---
title: "Mjølkevegen vs Tour de Dovre — gravel"
description: "Comparison of Mjølkevegen and Tour de Dovre: distance, surface, difficulty, season and scenery. Find out which Norwegian gravel route suits you best."
date: "2026-03-14"
category: "sammenligning"
tags: ["mjolkevegen", "gravel", "norges beste gravelrute", "tour de dovre", "langtour", "bikepacking"]
---

<AnswerBox
  question="Mjølkevegen or Tour de Dovre — which is better for gravel?"
  answer="Both are top Norwegian gravel routes, but they are fundamentally different: Mjølkevegen (250 km, 3200 hm, 3–5 days) is an epic multi-day tour through mountain farm landscapes and Valdres mountains, national cycling route no. 5. Tour de Dovre (approx. 130 km, 1700 hm, 1–2 days) is a shorter loop with spectacular valley dominance. Mjølkevegen for richness of experience and duration; Tour de Dovre for those who want it all in a single day."
/>

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Mjølkevegen length", value: "250 km", sub: "3–5 days" },
  { label: "Tour de Dovre length", value: "~130 km", sub: "1–2 days" },
  { label: "Mjølkevegen elevation gain", value: "3200 hm", sub: "multi-day tour" },
  { label: "Tour de Dovre elevation gain", value: "1700 hm", sub: "one day or two" },
  { label: "Surface Mjølkevegen", value: "80% gravel", sub: "mountain farm tracks" },
  { label: "Surface Dovre", value: "70% gravel", sub: "mountain road + tarmac" }
]} />

## Route and terrain

### Mjølkevegen — Norway's mountain farm classic

[Mjølkevegen](/ruter/mjolkevegen) is Norway's most famous gravel route and national cycling route no. 5. The route follows traditional mountain farm roads from Vinstra in the north to Gol in the south — 250 km through Jotunheimvegen, Beitostølen, Stølsvidda and Golsfjellet. The surface is hard-packed gravel and farm tracks with minimal car traffic.

**Highlights:**
- Jotunheimvegen (Rv51) — views towards the Jotunheimen peaks
- Beitostølen — Valdres' cycling capital with 10 marked MTB trails
- Stølsvidda — Northern Europe's most active mountain farm area in the summer season
- Golsfjellet — the endpoint with 400+ km of marked trails

### Tour de Dovre — Grimsdalen and mountain lakes

Tour de Dovre is a loop of approx. 130 km from the Dovre area, through the beautiful Grimsdalen (between Rondane and Dovre) and along mountain lakes. Combines gravel and some tarmac. The route can be done in one full day for fit cyclists, or spread over two days.

**Highlights:**
- Grimsdalen — magnificent scenery, light traffic, sheep and cattle
- Mountain lakes and high-mountain landscape
- Historic cultural landscape along Gudbrandsdalsvegen

## Direct comparison

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Length", value: "250 km vs ~130 km", sub: "Mjølkevegen is almost double" },
  { label: "Elevation gain", value: "3200 vs 1700 hm", sub: "spread over several days" },
  { label: "Duration", value: "3–5 vs 1–2 days", sub: "long tour vs weekend" },
  { label: "Surface", value: "80% vs 70% gravel", sub: "farm track vs mountain road" },
  { label: "Season", value: "June–Sept vs May–Sept", sub: "Dovre opens somewhat earlier" },
  { label: "E-bike", value: "Excellent vs unnecessary", sub: "rental along Mjølkevegen" },
  { label: "Luggage transfer", value: "Yes vs yes", sub: "Jotunheimen Travel both" },
  { label: "Transport", value: "Train both", sub: "Vinstra/Gol vs Dovre/Dombås" }
]} />

## Which do you choose?

### Choose Mjølkevegen if you:
- Want a complete Norwegian cycling experience over several days
- Are interested in mountain farm culture, mountain lodges and working farms
- Are travelling as a family (the southern route Vaset–Golsfjellet suits all levels)
- Want to hire a bike and skip the luggage problem (Jotunheimen Travel)
- Want to combine gravel with e-bike or MTB

### Choose Tour de Dovre if you:
- Want to complete a full day trip (fit cyclist)
- Want a loop (start and finish at the same place)
- Particularly love the Rondane aesthetic and Grimsdalen
- Have limited time (1–2 days)

## Can you combine both?

Yes — and this is actually an emerging trend among Norwegian cyclists. If you ride Mjølkevegen (250 km, 4 days) and add Tour de Dovre (130 km, 1–2 days), you have a cycling holiday of 6–7 days. Both routes end/start near train stations (Gol/Dombås), and the Valdresekspressen bus connects them conveniently.

Jotunheimen Travel actually offers Tour de Dovre as an **add-on** to their Mjølkevegen packages.

## Packages and costs

Jotunheimen Travel operates both routes as complete cycling packages — a practical advantage for those who want to skip the logistics.

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Mjølkevegen 5d package", value: "~12 000 kr", sub: "accommodation + luggage + breakfast/dinner" },
  { label: "Tour de Dovre 3d package", value: "6 500 kr", sub: "2 nights, all meals, luggage" },
  { label: "Single room supplement Dovre", value: "+1 300 kr", sub: "per person" },
  { label: "Season 2026 Dovre", value: "21 June–30 August", sub: "daily departures" },
  { label: "DIY Mjølkevegen", value: "~4 000–6 000 kr", sub: "own tent + self-catering" },
  { label: "DIY Dovre", value: "~1 500–3 000 kr", sub: "tent or DNT cabin" }
]} />

**Mjølkevegen:** Jotunheimen Travel offers a 5-day package with luggage transfer, accommodation at mountain lodges and farms, and bike hire. You can also ride independently — the mountain lodges welcome unannounced guests in low season, but booking is recommended in July.

**Tour de Dovre:** The 3-day package is compact and more affordable. The route passes through three national parks — Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella, Rondane and Dovre — with luggage transfer and cosy accommodation. The starting point is Dombås or a nearby station.

For cyclists on a tight budget: Mjølkevegen DIY with a tent and the right to roam keeps costs down. Tour de Dovre is harder to do with a tent alone because accommodation is more spread out.

## Equipment and tyres — what's needed for each route?

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Tyres Mjølkevegen", value: "40–45 mm", sub: "farm tracks with some rocks" },
  { label: "Tyres Tour de Dovre", value: "35–42 mm", sub: "smoother gravel + tarmac" },
  { label: "Bike type both", value: "Gravel", sub: "or hardtail MTB" },
  { label: "Extra kit Mjølkevegen", value: "Spare tube + pump", sub: "long stretches between workshops" },
  { label: "Extra kit Dovre", value: "Wind jacket", sub: "exposed mountain terrain" },
  { label: "GPS/map", value: "Recommended both", sub: "Komoot or GPX offline" }
]} />

**Mjølkevegen** has longer stretches without mobile coverage and passable road, so you should carry a spare tube, multitool and enough food/water between mountain lodges. The surface varies from smooth farm track to rougher rocky sections — 40–45 mm tyres give the best comfort.

**Tour de Dovre** has shorter stages and more tarmac sections, so 35–42 mm is plenty. The mountain terrain around Grimsdalen is wind-exposed — pack a wind jacket no matter how fine it looks at the start. The route is better signposted and distances between services are shorter.

**Both routes:** Both routes require a gravel or mountain bike. Road bikes with narrow tyres are not suitable — the gravel sections are too rough. E-bikes work excellently on both, but charging is easier along Mjølkevegen (mountain lodges with power).

## Who "wins"?

**For the complete Norwegian gravel experience: Mjølkevegen.**

With 250 km, 3200 hm, living mountain farm landscapes, luggage transfer, bike hire and a multi-day structure, Mjølkevegen is the most complete offering in Norway. There is a reason it is national cycling route no. 5.

Tour de Dovre is excellent for a day trip with spectacular scenery — but Mjølkevegen gives you *more* of everything that makes Norwegian gravel special.

## See also

- [Mjølkevegen — complete guide](/ruter/mjolkevegen)
- [Mjølkevegen: Everything you need to know](/guider/mjolkevegen-alt-du-trenger-a-vite)
- [Mjølkevegen vs Rallarvegen — which suits you?](/guider/mjolkevegen-vs-rallarvegen)
- [Cycling packages along Mjølkevegen](/guider/sykkelpakker-valdres-mjolkevegen)
- [Gravel cycling in Valdres — complete guide](/guider/gravel-sykling-valdres-komplett-guide)
- [Valdres vs Gudbrandsdalen — cycling comparison](/guider/valdres-vs-gudbrandsdalen-sykling)
- [Bikepacking in Valdres](/guider/bikepacking-valdres)
- [Transport to Valdres with a bike](/guider/transport-oslo-valdres-sykkel)
- [Season for cycling in Valdres](/guider/sesong-valdres-sykkel)
- [All cycling routes in Valdres](/ruter)
- [Mjølkevegen stage plan — day by day](/guider/mjolkevegen-etappeplan)
- [Stage 2: Fagernes–Beitostølen guide](/guider/mjolkevegen-etappe-2-ruten-beitostolen-guide)
- [Accommodation for cyclists in Valdres](/guider/overnatting-syklister-valdres)
- [E-bike guide Valdres](/guider/elsykkel-valdres-guide)
- [Gravel beginner — your first ride in Valdres](/guider/gravel-nybegynner-forste-tur-valdres)
- [Cycling trip Valdres summer](/guider/sykkeltur-valdres-sommer)