Lysebotn Explorer Roundtrip – Guided *CYCLE*

Sandnes – Sirdal 60km

Height meters: + 1 618 / – 994

We load our luggage on the support vehicle and depart from the hotel after a nice and solid breakfast. Today’s cycling route is divided into two parts: Kronen Gaard Hotel – Lauvvik ferry dock and Lysebotn – Sirdal Høyfjellshotell. The ride to Lauvvik goes through lightly hilly terrain on low-traffic roads and will give us a taste of what awaits us later in the day. From Lauvvik, just find yourself a good seat on board the boat to enjoy the fantastic Lysefjorden. You will see Preikestolen during the journey, and as we go further into the fjord, we will pass Flørli, and we will get close to the majestic Kjerag.

From Lysebotn, it’s uphill! We will have a few hundred meters of flat roads before starting the climb. We will cycle through 27 hairpin bends, with an average incline of about 10%. The steepest part is up to 15%. It may sound tough, but it is entirely doable, and many cyclists who have ridden this road find it easier than expected due to the road’s design. We will bike through a tunnel after the second hairpin. We recommend lights on the bike. Our rental bikes are equipped with lights and it’s also possible to borrow light from the support vehicle. 

On the Explorer tour you will have the option to rent a e-bike in Lysebotn to use in the climb. Your own bike will be transported to the top by car. The same car will return the e-bike back to Lysebotn.  

There will be a stop at 640 meters above sea level at Øygårdstøl, also called the Eagle’s Nest, where we fill our water bottles and take the time to enjoy the view. There might also be some snacks waiting for us as well.

We continue to climb to the top, located at 932 meters above sea level, in a landscape that resembles a desolate lunar landscape. From here to Sirdal Høyfjellshotell, which is the destination for the day, it’s mostly downhill.

Upon arrival at the hotel, there will be time to relax while the NBE team prepares for the next day. In the evening, we meet for a full evening in the firehouse behind the hotel, where the hotel’s eminent kitchen offers local culinary experiences. It’s something to look forward to!

Sirdal Høyfjellshotell – Hotel

Sirdal – Byrkjedalstunet 48km

Height meters: + 395 / – 841

Today we will mostly bike downhill. We start from the upper part of Sirdalen to Sinnes and continue past Valevatn on the way to Byrkjedalstunet where we will spend the evening and night. After arrival we will be served “lapper,” a must-have for a cyclist passing by this charming and lovely place. Byrkjedlastunet is well known for their homemade food and the large selection of local produced food and suovenires. In the evening, we will meet in the mountain hall for an aperitif before we will be served a delightful dinner in the restaurant.  

Byrkjedalstunet – Hotel

Byrkjedalstunet – Egersund 50km

Height meters: + 958 / – 1 158  

The journey continues through Gloppedalsura, which is Northern Europe’s largest boulder field! Further on past Indre and Ytre Vinjevatn to Bjerkreim. There will be a stop at Myksvoll Microbrewery, where we will be served freshly roasted coffee with some snack on the side. The final stage takes us to Grand Hotel Egersund, where we will stay one night. On this stage, we move from the valleys and thick forest in the inlands to the hillier coastal terrain in the south. The variation in the landscape along the way is incredible, and one of the biggest challenges is to keep focused on the road since there is a lot to see along the way.

Upon arrival in Egersund, we will be accommodated at the charming Grand Hotel Egersund. Here we are guaranteed a warm welcome. Later in the evening, we gather for a delightful dinner, accompanied by a selection of captivating photos from the day’s adventures.

We also offer recommendations for optional activities like a hike to Trollpikken, visit to the Fayancemuseum, or a tour of Berentsens Brewery—established in 1895—where you can savour locally crafted beer, whisky, gin, or aquavit.

Grand Hotel Egersund

Egersund – Bryne 57km

Height meters: + 514 / – 493

Today we cycle along the beautiful coastline from Egersund, past the cozy towns of Hellvik, Sirevåg and Brusand. This area is truly unique, with a landscape unlike any other in the country.

Our first stop is at the famous art and culture centre Hå gamle prestegard, a former rectory that is a mandatory stop on Jæren. Here we enjoy a delicious lunch in peaceful surroundings.

We continue along the coast towards Bryne, and we get to experience some of Norway’s longest sandy beaches and large flat areas with farms and cultivated land – a real food platter. Hopefully we have the wind at our backs on the way to Bryne, but the stage is manageable even with a little headwind as there are minimal hills.

Our accommodation for the night is at the cozy hotel Bryne Kro & Hotel.

As the evening approaches, we gather in the restaurant for a good dinner, and we share photos from the day’s highlights.

Bryne kro & hotel

Bryne – Stavanger 57km

Height meters: + 488 / – 509

Today we will cycle towards urban areas, and the sights are numerous. Big farms and small communities along our way heading for the coastline again. We will have a stop at Ølberg before we continue to Sola Strandhotel for a lunch stop. We continue to Sola Ruinkirke, located near Sola beach, for a photo stop.
We then continue to Vår Energi Arena where we visit the headquarters of Norway Bike Experience where we get a small tour of the cycling velodrome and coffee & snack. We continue to Forus, which is the centre of the oil capital, and from here we cycle on the wonderful cycle highway towards Stavanger. We cycle through Sørmarka and on our way up to Ullandhaugtårnet we will try to climb the famous Grisabakken which is notorious and known from the Tour of Norway-race, where many of the world’s top cyclists participate each year. After a photo stop at Ullandhaugtårnet, we continue to Hafrsfjord and Swords in Rock where we will hear about the Battle of Hafrsfjord at the end of the 800’s. We finish the day in Stavanger city centre after a small detour in The Old Stavanger, which is Northern Europe’s best-preserved wooden house settlement. In Stavanger we check in at Victoria Hotel and prepare for the farewell dinner.

For those who is seeking further exploration, we offer a range of optional activities, including hiking to Preikestolen, a fjord cruise, a visit to the Flo and Fjære gardens, and a tour of the charming old city of Stavanger, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Victoria Hotel