Fiord bike cruise: 5 ferry + bike routes
The "fjord bike + ferry" format is amazing! It lets you get away from the motorway without sacrificing any comfort. The ferry will take you to the foot of the cliffs, and from there it's just pedalling, paddling, the delicious scent of cider orchards and the occasional car. In just two or three days, you'll have the incredible opportunity to cycle around the entire fjord, skipping the hassle of detours through the valleys.
It's so exciting to hear that demand for combined bike cruises has doubled in the last five years! According to tour operators Hardangerfjord and Discover Norway, travellers are flocking to these cruises because of the incredible flexibility of the schedule, the absence of heavy bike packing and the opportunity to change the panorama every evening. Below are five amazing routes where ferries and bikes work in perfect tandem.
I'm so excited to tell you about this!
What is a fjord bike cruise and how is it better than a classic bike tour?
The format involves the ferry acting as a "teleport" across long stretches of water. You won't have to cycle along boring coastlines for days, and you'll have more energy for winding roads, waterfalls and hiking. On board, there are bike racks, sockets for e-bikes and a café — the perfect place to stop for a rest and a drink. The extra charge for a bike is usually between 0 and 150 NOK. You can book this online or in the Entur app when you buy your ticket. This keeps the feeling of a smooth cruise, but with total freedom to choose the route.
The first route is from Sognefjord to Kaupanger via Gudvangen.
A traditional fjord trip: in the morning, we get on the old ferry from Kaupanger to Gudvangen. We travel for two hours along the narrow Nærøyfjord, with the UNESCO-listed cliffs on either side of us. In Gudvangen, we head up the Stalheim valley and spend the night at the Aurland campsite. The next day, we go back to where we started via the old Lærdal road. The road is 90 km long and rises 1,300 m. No transit trucks are allowed.
The second route is the Hardangerfjord Fruit Ring.
The Norled cruise catamaran departs from Nærheimsunna and takes you to the orchards of Tervikbygd. From there, a quiet road goes past the Syrfjell waterfalls and leads to the Rosendal barony. Another 20 minutes on the local ferry and you are on the north shore, where you'll find cider farms and cherry orchards. 110 km in two days, with not many hills and lots of tasting.
The third route is from Geiranger to Hellesylt. It goes from the fjord to the summit.
The morning ferry across the world's most beautiful fjord leaves half a day for the climb up Eagle Road (11 sharp bends, 620 m). Then we go to Valdal, which is famous for its strawberry plantation, and spend the night in a hotel by a fjord. In the morning, we take a ferry from Eidsdal back to Valdal. It's only 75 km long, but it's got a big climb of 1,500 m, so make sure you bring a compact cassette.
The fourth route is to Lysefjord and the 27 hairpin bends.
The ferry from Forsand will take you to Lisebotn. From here, the famous 27 hairpin bends lead to Øygardstølen, which is 8.9 km long and has an average gradient of 10%. The road then goes across a mountain plateau to Serdal, where you can catch a bus to Stavanger. It's an intense 60 km journey.
The fifth route is to Nærøyfjord and the Flåm Railway.
We combine the Gudvangen to Flåm fjord boat trip with the famous Flåmsbana: bikes are loaded onto the train. From Myrdal station, we ride down the famous Rallarvegen gravel road, spending the night at Lake Finde. By lunchtime, we are back on the shores of the Aurlandsfjord. 65 km of fun without cars.
What should you take with you on a bike cruise?
The basic kit includes:
- a soft handlebar bag (it fits under the ferry seat),
- a waterproof jacket,
- a 10,000 mAh power bank, and
- warm gloves for descents.
Also included are spare brake pads (mountain descents wear them out quickly). E-bike? Most ferries have Schuko sockets up to 2 kW, but there is a long queue for them. Bring an adapter and reserve your spot in advance.
How much is a ticket with a bike and where can I buy it?
On domestic fjord routes, the surcharge is 0–50 NOK, and on high-speed catamarans, it is 120–150 NOK. The best app for this is the Entur app, which also shows if there are any bike racks available. Tickets for popular trips in Sognefjord in summer should be booked at least two days before you want to go.
What apps and maps will help you stick to your schedule?
Entur lists all ferries, buses and trains. Norgeskart provides GPX files and route profiles, and Strava Heatmap shows where the locals ride. Komoot is handy for offline navigation. You can mark "Boat Crossing" and it will automatically calculate your travel time.
A cycling cruise is like a treasure hunt, where every morning you get to discover a new and breathtaking view, and every night you'll find yourself disembarking on a different shore, ready to explore. Ferries transform the rugged geography of the fjords into a friendly adventure park where "lots of water" is not an obstacle but a bonus.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime as you plan your very own mix of boats, serpentine roads and cider stops! And don't forget to share your GPX tracks, photos with your bike handlebars on deck and stories of "how I got into the fjord flow" with us. Your reading experience will help us expand the most comprehensive catalogue of bike cruises in Norway — riding will become even easier, and inspiration will be multiplied!