Tour description

See the map and scroll down for our tour description and all recommended stops along the cycle route.

Start

Start this route on the quayside at Vågaholmen, preferably with an ice cream from the local shop. You can ride north from here on the quiet country road via Sleipnes or south on the busier road via Tjong and then route no. 17.

It’s completely up to you whether you choose to ride around Segelfjord or from Vågaholmen to Tjong. If you want to park your bike and hike up a mountain, we recommend  Bjørntinden (55FF).

Catch the ferry from Ågskardet to Forøy on Esøya, which has a nice camping site. It’s only a short ride from here to Halsa. We recommend turning off here to experience Svartisen – the largest glacier in Northern Scandinavia. The ice tongue Engenbreen at the head of the Holandsfjord has the lowest altitude of any ice tongue in mainland Europe, making Svartisen one of most accessible glaciers in Norway.

There are many ways to experience the Svartisen glacier. The toughest visitors go glacier climbing. If you really want to experience the unique light and play of colours in the glacier, we recommend going on a Midnight Sun glacier walk. If you don’t dare to venture onto the glacier, so you still see it up close or from a distance, including while dining at the Brestua café.

Experience Svartisen

You can bike from Halsa to Enga/Engavågen along the shores of the beautiful Bjærangsfjord via Vassdalsvik and Åmøya. You can make a detour to the island of Åmøya, which has beautiful mountains and beaches. If you want to take an express boat further north to Ørnes, turn off here too. If you would prefer to take the ferry from Vassdalsvik to Ørnes the continue straight ahead on the peninsula. If you opt for the latter, you will pass Verdens ende (World’s end), which has a well-developed and an outdoor photo exhibition. 

Ørnes, the municipal centre in Meløy, offers all services including a branch of the Wine Monopoly. You can take a detour by bike or bus from here to the Glomfjord, Glomfjellet and the Instagram-friendly Fykantrappa Stairway (NB: The actual stairs are closed due to unsafe steps!). If you still want to experience the stairway, you can do the longer hike to  Nedre Naver (55FF), which goes over the mountain. This takes you to the stop of the staircase, so you get the beautiful view and Instagram photo without needing to climb up the staircase.

Continue the route by riding to Reipå, where there is camp site and a nice rustic shelter down by the fjord. If you want to spend time at a beach, we recommend Stia or hiking out to Hornneset (55FF) with coastal rocks, beaches and a wonderful view of the archipelago.

The route continues from Reipå towards Inndyr. You will pass Ureddplassen – an architectural gem often referred to as the world’s most beautiful public toilet – and the beautiful beach in Storvika.

When you reach Storvika, you can relax on the beautiful beach or take a detour and hike up the mountain  Finnesfjellet (55FF) and take a photo of the iconic Finnesjura rock formations on the way up.

On the ride between Storvika and Inndyr, you will pass the Artscape “Den glömda staden” (“The Forgotten Town”) and a small Thai house.

We recommend stopping along the way at FOGG Gildeskål, where you can buy lovely locally made hats and other woollen garments inspired by and made for life along the coast.

If you want to avoid the Storvik tunnel, we recommend cycling the old road over the mountain pass.

You can spend the night at Inndyr or enjoy a good meal at Heimsjyen. If you want to enjoy the view, we recommend hiking up to Høgfjellknubben (55FF). Along the shore of Inndyr, Andklakken is a popular place for bathing and excursions. You will also discover a lot of rare and interesting botany here, including the fly orchid.

Things to do in Inndyr:

The road from Inndyr to the ferry landing at Sund winds through lush Nordland nature full of history. Stop at the church site on the way and see the medieval stone church. 

Catch the ferry from Sund to Sørarnøy (South Arnøy). You will get two islands in one here – Sørarnøy and Nordarnøy. The islands are connected by a bridge. On Nordarnøy (North Arnøy), you can enjoy a wonderful view from the coastal fort built here during the Second World War. 

Arnøy brygge, which is also situated here, offers accommodation, meals and boat rental. You will find the whitest sandy beach on the island at Skivika, which is a perfect place to end your bike ride!

From the Arnøy islands, you take the express boat to Bodø where the route ends.

Accommodation, places to eat and activities nearby

Travel by express boat

For the simplest logistics (regarding express boat and accommodation), we recommend starting at Vågaholmen in Rødøy and ending at Sørarnøy in Gildeskål. The rest is up to you.

Plan and book space for you and your bik eon the stretches you choose on the express boats. You can do this online at reisnordland.no.

Tips: If you buy the “Reis Nordland” Travel Pass , you have unlimited travel on express boats and buses throughout Nordland for one week. For prices and information check out Travel Pass Nordland.

Bonus tips: When you board, ask the crew if you will disembark the express boat via the upper or lower deck. This way you will avoid last-minute stress and needing to go up or down with your bike and baggage just before disembarking.