Bodø – Gildeskål – Bodø by bike, 3 days
For visitors who want a 3-day bike tour, we recommend this trip which begins with a nice boat trip from Bodø to the archipelago in Gildeskål. Underway, you will experience magnificent nature with lofty mountains and long sandy beaches. An interesting Medieval church, rare orchids and close contact with salmon are some of the other experiences you can look forward to. Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom is also located along this route.
Tour description
Day 1. Bodø – Inndyr (9.7 km)
You take the Nordlandsekspressen express boat from the Bodø ferry terminal at 4:00 pm to Våg on Sandhornøy Island (arrive 4:25 pm). The grocery shop Spar Sandhornøy is here (last shop before Inndyr). You then do a short bike ride (4.3 km) to Horsdal where you catch the ferry to Sund. The ferry departs from Horsdal at 5:20 pm, 5:40 pm or 6:45 pm (depending on day of the week – check the timetable between Horsdal – Sund at www.torghatten-nord.no).
The tour ends with a short leg from Sund to Inndyr (5.4 km).
Lodging in rooms with breakfast at Heimsjyen (Tel: +47 981 04 183) in Inndyr city centre. There is also dinner served here.
Feel like taking a walk after dinner? We recommend Øya Langholmen landscape protection area, where you can see rare orchids.
Day 2. Inndyr – Kjellingstraumen (37.6 km)
The ferry crossing Sund – Horsdal partially determines when the day’s bike tour can be done. We recommend that you spend the day in the Inndyr area and start your bike tour in the afternoon.
Start the day with a visit to Gildeskål Old Church. A guided tour here is an experience in itself and many visitors will be surprised by the peculiar inscriptions on some of the headstones in the cemetery. Back at Inndyr, you can learn more about aquaculture and go down into the dry centre of a circular aquarium with salmon all around you at Salmon Centre Gildeskål. Eat lunch at Heimsjyen and purchase whatever food and drinks you need for the bike tour at Inndyr.
Today’s bike tour is longer and you start by biking back to Sund to catch the ferry to Horsdal. It is 32.3 km from Horsdal to Kjellingstraumen. The main part of the tour goes across Sandhornøy Island amid lofty peaks and long sandy beaches. The 2-km long sandy beach called Sandvikstranden is known for the SALT art project and entails a short detour of 3 km from fv 472.
Lodging at Kjellingstraumen Fjordcamp (Tel: +47 75 75 71 11). The campground is on the south side of the bridge. A cosy little campground situated at an old south Sami settlement site.
Day 3. Kjellingstraumen – Saltstraumen – Bodø (64 km or 34 km)
The stretch from Kjellingstraumen to Saltstraumen (34) consists of some challenging hills, as well as a number of tunnels. Remember to wear reflective vests and use the lights on the bike. Lunch packs, water and a change of clothes are recommended. This is a demanding leg to bike, however, it will go well if you pace yourself and use the day.
Along the way on your tour, you will enjoy splendid views toward Børvasstindan and you will bike along Valnesvatnet Lake. A wonderful nature-based experience.
At Saltstraumen, you can enjoy a well-deserved meal either at Saltstraumen Hotel or at Kafe Kjelen (both located on the north side of the bridge). We recommend checking the tide tables for Saltstraumen to have the best possible experience of the world’s strongest maelstrom www.visitbodo.com
The final 30 km to Bodø goes mostly along bike paths. If you feel that this will be too long of a leg, you can take the bus from Saltstraumen to Bodø city centre www.reisnordland.no
