Numedal & Mjølkevegen
National Cycle Route 5
If you want a mixture of forest and mountains, gravel and paved, warm and cold, and barren and lush then ride this one!
The Classic Bikepacking Route
The southern part of this route cuts through a sparsely populated area between the counties of Telemark and Viken. You may bump into more red squirrels than people as you cycle along beautiful forest roads with lakes dotted along. The first time I cycled in Middelalderdalen (Middle ages valley) I couldn’t believe it wasn’t a national park. In any other European country, it would be, but in Norway, it’s just another valley with untouched lakes and rivers to camp by.
Perhaps, the crown jewel of this route lies in the north. Mjølkevegen, Norway’s premier gravel road traverses high mountain plains in one of the most unique areas of the country. Two hundred kilometers of fantastic gravel await. There is also a strong possibility you will only meet a handful of other cyclists along these roads. Why? We don’t know, but what is certain…this is one of Europe’s best-unpaved cycling experiences.
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Connecting Routes
The Pilgrim Route
This is less a bike route and more a journey into the past as you follow in the footsteps of Norway’s great Viking King Olaf II. The route takes you up the historic valley of Gudbrandsdalsleden and ends at the 1000-year-old Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim
- 798km
- <10% unpaved
- 5-13 days
- 5.5/10 difficulty
Follow the Viking King
Sognefjellsveien
This epic across Norway is the perfect route if you want to see as much contrast in scenery in the shortest space of time. Deep valleys, powerful glaciers, Nordic forests, and one of Norway’s best fjords are on show.
- 746km
- <10% unpaved
- 5-11 days
- 8/10 difficulty
Norway’s Grand Tour
Hallingdal & Rallarvegen
This is a bikepacking paradise where nature, gravel, and road combine to give you an experience unlike everything else.
- 581km
- 25% unpaved
- 3-8 days
- 8/10 difficulty
Norway’s most famous gravel road
