Coastline, Island and Fjord Explorer
Norway
Coastline, Island and Fjord Explorer
Norway
Ride THE best roads in Coastal Norway as voted by Scandinavian bikers and visit the cities of Oslo, Alesund and Bergen too.
Ben Spear and Felix Billington.
Find out more about Magellan Guides
Find out more about Magellan Guides
Norway is a fabulous country to explore on a Motorcycle. Our 21 day tour of Coastal Norway takes you on the best roads as voted by Scandinavian bikers, and the scenery is simply epic. You have time to explore the capital, Oslo, and the classic cities of Bergen and Alesund - arguably the most beautiful city in Norway. Sensible mileages, great roads, comfortable hotels and did we mention the views? A classic Magellan tour that ticks all the boxes.
After leaving Harwich on the overnight crossing to Holland, you kick this amazing trip off with riding through Holland and Germany all the way to the Danish border. From here you ride the length of Denmark south to north through fields and forests until you reach the port of Hirtshals for the ferry to Norway. Once off the ferry, you are thrust straight into true Scandinavian beauty and onto the epic roads this country boasts.
On your second day in Norway you can choose from a selection of beautiful rideouts, including the world-famous pulpit rock (Preikestolen) with its 500m vertical drop to Lysfjord. From here you head northwards skirting the stunning mountain plateau of the Hardangervidda. You explore the magical fjords, islands and National Park region, before heading northwards again to the coastal city of Bergen. You spend the following day exploring Bergen, or you can get back in the saddle for a rideout which explores the nearby islands and fjords this country is so famous for.
Our Norway & Sweden Scandinavia and Arctic Circle tour is so popular that we’ve launched a second Norway trip that focuses on the best possible roads in Norway. You ride totally different areas on this trip so its perfect for first timers to Norway or for those who have ridden our other trip and want to see more of this fabulous riding mecca.
Leaving Bergen and heading ever northwards you ride alongside the eerie fjords and between majestic peaks to the borders of the Jostedalsbreen National Park. Another selection of great rideouts await the following day, including exploring around the Jostedalsbreen National Park or riding the fjords and islands right to the North Atlantic Ocean.
Creeping northwards once more you have a shorter day of fjords and island hopping to get to the achingly beautiful island city of Alesund. The next day you can choose to explore Alesund, with its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, take a boat trip, visit the Atlantic sea park, or follow our rideout to explore the surrounding islands.
Time to stop and take a picture!
Time to stop and take a picture!
Finally heading southwards, you ride the awe inspiring Trollstigen or “Ladder of the Trolls” with switchback after switchback up the mountainside and then down the spine of Norway to Lillehammer with its famous ski jumps and Olympic museum. Continuing southwards you get to the Norwegian capital city of Oslo, arriving in time to explore this fascinating city.
The following day is spent in Oslo, with its beautiful churches, fortresses, Viking ships, and maritime history before taking the overnight ferry back to Denmark. Arriving early the next day you make your way back down through Denmark, Germany and Holland to your return overnight ferry back to the UK.
Ride THE best Roads in Norway on this 21 day journey of exploration.
Tour highlights
Ride the best roads in all of Coastal Norway, as voted by Scandinavian bikers themselves. Experience the 33 linked hairpins of the amazing mountain road out of Lysboten and climb the awesome Trollstigen, the “Ladder of the Trolls”.
Visit the world-famous pulpit rock (Preikstolen) with its 500m vertical drop to Lysfjord.
Explore Alesund, arguably the most beautiful city in Norway, and Bergen the classic Norwegian coastal city with its spectacular waterfront and cable car and then ride one of the 10 the most scenic railways in the world up to the Hardangervidda plateau.
'Riding past the Fjords and seeing the just totally jaw dropping scenery that Norway has was immense. I still can't believe that I rode my bike all the way here. An amazing 'bucket list' experience. So good I might just have to do it all over again!'David
Spend time exploring the Norwegian capital city of Oslo, with its many museums, Viking ships, parks, fjord cruises and fortresses.
Ride to the National Parks of Hardangervidda and the largest mountain plateau in Europe.
Explore the amazing coastal landscape of fjords and islands, carved by glaciers millennia ago, which now make up the western coast of Norway. Ferries and undersea tunnels galore!
Tour Map / Itinerary
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Board the 23:00 Stena Line overnight ferry to Rotterdam. En-suite cabin accommodation on board.
Day 2 237 Miles
Through the open countryside of Holland and much of Germany to your overnight stop in Oldendberg.
Day 3 180 Miles
You ride through the German countryside and cross the mighty river Elbe by ferry to Flensburg.
Day 4 231 Miles
Today you ride the whole length of Denmark south to north to your hotel in the ferry port of Hirtshals.
Day 5 137 Miles
After catching an early ferry to Norway you arrive in Kristiansand, and then ride to your 100 year old traditional Norwegian hotel near Stavanger.
Day 6 120 or 190 Miles
A selection of rideouts, including to the world famous pulpit rock and the hairpins at the fjord head in Lyseboten.
Day 7 155 Miles
Heading north you ride to the edge of the awesome mountain plateau Hardangervidda.
Day 8 111 or 288 Miles
Choice of rideouts today around the fjords or the Hardangervidda National Park.
Day 9 155 Miles
Heading north again you explore the fjords on the way to your overnight stop in Bergen.
Day 10 155 Miles
Choose a rideout around the neighbouring fjords and islands, or a day off the bike to explore Bergen.
Day 11 186 Miles
Northwards once more, skirting fjords and mountains to the border of the Jostedalsbreen National Park.
Day 12 141 or 248 Miles
Another choice of rideouts in the National Park or exploring the fjords leading to the North Atlantic Ocean.
Day 13 102 Miles
Fjords and island-hopping northwards again to the achingly beautiful island city of Alesund.
Day 14 135 Miles
Choose an island hopping rideout, or a day off the bike to explore Alesund.
Day 15 243 Miles
Finally heading south again, down the spine of Norway to Lillehammer with its impressive ski jump and Olympic museum.
Day 16 104 Miles
Shorter day today to allow time to explore Oslo in the afternoon.
Day 17 Explore Day
Day off the bike to explore Oslo, and then you catch the early evening ferry for the overnight crossing to Denmark.
Day 18 220 Miles
Riding back after an early ferry arrival, through rural Denmark to your hotel in the harbour town of Flensburg.
Day 19 200 Miles
Leaving Denmark you ride through most of Germany to your hotel in Wardenburg.
Day 20 230 Miles
South through Germany and Holland to catch the overnight ferry to the UK from the Hook of Holland. En-suite cabin accommodation on board.
Day 21
Arrive back in Harwich at 6am for the final ride home.
What's included
Ferry returns Harwich – Hook of Holland with cabin and Hirtshals to Kristiansand, and Oslo to Frederikshavn with cabin .
18 Nights accommodation in good quality hotels, plus 2 nights ferry cabin accommodation.
Excellent breakfast each morning.
Full use of all hotels’ leisure facilities.
Detailed route plans and maps.
GPS routes (Garmin / Tom Tom).
Detailed daily itinerary including sights and suggested coffee / lunch stops.
What's not
Fuel.
Toll charges and ferry charges for short crossings. We will provide an estimate of costs in the tour pack.
Admission charges.
Occasional hotel parking charges.
Meals and drinks other than specified above.
Travel/Breakdown insurance covering repatriation back to the UK.
Common questions about this trip
Can I get a different crossing on this trip?
Of course, if you would like us to book a different ferry crossing point just let us know in the comments section of your booking form and we can organise this for you.
When is the best time of year to do this trip?
July and August as a rule although June can work with a dash of luck. The riding season in Norway is very short and many of the areas we travel through are impassable outside of this window.
Is Norway as expensive as people say?
In a word, yes. Although lunches are quite reasonable where we plan the stops, the real kicker is the cost of alcohol in some of the hotels but there is always a shop nearby if you want to go and get a couple of beers or a bottle of wine to enjoy on the terraces.
I’ve heard the speed limits are really low in Norway, is this true?
In some areas they can be fairly low but most roads are in the usual 80/90kmph limit you would expect from any European country. Speed cameras in general are forward facing so not so much of an issue on bikes and police are few and far between although if caught speeding fines can be means tested and very high so do take care.
It's a long tour, will I be too tired and is it suitable for pillions?
While the number of days is high its done so that we don’t have to use motorways and can keep the daily riding times much lower than most other companies so it shouldn’t be too tiring. We also have a number of rest days scheduled in with plenty of off bike activities so that combined with the standard of hotels we use on the trips makes it a perfect trip for pillions.
More information
For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.
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