Exploring Sweden’s Wild Beauty on Two Wheels
Prices from 17 995 sek per person (Double Occupancy) Self-Guided with baggage transfer, 9 nights, 9 breakfasts, 9 dinners and bike rental (2024 Ghost Gravel Bikes).
Beginning in the beaches of Halmstad, along the beautiful Fylleån river valley, with wild meats and local foods along the way. Visit a wild fishery restaurant/hotel, a deer farm where you spend the night. Kilometers of true wilderness cycling as you climb up the beach and oak covered hills of Hallandsåsen and finally tour the rugged Bjäre peninsula. This is a long distance tour that sees 30 to 40 km of cycling a day. It is a backcountry tour where you will need to carry food and drinks with you during the days. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel. This tour is available for guided groups of 6+ or for small self-guided groups.
Day 1
Begins in the coastal city of Halmstad where you have the day to explore the 16th century cathedral, the historic Danish castle, or the many riverside cafes and parks. Famous for its 40 km of sandy beaches and numerous golf courses, Halmstad is a perfect city to extend your stay and relax in. Halmstad is easily accessible as a 2 hour train ride from the easy-to-navigate Copenhagen airport, or Gothenburg, as well as accessible by ferry from Aarhus, Denmark or by the E6 highway from Malmö or Gothenburg.
Rental bikes will be fitted in the afternoon. The group meets in the restaurant at Tylebäck Hotel to discuss logistics of the trip in the evening. It’s a chance to get to know the route and your support team before launching into the Swedish countryside.
Dinner – Tylösand
Overnight – Tylösand
Day 2
Tylösand to Femsjö 60 km 510hm
Beginning after a healthy breakfast we follow the picturesque seaside Prins-Bertil trail along the coast to Halmstad. Cycling through the historic city centre before riding the beside the scenic Nissan river through treed groves and quiet suburbs. The route continues to follow the Nissan past historic bridges before disappearing into Skedala forest. Skedala is a well-known mountain biking destination with man-made jumplines. No jumps not today, but perhaps another?
Coming out of the forest roads onto a quite paved road into the village of Simlångsdalen for lunch at the renowned country pub/hotel of Tallhöjden. After lunch we continue out into the backcountry along the former rail-line, the Bolmenbana to our destination, a small country hotel next to the tiny village of Femsjö (Five Lakes). There is a historic walk through the village and an abandoned village site. This area was famous for battles and raids during the long Swedish-Danish border wars.
Breakfast – Tylösand
Lunch – Simlångsdalen
Dinner – Femsjö
Overnight – Femsjö
Day 3
Day Three – Femsjö to Bolmen 52 km 400hm
Perhaps an early morning stroll in the forest to catch sight of a moose at breakfast? The day begins in the quiet rural surroundings of Femsjö, with a packed lunch, you head further into the deep wilderness of Småland. You have now left the lands of the historic Danes and have entered land that has always been Swedish. This region, Small Land, is known for its tiny cabins dotting the landscape. In the 18th century more than 50% of the population fled the freezing winters to move to Minnesota…known for its freezing winters. But in the summer, the serene setting is unmatched.
You will go through the lovely tourist village of Unnaryd, perhaps to find the perfect memento at a local boutique, and finally on to the fishing company at Tiraholm where you will enjoy a dinner of fresh local lake fish at a beautiful location on the large lake Bolmen.
Breakfast – Femsjö
Lunch – Packed
Dinner – Bolmen
Overnight – Bolmen
Day 4
Day Four – Rest Day at Bolmen Lake.
Enjoy a relaxing day off at one of the largest lakes in southern Sweden. Canoe/Kayak rental, swimming, exploring the nearby lakes, fishing.
Breakfast – Bolmen
Lunch – Packed
Dinner – Bolmen
Overnight – Bolmen
Day 5
Day Five – Tiraholm to Ulvered 62 km 475hm
Leaving Lake Bolmun behind you and packed lunch in your panniers, you head south on a mix of quiet paved and gravel roads. You will be in the real wilderness today as you pass the occasional red and white Swedish ‘torp’ or farmstead on a the odd herd of cattle or sheep. This region has a low population density of humans, but plenty of deer, moose and wild boar. Keep your camera at the ready! There is nothing for miles but trees, lakes and hidden wildlife.
As your day goes on you will arrive out of the wilderness to a hunting lodge-styled restaurant, cabins and a huge deer farm. Here you can learn about the local wildlife while enjoying fresh wild game, and even practice your fishing skills in the evening at their stocked ponds.
Breakfast – Bolmen
Lunch – Packed
Dinner – Ulvered
Overnight – Ulvered
Day 6
Ulvered to Våxtorp 53 km 355hm
After pulling yourself away from walking amongst the deer as the morning fog lifts, you eat a hearty breakfast and head off on day six of the trip. Today brings you a mix of wild forests and open farmland of the Laxan valley. Your morning forest cycle-meditation is broken by the sounds of your stomach grumbling as you break out of the forests into the scenic rolling farmlands.
After a lovely lunch at a local golf course (perhaps you play the back 9?) you continue on a mix of quiet paved and gravel roads south to the village of Våxtorp. Here you will find an adventure park, Kungsbygget with mountain biking and other activities, and world class downhill mountain biking at Vallåsen. Perhaps you’d like to book an extra day here to have an even more wild ride?
Breakfast – Ulvered
Lunch – Skogaby
Dinner – Våxtorp
Overnight – Våxtorp
Day 7
Våxtorp to Båstad 50 km 635hm
Beginning with a long climb up Hallandsåsen, an ancient glacial deposit that marks the natural boundary between Halland and Skåne. Hallandsåsen is littered with nature reserves, lakes and wilderness. You’ll be cycling through seemingly endless beech and oak forests that cover the highlands. There are a number of signs of Bronze age dwellings as you cross the E6 highway and enter the Bjäre peninsula.
After lunch you ride up the old train-line into the small city of Båstad, a harbour city with beaches, nightlife and a famous tennis culture. Båstad has southern Sweden’s second largest gardens, Norrviken, to visit, and a beautiful town to wander about.
Breakfast – Våxtorp
Lunch – Package
Dinner – Self – Båstad
Overnight – Båstad
Day 8
Day Eight – Båstad around Bjäre Peninsula to Båstad 41 km 350hm
Beginning with a cup of coffee watching the waves lap against the beach in Båstad, today is a coastal loop bringing you back to your hotel with lunch in the historic fishing village of Torekov. Be ready to practice your Danish, as this area is known as the ‘Danish Alps’ to locals. You are close to the ferry to Helsingör, home of Hamlet’s castle, and all the Danes coming up from Copenhagen on their bikes. Denmark’s landscape can’t boast hills like this, so many Danes come to this region for hiking and cycling.
The coastal route will be a huge change from the close hugging forests of previous days. Wide vistas and Bronze age tombs litter the landscape as you cycle past ice cream wagons and fresh veggie stands. Enjoy a dinner in Båstad harbour in the evening.
Breakfast – Båstad
Lunch – Self – Torekov Harbour
Dinner – Self – Båstad Harbour
Overnight – Båstad
Day 9
Day Nine – Båstad – Laholm – Halmstad 63 km 210hm
Riding out of Båstad along the gentle, flat coastline, past kilometer after kilometer of sandy beaches and cafes you relax until you come to the sandy pine forest of Hökafältet where you ride some beginner level mountain bike trails until finally following farm roads along the Laxan river to the historic town of Laholm, and today’s lunch spot. A world-famous bakery and cycle cafe in the historic town center.
From Laholm you ride a mix of quiet farm roads and beachside trails as you return to Halmstad where you will end at a comfortable and modern hotel by the train station. Here you trade in your beloved bike seat for a more stable bar stool.
Breakfast – Båstad
Lunch – Laholm
Dinner – Halmstad
Overnight – Halmstad
Day 10 : Relax, unwind and say our farewells.