Europe - norway tour

hi all,I'm new to this site so be kind!joke OK i am planing to cycle norway next year June, starting at nordkapp at the very top then coming down the west side to finish in hamburg,now then i'm looking for any info about getting to nordkapp with the bike from England,i know i can fly to hammerfest,three flights, but are there any other ways! any info will be great.. terry

you could probably just take the train up there, well if the train goes up there. I just know the train goes pretty much everywhere in Denmark and Sweden, so I am assuming the same might apply to Norway. I'll probably be in Denmark next summer, so if you need any company on this tour of yours I would be gladly tag along. Right now I am visiting my girlfriend in Copenhagen, and have been doing 90-100km rides up the North East coast of sealand (the island copenhagen is on), and toward the south of sealand. I did 230km today and I love how denmark is not as hilly as Missouri (USA). i've been doing everything on a single speed so far, but ill problably buy a road bike by next june.

According to www.nsb.no, the train only goes as far as Bodø. There's probably a ferry, but that'd take days.

You can get to Narvik by way of Kiruna, Sweden, but that's not much closer. See www.sj.se.

I think you're looking at a long bus ride, or lots of plane connections.

Your cheapest and quickest way will be to fly Norwegian Air Shuttle (www.norwegian.no) from London Stansted to Oslo Gardermoen then connect with them to Kirkenes bear the Russian border.

They are a well-run and reliable cheapie airline so if you book far enough in advance it won't break the bank. However, be warned that they charge extra for bags so try to take bike and luggage in the same container.

The only real alternative is the Hurtigrute coastal boat, which is one of the world's great travelling experiences and takes bikes but can be expensive. Bodø to Honninsvag is two days.

The world's most northerly brewpub is the Nordkapp brewery in Honingsvag. Beer prices in Norway are 2-3 times higher than the UK, as is eating out.

Tim W

hi tim, many thanks for that info ill check it out on the net,it sounds like you know that part of the world pretty well, have you cycled there! if so have you got any good advice for me,things to see,places,and don't do`s. thanks terry

Hi Terry

I have been a few times - Norwegian mother-in-law.

Funnily enough I have never cycled over there. We normally visit the south, where the roads are quite hilly and the terrain less mountainous than in Central and Northern Norway.

We are just back from a driving tour round Central Norway. Ironically although the terrain is hillier the roads are flatter - they run alongside fjords and lakes with breathtaking scenery commonplace. Of course this makes journeys longer than they appear on a map because they are serpentine.

We researched the Hurtigrute boat for the trip but did not go on it because it was too expensive with three children in tow. The family know it and I am persuaded it is one of the great boat journeys of the world but will need to save up.

Tip no. 1: it is a damned expensive country.

Tip no. 2: see tip no. 1.

Estimate that food, however you do it, will cost double UK prices. Accommodation 30-50% higher. Public transport is comparable to UK.

Tip no. 3: most of the country is like the Scottish Highlands except 100 times larger. And the country is massive. Pick it up at the northern tip, raise it to the vertical and flip it over on its southern tip the top bit ends up near Istanbul. It's that big.

Tip no. 4: only 4.5 million people live there. Hence, cycle into town X that is in big letters on the map and you may find just one small general store the size of grandma's front room, which only opens from 10 till 4 and never on Sundays or several other days of the week. (I'm exaggerating but to make a valid point.)

10 Norwegian Krone (NOK) to the UK Pound. Pretty cycle friendly. We spotted a lot of bike shops in the larger towns. We were persuaded to take bikes next time.

Tim W

hi all, im planing to cycle tour Norway next year,can you tell me whats the weather like in June in the north of norway, say nordcapp!going south and what directions are the prevailing winds! all so i know its expensive there, but i would like an idea of camp site fees, food,ect or any other expenses possibly boats, thanks terry

The riding here is fantastic...and June is probably your best bet as far as weather goes. It sounds like you're planning a self-supported tour so plan for all weather would be my advice. Sun, rain, and temps ranging from 3-5C in the mornings to mid 20s in the afternoon as you get further south. I've never been that far north but have a friend from work who is from that region and can ask his thoughts and advice.

As far as your route is concerned it's a pretty bike-friendly country with marked cycling routes all over the place (sometimes they are not that easy to see however), so a map is your best bet. Here is a link to a couple from the UK that blog all their tour routes and more than once here in Norway. They also provide some great links to purchase cycling maps (highly recommended that you have a good map...even if you have a GPS).

They also highlight one of the biggest challenges to a long tour here....tunnels. They are all over the place. Some are easily passable by bike, others are long and dark and bikes are prohibited. Even if you don't plan to ride at night, be sure to have a good set of lights for the tunnels alone. Keep in mind that most tunnels have bypasses, but aren't always easy to find (map handy here too). Short of that, you can oftentimes get a lift by a car or lorry thru the longer tunnels...or so I've heard. http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/maps/tunnelmap.shtml

Here's some links to get you started:

http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/norway.shtml The couple that has toured Norway from the UK...very insightful

http://www.turistforeningen.no/english/ Norwegian Tourist Board...in english

http://www.turistforeningen.no/files/DNT-Oslo/publikasjoner/Engprogr_internett%20sommer%2008.pdf Hiking is huge here but alot of the information provided is also very helpful to cyclists


Good luck! :)

How are you doing with your planning? I`ll see if I can coff up some more info for you in a week or so. Too buzzy x-masing just now.

" Hurtigrute coastal boat, which is one of the world's great travelling experiences "
I would agree.. its been a long time but I'm sure it's still great.
This is a beautiful country. Have fun.

:)hi thanks for the reply,more info would be great, at the moment the planing is on ice till after Christmas new year, my training will start at the end of march, can you tell me which way are the prevailing winds! thanks terry. ps happy new year

:)hi,thanks for your reply, it sounds like a great place to cycle, if you have any other info on norway it would be great, thanks terry

You can start here http://www.nordkapp.no/ and ask them how to get there. Ekspensive what ever you do, but something you`ll remember for the rest of your life.

Also try to ask from the Norwegian Bike Ass. They`we got a "plan your bike ride map" showing the important things like tunnels (a lot of them in some parts) and ferrys. http://www.slf.no/ Nothing in english, but just find an e-mail on the page and ask. PM me if there is anything special you want me to find out for you. I do not visit the Europe forum that often.

dear...

I am assuming the same might apply to Norway. I'll probably be in Denmark next summer, so if you need any company on this tour of yours I would be gladly tag along in sweden..

hi labelsquare, the tour to norway this year was cauld off at the last minuit, but we think its on for next june,yes that would be fine for your company, try and keep in tuch and we will keep you poasted on any plans, terry