will be 2 guides on the road. Generally speaking - we see the group naturally splitting up into two groups. We won’t put a km/hr number on it. Let’s just call it espresso followed by Latte. Today gives us the opportunity to ride hotel to hotel. 110km separates Andenes from Sortland. Our home for the next couple of nights. Sortland is known as the blue town. I've got a good idea -how about we all wear blue. (And pink) The locals will appreciate the effort. The ride is almost 100% water's edge. Take as many photos as you like. Rule number one – you are on holiday. There’s one road so it’s quite hard to get lost. We'll experience Typical Arctic scenery - almost Fiordland like. We like the idea of getting to Sortland early as it's fairly big town (10000 people) with all the facilities. By now you will have cycled 6 days in a row so the legs will be weary. Team Mac – before arriving at our Sortland hotel, you will stop at the Reindeer Farm & Saami Culture Park. Providing visitors with an immersive experience into the traditions and lifestyle of the Saami people. You can participate in traditional activities such as feeding the reindeer and exploring the stunning natural landscapes characteristic of northern Norway. /Accommodation - Scandic Sortland Hotel
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Day 7 - Tuesday 08 AugustCoffee or Climb?After 3 one-night stays we feel that it’s important to have a 2-night stay. A chance to do washing, answer emails, drink coffee. Sortland has all the facilities. We will ride however the emphasis is on recovery. Yesterday was a long day. So, todays ride is all about the coffee. We recommend Verkstedet Sortland as the chosen café. Keep in mind, nothing opens until 10am. The other recommended option is to join Team MAC this afternoon for the Turlagsstua hut long walk. The walk to Turlagsstua from Skibua in Sortland is a short and accessible outing in Sortlandsmarka, popular for both day hikes and winter trips. The route is approx. 3.4km return, with roughly 180meters of elevation gain and an estimated walking time of around 2 hours, depending on pace and trail conditions. Other things to do in Sortland? There’s the salmon farm where you can fish for dinner. Today is also your best chance to learn about the Sami culture. The Sami are the descendants of nomadic peoples who inhabited northern Scandinavia for thousands of years. Traditionally, they hunted reindeer. In Sortland they now farm deer. (Possibly also dinner?) Anyway – it’s a down day. There are also 3 or 4 massage spas/ saunas in town. Time to give back to your legs. /Accommodation - Scandic Sortland Hotel
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Day 8 - Wednesday 09 AugustSortland to SvolvaerAnother day in paradise. All you have to do today is eat, drink and ride your bike. That's all. We’ll take care of everything else. Hotel to hotel is 115km from Sortland to Svolvaer. However, the ride distance is only 80km as we take a short (25mins) ferry to avoid 5 tunnels. By the way – those wanting shorter rides will simply be dropped further on along the road. You can choose the exact mileage. We ride on the outer side of Hadseløya. Keep an eye open today for Muskox, a massive creature that looks a bit like a love child from a yak and a buffalo. Unwise to pat. And some of us less information - its name derives from the strong musky odor emitted (by the males of course) during the rutting season. Rumour has it they quite like lycra. Team MAC – we will have a plan in place today to take the later ferry as you will stop at Stokmarknes and visit the Hurtigruten museum. Its a treasure trove of maritime history and culture. The museum is housed within the former ship MS Finnmarken, a 1956 coastal express ship, and offers a unique experience for visitors. Tonight, why not head down to the local ice bar. Claiming to be the largest ice bar in the world. Entry includes all warm clothing to cover you from head to ankle, included gloves. Oh, and a shot of their signature drink served in an ice glass. That's sure to warm us up… /Accommodation - Thon Hotel, Svolvaer
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Day 9 - Thursday 10 AugustExtra day in SvolvaerSvolvaer is one of those places that requires more time to explore. We will offer a ride today reverse route of yesterday before looping the quite and spectacular coast road before stopping at Laukvika lighthouse for lunch. All up approx. 100km. Again, we will have a shorter option which will be an out and back to Laukvika being 66km. Other options if you wanted a day off the bike which is not a bad idea.
/Accommodation - Thon Hotel, Svolvaer
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Day 10 - Friday 11 AugustNorwegian Stone HengeTomorrow is complicated. Today is easy. Hop on your bike and ride 70km with approx. 1000VM. That’s all you need to do. The ride today is one that has it all:
Here's some navigation advice for today. Please keep the blue stuff to the left and the green stuff to the right. That’s it. That’s all you need to think about. Leknes has a population of 3000 although at this time of the year there are often cruise ships in. One of the few towns in Lofoten that does not depend on fishing. Its town centre isn’t even by the sea which is very un-Norwegian. Tourism is its top earner. Its natural surroundings are among the most stunning in Norway, with mountain peaks, cliffs, and white sandy beaches. I dare you to go for a swim. /Accommodation - Scandic Leknes Lofoten Hotell
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Day 11 - Saturday 12 AugustFish BurgersWe start with coffee. By the way, did you know that - consumption per capita rates Norway is among the highest in the world. Top three in fact. That's got to be a good thing. Today’s plan will be determined by the ferry timetable – once released. At a shade over 3hrs the ferry to Bodo is the longest we will experience. Here’s how it worked in 2024. 2026 (timetable permitting) will be similar. It’s a 52km ride to lunch which is at Anitas seafood restaurant for their world-famous fish burgers. Let’s budget on 4 hours for that as being late would be bad. It’s a long swim. In 2024 we had a mid-afternoon departure which would be our target again. We arrive late in Bodø which is our destination for 2 nights. Bodø is located just north of the Arctic Circle. It’s also the 19th biggest city in Norway with 55000 people. Most of the town was destroyed in WW2 so you’ll see that the majority of buildings are relatively new. (By European standards) Football is the major sport here and the city is very proud of the fact that it’s local team - Bodø/Glimt, the northernmost club, won a European league competition. Bodø certainly represents a hustling, busy place. Especially when compared to where we’ve visited over the past week or so. /Accommodation - Scandic Bodø/Meals included - Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner own arrangements) |
Day 12 - Sunday 13 AugustExploring BodøSomething a bit different today. 30km away from our hotel is Saltstraumen Maelstrom. Let’s all say that quickly 10 times… In all seriousness - Saltstraumen is a must see. Up to 400 million cubic metres of seawater forces its way through a 3-kilometre long and 150-metre wide strait every six hours. Creating the strongest tidal current on the planet. The height difference between the sea level and the fjord can be up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). No swimming please. From Saltstraumen you can choose to ride as far as you want. It’s an out and back course. So, 60, 80 or 120km. Totally up to you. It’s your last chance for a really long ride so you may as well make the most of it. /Accommodation - Scandic Bodø
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Day 13 – Monday 14 AugustHome JamesAfter breakfast we all go our separate ways. Thank you once again for joining Ride Holidays. Safe travels home. /Meals included - Breakfast |
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