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The "9 Flags" Viking Run is designed specifically for riders who enjoy longer riding days and the opportunity to experience the widest variety of cultural experiences possible during a 15-day Adventure. Riders will cover half the distance through Europe and will experience nine different countries. With two exceptions, each night will be spent in a different European country.
The Adventure begins far north of the Arctic Circle in Tromsø, which is also called the "Paris of the North". We will pass by the northernmost city of the world – Hammerfest, Norway - and continue as far north as it's possible to ride a motorcycle anywhere in the world – to the North Cape. The North Cape is much further north than Prudhoe Bay, Alaska!
After visiting the North Cape, we will spend another 3 days in Finland, spending the nights in Rovaniemi (the “home of Santa Clause”) at the Arctic Circle, Vaasa (at the shore of the Gulf of Botnia) and Helsinki, Finland’s capital.
After Norway and Finland, seven additional countries await riders:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. Each country features its own local character and culture (and beer) which distinguishes it from the other – part of which makes this Adventure so very special! The tour ends in Munich, Bavaria – capital of BMW, beer gardens and bavarian “Gemütlichkeit”. Riders having the time should consider adding a day or two to enjoy this city under the white and blue bavarian sky!
Highlights of this outstanding Adventure include:
- The North Cape, Europe’s northernmost accessible point by motorcycle
- Tallin, Riga and Kaunas – historic cities of the Baltic States
- A medieval evening: dine like the knights 700 years ago!
- Ride through the Masurian Lakes District in Poland
- A rest day in Prague, the “Golden City”
- A final ride through the alpine foothills of Austria and Bavaria
- Dinners with typical dishes in each country
Riders will travel approximately 4,500 km (2,800 miles), entirely on good paved roads with little traffic. Long and very long daily distances are the main feature and the most challenging aspect, since there are no freeways. Most riding is on country roads with a 90 – 100 kph (55 – 60 mph) maximum speed. There a some sections in the mountains that are technically more challenging. Wind and a rougher climate can be an issue in the far north during the first three days.
Hotels are good three and four star quality.
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Day |
From |
To |
KM |
Arrive |
Arrive in Tromsø |
2 |
Tromsø |
Alta |
310 |
3 |
Alta |
Lakselv |
430 |
4 |
Lakselv |
Rovaniemi |
520 |
5 |
Rovaniemi |
Vaasa |
550 |
6 |
Vaasa |
Helsinki |
450 |
7 |
Helsinki |
Tallinn |
10 |
8 |
Tallinn |
Riga |
350 |
9 |
Riga |
Kaunas |
320 |
10 |
Kaunas |
Torún |
500 |
11 |
Torún |
Wroclaw |
320 |
12 |
Wroclaw |
Prague |
300 |
13 |
Rest Day in Prague |
14 |
Prague |
Munich |
400 |
15 |
Depart Munich |
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Day 1: Arrival in Tromsø
The Adventure begins with an airport greeting and transfer to the hotel, motorcycle handover, kickoff meeting and our first dinner together. Riders arriving early can go for the nearby city center or for one of the many bars!
Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel at Tromsø harbor |
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Day 2: Tromsø - Alta (~ 400 km, 250 miles) Let’s go north! We enjoy the fantastic scenery of the Lyngen Alps on our way to Alta! An optional visit of the Tirpitz Museum and the Alta Museum of Rock Art spice up this day even more.
Highlights: ride along numerous lovely fjords
Hotel: Park Hotel
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Day 3: Alta – North Cape - Lakselv (~ 430 km, 270 miles) Today is the day that we reach Europe’s northernmost accessible point! After backtracking along the Porsangen Fjord, we spend the night in Lakselv – the starting point for our ride into the Land of the Samis.
Highlights: North Cape and North Cape Museum
Hotel: Lakselv Hotel
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Day 4: Lakselv – Rovaniemi, Finland (520 km, 320 miles) Today it’s “Lappland – day”! What seems like a long distance is very well manageable on smooth, straight roads through a scenery of neverending lakes and forests. Our destination is located right at the Arctic Circle, official home of Santa Claus!
Highlights: Finnish Lappland, Arctic Circle Center |
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Day 5: Rovaniemi – Vaasa (550 km, 340 miles) We spend most of the day riding along the Gulf of Botnia and arrive in Vaasa, an important center for Finnish – Swedish culture.
Highlights: Gulf of Botnia, Vaasa old town
Hotel: Radisson Blu
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Day 6: Vaasa – Helsinki (450 km, 280 miles) Heading inland from Vaasa we cross southern Finland and arrive in the capital early enough for some sightseeing
Highlights: south Finland’s scenery
Hotel: Crowne Plaza |
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Day 7: Helsinki – ferry – Tallinn, Estonia (10 km, 6 miles) Today is almost a restday! The ferry brings us to Tallinn, where we have the whole afternoon to visit this medieval city center.
Highlights: Ferry ride, Tallinn city visit
Hotel: Nordic Hotel |
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Day 8: Tallinn – Riga, Latvia (350 km, 220 miles) A ride through rural Estonia and along the Gulf of Riga brings us to the Art Nouveau capital of Latvia – another cultural highlight! |
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Day 9: Riga – Kaunas, Lithuania Lithuania, the third baltic state, is our program today! We won’t take the direct route, this would be too short – in a wide loop we approach the border to Belarus, before we swing back west into Lithuania, passing by Europe’s “geographical midpoint”, 16 miles north of Vilnius
Highlights: scenic eastern Lithuania; Kaunas city center
Hotel: Hotel Daniela (city center) |
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Day 10: Kaunas – Torún, Poland (500 km, 310 miles) Today we can check off Poland as country number 6! Entering in the northeast we cross the scenic and laid-back Masurian Lakes District on country roads. A possible sightseeing stop: “Wolf’s Lair” - Hitler’s wartime headquarters for his invasion of the Soviet Union and the place where, by luck, he survived Stauffenberg’s bomb. Our destination is Torún in northern Poland, birthplace of Nicolaus Kopernikus, a World Heritage Site and one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Poland.
Highlights: Masurian Lakes District; Wolf’s Lair, Torún old town
Hotel: 1231 |
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Day 11: Torún – Wroclaw, Poland (320 km, 200 miles) Today’s ride mostly on small country roads is short enough to visit Europe’s Capital of Culture in the afternoon!
Highlights: Wroclaw historical city |
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Day 12: Wroclaw – Prague, Czech Republic (300 km, 200 miles) Riding through southern Poland we cross through the “Riesengebirge” mountain range into the Czech Republic to the cultural highlight of the trip – Prague, the “Golden City”
Highlights: twisty roads through the Riesengebirge
Hotel: Best Western Meteor Plaza (city center) |
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Day 13: Rest day in Prague. The “Golden City” is definitely the cultural highlight of this tour! Walk across the Charles Bridge and up to the castle with the St. Vitus Cathedral, hang around on Wenceslas Square and stroll around in the stunning old town. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe will leave you breathless in many ways...
Highlight: Prague sightseeing
Hotel: Best Western Meteor Plaza |
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Day 14: Prague – Munich, Germany ( ~400 km, 250 miles) Leaving Prague, we ride on relaxing roads through the scenic and laid-back southern Czech Republic into colorful Austria and Bavaria, heading for the “beer capital”!
Highlights: roads and scenery of southern Czech Republic and Austria
Hotel: Marriott München |
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Day 15: Departure day. Breakfast, airport transfer and departure. |
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The route is entirely paved, with a variety of road features |
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Dates and Prices:
(Arrive at departure city on start date, depart final destination on end date)
| Start Date |
End Date |
Duration |
Price (USD) |
Co-Rider |
Note |
| Jul 6 2012 |
Jul 20 2012 |
15 Days |
$9,975 |
$7,500 |
Sold Out |
| Jul 5 2013 |
Jul 19 2013
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15 Days |
$9,975 |
$7,500 |
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Includes F650GS (2-cylinder) motorcycle
Additional charge of $295 for BMW F800GS
Additional charge of $910 for BMW R1200GS
Additional charge of $1,275 for BMW R1200RT
Additional charge of $1,715 for BMW K1300GT
Additional charge of $2,025 for BMW K1600GT
Damage deposit requirement: $2,500
Single room supplement - $1,575
Need a currency converter? Click here: CURRENCY CONVERTER
Meals:
Price includes all breakfasts and 12 dinners.
Motorcycles Available:
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| Model |
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Specifications |
BMW F650GS
(2 Cylinder) |
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Seat Height: 820 mm / 790 mm
Seat Height: 32.3 inches / 31.1 inches
Dry Weight: 171 kg / 377 lb
Fuel Capacity: 16 Liters / 4.2 Gallons
Displacement: 798 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
| BMW F800 GS |
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Seat Height: 880 mm / 850 mm
Seat Height: 34.65 inches / 33.46 inches
Dry Weight: 178 kg / 392 lb
Fuel Capacity: 16 Liters / 4.3 Gallons
Displacement: 798 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
BMW R1200 GS
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Seat Height: 870 mm / 850 mm
Seat Height: 34.25 inches / 33.46 inches
Dry Weight: 199 kg / 439 lb
Fuel Capacity: 20 Liters / 5.3 Gallons
Displacement: 1170 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
| BMR R1200 RT |
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Seat Height: 840 mm / 820 mm
Seat Height: 33.07 inches / 32.28 inches
Dry Weight: 229 kg / 505 lb
Fuel Capacity: 33 Liters / 7.1 Gallons
Displacement: 1170 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
| BMW K1300 GT |
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Seat Height: 820 mm / 840 mm
Seat Height: 32.3 inches / 33.1 inches
Dry Weight: 249 kg / 549 lb
Fuel Capacity: 33 Liters / 6.3 Gallons
Displacement: 1300 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
| BMW K1600 GT |
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Seat Height: 810 mm / 780 mm
Seat Height: 31.9 inches / 30.7 inches
Dry Weight: 249 kg / 549 lb
Fuel Capacity: 24 Liters / 6.3 Gallons
Displacement: 1649 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
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