Self guided biking tour in Norway, Arctic Coast

Planet

Our trip along the Arctic Coast is self-guided. Bicycling doesn’t make any sort of pollution itself. Where other transportation is needed, we use public transportation. This never include air transport. Our guests are not followed by a service car. The trip runs on fixed dates, so that luggage transfer becomes as energy efficient as possible.

Our guests follow main roads and do not run through vulnerable nature.
Part of the tour follows Norwegian Scenic Routes, Senja, with scenic viewpoints and picnic areas along the route. The rest areas have garbage disposals and toilets. This way, we help free the land and waterways from waste and rubbish.

Plastic waste entering our oceans is a big issue all along the Norwegian coast. Along the way you’ll find dedicated garbage disposals at some of the beaches. More and more volunteers and students help keep the most famous beaches pretty. We urge all our guests to participate in the effort to keep the shoreline free of plastic and waste.

Senja is in the process of being certified as a Sustainable Destination. Becoming a sustainable destination takes years of work, with the whole local community working together. Senja is expected to be certified in the year to come.
The certification Sustainable Destination is a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry must cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.

The Norwegian Nature Diversity Act
The act has the purpose of protecting biological, geological and landscape diversity and ecological processes through conservation and sustainable use, and in such a way that the environment provides a basis for human activity, culture, health and well-being, now and in the future.
The act allows you to ski wherever you want, as long as nothing else is announced. This gives numerous possibilities for exciting excursions! Private ground and cultivated land however, should not be trafficked, and…
- Nature must not be damaged!
- Always bring back your litter, never throw rubbish outdoors
- There might be stricter access to protected areas
- Show respect for people and animals

People

We are a small, privately owned company, located in Lillehammer, Norway. We have our office in “FABRIKKEN”, an office community that houses 30 small businesses within art-, culture- and adventure industry. This is a low-cost community with high interest in supporting and maintaining a good cooperation within creative industries. Our premises are close to public transportation, and we all focus on low energy consumption, and recycling.

If possible, we choose traditional, locally owned accommodations in small places. In this way we help maintain living communities.
Our activity contributes to local employment related to accommodation, dining and bike rental. We also encourage our guests to visit local galleries and museums.
We provide some information on local arts and crafts, and support local economy by recommending guided excursions and activities.

We focus on finding good restaurants, offering traditional food of local ingredients. You can be certain to get fresh fish and seafood from the waters just outside the biking route.

Through the organisation Arctic Coast Cycling we contribute to crate good relationships between tourists and local community.