Arctic Circle Fat Bike Expedition
Cycle across an Arctic plateau alongside a team of huskies, sleep in remote huts and relax in saunas
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guides and a bike mechanicGlamping & Mountain hut
3 nights in Aurora Canvas Domes and 2 nights in cosy mountain lodgesMeals
All of your breakfasts, lunches and dinnersTransfers
Airport and everything in betweenEquipment & permits
Nakamura Big Bob 6.0 fat bikes, cycle helmets, winter overshoes, huskies and sleds. Permits and entry fees are included.Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Cruise through remote, snowy trails and enjoy the freedom of riding a fat bike across Norway’s Finnmarksvidda plateau
Travel with a team of huskies to carry your luggage and tuck in to fresh, locally sourced food throughout
Share the snow-blanketed plateau with migrating herds of reindeer and the indigenous Sami people
Snooze in a cosy Aurora Canvas Dome – eyes peeled for the Northern Lights – and unwind with post-ride saunas
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to the Arctic Circle!
Head for the remote coastal town of Alta on the inner reaches of the Altafjord in Norway's most northern county. Settle into the unique Aurora Canvas Dome and meet the rest of the group for dinner, where you'll hear more about the expedition ahead. Expect a feast of local delicacies, ranging from fresh cod, to moose and a variety of seasonal food.
Day 2
Expedition planning
Cycling
You'll head into town for a look around and a chance to grab any extra snacks and bits of equipment before returning in time for a log fire lunch. Next, get fitted out with your trusty steed (read: fat bike) which will power you through the Arctic Circle over the next few days. Once you and your bike are a match, head out for a test ride. You'll then get prepared for the expedition ahead, working through the final points with your guide – including a weather update, plotting the best route and learning about cycling in the snow – before meeting your husky team. When you’re ready, head back to your Aurora Canvas Dome for the night before the big day tomorrow.
Day 3
The Finnmarksvidda Plateau
Cycling
Arrive at Souusjavri Fjellstue after a 150km drive from Alta. Here, you'll be served lunch before heading out for 25km of snowy adventure, beginning your crossing of the Finnmarksvidda Plateau. After arriving at the mountain lodge in Mollisjok Fjellstue, you can indulge in a hot sauna before dinner: a welcome relief after your first day on the expedition.
Day 4
Rolling through snow
Cycling
Cross the frozen Lake Lesjavri – the largest in Finnmark – on a bike! Keep your eyes peeled for herds of reindeer; Finnmarksvidda is where indigenous Sami people raise their herds. Reindeer start to migrate northwards in apring and the calving season takes place during this journey, generally in late April and early May. After arriving at Jotka Fjellstue you can again enjoy a hot sauna before dinner.
Day 5
Push to the finish line
Cycling
Follow the snowy tracks, passing remote settlements, Sami villages and cabins. Stop in a scenic spot for your packed lunch. Arrive back in Alta during the late afternoon, where you'll have time for another sauna and a celebratory glass of wine with your teammates before one last night in your cosy Aurora Dome, hopefully catching the spectacle of the aurora.
Day 6
Optional dogsledding and then home
Either relax in the morning, or meet your dogs if you've booked the optional dog-sledding experience and head off on a speedy adventure through the snow-covered pines. This is an extremely peaceful experience, with the silence only disturbed by the sound of paws in the snow and some energetic panting. Take a last wander around Alta and then head back to the airport in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Alta Airport
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Alta Airport
Any time on Day 6
Transfers
Transfers are included from Alta Airport or your hotel in Alta (if you have arrived a day early) any time on Day 1. It is only a 15 minute drive from the airport to the base where you'll spend your first night. If possible we recommend arriving by late afternoon so you can enjoy dinner with the group.
At the end of your trip, you will be transferred back to the airport any time on Day 6, but if you are doing the optional dog sledding experience we recommend not booking a flight until the afternoon as this runs from 10:00 – 12:30.
Travel options
There are no direct flights to Alta from the UK but connections are available from both Oslo and Tromsø. From Oslo, the flight time is just over 2 hours, while the flight time from Tromsø is 40 minutes.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
On the trip you'll be eating mainly local food – ranging from salmon and moose, to an array of vegetable dishes. On Days 4 and 5 you'll pick from a selection of food in the morning to put together your own packed lunch. Due to the highly remote location of the huts, which are located a long way from roads or shops, much of the food is self-caught game and fish, so it can be challenging to cater for alternative dietary needs on this trip: especially vegan diets. Get in touch with our team to discuss any requirements.
What is the accommodation like?
Alta
You’ll stay in the Aurora Canvas Domes. These are purpose-built aluminium and canvas domes with under-floor heating and a wood-burning stove, to get you as close to nature as possible whilst still being warm and cosy. You can even open the roof – perfect for watching the northern lights. All electricity is 100% renewable and drawn from hydro-electrical power produced by the nearby Alta River.
On the expedition
You’ll stay in traditional lodging houses that offer basic accommodation in cabins and dormitories with 2-6 bunks, sharing on a mixed basis. Lodges have permanent hosts and all meals are served in the shared dining room. Dormitories are equipped with bunks, mattresses and pillows and each hut has its own sauna.
Upgrades
Due to the nature of this trip and restricted space, there are no options to upgrade to a private room.
This trip has been rated as Challenging
Although the distances aren't huge and most of it is flat, a decent level of stamina is needed due to the snowy, rugged terrain and wintry weather conditions adding to the challenge. Progress in these conditions can be slow going! For the most part, you’ll be following snowmobile tracks on packed snow, which is very rideable with some previous cycling fitness.
What will I need to carry?
You'll only need to carry a small daypack during the activity days. Your main luggage can be left at the accommodation.
Spring on the plateau, although fairly cold, is usually sunny and bright. It is likely to stay around 0 degrees in the daytime and get a little colder at night. Although fresh snow and rain are unlikely at this time of the year, there is still a chance that you may get a little of both.
The trip runs in Spring as the snow is densely packed - perfect for fat bikes - with little chance of fresh snow to hinder progress. There is a small window before it warms up, however, our host has been running this expedition for a long time so the window is well-considered!
one trip to stay with you
one of those special experiences where you come home a little bit different than when you went there. the images of the “white desert” will stay with me. a note on the effort: I’m 61 and consider myself reasonably fit, but had never ridden more than 10 Km on a bicycle. bottom line: it was not easy, but ultimately doable. I suggest you practice some dirt biking prior to going. in any case, the hard work will be amply rewarded. highly recommended trip, that only a few will do each year. responsible and interested guides. suitable accommodations during tour - in Alta very good. very good food throughout.
Epic.
I have nothing but the best of things to say about this trip -- it was an unforgettable adventure with a group of amazing, like-minded people! Our hosts Trygve & Helle were so much fun to get to know, and organized the trip to perfection.
Fat biking during the day was both challenging and very rewarding, and the arctic landscape is gorgeous and tranquil. We ended each day with delicious food (my highlight was reindeer stew with lingonberry jam) and bonding with our fellow expedition-mates -- swapping stories, playing cards, laughing together about nonsense!
I'd definitely recommend training with cycling/mountain biking specifically for this trip -- I came in with a generic cardio & strength training background, plus downhill MTB skills, and quickly realized that it doesn't translate to cycling endurance. So the physical aspect was very challenging (but still doable) for me, though that made the experience even more rewarding as I smashed my biking PRs day after day :)
Highly, highly recommend this trip!
A truly epic and unforgettable adventure!
A full 10/10 for the GLOD team under leadership of Trygve as we were well looked after from start to finish.
After reading prior reviews before selecting the trip I had a concern over the level of fitness required, but in hindsight it was easier than expected, admittedly helped by mostly good weather conditions and over-preparation. The days are a good mix of cycling and 'down time', thus plenty of recovery time or opportunity to explore the area a but further on your own.
The accommodation is brilliant, especially at Alta where the Aurora Canvas Dome was a touch of luxury. However, do remember an eye mask for sleeping as the sun rises at 3:30am.
The food was out of this world and a fest for your tastebuds. It is mostly locally sourced reindeer, moose, cod and salmon, and there is plenty of it.
I highly recommend this trip to anyone that has MTB/ gravel bike experience, it is a truly epic and unforgettable adventure!
Memorable Adventure with GLOD Explorers
This trip was everything we expected and even more so. GLOD Explorers who provided us with are amazing guide, Calle, and his faithful dog sledding pups, Laggo & Pettre, get a solid 5 stars plus. The globe lodging in Alta was spectacular and the meals provided were top notch, particularily the desserts. The weather conditions were chaotic but again, Calle had plans A, B, & C....and by the time we were done, we were on plans X, Y & Z. Mother nature is unpredictable and you need to accept what fate throws your way.
We have mixed reviews about MBA. Although quick to respond to our many questions, in retrospect, was the sale of the tour more important than the true level of challenge required for this adventure? In addition, the kit list provided on MBA's website did not match up to what GLOD recommended. A week before we fly out, an email from MBA introducing GLOD as our host shows up giving a run down on how to dress, size of pack, what to pack, and other very pertinent information. By now we have already purchased our gear only to find out that we needed bigger packs because we had to carry more than what was stated on the kit list on MBA's website. And the statement that the gear is carried by dog sleds was very misleading. Yes, gear was carried, but only up to 5 kg per person and that weight included your sleeping bag. It is not that the weight is not doable, but what to pack becomes very important. MBA needs to introduce GLOD as soon as payment is received AND they need to work with GLOD to provide accurate kit list requirements and expectations.
All said, it was an unforgettable experience and highly recommended it to those have strong cycling endurance skills.
Trip of a lifetime
Amazing experience, Kalle was a super guide. So fortunate to be able to have this experience so close to nature. Loved the dogs Petter and Laggu
What a fantastic trip I would thoroughly recommend this trip. The organization and expertise of the guide, Kalle, was exceptional. The ride was challenging and would recommend that you are at a good level of fitness as you are cycling for a long time during the days. We were really lucky with the weather as it stayed sunny most days but can imagine this trip would be more difficult with high winds and snow. The base at Glod was extremely good and the food was excellent there and throughout the trip. If you fancy a challenge with snow as far as you can see this is the trip for you
One of the best trips i have been on. Everything from the base camp, the food, the facilities, the guides knowledge was exceptional. I would recommend this trip 100%
Fantastic trip! Food was fantastic and the hosts were amazing.
An amazing experience with a fantastic local host. Looked after from start to finish. The biking conditions are very weather dependent as you might expect, but if you’re prepared for that and up for a different kind of biking adventure, this is a must!
This was an incredible trip! I had ZERO mountain bike experience and still loved every second. We had a mixture of weather, a couple of lovely days and a proper Arctic conditions day which although made things tough, really added to the experience, so i'm glad we had this day! You do need a strong level of fitness to get the most out of it, but I wouldn't say you need to have mountain biking skills as such - just a positive attitude and desire to gain new skills and get stuck in. Our guide was fantastic, as were the whole team. The mountain huts, although simple, were clean, warm and comfortable. As a vegetarian, I was harder to cater for in the huts but the hosts went above and beyond to ensure I ate well. The food at 'base camp' in the domes was incredible! Be prepared that you are in the Arctic Circle so the itinerary might not always go to plan, but the team will adapt as required to ensure you get the most out of the trip!