Recommend this pageContact us

8BA1901 - The Kingdom of Fjords and Glaciers

Wednesday, August 7, 2019 | Ursula Peter / Markus Albert | Edelweiss Bicycle Tours

Thanks for a fantastic week in this beautiful country.. And as Pamela said: close your eyes and you`ll see glaciers and fjords. Good bye everybody, safe travels, hope to seeing you again.
Ursula and Markus
The brave riders reached the final destination Alesund

Day 10: Sunde - Alesund

Last riding day. Nobody wanted to leave the lovely place in Sunde. Some has a swim in the Fjord, we were sitting and enjoying the evening sun and the view into the alps. Last not least the dinner was delicious and prepared with love by our nice host.

We are looking forward to the last kilometers along the Storfjord. Ålesund "the Venice of the North" is a famous Art Nouveau town. It is the last highlight of our tour. Once again we climb up high above Alesund to the famous viewpoint Aksla, the place for a postcard picture. So have your cameras ready - Alesund, in the background the archipelago and the summits of the Sunnmore Alps can be seen.

Heute ist der letzte Fahrtag. Niemand will wirklich auf die Räder steigen und diesen netten Platz direkt am Fähranleger verlassen. Einige haben im Fjord gebadet, wir haben in der Sonne gesessen,in die Alpen geschaut und das liebevoll zubereitete Essen unserer Hotelwirtin genossen.

Wir freuen uns über die letzten Kilometer entlang des Storfjords. Ålesund „das Venedig des Nordens“, die berühmte Jugenstilstadt, erwartet uns, der letzte Höhepunkt unserer Tour. Wir strampeln noch einmal einige Höhenmeter hinau, aber es lohnt sich. Der Aussichtspunkt Aksla bietet einen grandiosen Blick über die Stadt, die Schären und die Sunmore Alpen.

Lina and Ole
After the sweeping fire of January 23, 1904, which left 10,000 residents homeless, the German emperor Wilhelm II sent shiploads of provisions and building materials to Ålesund and it was rebuilt in characteristic Art Nouveau style. Canals and bridges add to the harbor atmosphere so that the town with its turrets, spires and gargoyles is also nicknamed “Little Venice”.
Great weather for the last stretch to our final destination Ålesund
Harald, Christine, Mark, Vera, Peggy
Mark and Peggy
Beautiful Ålesund

Day 9: Valldal - Sunde

The day starts with a shuttle through 3 tunnels. We leave the strawberry heaven and cycle along the coast of Storfjord. We cross the fjord twice today by ferry. Nomen est Omen, the name means "huge". With a length of 110 km it is the 5th longest fjord in Norway. The 1500 m high mountains descend dramatically down to the coast. It is interrupted by some valleys, which stretch up to 30 km into the hinterland. We find mild climate there

 

Der Tag beginnt mit einem Shuttle durch 3 Tunnel. Wir verlassen das Erdbeertal und radeln entlang der Küste des Storfjords. Wir kreuzen ihn heute zweimal mit der Fähre. Nomen est Omen – der Name bedeutet „riesig“. Mit 110 km Länge ist es der 5.Längste in Norwegen. Dramatisch steil fallen die 1500 m hohen Berge zur Küste ab, unterbrochen von einigen Tälern, die sich bis zu 30 km in Hinterland ziehen und mildes Klima aufweisen.

Approaching the last ferry port of the day cycling along Sykkylvsfjorden
Pam and Arlo are enjoying the great views over the fjord to the snow capped mountains in the back
Happy cyclists
Last ferry trip of our tour
Quiet countryside not far away from Ålesund where we’ll arrive tomorrow

Day 8: Geiranger - Valldal

Der Ørnesvingen– die Adlerschwingen – hoch über Geiranger gelegen mit einem unglaublichen Blick auf den Fjord ist unser Programm am Morgen. Eine kurze Fährfahrt bringt uns ins Valldal – das Erdbeerparadies Norwegens.

Hat noch jemand Lust auf eine kleine Runde ins Erdbeertal? In Jordbærstova gibt es den leckersten Erdbeerkuchen der Welt! Selstgemachte Erdbeermarmelade und andere norwegische Spezialitäten werden im ehemaligen Kuhstall verkauft.

Für die sportlichen gibt es heute ein spezielles Angebot. Mit einer neuen Batterie kommt man hoch bis zum Trollstigen und kann einen herrlichen Ausblick genießen.

 

The Ørnesvingen, the Eagle view, is located high above the Geiranger and offers incredible views over the fjord. A short ferry ride takes us to Valldal, best described as the strawberry paradise of Norway. 

For those you want to come on a little extra loop - very welcome. We cycle up the strawberry valley and in Jordbærstova we will eat the most delicious strawberry cake in the world. In the former cow stable they sell strawberry marmelade and other Norwegian delights.

 

 

Geirangerfjord
High above Geirangerfjord at Ornesvingen viewing platform with “7 sisters waterfall” in the background
Coffee stop at Eidsdal before taking another ferry
Ferry between Eidsdal and Linge
Queuing for a short ferry ride from Eidsdal to Linge
the strawberry valley. They put big pressure on me getting a strawberry cake
Vera in the strawberry fields
Joerdberstova
Finally we got it - the best one on this planet
we bought strawberries on the way back - they were the best one we have ever eaten
Markus waits for us at the hotel. Could it be that he eats a banana?

Day 7: Olden - Geiranger

Today's highlight is the fjord of the fjords, the Geiranger. It is a Unesco World Cultural Heritage Site and a duty visit for every Norwegian traveler. The Geiranger fjord has a steep slope, snow-capped peaks and enchanting waterfalls. From our hotel above the fjord, we have an incredible view of the village and the fjord Geiranger.

In case you didn`t cycle enough today and you have some power left over, hop on your bike and go up the Geirangervegen. This spectacular street is a masterpiece of architecture and leads you up Dalsnibba, 4.800 ft high. It is Scandinavian`s highest road and the view is just spectacular.

 

Das heutige Highlight ist der Fjord der Fjorde – Geiranger – UNESCO Weltkulturerbe und Pflicht für jeden Norwegen Reisenden. Der Geiranger Fjord begeistert mit schroff abfallenden Felswänden, schneebedeckten Gipfeln und bezaubernden Wasserfällen. Von unserem Hotel oberhalb des Fjords, haben wir einen unglaublichen Blick auf das Dorf und den Fjord Geiranger.

Für die Unersättlichen besteht die Möglichkeit nach Ankunft im Hotel sich noch einmal aufs Fahrrad zu schwingen und den Geirangervegen, die spektakuläre Straße hoch zum Dalsnibba, zu radeln um dort die fantastische Aussicht zu genießen. Dies ist mit 1.500 m die höchste Straße in ganz Scandinavien.

Quiet scenery on our way to Flo
Cycling along lake Nedrefloen between Stryn and Flo
Waterfalls are everywhere...
Team “gravel” (Christine, Peggy and Mark) on a tunnel bypass with an old tunnel
Happy faces at the end of a steep climb
Christine opens all gates for us
We even tackled single trails with our comfortable touring bikes.
Team "Asphalt" went a different way
En route to Geiranger
On the ferry boat to Geiranger
..but in Hellesylt we were all united and boarded for Geiranger
Geiranger - some impressions
they farmed in unbelieveable places - who can find the farmhouse?
there we gonna go tomorrow. So get some carbs
of course this hyperactive group wanted to go to Dalsnibba, the highest road in Scandinavia
some did it in the van - some did it with the bike - not some ok, Christine only - can find her?
bicycle parked and up she comes
could be an Edelweiss picnic place
united - in the background Geiranger
the first E-Bike maybe on Scandinavia`s highest street
the hero of the day

Day 6: Fjærland - Olden

Harald said: "it was the day of the day" - that means something from an Austrian

It was a wonderful day in a dramatic landscape. We sadly left Fjaerland and the Fjordstuve Hotel, because is was such a lovely place. Then we shuttled a part of the group to Skei for the long ride and the rest to Byrkjelo. We climbed up 600m in altitude and switchbacked down to the Innvikfjord with awesome views. In Olden the ride to the Brigsdalsbreen Glacier, an arm of the Jostedalbreen, was optional, but an absolutely highlight of the day too.

O-Ton Harald: "Das war der schönste Tag der Tour" (ok, er weiß noch nicht was ihn morgen erwartet) aber ein Kompliment dieser Art, dazu noch von einem Österreicher, der Berge und Gletscher gewöhnt ist, sagt schon was aus.

Es war ein wunderschöner Tag in einer dramatischen Landschaft. Keiner wollte so recht Fjaerland verlassen - es war so ein schöner Platz. Wir shuttelten durch die Tunnels - bis Skei die, die länger fahren wollten und den Rest der Gruppe bis Byrkjelo. Nach 600 Höhenmetern ging es in einigen Kehren hinab mit unglaublichen Blicken über den Innvik Fjord. In Olden bestand die Möglichkeit zum Brigsdalsbreen Gletscherarm zu radeln, ein weiterer Höhepunkt des Tages.

a morning in the Fjaerland Fjord
Continental Europe’s biggest glacier: Jostedalsbreen
the landscape is reflecting in the lake - it is kind of unreal
last view to the Jostedalbreen
Pam and Arlo - we had some good jokes from Lina, Ole and Sven
Stunning scenery on the way to Brigsdalsbreen glacier
50 shades of green
Country of the trolls
Final approach to Brigsdalsbreen glacier
Norway has water in abundance
Brigsdalsbreen glacier was definitely the highlight of the day
Beware - glacier ahead !
View over Innvikfjord before a long and fast descent
Approaching Olden
Mark on the way to Brigsdalsbreen glacier
Brigsdalsbreen in the afternoon
we hopped on a "Trollcar" and got a special guided tour to the glacier
view from our hotel ober the fjord

Day 5: Laerdal - Fjaerland

What a beautiful day! A ride along the Sognefjord, a boatride with the Glacier tours boat, Fjaerdal, the Glacier Museum and an awesome hotel. Have a look....

 

Was für ein wunderbarer Tag. Eine Radstrecke entlang des Sognefjord, eine Bootsfahrt in den Fjaerdalfjord mit Gletscher Tours, ein Besuch im Gletscher Museum und ein sehr besonderes Hotel. Schaut mal.....

 

Sognefjorden in the early morning
Waiting for the ferry boat ... taking ferries in Norway is like catching a bus back home

The ferry from Laerdal to Kaupanger is canceled . We loaded the all the bikes at pouring rain in the evening. 6 o' clock in the morning we started - tunnel, ferry, tunnel and anloaded at the shell station bikes and tourguide - life is hard sometimes.

 

Die Fähre zwischen Laerdal und Kaupanger ist leider eingestellt. Es wäre auch zu schön gewesen. Das bedeutet shutteln. Also laden wir die Räder am Abend bei strömenden Regen, stehen am nächsten morgen um 6 h auf - Tunnel, Fähre, Tunnel und entlanden and er Shell in Kaupanger

tourguide breakfast
along the Sognefjord - the second longest in the world
at the ferry in Hella
Shortly before boarding the Glaciertour boat to Fjærland
ferry ride into the Fjaerdalfjord. The Vikings already settled here. Until 1995 the Fjord was only reachable by boat.
Vera is enjoying the scenery
Arlo, Pam, Vera, Ursula, Christine
calender pictures
Fjaerdal
Our hotel at the shore of Fjærlandfjord from 1937
Evening scenery at Fjærland
Fjærland - the place where fjord and glacier meet
Dinner in Fjærland

Day 4: Aurland - Laerdal

Hoffentlich sind alle ausgeruht, denn heute wird es anstrengend. In Aurland beginnt eine kleine, enge Straße, zuerst ganz unscheinbar, meistens ohne Leitplanken. Sie wird steiler und steiler.Wir schrauben uns die engen Serpentinen hoch und höher. Die Aussicht ist schwindelerregend. Der Aurlandsfjord liegt tief unter uns und schneidet sich weit in die Landschaft. 

 

Hopefully you are well rested today. An exciting and excausting day is ahead of us. In Aurland starts a little, small street, unimposing first but than it gets steeper and steeper, without any guardrails. We will climb up a few tight switchbacks and screw ourselves higher and higher. For those who suffer from a freight of heights should hop on the van. We get rewarded by magnificent views of the Aurlandsfjord.

What a cosy breakfast room in our hotel from the 19th century at Auerland, close to the shore of Auerlandsfjord.
The perfect room for a Morning Briefing.
the Trolls at the morning briefing
they started out in a good mood and well equiped
Mark is enjoying the view high above Aurlandsfjord.
Panorama of Auerlandsfjord from the Stegastein viewing platform
the van delivered the luggage and came against the group - and what did I see at the top of the plateau? Team Austria - Christine and Vera far ahead
Peggy had shorties on all the way - temperature 6,5 C

Day 3: Voss - Aurland

Die steilste Eisenbahnstrecke der Welt, der schönste Radweg Norwegens und ein einsames, wunderschönes Tal stehen heute auf dem Programm. - eigentlich!! Wäre da nicht die norwegische Eisenbahn die uns übers Internet informiert, dass sie heute keine Räder mehr mitnimmt

Markus hatte eine aufregende Fahrt das schmale Tal hoch, wir luden die Fahrräder in den Van, Markus beeilte sich nach Flam zu kommen. Wir stellten leider fest, dass im gesamten Zug nicht ein einziges Fahrrad war und die ganze Mühe umsonst.

 

 

 

The steepest railroad in the world, the most beautiful cycling path Norway`s and a lonely, scenic valley are on our schedule for today. We leave Voss and roll along the Kleivelvi river to Mjoelfjell. Once again we`ll hop on the Bergenbahn, which brings us through the tunnel to Myrdal - this was the plan so far. Than we found out that the train in Mjoelfjell doesn`t take any bikes anymore - fully booked.

Markus had a challenging Van ride up to the train station, we loaded all the bikes, Markus left and rushed to Flam. We found out that the train was completely empty - not a single bike.

Anyway - it was a great riding day, an awesome lunch at the mountain lodges and an exciting train ride with the Flambanen.

 

Great weather and happy cyclists departing from Voss
the very beautiful valley of the Kleivelvi river
Pam is enjoying herself
Harald und Christine
the lunch in the mountain lodge tastes like home
after loading the bikes we were happy that a train arrived
in Myrdal we switched to the Flambanen, the steepest railway in the world
Kjosfossen waterfall
the Flam valley

Day 2: Bergen - Voss

Alle sind ein bisschen aufgeregt. Wir verlassen Bergen mit der berühmten Bergen Bahnm die Bergen mit Oslo verbindet. In Dale steigen wir aus und kommen gleich in Kontakt mit einer herrlichen Landschaft und schönen Strecke.

We leave Bergen with the famous Bergenbahn, which connects Bergen to Oslo. We excit in Dale und at once we are in an awesome Norwegian landscape and even better cycling trail.

 

 

a plastic free breakfast buffet - yes that is Norway
Christine und Harald
Vera, Peggy, Mark und Arlo
From Bergen to Dale on the famous Bergen Line
First contact with Norwegian mountain roads
Norway’s Stelvio Road on the way from Dale to Voss
Spectacular canyon road between Dale and Storfossdammen

Day 1: Arrival Bergen 

Welcome Briefing
Perfect tour start weather in Bergen
everything is prepared
thank you Ruth
Top of page

Blog search


Add a comment Rate this post
Domenico Schiano
Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 22:29

Woww, sehr schoen! Liebe Gruesse aus Nordkapp, Ursula und Markus, viel spass!!!
Domenico
Ursula Peter
Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 22:58

Hi Caro,
si un gruppo molto sportivo.
Ciao stammi bene
Ursula

Edelweiss Bike Travel