Itinerary: One week on a blissful bike adventure
Embark on an amazing cycle ride with a lot of sunshine and the smell of summer flower that tickles your nose. As you cycle along the pictures-que landscape, you get a lot of fresh, salty air and you feel a sensation of freedom.
Terje Rakke / VisithelgelandWe’ve designed a ready-made 7-day island-hopping tour along the Helgeland coast just for you. It covers the highlights of the route from Brønnøysund to Vega, Herøy, Dønna, and Sandnessjøen.
This trip brings you close to coastal nature, offers great food experiences, and lets you meet local people and communities along the way. You can also book the package directly for a seamless experience.
Key info
Length: 220 km
Recomended duration: 7 days
Places to stop: The journey starts in Brønnøysund, continues to Vega, then on to Herøy and Dønna, before reaching the mainland and Sandnessjøen.
Booking bikes and accommodation:
You can rent bikes locally and arrange the trip yourself, or get help with bookings from the tourist information office in Brønnøysund.
Contact the tourist information office here.
Visit Helgeland
Trip description
You’ll cycle between 20 and 45 kilometres per day through gentle terrain. Some days are easier than others, and you decide whether to take optional detours to experience even more. Between the islands, you’ll travel by express boat, getting a close-up view of Helgeland’s coastal landscape, island scenery, and wildlife.
Day-by-day itinerary
Check out our programme to help you pedal into this healthy and delightful adventure – together!
Day 1: Arrival Brønnøysund and explore the mountain Torghatten
Length: 40 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 3-4 hours
Ferries or boats: No
Check in at the Corner Hotel in the centre of town. Bicycles, helmets, panniers and bicycle tools, as well as maps, timetables and information are waiting for you at the hotel. Stay overnight in a double room, extra charge for a single room.
We recommend a trip to the mountain Torghatten (14 km) and a visit to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre (7km) on the return.
Here you can join a tour of the facilities and learn about modern fish farming and enjoy a lunch in their café. Another possibility is to spend the day out at Torghatten.
You can take the hike to the top of the mountain, in addition to the hike to the hole/tunnel, or walk, or bike around the mountain at the seashore trail. The day can end at the Torghatten Strandrestaurant (Seaside re-staurant) under the foot of the mountain, with a tasteful dinner. Back in Brønnøysund you may either have dinner on one of the local restaurants or visit the local pub Kred which offers a nice atmosphere.
Day 2: Enjoy the coastal town Brønnøysund
Length: 25 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ferries or boats: No
This small town has a nice town centre, with several cafes and easy trails to explore in the nearby surroundings. Just 7 km outside the town is the Hildurs Herb Garden, and this is an excellent place to visit for an enjoyable evening dinner. Other suggestions are included in the information you received at the arrival.
Dag 3: Ylvingen and Vega
Lengde: 30 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ferries or boats: Express boat from Brønnøysund to Rørøy Vega, by Ylvingen
The speedboat leaves from the town centre key, about 200 meters from Corner Hotel. This day you will travel like the locals do. The boat leaves early in the morning, and you will have to let the crew on the boat know that you want to stop at Ylvingen. Remember also to let them know when you want to leave Ylvingen and continue to Vega in the afternoon.
At Ylvingen it is possible to explore the whole island with the bike, as the island is only 7 km long. We suggest a visit to the Vega Kystfort, a fortress from the 2nd. World war, which also offers a nice viewpoint of the area. You may enjoy lunch at the café “Himmelblåkafeen” at the speedboat key. Remember to note the departure time from Ylvingen to Vega, and don’t forget to tell the crew at the boat when you want to leave.
After arriving at Rørøy, Vega, it is time to cycle to the centre of the island called Gladstad. 3,6 km. At the shop SPAR at Gladstad, there is a café where you can buy your dinner.
Day 4: Experience the Vega World Heritage
Length: 30 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ferries or boats: No
Cycle from Gladstad to Nes and visit the Vega World Heritage exhibition, the eider duck museum and the Lånan shop. After the stop at Nes, continue to the Sundsvoll area. On the return from Sundsvoll, recommend a visit at the Vega Havhotell for the lunch or for the dinner in the evening. We also recomend experiencing the snorkel track at Eidem, the historical trail on Middagskarheia or a hike to the mountain Gullsvågfjellet.
Day 5: From Gardsøy, Vega to Herøy
Length: 40-60 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 3-5 hours
Ferries or boats: From Gardsøya on Vega to Flostad in Herøy.
Cycle from Gladstad to Gardsøy (approx. 5 km). Take the speedboat from Gardsøy, Vega at 10.25 AM and arrive at Flostad, Herøy at 12.20 PM. We recommend to bring a packed lunch for the boat ride. The boat trip takes you through some of the 24.0000 islands at the Helgeland coastline.
Cycle from Flostad to Elfis Sjøstuer, about 7 km, where you will stay for the night. If you have more energy, then we suggest a bike ride to Seløy and visit the Augustbryg-go for this evening’s dinner.
Another option for this evening’s dinner is to visit the Herøy Brygge at Herøysundet. Cycle back at RV828 for about 8 km and take off to the right at FV162. Continue for 2 km and you arrive at Herøy Brygge.It is also possible to make your own dinner at Elfis Sjø-stue. This must be booked in advance.
Day 6: Explore Herøy and Dønna
Length: 25-50 km. See the route in Google Maps
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ferries or boats: No
This day starts with a long and enjoyable breakfast and then it is time to start on your way in northern direction towards Dønnes Gård.
This trip is the longest journey of these days, and we recommend that you use the day for the bicycle ride. You will pass the mountain Dønnamannen, as well as white sandy beaches and you have a picturesque view of the Seven Sisters mountain chain. There are several places where you can stop and try to fish from land. Maybe you can catch a fish for your lunch? We recommend dinner at Dønnes Gård, where you also will be staying this night.
Day 7: Easy day at Dønna, before you continue to Sandnessjøen
Length: 30-40 km. See the route in Google Maps.
Duration: 2 hours
When you have finished your breakfast, you have time in the first part of the day to enjoy the beautiful surroundings at the Dønnes Gård. It is also time to go on a hike at the Dønnes mountain or explore the shoreline and beaches in the area. If you prefer, you can have an early start on your bike ride for today. It is about 19 km to Bjørn at Dønna where the speedboat leaves in the early evening. Usually, a ride that takes about 1,5 hours, but it is good to have some extra time, as there are some steep hills on the way.
You arrive in Sandnessjøen at about 18.45 PM and then it is only 100 meters to the Scandic Syv Søstre hotel where you will be staying this night.
Sandnessjøen has a new leisure and community hall if you want to check out the local cinema or theatre or relax in the swimming pool.
Enjoy the evening at the hotel or take an evening walk through the coastal town Sandnessjøen.
Day 8: Time to return – or not?
Depending on your departure time, it might be time left for you to take a hike on one of the seven peaks of the mountain chain the Seven Sisters. You can either bike or book a taxi to the start of the hike. Description of the hikes are included in the information you got on the arrival day. You return the bicycles at the local Tourist Information at the community hall.
Contact us to order this trip as a package
