Bike & Sail Denmark and Sweden, Mare Frisium

Embarkation and check-in. Starting from 5:30 pm, the crew will welcome you aboard the ship,moored close to the center of town, the Kastellet and the Little Mermaid. After you’ve stowed your luggage in your cabin, the skipper, crew and tour leader invite you for a welcome drink, followed by dinner on board. During the first briefing, after dinner, you’ll hear what to expect during the trip,details about the ship and also about the safety measures on board. The bicycles will be distributed in the evening or the next morning.

You will leave the ship and cycle past the Little Mermaid and Kastellet on quiet bike paths out of town, along the Øresund but also inland through forest areas and beautiful villages. Perhaps you will see the ship sailing. About 10 km before Helsingør is Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, worth a visit. Continue to Helsingør (aka Elsinore), where you’ll reach the historic city center. The harbor is dominated by the imposing Kronborg Castle, the place Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote Hamlet. Nearby, old harbor buildings have been beautifully restored and are home to a street food market and a nautical museum, among other things.

After breakfast, you’ll first cycle along the coast of the “Danish Riviera” with its extensive sandy beaches to the tiny harbor of Hornbaek. Then you’ll turn inland through a slightly hilly landscapet owards Esrum for a stop at the medieval monastery on Lake Esrum. Next, you’ll cycle through bucolic wheat fields and past some lovely castles and country houses back toward Helsingør, where you’ll reach the historic city center after a long descent. The short bike tour allows you tovisit Helsingør in the afternoon. During dinner the ship will cross the narrow strait to reach Helsingborg on the Swedish coast. Helsingborg is a beautiful old city, but is also considered one of Europe’s most innovative places. After dinner, you can make a short walk.

In the morning you’ll cycle along the coast of Skåne County (Scania) to the fortified town of Landskrona. On the way, you’ll pass a few beaches and the former fishing village of Borstahusen with its quaint old fishermen’s houses. The 16th-century citadel of Landskrona is still almost intact. Just after noon you’ll take the ferry to the island of Ven. Explore the tiny (only 7.5 km2 / 2.9 mi2) island, which has less than 400 inhabitants, and is a small gem in the Øresund. You can cycle around the island and visit artists, goldsmiths, cafes, the whiskey distillery or the 16th-century observatory of astronomer Tycho Brahe. As the port is too small for the ship to enter, int he late afternoon the crew will pick you up by using the dinghy and the ship will remain anchored for the night.

Today you and your bikes will stay on board. You will sail (weather permitting of course under sail) from Ven under the Øresund Bridge to the southern part of Zealand. Enjoy the sailing trip on deck of the large sailing ship. Your destination is Køge or you sail a little further to Rødvig. The precise destination depends on weather conditions. In Køge the ship moors in the harbor, at Rødvig it anchors for the night. Between the two places are the imposing white limestone cliffs of Stevns Klint, similar to those in Dover or the German island of Rügen. This sparsely populated area is considered a “dark sky area”: on clear nights, the starry sky – once essential for navigating at sea – can be beautifully seen here.

If your cycling tour starts in Rødvig, you will be taken off the ship to Rødvig by using the dinghy. Cycle to UNESCO World Heritage site of Stevns Klint for a short stop and visit of the chalk rocks,the town of Højerup and the cliff church. Continue to Køge and take some time to visit the historic center of the medieval town. When your tour starts in Køge your tour is longer. You will also visit the chalk rocks of Stevns Klint and then return to Køge. The ship will pick you up in Køge to set course for a dinner sailing trip to Malmö.

The short half day round tour takes you past various highlights in the city center and through Malmö’s outskirts to a stunning view of the Øresund Bridge and the city. You will have the afternoon to explore Malmö on your own. The longer, full day tour on quiet country roads takes you to the vibrant university city of Lund, one of Sweden’s oldest cities with over 1000 years of history. Discover the cozy city center and visit the magnificent cathedral from the 12th century. On your way back to the ship you will bike along the beautiful coast, where you have the opportunity to enjoy some ice-cream or take a last swim in the sea! In the evening you will enjoyt he captain’s farewell dinner.

This is the end of your tour, but we won’t let you leave on an empty stomach. Before disembarkation by 9:30 am, enjoy a tasty breakfast and say your farewells.