Over five days by bike, you'll cover around 422 km and 9,800 metres of altitude! The experiences and highlights will come thick and fast as you pedal through the steep and narrow valleys of Ryfylke.
Individual arrival at Stavanger Airport, Sola, possibly by boat to Risavika or by bus or train to Sandnes or Stavanger. It is recommended that all participants meet at Kronen Gaard Hotel by 18:00 the day before the first cycling day. Pick-up and transport to Kronen Gaard Hotel can be arranged. One of the NBE (Norway Bike Experience) employees will meet you at the airport or another agreed location. Once everyone is together, there will be a joint dinner and gathering with a review of the trip for the coming days and a presentation of guides and equipment. Customisation of bikes as needed and agreed.
The group spends the last night in Stavanger at Hotel Victoria. Transport to Stavanger Airport, Sola, will be arranged in the morning by NBE. The departure time will be adjusted according to when most of the group departs. The airport bus departs every 20 minutes from various locations in and around the city centre if you want to leave earlier or later. If you have booked additional tours, such as a trip to Preikestolen the next day, the NBE guide will inform you of the meeting point and provide the necessary information.
Day 1 - From city to countryside
- Sandnes - Årdal 92 km
- Altitude metres: +1 343 / -1 341
Loading of luggage on the support vehicle and departure from the hotel after breakfast. Time is determined based on ferry departure from Lauvvik. Participants cycle approx. 20 km to Lauvvik, which is a slightly hilly stage on roads with little traffic and will give you a taste of what awaits you further on the trip. Afterwards, there is a ferry across Høgsfjorden to Oanes and the stage continues towards Årdal. At Jørpeland, a detour is planned to see the sun mirror, also known as ‘Norway's Stonehenge’. At Solbakk, the group turns off the main road and cycles over the hill to Bjørheimsbygd, where there will be a lunch break. The tour continues along Tysdalsvatnet and Ryfylkevegen before the group arrives in Årdal for an overnight stay at the charming Høyland Farm.
Day 2 - Fjords and mountains
- Årdal - Sauda 102 km
- Altitude metres: +1 996 / -2 026
The stage goes to Sauda, located in the centre of Ryfylke. From Årdal, the group follows rv. 13 for a while before turning off the main road and cycling along Hetlandsvatnet to Fister. Then the participants take the main road again just before Hjelmeland. From Hjelmeland, the group takes an electric and environmentally friendly ferry across the fjord to Nesvik. On the way to Sauda, there will be cycling in varied and hilly terrain from fjords and mountains to forests and valleys. Before arriving in Sauda, there is a stop at Svandalsfossen. This is an attraction in itself and you can get right up close to the waterfall. In Sauda, you'll spend the night at the Kløver Hotel, which is located right in the town centre and from here it's just a few minutes' walk to Saudahallen, which has a large swimming pool and its own wellness area.
Day 3 - Norway in miniature
- Sauda - Sand 115 km
- Altitude metres: +2 334 / -2 324
The tour leaves Sauda and here starts the climb to Røldalsfjellet. There will be time for a short stop at Allmannajuvet on the way up the valley that takes you to almost 1,000 metres above sea level. The cycle tour continues along Røldalsvatnet lake through Brattlandsdalen valley before the group reaches Nesflaten for a lunch break. Along Suldalsvatnet there is a detour up to Børkjenes, an old farm with a historic atmosphere, where you will be served snacks and given a guided tour of the farm. The participants will then cycle to Sand, where they will check in at Ryfylke Fjordhotell.
In this part, the tour goes through several tunnels. Most of these tunnels are between 150 - 500 metres and are relatively quick to cycle through. The longest tunnel is about 2,200 metres. Then there are a couple of shorter tunnels of around 1,000m. Safety is important on the tours, therefore details and information will be provided to all participants on how to cycle in tunnels. NBE's support vehicle will also be on hand to assist with safety when the group is cycling in tunnels. Lights on the front and back of the bike are mandatory.
Day 4 - Lysefjord landscape
- Sand - Forsand 105 km
- Altitude metres: +2 438 / -2 447
This day we cycle over two small mountains, starting with the road over Gullingen. The summit is 620 metres and the gradient is between 7 - 10 %. From the top, the group rolls down towards Jøsenfjorden, where the views and dramatic natural formations follow you down to the fjord. The group cycles along the Hjelmelandsfjord to Nesvik and takes the ferry to Hjelmeland. When you arrive in Hjelmeland, you'll stop at Apal Sideri for a guided tour and samples from their production.
The journey continues in the hilly terrain past Årdal. A few kilometres after Årdal you leave rv. 13 and head over the second mountain of the day, Lyngsheia, to Songesand. Here you take the speedboat to Forsand, where you'll spend the night at Gøysa Gard.
Day 5 - Back to the city
- Forsand - Stavanger 93 km
- Altitude metres: +1 102 / -1 113
The trip continues the short distance to Oanes and then there is a ferry across the fjord to Lauvvik. The tour continues to Ims and turns off the road towards Bersagel and Hommersåk before leaving the rural environment and cycling through Sandnes on the way to Jærstrendene. Here you'll make a short stop at Vigdelstranden before continuing to Sola Strand Hotel for lunch. After lunch, there will be a stop at Sola Ruin Church. The journey continues past Stavanger Airport, Sola, and Hafrsfjord before arriving at Sverd i fjell at Hafrsfjord, where there will be a stop to hear about the Battle of Hafrsfjord in the 8th century. The tour continues via Madla and the university area before you get to try your hand at Grisabakken, the infamous and well-known hill from the Tour of Norway, where many of the world's best cyclists take part every year. After a photo stop at Ullandhaugtårnet, you'll continue to Gandsfjorden and follow the cycle trunk road towards Stavanger. There will be sightseeing in the centre of Stavanger and Old Stavanger, which consists of Northern Europe's best-preserved wooden buildings before you check in at Hotel Victoria, where a farewell dinner will be held in the evening.
