Denmark and Sweden offer the best in unparalleled shoreline vistas, untrammeled fields, historical castles, quaint hamlets, savory cuisine marked by both old-world charm and modern European influences. As cyclists traveling the bicycle-friendly roads of this part of the world, we can expect terrain that ranges from rolling, tree-lined hills to sprawling, golden wheat fields; around each corner and over each rise lie new cycling challenges, historical marvels, and culinary treats. Hop in the saddle and join us for our cycling tour of Scandinavia.
Our first day in
beautiful Denmark begins with a guided tour of Copenhagen, the largest city in
Scandinavia. Founded in 1167, the sightseeing offers visits to historical churches,
castles out of fairy tales, and culturally informative museums. You definitely don't want
to miss is the guided tour of Nyhavn, the historic waterfront of the city. We'll satisfy
our appetites in the city's abundant cafés, restaurants, and pastry shops. Ample shopping
can be found in the many varied streetside stores and in Strøget, the largest pedestrian
mall in the world. For entertainment, our options are equally diverse. Denmark is home to
Tivoli, an amusement park in the center of the city and is also known for its active and
colorful nightlife when the sun dips below the horizon. Also of note is self-governing
Christiania. This car-free part of Copenhagen is ecologically-oriented and is known
throughout Scandinavia as a hippie haven. Peace, love, and granola abound in Christiania.
Watch the Little
Mermaid disappear astern as we zip off and begin our adventure. A high-speed catamaran
will whisk us to Malmö, in Southwestern Sweden. Referred to as Skåne, this area has much
to offer not only cyclists but also from an historical perspective. Riding along the coast
heading East, we will encounter many medieval towns and fortresses, most of which were
built during the 14th to 17th centuries, a time that saw many bloody battles between
Denmark and Sweden. Our tour takes us through the towns of Trelleborg, Smygehamn/Smygehuk,
Ystad, and the Österlen region. Österlen is known for its beautiful countryside,
forests, pastures, and historical Viking monuments, including Ales Stennar, known as the
Swedish Stonehenge. Many writers and artists frequent the area, seeking inspiration in its
beautiful blue sky, yellow and red fields, black windmills, and white beaches.
North to Kivik and
Åhus We head North through more hilly areas along the coast to Kivik, known for its sprawling apple orchards, and Åhus, an ancient, picturesque resort famous for its smoked eel.
Visible for miles, Glimmingehus Castle is an incredibly well-preserved 13th century fortress outside Simrishamn. Upon reaching Simrishamn, we will walk the streets of this quaint fishing town before taking another catamaran to the Danish island of Bornholm.
Bornholm is a
cyclist's paradise. We will spend the day circling the entire coastline of the island,
exploring the abundance of bike paths. Spinning along golden wheat fields, amid verdant
forests, and through coastal fishing villages, we will use our rest day to explore the
island. Of particular historical interest are the four round churches (rundkirke) and
medieval fortresses dating to the 14th century.
The catamaran carries us
from Rønne back to the medieval town of Ystad, Sweden, where we will point our bikes
toward Lund, an old university town often compared to Oxford, England. Lund is known for
its bohemian, laid-back, eccentric atmosphere. The cobblestone streets are lined with
cafés and restaurants offering delicious local fare.
Bjäre Peninsula is
our next stop and is rated one of the best cycling areas in Sweden. The peninsula has a
rugged coastline with lush green meadows, fertile fields, and unusual red rock formations.
We will visit Båstad, a chic town known for its boutiques, yachting, golfing, and the
Swedish Open Tennis Tournament, held there every July.
We continue our journey south along the coast to Helsingborg, where we will meet the ferry and be (logically) ferried back to Helsingør, Denmark. From Helsingør we will pedal along the Øresund coast, commonly referred to as the Danish Riviera. We will make a stop at the Louisiana, Denmark's most renowned modern art museum, which will intrigue even the novice art patron.
Zealand, Køge,
Sorø, and the others The last few days of our tour will be spent spinning through Zealand (the main island of Denmark), visiting the towns of Køge, Sorø, which has Denmark's most impressive Viking sites, Trelleborg, which contains a 1000 year-old fortress, and Roskilde, which in July hosts Northern Europe's largest music festival, among many other towns.
Our tour finishes back on
the familiar streets of Copenhagen. You are welcome and encouraged to stay for additional
sightseeing, or you may choose to continue on to other parts of Scandinavia or Europe.
We have designed our
tours for the avid rider, with a curiosity to explore the most beautiful parts of Denmark
and Sweden. These countries have well established bike routes with smooth riding surfaces.
You may ride at your own pace and we will regroup at the end of the day at our carefully
selected hotels and inns. Our groups are small with a maximum of 20 riders per tour. We
can also custom design a tour to fit your specifications and experience level. Contact our
office for more information at: 303.929.8681.
The average distance traveled is 50 miles (80 km) per day. We will have some longer days where we cover 75 miles (120 km). We also incorporate rest days. The tours are designed to give a good balance of riding and time to enjoy Scandinavia.
We will have full van
support, where our luggage will be transported from hotel to hotel. We will also have
refreshments in the van, along with necessary tools for potential mechanical problems. We
will have an experienced mechanic riding along with us at all times. Our group leaders are
certified in First Aid for your safety.
We realize that after a full day of riding, sightseeing, and enjoying Scandinavia, we like to stay in comfortable hotels and inns. Our Swedish speaking staff has made reservations at the most comfortable, quaint, and charming hotels. Hotels are selected for its size (small, no chain hotels), its amenities, and of course the location.
Click here to meet your tour guides.
Most airlines will allow you to bring your bike with you, which we strongly suggest. Some airlines will charge a nominal fee of about $100. If you would like to rent a bike for the tour, we can make arrangements prior to the tour to find a bike that best suits you.
The total cost is $2,350 per person for a 14 day tour.