The three first days are full of quiet forest roads and lush riversides. A pit stop in Äkäslompolo is followed by five more days on the Arctic Post Road from Äkäslompolo to Alta: through the taiga forests along the fell sceneries of Pallas.Ylläs national park, up to the highlands of Finnmark and finally all the way down to Alta, by the Arctic Ocean.

This Arctic bikepacking adventure includes all meals, accommodations in local B&B-style lodges, luggage transportation from start till the end with one access point on the way, too.

The guides don't get much more experiences than this: Taneli Roininen, the master behind the Arctic Post Road and an around-the-globe cyclist accompanied with Anders Steinicke, the founder of the German bike travel operator Tri-Berg. The adventure is mainly guided in English, but German and Finnish are also spoken.

A warm welcome!

From Rovaniemi to the Miekojärvi area and Loma-Vietonen lodging (71km, 870m of climbing)

The route starts on the cycling lane from the Rovaniemi Railway Station on cycling lanes out of the Rovaniemi City by the River Kemi, before finally diving into the dense arctic boreal forest on gravel. The first reindeer fence gates are soon after, helping to get into the groove of opening and closing them.

The first nice spot for a break is after 64km at lean-to of River Meltos, which has firewood available. Though the lodging for the night is only 10km away, so depending on the weather and how we feel, we might head directly there as well. A couple of spring originated creeks on the way to stock up for water.

Breakfast: Hostel Café Koti

Lunch: Complementary freeze-dried outdoor meal + personal snacks

Dinner & Lodging: Loma-Vietonen holiday village

Jouttensuvannon loma cabins to Äkäslompolo village (95km, 885m of climbing)

The third riding day starts with a quick few kilometers on the pavement along the border river before diving back into old logging roads to the taiga. The gravel back road to the village of Kolari is partly quick, but some sections can be slow progress as well, especially after rain. Before the Kämppäsajo day trip hut, there is a beautiful little spring behind a publicly owned hut to fill the water bottles with the highest quality water.

Before reaching the village of Kolari, there is a supermarket of ICA Lahtis on the Swedish side of the river, an easy detour, in case we want to tick a box of Sweden on the way as well. There is no border control between Finland and Sweden and the visit is hassle-free.

The village of Kolari, 45 km into the day, has a grocery store, gas station restaurant and a small burger stall like restaurant. We’ll have lunch there, unless the group gets hungry already earlier. In that case we’ll have quick freeze-dried meals on the road and then just quickly stock up for snacks in the village.

From Kolari onwards, a paved road continues for 24 kilometers, before the route turn toward the village of Äkäslompolo on the old main road by the River Äkäs. Hannukainen lean-to is a beautiful spot for a break on the river bank, before a section of small forest roads and easy single track. Full set of services in the holiday village of Äkäslompolo with a selection of restaurants, a large supermarket, and sport stores with some spares and a mechanic as well.

Breakfast: Self-made breakfast at Jouttensuvannon loma.

Lunch: Complementary freeze-dried outdoor meal + personal snacks. Alternative: gas station or burger stalls in Kolari

Dinner: Dinner at a nice restaurant in Äkäslompolo

Lodging: A lodge in Äkäslompolo with sauna.

Note: Your luggage is accessible in Äkäslompolo in the evening

Hotel Jeris & Sauna World to Hetta village (87km, 570m of climbing)

Nearly straight from the hotel, there is a section of the old post road going over a fell on a easy single track and small gravel road, with great views of the high fells of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park on top. The grocery store of Raattama is located 25km from the start of the day and it's the last service before reaching the village of Hetta 62km further. The paved road from Raattama to Hetta has only little traffic and goes partly in old-growth forest of the national park with occasional views of the fells as well. The village of Hetta has a full range of services, including a small bicycle repair shop as well.

Breakfast: Hotel Jeris

Lunch: Complementary freeze-dried outdoor meal + personal snacks

Dinner: A restaurant in Hetta

Lodging: Hetan Majatalo

Kautokeino to Suolovuopmi fjellstue (79km, 740m of climbing)

If the couple of previous days were mostly on pavement, the last two are finally on gravel on the famous Finnmark highland crossing on the old post road. The traffic-free varying condition 4x4 track is occasionally really rough, but otherwise fantastic riding going from lake to lake and pond to pond on and on across the arctic tundra. There are a couple of reindeer herding stations along the way, unused during summertime, but likely busy in early summer and in late September and early October. Due to the occasionally poor road condition, this is likely to be the longest day on the whole tour. If you had been laughed at by your tour peers your high volume tires, this is your payback. The bigger tires the better on this section.

The Suolovuopmi fjellstue is another of the full-service huts originally built and managed by the order of the King of Norway to serve the travelers on the post road. Nowadays the fjellstue serves as a café and restaurant, with multiple accommodation options available.

Breakfast: At Goldin

Lunch: Complementary freeze-dried outdoor meal + personal snacks

Dinner & Lodging: Suolovuopmi fjellstue

The three first days are full of quiet forest roads and lush riversides. A pit stop in Äkäslompolo is followed by five more days on the Arctic Post Road from Äkäslompolo to Alta: through the taiga forests along the fell sceneries of Pallas.Ylläs national park, up to the highlands of Finnmark and finally all the way down to Alta, by the Arctic Ocean.

This Arctic bikepacking adventure includes all meals, accommodations in local B&B-style lodges, luggage transportation from start till the end with one access point on the way, too.

The guides don't get much more experiences than this: Taneli Roininen, the master behind the Arctic Post Road and an around-the-globe cyclist accompanied with Anders Steinicke, the founder of the German bike travel operator Tri-Berg. The adventure is mainly guided in English, but German and Finnish are also spoken.

A warm welcome!