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This big tour package allows you to experience the very best of Åland during five days and four nights - and includes travel by cruise ship to Åland from Stockholm, Turku or Grisslehamn.
You will start biking from the town Mariehamn, where you have the opportunity to visit the impressive tall ship Pommern and the nearby Åland Maritime Museum. From Mariehamn you bike across the largest of the Åland islands and board a ferry with your bikes to the harbour village Degerby to spend the first night in the historic tavern Enigheten.
The next morning you continue on bike through the Föglö islands and jump on your next ferry, which takes you to the mystical island of Kökar in the outer archipelago. The entire island is easy to explore by bike and you rest for the night in a guesthouse here.
On your third day you will return from Kökar and then bike across the island of Kumlinge, smack in the centre of the Åland archipelago. From Kumlinge you continue by ferry to Vårdö, where you will stay one night in double rooms. If ferry schedules don't match to reach Vårdö on the same day, you'll stay instead in seaside cabins in Kumlinge and continue to Vårdö the next morning.
On your way back to Mariehamn you'll visit the Bomarsund fortress ruins as well as the medieval Kastelholm castle. Your last night will be spent in relaxing hotel rooms and you can sample the restaurants and nightlife in Mariehamn.
Day five you can pedal along the beautiful road out to the Järsö island, surrounded by water on both sides. There you can stop for a coffee before heading back to Mariehamn. Or you can use this day for relaxing and visiting sights and museums in Mariehamn.
From Stockholm at 07:45
From Turku at 08:45
From Grisslehamn at 10:00
Departures from Helsinki not included
Accommodation in double rooms at hotels and guesthouses. Showers and bathrooms in separate buildings.
Breakfast is included in all accommodations.
Our standard bicycle is a 3-geared 28" bike of the model Helkama Ainotar, made in Finland. Comfortable to ride and with a basket in the front. This model can be upgraded to 7 gears for €30
We also have 24" kid bikes of the model Helkama Jopo, with 3 gears. This classic childrens bicycle is the most popular model in Scandinavia.
If you travel with your own bicycle we will give a discount on the price.
Bike panniers with a capacity of 20 litres are included. Your empty bags can be kept when you collect the rental bikes, or stored in safe lockers in the Mariehamn ferry terminal.
Clean sheets and fresh towels are provided at every accommodation, so you don't have to bring this.
Our itinerary is sent to you as a PDF document, specially formatted to be easy to use on any smart phone. The itinerary contains your route description, map links to all important and interesting places, and all ferry departures you need to mind to travel between islands.
We send you a digital travel calendar that you can easily add to your telephone to remind you of important times and places. The calendar works on every model of telephone.
Day 1: 29km biking
Day 2: 26km biking
Day 3: 28km biking
Day 4: 44km biking
Day 5: 24km biking (optional)
We will reserve your return ferry from Åland if you wish.
Would you like to spend an extra night on any of the islands, or spend a night in Mariehamn before you start biking? Write a request with your booking and we'll take care of it.
We can upgrade your bike to a 7-geared 28" bike of the model Helkama Ainotar, or a 24-geared gentleman's bike.
If the schedules of the Kökar ferry fits, we can book a visit for you to the famous island Källskär.
You travel by cruise ferry ship to port town Mariehamn, where you collect your bikes right off the boat. A short distance from the terminal, the tall ship Pommern is moored, next to the Åland Maritime Museum. This huge, four masted steel-hulled sailing ship has been preserved from the beginning of the 20th century. If you want to start biking straight away you can save the sights in Mariehamn for the last day of the tour instead.
You will head north through the small town Mariehamn and continue along farmlands on the "main" Åland island until you reach the harbour Svinö. On your way you will pass the Lemström canal, built by Russian prisoners. The bridge opens once an hour to let sailing boats pass. If you arrive during the bridge opening you can eat an ice cream while you watch the boats sail past in the channel.
From Svinö you bring your bikes aboard the island ferry to Degerby in Föglö. The ferry departs 9-12 times daily and takes about 25 minutes between ports. There is a café onboard.
The ferry ticket is valid for all continuing ferries, please keep it during your whole tour.
In Degerby you can visit the tiny Föglö museum nearby the ferry pier. There is a supermarket nearby, as well as marinas and a miniature golf track. A hundred meters away you will find Restaurant Seagram, famous among locals and visitors for their seafood buffet, á la carte and unique pizzas.
The most interesting part of Degerby is the historical tavern and courthouse Enigheten, where you will also spend your first night, in historically decorated rooms. Enigheten was founded as a tavern for sailors in the 17th century, by orders of the Swedish king. In modern times, the buildings were renovated to continue as a guesthouse and restaurant to this day.
After waking up with a breakfast buffet in Enigheten you continue on bike throughout the Föglö islands to the northern harbour of Överö. The road is sparesely trafficked and takes you along crop fields and through forests. Two bridges and a cable ferry connect the islands.
Ferries from Långnäs stop in Överö to pick you up on their way to Kökar. The ferries make stops in the tiny island of Sottunga - Finland's smallest municipality. Onboard there is a café. After a couple of hours cruising between the islands you arrive in the island of Kökar.
About 5km from the ferry harbour in northern Kökar you can visit Hamnö, which hosts a stone church from the 18th century as well as the ruins from a medieval monastery. From there you can follow the main road through the entire island to your accommodation in Klobbars Guesthouse in Hellsö. Kökar has several fine places to dine. Hotel Brudhäll serves á la carte, pizza and more - with a beautiful harbour view.
If you arrive early in Kökar, you can book a boat excursion to the interesting island Kälskär, south of Karlby. There you can observe interesting geological features and visit a nice little garden. The island is a popular visit for tourists and also serves as a retreat for artists during summer. If you'd like to go on the excursion, please write "Kälskär" in the message when making your booking and we'll check if the ferry schedules are suitable. The excursion costs €40 per adult.
If you'd like to stay in a hotel instead of a guesthouse in Kökar, we can book double rooms for you at Brudhäll in Karlby, for an extra charge of €20 per person. Bed linen, towels, breakfast, ensuite bathrooms and WiFi included. Brudhäll has a restaurant with full service, a marina and seaside bar. Write "Brudhäll" as a request when you book if you prefer this accommodation.
Simple breakfast buffet at your guesthouse. From Kökar you go to the island Kumlinge by two ferries via Överö. Kumlinge is about the same size as Kökar. Here you'll stay in your own seaside cabin at Kumlinge Stugor on Kastören. Kumlinge has a small airfield and a medieval church with beautiful chalk murals.
For some more exploring, you can visit tiny Seglinge island in southern Kumlinge.
From Kumlinge you continue by ferry to Hummelvik. If you have extra energy you can make a detour on the beautiful road to Simskäla and Stormskär.
You have about one hour of biking in Vårdö before reaching what is left of the Russian fortress in Bomarsund. Construction of the mighty stronghold was half completed when it was assaulted by Brittish and French forces in a huge naval battle. The attack succeeded and the victors blew up the entire fortress, leaving only rubble. Bomarsund
The Kastelholm castle is one of the most visited attractions in the Åland Islands. The first castle was built on the grounds in the 14th century and has hosted several Nordic kings, as well as been the prison for king Erik the 16th. The castle has been involved in various political conflicts during the ages and has burnt doen several times. Guided tours are included in the entry fee. There are several small museums nearby the castle, and afterwards you can enjoy a lunch in one of the nearby restaurants or continue to Mariehamn.
From Kastelholm the country road continues southwards back to Mariehamn. The distance is 24,5km and takes about 1:30h on bike. On your way you'll cross a tall bridge and a short tunnel. After the tunnel you can make a stop by "Uffe on the hill" and have a coffee and enjoy the view of the straight.
After that you'll bike past farm fields and through small villages on your way to Mariehamn, where you will check in at the Strandnäs Hotel. The town center is a couple of kilometers from your hotel, with a good selection of restaurants and bars.
Breakfast at your hotel. Then an optional excursion through Mariehamn heading south to Järsö. This is one of the most beautiful roads in Åland. Arriving in Järsö you can have a cup of coffee and a snack before returning to Mariehamn to return the bikes. On the way back you can stop by the Åland Art Museum. Remember to sample our famous Åland pancake in some café or restaurant before leaving!
