Filefjell - Lærdalsøyri
From Filefjellstuene to Lærdalsøyri – mostly downhill with opportunities for delicious baking.
A bike ride from Filefjellstuene down to Lærdalsøyri takes you from high mountains to fjord in one day – through the lush Lærdalsdalen and alongside the historic Kongevegen, with Borgund Stave Church and fresh bakery stops along the way.
The trip takes you through varied terrain and almost all the way downhill, with Filefjellstuene as the starting point and Lærdalsøyri as the finish line. You cycle down and take the Fjord & Mountain Route back up – and choose how many bakeries and breaks you want to make along the way.
Rent a bike?
From our bike rentals at Filefjellstuene and Intersport Filefjell, we offer top-quality electric bikes and touring bikes for rent.
From mountains to fjords – on two wheels and with a backpack
Descend from the mountain at Filefjell and down to the beautiful Lærdalsøyri – a ride where you cycle through lush cultural landscapes and along rivers, stopping at bakery shops along the way. Along the way, you cycle along the historic Kongevegen through the lush Lærdalsdalen valley, by rushing rivers and past Borgund stave church, before rolling into old Lærdalsøyri. The old trading town – once a meeting place for trade between the mountain villages to the east and the fjord villages to the west – has preserved a holistic wooden house environment from the 18th and 19th centuries, with narrow streets and alleys.
Hike Description
The tour starts at Filefjellstuene, where you can rent a bike – electric or regular – at the hotel or at Intersport Filefjell. Download the route in the AllTrails app before you set off, and you’ll have it on your phone the whole way.
From Filefjellstuene the hike goes up along Otrøvatnet , before following the E16 a short distance down to Maristova. From here the route alternates between quiet side roads and stretches of the old E16 – including a great section where you cycle through a kind of canyon with the river close by. At Steinklepp, Borgund Vedovnsbakeri is located in the old school building, a natural first stop, with lunch, pastries and coffee. NB: Check their Facebook page for updated opening hours.
The route then takes you onto the road towards Vindhella, past Borgund Stave Church and down the valley. You pass the parking lot at Sjurhaugfossen (toilet available) and follow the old E16 with Galdane and Lærdalselvi on your right. Here it is narrow, and you pass a couple of dark tunnels – the main traffic goes in the E16 tunnels, but some traffic from private cars and campers may occur. From there you follow the footpath and cycle path and quiet stretches further down the valley towards Ljøsne and Tønjum.
⚠️ Important: On the last stretch before the bridge at Tønjum, you must exit onto the E16. The stretch is narrow and at times heavily trafficked. Cycle one after the other – not two abreast – and wear highly visible clothing.
On the other side of the bridge, cross the E16 and follow county road 271 towards Lærdalsøyri, past Lærdal Hospital and over the bridge towards the city centre. If you want to cycle the last stretch along the river, take a slightly bumpy gravel path right after the bridge and follow the Lærdal River all the way to the Norwegian Wild Animals Centre. From there, roll into old Lærdalsøyri and end, for example, at the bakery Fredag & Fretland . NB: Check opening hours on their website.
Return transportation (July 1 – August 1):
If you want to return to the starting point, you can take the Fjord & Fjellruta bus route. The bus leaves from Lærdal Town Hall at 15:23 and is back at Filefjellstuene at 16:04. Remember to check the timetable and book tickets for both yourself and your bike.
Take the Fjord and Mountain Route out for a bike ride – your bike is welcome on board!
This summer you can take the Fjell og Fjordruta with your bike on the bus. Take the trip to Tusenmeteren, or enjoy the downhill slopes towards Lærdal and take the bus back to Filefjell.