Arctic Circle Fat Bike Expedition

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country, however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we've found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. You'll also travel with a team of huskies to transport your overnight luggage and be provided with high-quality bikes and delicious food to keep you going. Faff eliminated! All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the epic landscape with your fellow tourers.

Have a read of our article on cycling difficulty levels for further information on selecting the right level of bike adventure for you.

Fat bikes have extra fat, knobbly tyres that are designed for riding on soft surfaces like sand and snow, and little or no suspension. The super-fat tyres distribute the rider’s mass across a larger area, so you don’t sink in and gain more traction than you would with a standard tyre size. You can ride easily and with stability even over firm snow and ice.

You’ll be riding Nakamura Big Bob 6.0 fat bikes. These are light and easy-to-ride, with an aluminium frame and Sram XX1 specs. The bikes are equipped with a water bottle cage. If you would like to bring your own saddle or pedals, these can be fitted for you.

Cold toes are an understandable concern when riding in the Arctic. Your host suggests you bring insulated winter MTB shoes that contain enough space to layer a couple of pairs of thick socks inside. You can choose whether you have flat pedals or SPDs, so of course bring the correct shoes to match your preference here. You will also be provided with flexible Neo overshoes for an extra layer of warmth.

The cycle guide ratio on the trip is 1-7 customers, this means that for groups of eight or more people, there will be two cycle guides.

E-bike upgrades are not available for this trip; you’ll be riding hybrid bikes as listed in the trip inclusions. Keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have a growing collection of e-bike adventures which you can explore.

Drinking water is available at the Aurora Canvas Domes and lodges. You'll fill up your water bottle (and thermos, hot water) in the morning and re-fill at the next cabin.

Sure – you can leave any excess kit you don't want to take fat biking at your accommodation in Alta.

Your local host will provide a suitable helmet that conforms to recognised safety standards. If you have sizing concerns, contact your local host in advance so they can advise on fit and availability.

If you wish to bring your own helmet it must be suitable for the activity and conform to recognised safety standards. Please see our Cycling safety guidance for further information.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

In Norway’s Arctic Circle, cuisine is shaped by a harsh climate, limited agriculture and a strong fishing and foraging heritage, leading to simple, protein-rich meals built around seafood, preserved meats, root vegetables and seasonal berries. This can make dining more restrictive for those with dietary requirements, particularly vegans or those avoiding fish, though larger settlements and lodges increasingly cater to a range of needs. Travellers should expect limited choice in remote areas, and it helps to plan ahead, with a guide able to liaise on meals and communicate requirements where options are constrained.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan Vegan diets can’t be catered for on this trip, due to the remote environment in which it takes place and a lack of available produce in the destination.

Kosher Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal supply varies by destination and may not always be possible. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Lactose-free Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority.

Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Spring on the plateau, although fairly cold, is usually sunny and bright. It is likely to stay at around 0ºC 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 only for a short window in spring because this is when the snow is densely packed – perfect for fat bikes – with little chance of fresh snow to hinder progress. It's a small window before the weather warms up; however, our host has been running this expedition for a long time so the window is well-considered!