With living farms amidst the mountains, stave churches, and beautiful views of a diverse landscape, the Valdres region offers precisely what many seek in Norway. We asked Siri Gjendemsjø of Jotunheimen Travel to tell us more about the area.
The Valdres region is one of Norway’s most popular tourist areas. Can you explain why a cyclist should come to Valdres and explore the area on a bike?
Valdres has been well adapted for cyclists. There are nice gravel roads with little car traffic, and they are well signposted. A lot of extra work has also been done in connection with the famous Mjølkevegen (the Milk Route). Here you can experience varied nature, from forest terrain to high mountains. We have a lot of the unique mountain pasture landscape and are the area in the country Norway with the most active mountain farms. It is easy to access local food and culture. There is a lot of meat and trout production, as well as many stave churches you can visit.
What would you recommend for a family with children who want to come to you and go cycling?
We have a bike package designed for families in the southern part of the Mjølkevegen, where the terrain is not as demanding, and the stages are shorter. There are also various attractions along the road that are exciting for children, such as visiting a mountain farm where you can greet the animals, see the milking process, and buy an ice cream. Additionally, there are several beautiful swimming spots and short, easily accessible mountain hikes.
You have entered into a collaboration with us at Norway by Bike. Can you tell us a bit about the background to this and your expectations?
You represent the best cycling tours in Norway, and we want to be part of this community 😊
Finally, do you have a favorite route that you can recommend when taking a bike ride?
As our favorite, we would like to highlight the new variant of the Mjølkevegen Nord, a 3-day tour that we recently put together. It offers high mountains, culture, a cruise across Lake Bygdin, cycling on the Kongevegen, and the Summer Farm Slettefjell.
