Mjølkevegen: The Grand Tour (9-days)
If you’d like to get the most in-depth experience of Mjølkevegen, The Grand Tour is the perfect option for you. This 9-day trip will cover most of Mjølkevegen and its detours, taking you from Lemonsjøen in the north to Golsfjellet on the south side of the famous cycling route.Mjølkevegen is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful cycling routes Norway has to offer, and The Grand Tour will give you one of the best possible experiences of this region in Valdres. On this exciting and adventure-filled trip, you’ll see some of the best highlights and hidden gems in and around Mjølkevegen – and it’s definitely a cycling holiday you’ll never forget.
On the first day of this once-in-a-lifetime trip, you’ll enjoy a scenic journey from the hustle and bustle of Oslo to the quiet, rural Valdres region. Your first night will be spent at Lemonsjøen Mountain Lodge, which is a charming cabin located in Jotunheimen national Park, overlooking the beautiful Lemonsjø lake.
On the second day, you’ll cycle from Lemonsjøen to Ruten. The trail will take you along gravel mountain roads through the Murudalen Valley, and you’ll see beautiful rivers such as Sjoa and Muru as well as the lakes Slangen and Olstappen. To reach Ruten Mountain Lodge where you’ll be staying the night, you can either follow the main road or take an alternative nature path along the river Espa. Ruten Mountain Lodge is a delightful, authentic guest house beautifully situated in Gudbrandsdalen, which is one of the best known valleys in Norway.
The next day, you’ll cycle to Bygdin Mountain Hotel located at the foot of Jotunheimen. The route will take you along the idyllic Jotunheimvegen, and you’ll experience the local farming and natural landscape. You’ll likely encounter grazing cows, sheep, goats and maybe even reindeer as you cycle along these quiet country roads – and you’ll have a beautiful view of mountains in the distance. Bygdin Mountain Hotel is a charming, historic hotel with a long-standing tradition of welcoming guests to this beautiful region of Norway.
The following day is packed with adventure and experiences. You’ll hike the mountain Synshorn, which sits 1457 meters above sea level, and offers an incredible view of Jotunheimen. This is a beautiful, short hike which is well-suited to beginners and experienced hikers alike, and which conveniently starts at the doorstep of Bygdin Hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll experience a mini cruise with the historic boat M/B Bitihorn, which will take you from Bygdin to Eidsbugarden with a stop at Torfinnsbu. The scenic boat journey offers breathtaking views of the natural landscape in Jotunheimen from the unique vantage point of the Bygdin lake. When you disembark M/B Bitihorn, you’ll hop on your bike for a quick ride from Eidsbugarden to Tyinholmen, where you’ll spend the night at the calm, rustic Tyinholmen, which is one of the most historic places in Jotunheimen. Once you’ve settled in, you still have enough time left of the afternoon to enjoy a bike ride or hike in the beautiful local area.
On the next day, you’ll cycle from Tyinholmen to Filefjellstuene. The route will take you along the stunning Tyin Lake on peaceful country roads towards Tyinkrysset. You’ll head south until you reach Filefjellstuene Lodge, which is a lovely family-run resort located in the heart of the Tyin-Filefjell area.
The following day will see you cycling from Filefjellstuene to Syndinstøga, making your way along quiet mountain roads. Beautiful views of Jotunheimen will accompany you on your journey, and you’ll spend the night at Syndinstøga. This idyllic mountain lodge is beautifully situated between the lakes Midtre and Nordre Syndin, and the café serves delicious local food and baked goods.
On day 7, you’ll follow the trail across Grønnsen from Syndingstøga to Gomobu. This scenic route will take you along the south side of Syndin lakes, and you’ll cycle on roads as well as trails. When you arrive at Gomobu Mountain Lodge in Vaset, you’ll stay in one of their charming rooms or cozy cabins.
The next day, you’ll bike from Gomobu to Kamben in Golsfjell. The lovely route will take you along Panoramavegen, which is a beautiful scenic sideroad off Mjølkevegen. It’s a flat terrain, making for a pleasant and easy journey towards the cozy, traditional Kamben Mountain Lodge where you’ll spend your last night of the trip.
On the final day of the trip, you’ll be taken from Kamben to Fagernes by bus, and from Fagernes you’ll once again ride with the comfortable and modern Valdresekspressen back to Oslo.
Meal plan:
- Full Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Luggage transportation:
- From Lemonsjøen Fjellstue to Bygdin Høifieldshotell
- From Bygdin Høifieldshotell to Tyinholmen Høyfjellsstuer
- From Tyinholmen Høyfjellsstuer to Syndinstøga
- From Syndinstøga to Gomobu Fjellstue
- From Gomobu Fjellstue to Kamben Høyfjellshotell
Accommodation:
- Day: 1 - Lemonsjøen Fjellstue
- Day: 2 - Ruten Fjellstue
- Day: 3 - Bygdin Høifieldshotell
- Day: 4 - Tyinholmen Høyfjellsstuer
- Day: 5 - Tyin Filefjellstuene
- Day: 6 - Syndinstøga
- Day: 7 - Gomobu Fjellstue
- Day: 8 - Kamben Høyfjellshotell
Agenda day 1:
Bus: (Nor-Way) Oslo Bus Terminal → Lemonsjøen 10:20 → 15:54
Time: 6 hour(s)Ride with Valdresekspressen!
Enjoy the scenic journey from Oslo to the Valdres Region. After leaving the bustle of the capital you will soon find yourself on countryside roads passing through small towns and surrounded by lakes and fields. As you get further into the country, you will see the mountains in the distance and before you know you’ll find yourself climbing the steep roads that take you straight into the national park. The coach has adjustable seats, free WiFi, outlets with USB charging ports and toilet facilities on board.
Accommodation: Lemonsjøen Fjellstue
Lemonsjø Mountain Lodge is a typical little cabin in Jotunheimen National Park. It is located next to Lemonsjø Lake. Many popular trails run via Lemonsjø and the friendly hosts accommodate both hikers and cyclists during the popular summer months.
Agenda day 2:
Cycling: Lemonsjøen → Ruten
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 3-6 hour(s)
Distance: 59 kilometers
Ascent height: 750 meters
Descent height: 730 metersTravel on gravel road through Murudalen and along several mesmerising rivers such as the river Sjoa, and the river Muru with its impressive twists and turns. Around halfway there will be a steep descent that takes you back down towards the river and past the Lake Slangen, around Lake Olstappen. During summer you might run into goats and other farm animals grazing in the area. For the last stage up to Ruten fjellstue you can either follow the main road or alternatively try the little yet more strenuous path through nature along the river Espa.
Accommodation: Ruten Fjellstue
Ruten Mountain Lodge lies in Gudbrandsdalen, one of the most iconic valleys in Norway. You'll find the lodegs in the Espedalen valley, next to Bjørnsonvegen. This area also goes by the name of Elgland because one of Europe's largest moose herds cross here.
Agenda day 3:
Cycling: Jotunheimvegen (Ruten Fjellstue → Bygdin Høyfjellshotell)
Difficulty: Challenging
Time: 4-5 hour(s)
Distance: 63 kilometers
Ascent height: 870 meters
Descent height: 690 metersFollow the idyllic Jotunheimvegen through beautiful nature and farming landscape. Keep an eye out for reindeer grazing in the area. The route follows the shore along the Vinstrevatn where you will most likely meet cows, sheep and goats grazing freely in the area. Here you get close to the mountain farm life, which is an important part of the Valdres culture. Further on you will see some spectacular mountains and also have hiking opportunities along the way; such as Synshorn and Bitihorn
Accommodation: Bygdin Høifieldshotell
Bygdin Fjellhotel is situated south of Jotunheimen, near the lake "Bygdin" in an altitude of 3910 ft. It is 12km north of Beitostølen and 22 km from Besseggen. The main road 51 over Valdresflya passes the hotel. The Hotel was built in 1912, and in 1955 and 1965 extensions were added on. The hotel has an old-fashioned warm style,which has been maintained throughout the entire building. Bygdin Fjellhotel is situated at the boarder of Jotunheimen National Park, with a view to fantastic scenery over the mountains with peaks up to 6900ft.
Agenda day 4:
Hiking: Synshorn
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1-2 hour(s)
Distance: 5 kilometers
Elevation at peak: 1457 meters
Ascent height: 450 metersSynshorn at 1457 meters above sea level invites to a fantastic view of Jotunheimen. The trail is easy to follow and climb, and varies from soft terreng to rock closer to the peak. The hike is well suited for beginners and is a short hike starting at the doorsteps of Bygdin Hotel.
Cruise: (M/B Bitihorn) Bygdin → Eidsbugarden: 13:30 → 15:15
Cruise on the lake Bygdin with M/B Bitihorn. Between Bygdin and Eidsbugarden.
Cycling: Eidsbugarden → Tyinholmen
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour(s)
Distance: 3 kilometers
Ascent height: 220 metersCycle from Eidsbugarden up to Tyinholmen just a few km away. There’s still enough time left of the afternoon to take a side trip on your bicycle into the Koldedalen Valley with a phenomenal view towards the legendary mountain of Falketind or hike up to "Utsikten", the mountain named “View”.
Accommodation: Tyinholmen Høyfjellsstuer
Tyinholmen is one of the most traditional places in Jotunheimen. Since it's opening in 1892 it has served as an excellent starting point to discover Jotunheimen. It lies at the North end of the Tyin Lake.
Agenda day 5:
Cycling: Tyinholmen → Filefjellstuene
Difficulty: Challenging
Time: 1-3 hour(s)
Distance: 20 kilometers
Ascent height: 80 meters
Descent height: 280 metersCycle on gravel road along the magnificent Tyin Lake down to Tyinkrysset and then Filefjellstuene. This scenic lower mountain landscape is very peaceful with the occasional sheep field on the side of the road. Notice the drastic difference in scenery from the previous legs. Tyinkrysset is an important crossing in this region; the West-road will take you to Lærdal and the East-road will take you to Vangsmjøse and eventually Fagernes. You will follow the road going South until you reach the charming Filefjellstuene, a family run accommodation which lies right in the centre of the Tyin-Filefjell area.
Accommodation: Tyin Filefjellstuene
Filefjellstuene is located in amid beautiful surroundings, in the heart of Tyin/Filefjell. It is a lively place both during summer and winter as there a re loads of activities to do here such as ski touring, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, and trekking. Welcome
Agenda day 6:
Cycling: Filefjellstuene → Syndinstøga
Difficulty: Challenging
Time: 3-5 hour(s)
Distance: 53 kilometers
Ascent height: 974 meters
Descent height: 891 metersAccommodation: Syndinstøga
Syndsinstøga is located among charming mountain pastures and cabin areas. Syndsinstøga has a restaurant, local shop, apartments, cabins and a few lavvos. The small mountain lodge offers a true local atmosphere and is a meeting point for the locals. The area is a good fit for biking tours and different day-activities.
Agenda day 7:
Cycling: Syndinstøga → Gomobu (trail accross Grønnsen)
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2-4 hour(s)
Distance: 29 kilometers
Ascent height: 423 meters
Descent height: 416 metersThis alternative route will take you back to Gomobu on the south side of Syndin lakes. The route crosses both roads and trails. And during wet periods the trail can be difficult to use. The route is scenic and great for biking. Even the trail is great for off-road biking. The off-road trail is about 4-5 km long.
Accommodation: Gomobu Fjellstue
At Gomobu you will stay in rooms or cozy cottages.
Agenda day 8:
Cycling: Gomobu → Kamben (via Panoramavegen)
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2-3 hour(s)
Distance: 35 kilometers
Ascent height: 330 meters
Descent height: 377 metersCycle one of the sideroads of Mjølkevegen on the "Panorama-road". The route is flat and easy, perfect for the entire family.
Accommodation: Kamben Høyfjellshotell
Kamben is a great starting point for trips to the West Coast with its magical fjords (Sognefjorden and Geirangerfjorden) and mountains.
Agenda day 9:
Bus: (Kamben Hotel) Kamben → Fagernes (TBD at location)
Transport from Kamben Hotel to Fagernes
Bus: (Nor-Way) Fagernes → Oslo Bus Terminal: 11:45 → 14:50
Ride with Valdresekspressen!
Enjoy the scenic journey from Oslo to the Valdres Region. After leaving the bustle of the capital you will soon find yourself on countryside roads passing through small towns and surrounded by lakes and fields. As you get further into the country, you will see the mountains in the distance and before you know you’ll find yourself climbing the steep roads that take you straight into the national park. The coach has adjustable seats, free WiFi, outlets with USB charging ports and toilet facilities on board.
Book now:
Available Tours:
June, 2021 |
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