Before the trip
Sandnes (Stavanger region)
A night or two to slow down before or after the trip - we can arrange a hand-picked stay through the same operator network.
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Cycling · Sørlandet, Southern NorwaySeven riding days along the southern coast on EuroVelo 12
Cycling EuroVelo 12 - Stavanger to Kristiansand along the southern coast
Seven demanding riding days on Nordsjøruta and EuroVelo 12, from Sandnes around the southern tip of Norway to Kristiansand, with a new town every night.
Photo: Christine Baglo / Visit Norway ·
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Duration
9 days · 8 nights
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On the move
~370 km · ~4,500 m climb
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Region
Southern Norway coast
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Lodges
8 nights in guesthouses and hotels
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Style
Self-guided · luggage moved
Fixed departures
This journey runs on set dates.
The operator runs this on the weeks below. Other dates are possible on request, always starting on a Sunday.
- Planned, price on requestJun 13-21, 2027
- Planned, price on requestJun 20-28, 2027
- Planned, price on requestAug 8-16, 2027
- Planned, price on requestAug 15-23, 2027
The journey
Seven riding days along the southern coast on EuroVelo 12.
This is a self-guided cycling trip on one of the more demanding stretches of Norway's National Cycle Route 1 (Nordsjøruta) and EuroVelo 12, from Sandnes next to Stavanger, along the coast and around the southern tip of the country to Kristiansand. It runs nine days with seven days in the saddle: 369 kilometers on the main route, or 360 if you take the shortcut via Vanse on day six, and around 4,500 meters of climbing. Every night is in a new place: Sandnes, Egersund, Sogndalstrand, Flekkefjord, Kvinesdal, Farsund, Mandal and Kristiansand.
The cycling is rated challenging, and the reason is the terrain rather than the distance. After the open farmland and beaches of Jæren, the coast breaks up into headlands, small fjords and valleys, and the climbs come short, frequent and in places steep. The hardest day is one of the shortest: 33 kilometers from Flekkefjord to Kvinesdal with 911 meters of ascent. The operator runs four set weeks in 2027, two in June and two in August, and leaves July out on purpose, when the narrow coast roads carry more car traffic.
We arrange the trip through one of our long-standing Norwegian partners. Your luggage is moved between the eight overnight stops, the route description, maps and GPX files are in an all-in-one travel app, and a rental bike can be added, with return shipping from Kristiansand to Sandnes. The operator suggests an e-bike to take the edge off the climbing. With time and legs to spare, detours reach Lindesnes lighthouse, Lista lighthouse and the historic island of Hidra.
Is this for you?
Who this trip is - and isn't - for.
A good fit if
- ✓Fit, experienced touring cyclists who are happy with seven riding days in a row on hilly roads
- ✓Riders who like a self-guided format with the logistics arranged for each day
- ✓Couples and small groups of friends who can travel on one of the four set weeks, or on another week starting on a Sunday
Less good fit
- ·Cyclists without recent multi-day touring experience: the climbing adds up to around 4,500 meters
- ·Travelers who want a guide with them every day
- ·Anyone who can only travel in July, which the operator does not recommend on this route
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.
9 days · 369 km
Elevation profile
~4 515 m of ascent across the week
Bar height = day's ascent · width = day number
Across 9 days · ~369 km on the move
Fly into Stavanger Airport Sola, or take the train to Sandnes town center. The operator can arrange a transfer to the hotel from the airport or from Sandnes station. If you have the afternoon, Stavanger is worth the short trip: the white wooden houses of Gamle Stavanger, the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and the Vågen harbor.
Included
What is in the price.
- 8 nights in guesthouses and hotels, with breakfast each morning
- 7 packed lunches, one for each riding day
- Two three-course dinners
- Luggage transfer between all overnight stops
- All-in-one travel app with route description, maps and GPX files
Not included
And what is not.
- Travel to Sandnes and home from Kristiansand
- Travel and cancellation insurance (we strongly recommend both)
- Drinks with meals, and snacks
- Bike rental (available from the operator, with return shipping from Kristiansand to Sandnes; price on request)
Where you sleep
Lodges and stays along the way.
Sandnes
The start, in the Stavanger region. The operator can arrange a transfer from the airport or the station.
Nights
1
Egersund
Harbor town at the southern end of Jæren, after the longest day.
Nights
1
Sogndalstrand
Small wooden village at the river mouth, protected as a whole.
Nights
1
Flekkefjord
Fjord town with the old Dutch quarter, Hollenderbyen.
Nights
1
Kvinesdal
Valley community around the village of Liknes, after the steepest day of the trip.
Nights
1
Farsund
Coastal town on the Lista peninsula.
Nights
1
Mandal
The southernmost town in Norway, close to the Sjøsanden beach.
Nights
1
Kristiansand
The end of the route, with flights, trains and the ferry to Denmark.
Nights
1
Extend your stay
Bookend the trip with a city stay.
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.
After the trip
Kristiansand
A night before flying out - the southern coast has a softer character than the rest of Norway and is worth a slow afternoon.
Add to my 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: Alf Sverre Torgersen
Photo: Brian Tallman / Region Stavanger
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.
When does it run?
The operator has four planned departures in 2027, each nine days long and starting on a Sunday: June 13 to 21, June 20 to 28, August 8 to 16 and August 15 to 23. July is left out on purpose, because the coast roads are narrow and summer car traffic is heavier. Other weeks can be arranged on request, but the trip must then start on a Sunday.
What does it cost?
The operator is still setting its 2027 prices, so we show the price as on request for now. Tell us the week you have in mind and we will come back to you with the price as soon as it is set.
Which evenings include dinner?
Two three-course dinners are included. The operator's 2027 program does not say which two evenings, so we confirm that with them when you book. The other evenings are on your own.
How many riders are on a departure?
The operator takes two to eight riders per departure. The trip is self-guided, so you ride at your own pace rather than as part of a guided group.
Do I need an e-bike?
No, but the operator suggests one to make the climbing easier, and days four and five, with 752 and 911 meters of ascent on 40 and 33 km, are where you will notice it most. Bike rental can be added, with return shipping from Kristiansand to Sandnes included.
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.
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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.