What a bunch of legends!
The 83km ride from Skjolden to Lom over the Sognefjellet Mountain Pass is one of the great bike journeys of Norway: a dramatic and unforgettable traverse into the rugged terrain of Jotunheimen – the “Home of the Giants.” Beginning at sea level in Skjolden, where the shimmering Lustrafjord meets steep valley walls, the route climbs steadily through pine forests, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows. The road hugs the mountainside, revealing ever-widening views of the fjord far below, while the air grows cooler and the landscape transforms from fertile valley to alpine wilderness.
The scenery becomes otherworldly: snowfields linger deep into summer, and glassy glacial lakes reflect the towering peaks of the Hurrungane range. At the summit, the Sognefjellet Pass at 1,434 metres, cyclists are rewarded with sweeping vistas across one of the most majestic and starkly beautiful landscapes in Scandinavia. This is more than just a road; it’s a masterpiece of engineering, history, and nature – a ribbon of tarmac that carves through the high mountains, making it one of the most unique and scenic rides in all of Europe, and by UK’s The Guardian, rated as one of the world’s top 10 cycling routes.
But this route is also steeped in Norse history. Long before the modern road was built, Viking traders, farmers, and messengers would cross this mountain corridor on foot or horseback, linking the coast with inland valleys like Lom. They braved the elements with packhorses laden with salt, fish, and iron, journeying between fjords and farms in a vital artery of commerce and culture. To follow their path by bicycle is to trace a route carved by both glaciers and generations ending the ride in the historic village of Lom, with its 12th-century stave church and Viking heritage, makes this journey not only a physical challenge but a ride through time.
Descending into the lush Bøverdalen Valley the landscape softens with alpine meadows and old summer farms. Our afternoon is a magnificent 50km with around 1500m descent, an amazing ride taking us into Lom for a late lunch by the roaring river, all the more enjoyable after such a great ride and climb.