Two shared lunches in special spots in the forest.
On the other days, you’ll find a few lunch stops along the way. On Wednesday, a traditional Swedish fika awaits you upon your return.
Afternoon & evening
Lunch prepared over an open fire, hundreds of kilometers of undiscovered gravel, and if you’re lucky, a moose in your backyard. That is gravel riding in Sweden.
“Thoroughly enjoyed a perfectly organized gravel week.”
This gravel week is designed for cyclists who love an adventurous holiday.
Nature, the peace and quiet of Sweden, and relaxation alongside the rides are at the heart of the experience. You choose your own pace and distance, while we take care of beautiful routes, breakfast, and lunch (twice). Evenings are free to spend as you like.
Then this gravel week is definitely for you!
Curious about the weekly program? Download the digital gravel trip.
Each day starts with a delicious breakfast, and from our beautiful, bike-friendly accommodation we set off on a stunning and challenging ride.
Every day there are three route options, so there is a suitable ride for everyone. After a few days, two or three small groups often form naturally, riding together at a similar pace.
On the days when we provide lunch along the way, we plan the routes so that everyone arrives at the lunch spot at roughly the same time, regardless of the distance they choose to ride that day.
The gravel week runs from Sunday to Saturday, meaning all travel days fall on the weekend.
Morning
8.30 AM: Hearty breakfast
During the day
10:00 AM: Gravel 50–100 km over challenging gravel roads through the stunning Swedish wilderness.
Choose from different distances—no one has to ride alone.
Lunch & fika
Two shared lunches in special spots in the forest.
On the other days, you’ll find a few lunch stops along the way. On Wednesday, a traditional Swedish fika awaits you upon your return.
Afternoon & eveningTime to relax, catch up, and enjoy the campfire in the garden.
Dinner is on your own. As a week finale, we organize an extensive barbecue.
Only 12 spots available per week! Full = Full
Barry van Hoof
“Had an incredibly beautiful gravel week in the gravel paradise at Glava Gravel Challenge. Peter created amazing routes in and around the Glaskogen Nature Reserve. Along the way, we enjoyed a few super fun and delicious lunches at stunning locations. A lovely fika after a great ride, and to finish, a well-organized and enjoyable BBQ. Thank you, Peter, Nienke, and the kids!”
Henk Jan Borghuis
“Had a wonderful week in the Glava area. Friendly and knowledgeable hosts, well-equipped apartments, truly stunning surroundings, and a supermarket within walking distance. The journey is very doable; we took the (overnight) ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg, followed by about a three-hour drive to Glava. A brilliant area for gravel riding!”
Marieke Mulder
“I hadn’t ridden many kilometers yet and was a bit worried. Unnecessarily! The Glava Gravel Challenge truly has something for everyone. The routes vary greatly in length, you can choose each day what suits you best, and every route is beautiful and diverse. An unforgettable week. Highly recommended!”
Jarco de Bruin
“An unforgettable gravel experience in Sweden. What really makes the week special is the personal approach. Peter and Nienke provide not only a warm welcome but also flawless organization. With lunches at stunning locations, an authentic Swedish fika, and a delicious breakfast, each day starts and ends perfectly. The beautiful apartments complete the experience.”
Glava is a small village in Värmland (Central Sweden) and lies on the edge of a remarkable nature reserve.
Glaskogen is a forest and lake area covering approximately 28,000 hectares. The park contains more than 80 lakes and is crisscrossed by some of the most beautiful and challenging gravel paths. In short, a true paradise for gravel bikers!
All the routes we’ve created start and end at the accommodation. You can choose from at least 20 routes ranging from 27 to 140 kilometers. Want to ride further? You can easily connect several routes together.
Glava is easily accessible by car, especially when combined with the ferry from Kiel (DE) to Gothenburg (SE). From Gothenburg, it’s about a 3.5-hour drive to Glava. Prefer flying? Then choose a flight to Oslo Gardermoen. From there, it’s a 2.5-hour drive to Glava.
During this gravel week, you’ll stay in a charming accommodation in Glava. You can choose between an apartment (€695 per person) or a studio (€625 per person). In the studios, sleeping and living are combined in one space, while the apartments have a separate bedroom and living room.
All studios and apartments were fully renovated in 2024 and are tastefully furnished. They also feature a fully equipped kitchen and, of course, your own bathroom. Bedding and towels are included, and you can wash and dry your clothes for free.
Each accommodation also has its own veranda, and you can use the communal fire pit in the garden.
A small supermarket and a pizzeria are located just 400 meters from the apartments.
If you’re coming alone, you can, in consultation, share an apartment with another participant.
Would you like to join a gravel week or do you have a question? Then fill in the contact form, and you’ll receive a response as soon as possible.
Of course, you can also call or email:
T: +31 6 24 51 87 84
M: info@glavagravelchallenge.com
My name is Peter Wierda, and since 2023 I have been living in beautiful Sweden with my family. Cycling is my passion. As a cycling guide, I have ridden Alpe d’Huez at least 75 times. I cycled with guests through Andalusia in Spain and explored the stunning coastline of Portugal. In between, I competed in races in the Netherlands and trained on the beautiful mountain bike trails of Appelscha and Diever.
Now living in Sweden, I am surrounded by the beautiful and challenging gravel paths of the Glaskogen Nature Reserve. You could almost say it was only natural that this inspired a new chapter in my cycling journey: Glava Gravel Challenge.
