--- title: "Mountain Bike & Sail Norway — Island Trails by Yacht" description: "Ride island trails no shuttle can reach. Whole-boat mountain biking and sailing weeks around Tromsø and the outer islands with Boreal Yachting." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization", "name": "Boreal Yachting", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com", "logo": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "description": "Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Whole-boat expeditions and charters from Tromsø since 2003.", "foundingDate": "2003", "email": "post@boreal-yachting.com", "telephone": "+4777729200", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Tromsø", "addressCountry": "NO" }, "memberOf": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)", "url": "https://www.aeco.no" }, "sameAs": [ "https://facebook.com/borealyachting", "https://youtube.com/@borealyachting" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Experiences", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mountain Bike & Sail", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/mountain-bike-and-sail" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "TouristTrip", "name": "Mountain Bike & Sail", "description": "Mountain Bike & Sail is a whole-boat summer week that uses a sailing yacht as a shuttle. Bikes come ashore by tender on islands around Tromsø, you ride trails and gravel tracks that no van can reach, and the boat repositions while you eat. Small group, one week, no road transfers.", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/mountain-bike-and-sail", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/assets/expedition-sailmountainbike-hero-D6Q6Mn03.jpg", "touristType": [ "Small private groups", "Experienced travellers" ], "provider": { "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization" }, "duration": "6 or 7 nights", "itinerary": { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Tromsø, 69.6°N" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Senja" } } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I bring my own bike?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, and most guests do. There is deck space for eight bikes and a place to work on them." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is bike hire available?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We can arrange hire in Tromsø with enough notice. Tell us your height and preferred setup when you enquire." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How technical is the riding?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It varies from smooth gravel to rocky, rooty singletrack. Routes are chosen for the group, but you should be a confident off-road rider." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What about e-bikes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "They work well here and can be charged on board on most vessels. Tell us in advance so we can plan the power budget." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do we ride every day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually five days out of seven. Bad weather days become sailing days." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are the trails legal to ride?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Norway's right of access allows cycling on paths and tracks in open country, with care. We avoid fragile ground and stay off private yards and cultivated land." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [Boreal Yachting ](/) [Experiences](/experiences) [Destinations](/destinations) [Our Fleet](/fleet) [About Us](/about) [Journal](/journal) [For Partners](/partners) [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey) 1. [Home](/) 2. / [Experiences](/experiences) 3. / Mountain Bike & Sail Experience # Mountain Bike & Sail Mountain Bike & Sail is a whole-boat summer week that uses a sailing yacht as a shuttle. Bikes come ashore by tender on islands around Tromsø, you ride trails and gravel tracks that no van can reach, and the boat repositions while you eat. Small group, one week, no road transfers. ![Mountain biker riding a coastal trail above the sea in Northern Norway](/generated-images/expedition-sailmountainbike-hero-1920.webp) An island track above the sea. The tender lands the bikes; the boat meets you at the other end. ## At a glance Season July to September Duration 6 or 7 nights Base Tromsø, 69.6°N Group size Up to eight guests, whole boat Sold as Whole boat — private and group charter Level Confident on technical singletrack, three to five hours of riding a day Crew Skipper, plus riding guide on request ## Why does the boat work as a shuttle? The boat works as a shuttle because the islands off Tromsø are laced with old farm tracks, coastal paths and mining roads. Most are cut off from each other by water, which is why they are quiet. A yacht turns that fragmentation into an advantage: ride one island, sleep, ride the next. Bikes travel on deck and come ashore by tender, two at a time. Landing takes a few minutes on a beach or a small quay. Riders start at the water and finish at the water, and the boat can meet you at a different bay if the route is one way. Riding here is mixed: gravel and doubletrack that lets you cover ground, and rough, rocky singletrack that does not. Expect 20 to 40 kilometres and 600 to 1,200 metres of climbing on a full day. ## What is the terrain and season like? The terrain is a mix of bedrock, heather and peat, and it drains slowly. After heavy rain the soft sections get slow, and we ride gravel and coast instead of the peat lines. Protecting the trail matters as much as the ride. June to September is the working season. Midsummer gives light around the clock and the option to ride at ten in the evening, which on a hot day is the better plan. September brings colour, cooler air and firmer ground. Repairs happen on board. Bring spares for your own bike; a basic workshop and a track pump live in the cockpit locker. ## A typical week The route is decided by weather, trail condition and the people on board. This is what a good week tends to look like. ### Day 1 — Tromsø Board in the afternoon, load and secure bikes, and run the safety briefing. A short evening sail to the first island anchorage. ### Days 2 to 6 — island to island Bikes ashore after breakfast for three to five hours of riding. Back on board for food and a swim while the yacht sails to the next island. Evening ride for anyone who wants one; the light allows it until August. ### Final day — back to Tromsø A last ride near town, or a straight sail in if the weather turns. Alongside in Tromsø in the afternoon and bikes packed. ## What is included ### Included - — Whole-boat charter for your group - — Skipper and crew - — All meals on board, including packed lunches - — Bike transport on deck and tender landings - — Basic workshop tools and a track pump - — Fuel, harbour fees and on-board linen ### Not included - — Flights to and from Tromsø - — Bike hire, which we can arrange locally - — Spare parts and consumables for your bike - — Riding guide, available on request - — Travel insurance - — Alcoholic drinks and crew gratuities ![Mountain bikes secured on the deck of a sailing catamaran](/generated-images/sail-mountainbike-card-1824.webp) ## The boat Bike weeks need deck space, so we usually put them on a catamaran: room to lash eight bikes, a wide platform for loading the tender, and a cockpit big enough to eat in wet kit. [See the fleet](/fleet) ## Who this is for - Riders who are confident on rocky, technical singletrack. - Small groups of friends who ride together regularly. - People who want to ride somewhere with no shuttle vans and no queues. - Guests with no sailing experience. This is not a beginner trip and not a bike-park holiday. If you ride mostly on tarmac or blue trails, the ground here will be harder work than you want. ## Practical ### What fitness and experience do I need? You need to be comfortable riding three to five hours and descending rough, natural trails. Bring your own bike if you can; local hire is possible with notice. ### What should I bring? You should bring a helmet, pads, riding kit for rain and sun, spare tubes, brake pads and a derailleur hanger for your bike, plus shoes that cope with a wet tender landing. ### What are the weather and trails like? Summer weather sits between 8 and 18°C. Trails drain slowly after rain, and on wet weeks we ride gravel and coastal tracks to avoid damaging soft ground. ### How do I get to Tromsø? You reach Tromsø on direct flights from Oslo and several European cities. Bikes travel as sports luggage with most airlines; check your allowance early. [Read the full Arctic sailing packing list](/arctic-sailing-packing-list) ## Questions guests ask Can I bring my own bike? Yes, and most guests do. There is deck space for eight bikes and a place to work on them. Is bike hire available? We can arrange hire in Tromsø with enough notice. Tell us your height and preferred setup when you enquire. How technical is the riding? It varies from smooth gravel to rocky, rooty singletrack. Routes are chosen for the group, but you should be a confident off-road rider. What about e-bikes? They work well here and can be charged on board on most vessels. Tell us in advance so we can plan the power budget. Do we ride every day? Usually five days out of seven. Bad weather days become sailing days. Are the trails legal to ride? Norway's right of access allows cycling on paths and tracks in open country, with care. We avoid fragile ground and stay off private yards and cultivated land. ## Where this sails [ Destination ### Senja Norway's second largest island, with steep outer coast and quiet anchorages. ](/destinations/senja) ## Related reading [ Activities ### Bike & Sail: riders of the sea ](/journal/bike-and-sail)[ Itineraries ### One week from Tromsø: Senja, Lyngen and beyond ](/journal/one-week-tromso)[ Experience ### Sail & Trek ](/experiences/sail-and-trek)[ Compare ### Whole-boat charter vs joining a group departure ](/whole-boat-charter-vs-group-departure)[ Compare ### What an Arctic-adapted boat actually means ](/what-is-an-arctic-adapted-boat) ## Enquire about Mountain Bike & Sail. Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template. [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey?experience=mountain-bike-and-sail)[Speak to us directly](/contact) Boreal Yachting Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Sailing these waters since 2003. [![AECO member — Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators](/assets/aeco-member-Crcpxqbv.svg)](https://www.aeco.no)[![Eco-Lighthouse certified — Miljøfyrtårn programme](/assets/eco-lighthouse-CNcwtWaN.png)](https://www.miljofyrtarn.no/en/) ## Experiences - [Ski & Sail Norway](/experiences/ski-and-sail-norway) - [Ski & Sail Svalbard](/experiences/ski-and-sail-svalbard) - [Svalbard Expeditions](/experiences/svalbard-expeditions) - [Private charter](/experiences/private-charter) - [Group charter](/experiences/group-charter) - [Bareboat charter](/experiences/bareboat-charter) ## Destinations - [Tromsø](/destinations/tromso) - [Lyngen Alps](/destinations/lyngen-alps) - [Lofoten](/destinations/lofoten) - [Svalbard](/destinations/svalbard) - [Senja](/destinations/senja) - [Vesterålen](/destinations/vesteralen) ## Company - [About us](/about) - [Our crew](/about/crew) - [Safety](/about/safety) - [Sustainability](/about/sustainability) - [Company facts](/about/facts) - [Journal](/journal) - [For partners](/partners) - [Contact](/contact) Boreal Yachting AS · Tromsø, Norway · [post@boreal-yachting.com](mailto:post@boreal-yachting.com) · [+47 77 72 92 00](tel:+4777729200) - [Facebook](https://facebook.com/borealyachting) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/@borealyachting) - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/borealyachting) © 2026 Boreal Yachting AS - [Privacy](/privacy) - [Terms](/terms) - [Booking conditions](/booking-conditions) Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to run the site. 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