Cycling from Kolari (Finland) to Narvik (Norway)

Hello all,

Well the horrible wet, overcast weather is setting in here in the UK which gives me time to plan my adventures for the new year and having spent a week cycling in Iceland last year...I am keen to get back on the saddle and explore more of Scandinavia in 2017.

I am hoping some of you people could advise on the plan I have below...weather it be providing info on where to get a cheap used bike in Finland? Which roads to take? Any sites along the way? Places to stay / get supplies along the way?

My initial idea right now is to fly to Helsinki or Oulu, buy a cheap second hand bike before getting on a train North to Kolari where I will begin my cycle, carrying my tent, supplies etc.

Using Google Maps the route takes me West out of Kolari through Kaunisvaara, Hukanmaa and up to Vittangi where the E45 starts. This road from Kolari to Vittangi I can't find a name for and I can't get a street view of it, even though it's telling me it's the quickest route...is there a reason for this?

From here I intend to take the E45 and then E10 all the way to Narvik where I intend to gift my bike to someone before hiring a car to drive down to the Lofoten Islands for a few days, then head back and catch a flight back to Bergen or Oslo.

Right now it's in the early stages of planning so all advice is welcome...I'm even open to hearing any other routes folk might recommend? I've chosen this as I wanted to tick Finland and Sweden off my "visited" list.

Thanks in advance.

Josh

Why not stay a bit longer on your bike and bike Lofoten or Helgeland coast as well? Both are quite bike friendly. Lofoten is most known and therefore also most crowded in season but I daresay you'll find accomodation or places to pitch your tent.

One othwr thing: I've experienced sometimes that you may need to book trainride (and bike transport) in advance if you're hauling along a bike. Dunno if it applies to Finland though.

Thanks Kim for that. I had considered continuing cycling all the way down to Reine but I have to save my work annual leave for other trips. I am hoping I can complete the 400km cycle inside 6 days and then have 2 days in Lofoten before flying back. Thanks for the heads up on the train...I think I'll be needing to book a berth to sleep comfortably in overnight.

I'm still hunting out info on the roads up in Lapland...the route I am looking at in particular I can't find any info on.

I don't bike long distance, but I would think the area would be nice for a bike ride. The main road (very small) goes via Kolari - Pajala - Vittangi - Kiruna - Narvik. There are a grocery stores in Kolari, Pajala Vittangi and Kiruna. Pajala - Vittangi is mainly forest and reindeer. Kiruna is the biggest town in the area and there you can find more goods and services.

The route you were looking at (and which doesn't have street view) is for sure a gravel road. There seem to be "villages" along the road but often if there is only a house or two, there is a name on the map.

It's pretty isolated area. I remember last time driving from Kiruna to Pajala on a summer evening and I met about 3 cars on that trip. If you take smaller road, there is a change, you won't meet anyone.

You can buy used bikes from Helsinki or Oulu. The cheapest used ones tend to be around 80-100 € in Helsinki. With 120-150 € you can maybe find something in better condition for a long distance.

The train ticket for bike is only 5 € for any distance but you have to reserve the place beforehand. I think it shouldn't be a problem to get a place for a bike on a train to Kolari.

The Swedish train and bus system is not cycle friendly. Fortunately it is getting better so the old advice "you can't" isn't quite true any more. But there's still a lot you can't do, so if you are thinking of transporting bike by train in Sweden, research carefully in advance.

Personally I'd do most of the cycling in Norway. I think in a day in Finland you'd have seen most of the scenery to be seen.

Massive thank you DistantIsland and Hoff.

I may dodge the gravel road then and follow the main road through those towns...it will be useful to have towns to stop in for food. I can deal with not seeing many folk...I cycled in Iceland last year and a couple of days I saw next to no one...it's kind of refreshing to cycle on your own without seeing folk...although a bus of Spanish tourists did stop to photograph at one point!?!

I'm going to hunt for a bike online before I go...Finnish eBay maybe? Or a used website?...then locate a bike shop so when I get there, I can take it to the bike shop for a quick look over to make sure it's healthy.

Hoff...I'm going to take the train in Finland...then cycle into Sweden and across...before catching a flight out of Narvik (or another airport closeby) back to Oslo/Bergen/Stavanger and onto the UK. Hopefully I won't have to use any public transport in Sweden.

I tried to plan a hike in Finland for September just gone but wild camping was really limited and it was all pretty flat...unless I flew and then drove 6hrs...I'm hoping however the train + 20km or so I spend in Finland cycling will let me see enough to tick it off my visited list.

QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU...BUGS? June/July time...should I expect to have to deal with mosquitos/any other sort of bugs?

Thanks for the help both of you.

What comes to the route, I think the road to Norway from Karesuvanto to Kilpisjärvi and Saana is really beautiful. But I know many people like Abisko area too. However I liked your plan since I there is a good change that you are the only traveller up there and that's always a really fun way to go. And there won't be many others before Kiruna.

Yes, bugs:
There will be mosquitoes and black flyes. I don't think they bother you while biking but can be annoying when you camp. They are not dangerous, just annoying. The black flyes are the most annoying but I think they are mostly around the svamps. (We used to pick berries as kids up in North and the most delicious berries grow on swamp... it was horror.)

This is the best I have found. You can buy it from pharmacy (Apteekki). It makes you a bit more invisible for mosquitoes:
http://algolpharma.fi/product/hyttysassa/
Smoke and wind and help too. Also white/light/bright clothing is very helpful. And you grow a tolerance - but maybe not in a week.

Tip for future trips: My favorite part of Finland is the Eastern lakeside but it's maybe best explored by kayak.

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