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Gravel
Challenging
Advanced riders only
Epic Marka Endurance
Full-Day Gravel Ride · 85 km · 1,500 m elevation
Full-Day Gravel Ride · 85 km · 1,500 m elevation
This is Nordmarka as few visitors — and even many Osloites — ever get to see it. A full-day push into the deep forest, far beyond the day-tripper trails, through a landscape of remote lakes and ancient logging roads that haven't changed in a century.
Your guide picks you up at your hotel and takes you to the forest, then heads north into sustained climbing — the kind that builds steadily through the trees and rewards you not with a sudden view but with the quiet satisfaction of distance covered and height gained. The route threads between lakes — Store Sandungen, Fyllingen, Hakkloa — on gravel roads that shift between fast and open and slow and rocky, where loose stones and rooted surfaces ask for a little patience and good line choice.
This is terrain that earns its gravel bike. Hardpack sections give way to loose stone and forest track, roots crossing your chosen line, gravel pinging off the downtube on the descents. Wide tyres absorb the chop, the geometry keeps you confident on the steeper drops, and the clearance means you carry speed through sections that would stop a road bike cold. If you don't have a gravel bike, we'll bring one — it's the right tool and the difference is felt over 85 km.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, you stop — the exact spot decided by you and your guide on the day. The return route takes a different line home, more climbing, more rocky stretches, more forest. By the end your legs will know about it. So will your face — from smiling.
North from Oslo into Nordmarka — past Fyllingen, Hakkloa and Sandungen lakes, returning by a different line. Exact path adjusted by guide on the day based on conditions.
Your guide meets you outside your hotel or apartment at the agreed time. No meeting points to find, no transport to organise. The tour normally ends back at your starting point, or another central location by agreement.
Why Oslo Bike Tours
It is our most demanding tour by a significant margin — 85 km of gravel with approximately 1,500 metres of elevation gain over six hours. Good cycling fitness is genuinely required. This is a full-day ride into remote terrain, not a leisure outing. If you are unsure whether it suits your fitness level, email us and we can talk it through.
A proper break is taken during the ride — the exact spot is decided by the guide and guests on the day, depending on conditions and pace. We recommend bringing snacks and at least 1.5 litres of water from the start. There are no shops or cafés in the deep forest sections of the route.
Padded shorts are strongly recommended for an 85 km ride. Bring extra layers, a buff or hat, cycling gloves, and sunscreen for clear days. If there is a risk of rain in the forecast, pack waterproofs — conditions in Nordmarka can differ from the city. Your guide will have a basic first aid kit and puncture repair supplies.
No. At 85 km with 1,500 m of elevation in remote terrain — no charging points, no bailout options — this route exceeds current e-bike range. If you want Nordmarka on an e-bike, the Nordmarka Forest Ring 4 (45 km) is our next-level gravel tour and e-bike rental is available. For something easier still, the Bygdøy Peninsula tour is e-bike-friendly and suitable for all abilities.
Only if everyone in the group is a strong, experienced cyclist. The terrain is not technically demanding, but 85 km with 1,500 m of climbing over a full day is genuinely hard. If some riders are less fit or experienced, consider booking the Nordmarka Forest Ring 4 instead — it covers similar terrain at 45 km and is achievable for recreational riders. Mixing ability levels on the Epic Marka route tends to make the day harder for everyone.
Tours are private and guide availability is limited. Send your preferred date and we'll confirm within 24 hours.