CVE 2601 The Viking Experience
Today our guests arrived! Ten adventurers from the US have joined us, and everyone is excited for the week ahead. We kicked things off with our welcome meeting and safety briefing. Bill, one of our returning guests, has attended more than twenty of our briefings over the years and was pleasantly surprised to discover we'd introduced a new format. After all, no tour is ever exactly the same! Once the formalities were complete, it was time to hand over the keys and let everyone meet the vehicle that will be their trusted companion for the next eight days. To round off the day, we enjoyed a great dinner together at the hotel before calling it a night. Even though the sun doesn't set until 11 p.m., everyone is ready for some well-earned rest. We can't wait to hit the road tomorrow!
Our journey headed west from Oslo, and before long the traffic faded as we rode into the scenic Numedal Valley. We made our first coffee stop in Kongsberg, a charming town in Norway’s famous skiing region, before crossing the bridge for a photo of the first waterfall on the tour. Before lunch, we entered the beautiful Telemark region and visited the impressive Heddal Stave Church, the largest surviving stave church in Norway. Built in the early 13th century, its unique wooden architecture and intricate carvings made it one of the country’s most iconic medieval landmarks. According to local legend, a troll named Finn built the church in just three days. Later, we stopped at the Vrangfoss Locks, the largest lock system on the 105 km (65-mile) Telemark Canal. Carved through solid rock by hand in the mid-19th century, it remains one of Norway’s greatest engineering achievements. After a fantastic first day of riding in beautiful sunshine, we enjoyed a well-earned beer and dinner at our hotel near the lake in Vrådal.
Today promises to be another unforgettable day. We wake up to sunshine and one of the most scenic routes of the tour. After enjoying our first breakfast buffet at the motorcycle hotel, it's time for the daily briefing before setting off. A short briefing later, we're on the road with 325 kilometres ahead of us. Our first stop is by the tranquil shores of Lake Vråvatn for a quick photo opportunity. The water is almost perfectly still, reflecting the surrounding landscape like a mirror. From there, the road becomes wonderfully twisty—a gentle warm-up for what's to come. Before long, it's time for a classic Norwegian coffee break. The stop may be "just" a gas station, but with its inviting seating area, it's more charming than many cafés. For lunch, László has prepared another fantastic picnic. The scenery is spectacular, although the weather tries to keep us on our toes with a passing shower. Luckily, our timing couldn't have been better, and we enjoy our meal under the shelter of a covered picnic area. Then it's time for the highlight of the day. We put on our rain gear before heading towards the legendary Lysebotn Road, only to remove it again as we reach the top and the skies clear. Ahead lie 27 spectacular hairpin bends. Most riders only experience them in one direction, but not us. We ride them all the way down to Lysebotn, take in the breathtaking views at the bottom of the fjord, and then turn around to conquer every corner again on the climb back up. It's pure motorcycling bliss. Towering rock walls surround us as we wind our way through the valley, with every turn revealing another incredible view. By the time we reach our afternoon coffee stop, the rain is nothing more than a memory. Some choose coffee, others celebrate with an ice cream, but everyone shares the same feeling: amazement at the spectacular landscape we've just experienced. From there, it's a short ride to our beachfront hotel in Sola. We arrive just before the rain returns—a perfect ending to an incredible day on the road.
Today was our first rest day of the tour. We spent it at the beach in Sola, where the weather was pleasant, although perhaps not quite warm enough for a day on the sand. We offered two optional activities: a scenic ride along the southern coastline and a hike to Preikestolen. Some riders chose the motorcycle option, joining Laszlo for a spectacular 200 km round trip along the coast to the south. Aimee, Bruce, and Charlie joined Michel for the hike to Preikestolen. After a short motorcycle ride through a 15 km-long tunnel, we arrived at the trailhead. About an hour and a half later, we reached the famous cliff, where we were rewarded with breathtaking views over the Lysefjord—the same fjord we visited at the end of yesterday's ride. After returning to the hotel, the three hikers met up with MaryAnn for a boat trip on the Lysefjord, giving them the chance to experience the spectacular scenery from the water as well.
Today we headed north along Norway’s spectacular coastline, island hopping through an impressive network of underwater tunnels and bridges before reaching the ferry from Mortavika to Arsvågen. The 24-minute crossing was the perfect opportunity for our first coffee break of the day. Back on the road, we continued across more bridges connecting the small islands before stopping for another coffee east of Folgefonna National Park, surrounded by breathtaking snow-covered mountains. Our route then followed the old road along the Åkrafjord, where we made photo stops at the magnificent Langfoss and the iconic Låtefossen waterfalls, two unforgettable highlights of the day. Lunch was enjoyed in a cozy Norwegian coffee bar in Odda. In the afternoon, we rode along the stunning Hardangerfjord to one of Norway’s engineering masterpieces, the Hardanger Bridge. After crossing the bridge and passing directly into the tunnel on the other side, we turned west and continued following the beautiful fjord. The afternoon rewarded us with spectacular views of snow-covered mountains and more crystal-clear lakes. One final coffee and fuel stop later, we arrived in Bergen, where our hotel will be our home for the next two nights after another incredible day of riding through Norway’s breathtaking landscapes.
Today, on our rest day in Bergen, we took a morning ride with Bill, Mike, Nolan and Kirk north to Sotra Island to visit the famous Fjell Fortress war memorial. Luckily, we met a gentleman there who told us many interesting stories about the battleships and the cannons used during the Second World War. Back in Bergen, after lunch at the fish market, we walked through the city and visited its most important highlights. The funicular ride up the mountain was short, but the view over the city and the surrounding fjords was simply stunning. The rest of the group took the funicular in the morning and began a long hike from there to Mount Ulriken. Following scenic mountain trails, they enjoyed breathtaking panoramic views of Bergen, the surrounding islands, and the fjords. Despite some steep sections, the hike was a memorable experience and a wonderful way to discover the natural beauty that surrounds the city.
Today we leave the beautiful city of Bergen behind and head back inland, following Norway's spectacular fjords. The rain has just stopped as we leave the hotel and make our way out of the city along the same route we rode in on. After a short stretch of highway and main road, we arrive in Dale for our first coffee stop. From here, the ride becomes much more exciting. We swap the busy E16 for an old road that runs almost parallel to it, but with hardly any traffic and plenty of twists and turns. Along the way, we're greeted by countless sheep, many of which seem perfectly happy to wander onto the road. Our next stop is Tvindefossen. You might think, "Just another waterfall," but this one is truly impressive—and it's certainly not the last waterfall we'll see today. A little later, we stop at the top of Stalheimskleiva. Although the historic road itself is now closed to motorcycles, the viewpoint at the top offers spectacular scenery that's more than worth the break. Next, we head to Undredal for lunch, a charming village nestled on the shores of the Aurlandsfjord. Everything here is made with local ingredients, and the village is famous for its goat cheese and cured meats. Naturally, that's what we order, enjoying our meal with an incredible view across the fjord. Best of all, the rain has stayed away all day. The final highlight is the breathtaking Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route. A series of sweeping switchbacks climbs high into the mountains before opening onto a vast plateau, where snowfields still linger even in summer. After descending, a short ferry crossing takes us over the Sognefjord before we arrive at our authentic hotel in Fjærland. A delicious dinner with a beautiful view is the perfect way to end another unforgettable day of riding through Norway.
We started the day near the beautiful Sognefjord, riding south along the same scenic road as yesterday through tunnels and forests before reaching Sogndalsfjøra. From there, we turned west and followed Norway’s longest and deepest fjord to the ferry at Dragsvik. After nine hairpin turns, we reached a fantastic viewpoint overlooking the winding road and the beautiful Nystølsvatnet Lake. We continued through the stunning landscapes of Jostedalsbreen National Park and later enjoyed a relaxing picnic by a peaceful lake near Skei. Jostedalsbreen National Park, established in 1991, is home to the largest glacier on the European mainland. With its glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and mountains, it is one of Norway’s most impressive natural areas. From there, we enjoyed even more great riding before climbing the 13 hairpin turns up to the Dalsnibba viewpoint at around 1,500 meters above sea level. Together with the spectacular Geiranger viewpoint, it was one of the highlights of the day. We finished with the famous Geirangervegen, descending almost 1,000 meters on a road full of twisty curves and around 20 more hairpin bends. After an unforgettable day on the bike, we relaxed in the jacuzzi and enjoyed a delicious dinner at our beautiful hotel near the fjord.
A few days ago, we had a decision to make: should we take a scenic cruise on the Geirangerfjord or ride over the famous Trollstigen? It didn't take long for the group to decide—we all preferred another day in the saddle over a day on the water. So off we went, starting with the 11 switchbacks of Ørnevegen (Eagle Road) climbing out of Geiranger. At the final hairpin, we stopped at the viewpoint overlooking the fjord, where the cruise ships looked tiny against the dramatic landscape. Absolutely breathtaking. From there, we boarded the final ferry of the tour before stopping for coffee at Gudbrandsjuvet. Here, the river has carved a deep, narrow gorge through the rock, and you can really appreciate the incredible power of the water. The view from the café certainly wasn't bad either. Then came the highlight of the day—and for many, the highlight of the tour: Trollstigen, often called the Stelvio of Norway. From the top, we were treated to an incredible view of the twisting road waiting below. Then it was time to ride it ourselves: 700 metres of descent through 11 legendary hairpin bends. For this group, no problem at all. After a light lunch in Åndalsnes, we set off on the final stretch to Ålesund, the last destination of our tour. Before checking in, we rode up to the Aksla viewpoint, where we could look down over the city and even spot our hotel below. It was a bittersweet moment knowing the journey had come to an end, but looking back over the past eight days, it had been an unforgettable adventure—filled with spectacular roads, incredible scenery, and memories that will stay with us for a long time. Your Guides, Laszlo and Michel