HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Norwegian Fjords: Situated on the western edge of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway extends from the North Sea along the Norwegian Sea to the Artic. One-third of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle, the farthest north of any European country. Here there is almost continuous daylight from May to July, but in midwinter is dark almost all of the time. Covered by mountains, moors, forests and the largest glacier on the European mainland, Jostedalsbreen, nearly 70% of the country is uninhabitable, and with limited space for farming the Norwegians took to the sea. Some 80 per cent of the Norwegian population lives in the coastal areas, its maritime industry sustains the economy and the country has the world's third largest merchant fleet.
The toothy coastline of Norway is a jagged expanse of islands and narrow deep-sided inlets known as fjords. The coast is about 1,100 miles long (1,770 kilometres) if the measurement is done in a direct line without following the fjords and islands. However if you include all the fjords and islands (all 58,133 of them), that figure rises to over 35,000 miles (57,000 kilometres). The fjords were carved out by the massive forces of the vast ice sheet that once covered most of Northern Europe during a succession of ice ages. When the ice retreated 10-12,000 years ago, the sea rushed into fill the valleys. The most impressive fjords are found in the area around Bergen, including the Sognefjord, the longest fjord system anywhere in the world. In 2004 National Geographic magazine ranked the region as the world's best unspoiled travel destination and it is not hard to see why. The fjords have a magic and charm that is hard to beat. In addition the 'Gateway to the Fjords', Bergen, is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, it is a city of parks, markets, museums, cobbled streets, as well as some fine old buildings, including the Bryggen a collection of colourful wooden buildings overlooking the harbour.
The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Holiday with a tour leader and a vehicle to carry all the luggage and provide additional assistance if necessary. The holiday is designed to include as much of this beautiful area as possible, whilst ensuring that the distances coverered each day are suitable for regular cyclists. However it should be noted that the area is hilly, and although large parts of the route do follow the shore of various fjords, there are some longer climbs as you cross the mountains between them. You do of course start at sea level (or should that be fjordlevel), and some of these climbs are quite long (often 7 or 8 miles and occasionally more), although they are usually well graded with plenty of switchbacks. Generally the climbs have gradients of around 6 or 7% (that’s about 1 in 16 or 1 in 14), and are nowhere as steep as hills in some parts of the UK. There are, of course, also some exhilarating downhill stretches. The Bike Adventures route follows minor roads and cycle paths where possible. However there are a limited number of roads in this area, and so much of our route does take you along main roads (although some of these have an intermittant cycle path running alongside). Many of these are relatively quiet, and surfaces are generally good, although some traffic is fast moving. However there are also some unavoidable sections along busier roads, particularly around Bergen and Voss, and care should be taken here. Most of the towns and villages you pass through are quiet and peaceful, although there are a few exceptions such as Geiranger and Voss, which do get very busy in the summer. You should also be aware that there are alot of road tunnels in Norway, and some of these are quite long, although the route avoids them where possible. In addition the route crosses numerous fjords, and most days will require you to take at least one ferry crossing.
Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is generally in small family run hotels, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single member of the same sex – unless you have paid the single room price for the holiday. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation, larger hotels will also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or there is at least one other restaurant nearby.
Start: The holiday starts at Bergen. Direct flights are available to Bergen from Gatwick. flights are also available from most regional airports in the UK via Amsterdam or Oslo. Depending on your time of arrival in Bergen you will have the remainder of the day free in the city. The cycling will begin the following day. Note: The cost of flights to/from Bergen are not included in the cost of the holiday. You may book flights yourself or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable). A separate form will be sent to you.
Finish: The final days cycling is a short one, taking you to the small coastal village of Selje. From here we take the afternoon ferry back to Bergen and the next day we will transport you to the airport to return home.
Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to take your bicycle from your home in the UK to the start of the holiday, and return it to your home at the end of the trip (additional fee payable).
Documents: Unless you are from Scandinavia you will require a passport to visit Norway. If you are from an EU country, the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand this is all you require. Nationals of some other countries may also require a visa, and should check with the nearest Norwegian Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative policy.
Bikes: A touring cycle or mountain bike are probably the most suitable type of bicycle for this holiday. There are some sections of road where the surface has broken up, which riders on racing machines may find uncomforatble, and it is also suggested that you bring a cycle with mudguards as there is a good chance of some rain. However whatever type of bike you bring the most important thing is that the bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. You should also make sure that it has suitable gears for this sort of trip. If you haven't ridden in this type of terrain before you'll probably find that you'll be most comfortable with a bottom gear of about 25 - 30 inches, which will usually mean having a triple chainring. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres.
You will also need to to make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. The route does cross some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services, and in some areas villages can be quite a long way apart.
Weather: Much as we hate to admit it Norway can be wet, Bergen in particular has a reputation as the wettest city in Norway. However July is one of the drier months of the year, and it can often be warm and sunny with temperatures in the valleys in the mid 20’s. In previous years we have had a mix of weather - some glorious sunny days as well as a few when it was cold and wet so it is impossible to say what it will be like. However you should be aware that the weather here is unpredictable and can change very quickly, and you should be prepared for it. |