Also have a look at Practical and Info & Tips, which may already have some answers to your questions.
Where can I buy the guide and the GPX tracks?
The (Dutch) guide is available for purchase in the Via Gaia webshop and other book stores. To obtain the GPX tracks, scan the QR code in the guide.
Can I park my car somewhere near the starting point for a few weeks?
There is a car park at the pilgrim centre in Selånger where you can park your car for a longer period of time for a fee.
Can I encounter bears on this route?
It is possible, but the chances are extremely small. Someone wrote on Facebook: 'I was advised to take a picture of it!' They are very rarely seen and are extremely shy. There are few bears in the entire area through which the route runs. This is the European brown bear. A small bear that mainly eats berries, mice, ants and plant roots. A human sandwich is not on its menu, but it is not completely harmless either. If it feels threatened, there is a chance that it will attack you.
Is there a list of places where you can get stamps?
No, there is no list with an overview of places where you can get stamps. However, you can assume that stamps are available at the following locations:
- all pilgrim accommodations listed in the guide
- all churches mentioned in the guide
Furthermore, you may occasionally come across a red postbox containing a stamp.
Fortunately, you do not necessarily have to collect all the stamps. Not even every day. The important thing is that you can prove that you have cycled the last 200 kilometres of the route. The proof is the stamps with the date in your pilgrim's passport.
Can I rent a bike in Sundsvall, or elsewhere along the route?
As far as is known, there are no bikes available for longer-term rental in Sundsvall. This is possible in Östersund, Åre, and Trondheim. However, keep in mind that touring bikes are not rented out there, but mainly city bikes and mountain bikes. A city bike is not recommended for this route. A mountain bike could work if you want to go bikepacking, or if you're travelling with a backpack from one pilgrim accommodation to the next.
For those who want to rent a mountain bike, there's a practical solution. A train runs along almost the entire route on which bikes can be taken. You can therefore rent a bike in Östersund, Åre, or Trondheim, then travel by train to Sundsvall and cycle the route to Trondheim. After that, you take the train back to the place where you rented the bike.
Trondheim is possibly the most convenient option here, since you'd only need to make one train journey. Bikes can in any case be rented there at Brattørkaia Sykkel (no. 18 on map 46 in the guide). In that case, you first travel to Trondheim, rent a bike there, take the train to Sundsvall, and then cycle the route (back) to Trondheim.
Keep in mind that along the way, in Storlien, you need to change from the Norwegian to the Swedish train. However, that connection is very straightforward: the trains are coordinated with each other, wait for each other in case of delay, and stand on either side of the same platform. More information about this can be found on page 112 of the guide.
