Norway’s Midnight Sun Bike Tour

Tromsø is the largest northernmost urban area in the Northern Norway and a lovely town that offers a lot to see and to do. Visit the Polar Museum, dedicated to the exploration of the Arctic, or one of the many other museums (not included in tour price). Walk the main street lined with historical wooden buildings and stop in one of the cozy cafés to enjoy coffee or tea with a fresh “bolle” (sweet bun) pastry. Meet your guides and get fitted on your bicycle in the morning on Day 1 in Tromsø. Pedal out of town over the arch shaped Sandnessund Bridge. Continue along the coast of Kvaløya Island to a fishing village on the small island of Sommarøy. Go for a hike to admire the famous sandy beaches of the island, called the Caribbean of the North. Are you brave enough to go for a swim? (We don’t blame you if you aren’t!). Stay on the waterfront at the Sommarøy Hotel.

We start with a 5-mile ride to the ferry terminal of Brensholmen where we board a 45-minute ferry to Senja Island to pedal from Botnhamn to Mefjordvaer. This picturesque road along the west coast of Senja Island is designated as a national scenic route for the beauty of its landscape. Admire views of Segla (Peak), one of the most iconic coastal mountains in Norway rising over 2000ft straight out of the ocean! Extra cycling miles and hiking options are available today as well. Stay at the waterfront hotel Mefjord Brygge Hotel.

Today, enjoy continuous views cycling on a lovely coastal road, ducking inland here and there to cross headlands and peninsulas. In the idyllic small port town of Gryllefjord we hop on a ferry to Andenes (1hr 40min ride). While we await the ferry, you can take a hike to Middagstinden to admire the view of the fjords from above, watch the fishermen, or try some traditional Norwegian food in town. After we disembark the ferry it’s less than a mile to the Andenes Suite Hotel where we will be spending the next two nights.

Choose your own adventure in Ardenes this morning. You can cycle out and bike along either coastline of the island (east or west) or do a 52-mile, not too hilly loop around the northern part of the island. Hike uphill to admire views of the Arctic Ocean, walk along the sandy beaches, or relax as you like. Lunch and dinner are on your own today. In the afternoon we gather to take a whale watching tour in a “RIB” boat (rigid inflatable boat). In addition to learning about local wildlife and history, we might have the opportunity to spot some sperm whales, dolphins, killer whales or other mammals that live in the area all year round (included). By night, due to its location, Ardenes is the perfect place to watch the Midnight Sun.

It’s an easy ride today, so there’s no need to hurry as we pedal the Andøya Coast Road south from Ardenes to the community of Bø. Budget plenty of time for photos and stops to admire things along the way. This route passes by some of Norway’s most beautiful beaches. Watch for sea eagles patrolling the waters where the land meets the ocean. Marmelkroken Hotel – where we stay – is much more than just another hotel. It is a demonstration of the thousand-year-old Norwegian concept of “Allmenningen” (the Commons) whereby every person should have access to land ranging from the sea to the mountains, providing a complete selection of resources in order to be self-sufficient. Allmenningen here is literally the land owned by the Marmelkroken farm lodge, from the tidal waters, through the fields and marshes, to the mountains.

We continue south today, cycling mostly along the coast, from Bø to Sortland. En route we will stop at the Inga Sami Farm to meet a family that still lives herding reindeer in the tradition of the Scandinavian native people. Learn about Sami culture, taste some traditional Sami food, meet the reindeer and try out a lasso before we finish the ride into Sortland. You can also enjoy some extra miles if you wish before checking in at our hotel – either  Scandic Hotel or the Thon Partner Hotel.