Before the trip
Bergen
Two nights for the Bryggen wharf, the funicular up Fløyen, the morning fish market and a quiet evening at one of the city kitchens.
Add to my enquiry →
Cycling · Sunnhordland, Western NorwayQuiet island-hopping south from Bergen
Cycling south of Bergen - island-hopping and the Sunnhordland coast
A self-guided cycling week through the islands and fjord-edge of Sunnhordland - Rosendal's baronial garden, the long dinner at Haaheim Gaard, and the kitchen at Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri.
Photo: Superyachttimes / Bekkjarvik Gjestehavn ·
◷
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
⤳
On the move
~180 km across five cycling days
△
Region
Sunnhordland archipelago
⌂
Lodges
4 hotels and one converted estate, three with serious kitchens
⌬
Crossings
Express boats Bergen-Sunde and Hufthamar-Bergen, plus three short ferries
◆
Style
Self-guided · luggage moved · food-led
Fixed departures
This journey runs on set dates.
The operator runs this on the weeks below. Other dates are not available.
- OpenJun 5-10, 2027
- OpenJun 19-24, 2027
- OpenJun 26 - Jul 1, 2027
- OpenJul 10-15, 2027
- OpenJul 17-22, 2027
- OpenJul 24-29, 2027
- OpenJul 31 - Aug 5, 2027
- A few spots leftAug 7-12, 2027
- OpenAug 28 - Sep 2, 2027
- OpenSep 11-16, 2027
The journey
Quiet island-hopping south from Bergen.
This is a self-guided cycling week through the Sunnhordland archipelago south of Bergen - a quiet web of islands, fjord arms and small farming valleys that gets surprisingly little international cycling traffic. The route runs from Bergen by passenger boat out to Sunde, then loops via Rosendal on the Hardangerfjord, the restored historic farm of Haaheim Gaard on Tysnes, the working town of Stord, and the famously good Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri before returning to Bergen by a final boat.
The cultural anchor of the trip is the food. Sunnhordland has been on the rise as a Norwegian gastronomic region for the past decade, and three of the overnight hosts - Rosendal Fjordhotel, Haaheim Gaard, and Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri - have serious in-house kitchens and supply local produce as a matter of course. The Haaheim aperitif and house-history evening on Day 3 is a fixture of the trip.
The cycling is moderate (around 180 km across five days, with the longest day at 55 km, mostly on quiet country roads but with some traffic between Sunde and Rosendal and out of Rosendal). We arrange the trip through one of our long-standing Norwegian partners; bags are moved between hotels for you (there is no support vehicle following the ride), rental bikes can be added, and the trip needs to be booked at least 31 days before departure.
Is this for you?
Who this trip is - and isn't - for.
A good fit if
- ✓Travelers comfortable on a self-guided format with daily pre-arranged logistics
- ✓Couples, small groups of friends, or solo travelers who can travel on one of the set weeks
- ✓Anyone who wants the journey to be quietly logistically perfect without being scripted
Less good fit
- ·Travelers requiring fully serviced, group-guided experiences with a leader present each day
- ·Travelers on a tight schedule - Norwegian weather can shift the rhythm of a day
The route
Numbered pins mark the day the night is spent. Tap a pin for details.Where the week takes you.
Day by day
The shape of the week.
6 days · 183 km
You arrive in Bergen - home to a UNESCO World Heritage site and a designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy - and check in at a central hotel for the night. The afternoon is your own: the Bryggen wharf, the Fløibanen funicular, or the Fish Market are all within walking distance of the hotel.
Included
What is in the price.
- 5 nights including breakfast and a daily packed lunch
- 4 evening meals at the lodges
- Luggage transfer between the overnight stops (1 case per person)
- Detailed route description and a navigation app with maps and vouchers
- Aperitif and house-history evening at Haaheim Gaard
Not included
And what is not.
- Travel to and from Bergen
- Travel and cancellation insurance (we strongly recommend both)
- Drinks with meals and any extra snacks
- Two express-boat tickets (Bergen-Sunde and Hufthamar-Bergen)
- Luggage transfer in Bergen itself
- Dinner on the first night in Bergen
- Bicycle rental (available locally: hybrid NOK 3,000; e-bike NOK 3,800 for 5 days)
Where you sleep
Lodges and stays along the way.
Heimen Hotel, Bergen
Comfortable central Bergen hotel close to the harbour and the Bryggen wharf.
Nights
1
Rosendal Fjordhotel
Village hotel a short walk from the historic Baroniet Rosendal estate on the Hardangerfjord.
Nights
1
Haaheim Gaard
Restored historic farm on the island of Tysnes, now a small hotel, with one of the most considered country kitchens in western Norway.
Nights
1
Stord Hotell
Working town hotel in Leirvik, the center of Stord island.
Nights
1
Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri
Old family-run inn on the harbour, known for its kitchen and local produce; Bocuse d'Or winner Ørjan Johannessen grew up here.
Nights
1
Extend your stay
A few extra days in Bergen.
Most travelers add a night or two at the start or end. We arrange these through the same operator network with the same single line of contact - write to us with your preference and we will fold it into your enquiry.
Before you come
Know-before-you-go.
Practical Norway
- Visa
- Schengen - most Western travelers visa-free for 90 days.
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards accepted almost everywhere; cash rarely needed.
- Plugs
- Type F (European two-pin), 230 V / 50 Hz.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Round up if service was exceptional.
- Language
- Norwegian. English is widespread and fluent - you will not need a phrasebook.
- Tap water
- Some of the cleanest in the world. Refill, do not buy bottled.
Typical conditions
Cycling season runs roughly May to September. Coastal regions are mild but wet; inland is drier and warmer. Long daylight hours mean you can ride well into the evening.
What to pack - for this trip
The five-to-seven things most travelers underpack for a Norwegian cycling week.
On the bike
- Padded cycling shorts (two pairs) - by far the most underpacked item
- Cycling gloves with light padding
- Lightweight, breathable base layer (long and short sleeve)
Weatherproofing
- Waterproof cycling jacket (breathable; not a plastic poncho)
- Waterproof overshoes or quick-drying shoes - Norwegian rain is real
- Light windproof gilet for descents
Off the bike
- One pair of comfortable evening trousers and a warm layer for the lodges
- Sunscreen and lip balm - long days under high-latitude sun
- A small dry bag for valuables
The operator gives you access to its travel app about a month before departure; the app includes a suggested packing list for the trip.
The country
What the week looks like.
Photo: Bekkjarvik
Photo: Robin Strand / Visitnorway.com
Photo: Kristin Telle
Photography credits as shown on each image.
Practical questions
How is the booking arranged?
We refer you to one of our long-standing Norwegian partners who runs this journey. The booking, the contract, the prepayment and the consumer protection (under Norway's Reisegarantifondet) sit with the operator. The price is the same as booking the operator directly; we are paid a small referral commission and there is no additional cost to you.
Can the itinerary be modified?
Yes. The standard itinerary is the most-walked or most-cycled version, but the operator routinely runs slower variants, longer stays at specific lodges, or extensions in Oslo, Bergen or other gateway cities. Tell us what you have in mind in the first conversation.
What is the booking lead time?
For high season (June through August), we recommend committing at least three to four months ahead. The lodges are small and book out a season in advance. September is typically more flexible.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We strongly recommend booking comprehensive travel and cancellation insurance separately, ideally at the time of booking the trip. The operator can suggest Norwegian providers if useful.
Related reading
See all Field Guide →Background reading on this kind of trip.
Fjords · 13 min read
The narrow fjords
Geirangerfjord is famous for a reason, and busy at midday in high summer for the same reason. The side fjords are quieter and, in several cases, more striking.
Architecture · 14 min read
Built quietly
Eight properties - and the architectural philosophy behind them - that are remaking what a remote Norwegian stay looks like.
Mountains · 14 min read
Sea to summit
Why the Sunnmøre Alps, the Lyngen peninsula and Jotunheimen reward the patient walker more than the lift-pass crowd.
If this isn't quite right
See all trips →You might also consider...
Cycling
A loop around the Hardangerfjord by bike, ferry and boat
Hardanger, Western Norway
7 days · ModerateFrom NOK 21 600
Fjord cycling over three mountain passesCycling
Cycling from Ålesund to Åndalsnes
Sunnmøre & Romsdal, Western Norway
7 days · ChallengingFrom NOK 27 500(indicative)
UNESCO mining town to medieval cathedralCycling
Cycling from Røros to Trondheim - UNESCO mining town to Nidaros
Trøndelag, Central Norway
7 days · ModerateFrom NOK 14 800(indicative)
Start a conversation
If this looks like your kind of week, write to us.
Tell us when you are thinking of traveling and how you would like to shape it. A curator will reply within one business day with a considered first option, the operator we would arrange it through, and an honest pricing range for your specific dates.
Travel Guarantee Fund memberFluent English support
Refined by Nordic Curator from a journey by one of our long-standing Norwegian partners. The booking, the contract and the consumer protection (under the Norwegian Travel Guarantee Fund, Reisegarantifondet) sit with the operator. We are paid a small referral commission and there is no additional cost to you. The price is the same as booking the operator directly. How we work.