Northern Transcon - 3 or 4 weeks
France (Champagne), Northern Europe (Belgium, Luxemburg & Germany), Denmark & Norway

On this page, you'll find...
Our Trips
Overview Map
of all of our routes

Departure Calendar
of our regular trips
What's Included
in the Trip Cost
Additional Services
you can add to the bike trip.

Contrast is at Northern Transcon’s core: tastes of Latin, Flemmish, Germanic, & Scandinavian cultures are on a varied menu of some of Europe’s most charming lands.

Toast the French Royals’ long-gone health with a ‘coupe’ in Reims’ champagne cellars. Joan of Arc crowned her king at the cathedral, World War I was fought back and forth along the Marne. History book Europe comes to life; classic French cuisine and champagne toasts add gastronomy to the mix.

Then to the Low Countries. Belgian Flanders delights with tree-lined canals, windmills, & way too many beers. On to the Ardennes: pine forests, rushing brooks, wild boar, gnomes – lots going on. Cross lovely Luxemburg – in a day – to Germany. The wine towns of the Mosel offer Roman ruins, brooding castles, and Germany’s most interesting dining.

Then a 2-week idyll in the realm of Vikings. Pastoral Denmark was made for cyclists. A national network of bike paths proves it. Thatch-roofed inns, hand-pulled brews and cheerful “homey” meals define a magical welcome. Norway, Europe’s civilized Yukon, has geography designed for aesthetics. Fjord boats replace buses, hiking trails are where the highways should be, and landscapes are stunning! Mountain bikes and walking shoes carry us over this final week. As the Norway portion is not a road-bike trip, other equipment and clothing is recommended. Please see the “Norway Packing List” for Norway-specific stuff to bring.

3-week versions are also offered, skipping the French start (B3) or the Norwegian finish (B2). But why would you do that?
Northern Transcon
Version
2008 Dates
Baggage Services Offered†
(optional)
Trip Prices
B1*
July 6 - Aug. 2
Last spaces, enquire before booking

Daily
Half
Lite
$6,525 US or C

4,250€
July 21 -
August 17
Daily
Half
Lite
$6,525 US or C

4,250€
B2**
July 21 -
August 9

Daily
Half
Lite
$5,395 US or C

3,495€
B3***
July 26 -
August 17

Daily
Half
Lite
$5,675 US or C

3,675€
*B1 = All 4 regions
**B2 = Champagne, Northern Europe & Denmark
***B3 = Northern Europe, Denmark & Norway
Prices in $ and € do not include precisely the same things. Click here for details, and for prices of optional extras (private single rooms, baggage services, “Access Packages”).

† At least 4 riders must subscribe to a given baggage service for it to operate (except for Lite, which always operates on this trip). Services already confirmed to be operating appear in bold. If the “Daily” service is confirmed, the “Half” service may no longer be offered to future sign-ups, though it will be provided to those who have previously selected it.

Note that the “Daily” service is included in the price of trips operating in Norway (B1 and B3), for the Norway section of the trip.

See here for a discussion of our baggage services.
View of all of Belgium from the Lisseweg lookout tower

Thumbnail view of the trip’s itinerary.
For details within each region, click on the name under “Region Visited”...
Days
Days of the Week
Region Visited
 Details
0
Su
 Pre-trip, hotel night in Paris, if desired (B1 & B2)
1 - 5
Champagne
Mo - We
 The Marne Valley
We - Fr
 Montagne de Reims
6
Sa
Train to Brugge
 B3 (w/out Champagne) meets on Saturday, in Brugge
6 - 13
Northern Europe
Sa - Mo
 Belgian Flanders
Tu - Th
 The Ardennes
Th - Sa
 The Mosel Valley
13
Sa
Sleeper train to Denmark
14 - 20
Denmark
Su - We
 Jutland: the Lake District and Arhus.
We - Sa
 Odense, Fyn & the Baltic Islands
Sa
Arrival in Copenhagen
 B2 (without Norway) disbands upon arrival in Nyborg.
Train to Copenhagen, and Sa night hotel there is included in the “Access Package”
21
Su
Copenhagen,
Travel to Norway
 A day to explore Copenhagen, then an overnight sleeper train to Oslo (berth provided aboard).
22 - 28
Norway
Mo - Th
 Cross-Country Mountain Biking to the Sognefjord
Fr - Su
 Aurlandsdalen Hike
B1 & B3 disband upon arrival in Voss. A train on to Bergen, and Sunday night aboard the sleeper train to Oslo is included in the Access Package.
29
Mo
Travel Date
 Arrival in Oslo at 7a (Access Package subscribers only).