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This "Extreme" tour is sponsored by the Iron Butt Association. Iron Butt Extreme tours are open to all experienced riders who enjoy spending more time in the saddle than our leisurely Premium Motorcycle Tours afford (or that are available from other tour operators). These special tours are favored by long-distance fans who enjoy traveling with like minded enthusiasts. Click here for additional information on these special tours. |
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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 14-day Adventure. Riders will cover half the distance through Europe and will experience nine different countries. With two exceptions, each night will be spend in a different European country.
The Adventure begins far north of the Arctic Circle in he northernmost city of the world – Hammerfest, Norway. From Hammerfest riders will travel 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, riders will have the opportunity (but not the obligation) to earn the Iron Butt Association's Scandinavian Saddlesore Certificate by riding a 1,000-mile day from Honingsvaer, Norway to Helsinki, Finland. This optional ride can be completed with very little traffic and with 24 hours of daylight. Challenges include a harsh climate, logistical considerations (early morning fuel stops) and Scandinavia’s strict speed limits. Riders opting for this "challenge day" will enjoy a rest day in Finland's capital of Helsinki.
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:
- Hammerfest, “northernmost city of the world”
- The North Cape, Europe’s northernmost accessible point by motorcycle
- The optional Iron Butt Association “challenge day”: 1000 miles from Honingsvaer, Norway to Helsinki, Finland
- 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”
- The Alps of Austria and Bavaria
- Dinners with typical dishes in each country
Riders will travel approximately 5,500 km (3,400 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 |
Hammerfest |
560 |
3 |
Hammerfest |
Honningsvag |
250 |
4 |
Honningsvag |
Oulu, Finland |
900 |
4 |
OPTIONAL - riders wishing to do a 1,000-mile/day ride will ride directly to Helsinki and will enjoy a rest day in Helsinki |
5 |
Oulu |
Tallin, Estonia |
700 |
6 |
Tallinn |
Riga, Latvia |
450 |
7 |
Riga |
Kaunas, Lithuania |
450 |
8 |
Kaunas |
Torún, Poland |
500 |
9 |
Torún, Poland |
Prague, Czech Republic |
600 |
10 |
Rest Day - Prague, Czech Republic |
11 |
Prague |
Salzburg, Austria |
450 |
12 |
Salzburg |
Warth, Austria |
420 |
13 |
Warth, Austria |
Munich, Germany |
210 |
14 |
Departure |
5,490 |
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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 Bakeriet |
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Day 2: Tromsø - Hammerfest (~ 560 km, 350 miles) Let’s go north! There is no time to lose, because a fairly long riding day awaits us! The strict Norwegian speed limit slows us down to 80 kph, but we'll enjoy the fantastic scenery along the coastline to the world’s northernmost city – Hammerfest!
Highlights: ride along 8 different fjords
Hotel: Rica Hotel Hammerfest |
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Day 3: Hammerfest – North Cape - Honningsvag (~ 250 km, 155 miles) It makes sense to keep the riding distance short today, as we want to spend some time at the North Cape - the northernmost tip of the European continent. Also, for those wanting to tackle tomorrow's 1,000-mile day, this is a good opportunity to take it easy. We'll make sure to fill our tanks in the evening.
Highlights: North Cape and North Cape Museum
Hotel: Rica Hotel Honningsvag
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Day 4: Honningsvag – (Oulu) - Helsinki (~ 1600 (900) km, 1000 (560) miles) Iron Butt Day! 1600 km through Norway and Finland to Helsinki. Riders not wanting to participate in the 1,000-mile ride will spend the night about half way - in Oulu, Finland. We'll cross the Arctic Circle in Finnish Rovaniemi – hometown of Santa Clause!On the journey goes via Oulu (about half way) and Jyväskylä down to Helsinki, where we will arrive late at night. If you don’t want to cover the whole distance in one day, there is Oulu or Jyväskylä as possible overnight stops.
Highlights: Opportunity to earn the Iron Butt Association Scandinavian Saddlesore Certificate!
Hotel: Helsinki: Crowne Plaza (Oulu: Best Western Apollo) |
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Day 5: (Oulu) – Helsinki, Finland – ferry – Tallinn, Estonia (~700) 10 km, (440) 7 miles) Sleeping in for the “Iron Butts” and an optional sightseeing of Helsinki in the morning, before the ferry for Tallinn, Estonia. Once in Tallinn, it’s just 10 minutes to the hotel; the rest of the afternoon is dedicated to the wonderful and perfectly preserved old town with its countless medieval bars and restaurants! Dinner tonight will be in a 500 years old cellar and we’ll eat like the knights in the middle ages...
Highlights: Sightseeing in Tallinn old town; medieval dinner
Hotel: Nordic Hotel Forum (close to city center) |
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Day 6: Tallinn, Estonia – Riga, Latvia (~ 450 km, 280 miles) A short ride compared to our 1,000-mile marathon! We cross our first Baltic State (Estonia) on mostly straight roads and enter the second one – Latvia. Our destination is the “Art Nouveau”-capital of Riga. Enjoy a walk in Riga and enter the old town for a typical Latvian dinner.
Highlights: relaxing Estonian country roads; Riga old town
Hotel: Old Riga Palace (close to city center) |
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Day 7: Riga, Latvia – Kaunas, Lithuania (~ 450 km, 300 miles) 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.
Highlights: scenic eastern Lithuania; Kaunas city center
Hotel: Hotel Daniela (city center) |
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Day 8: Kaunas, Lithuania – Torún, Poland (~ 500 km, 310 miles) Today we can check off Poland as country number 6! Entering in the very northeast we cross the scenic and laid-back Masurian Lakes District on country roads lined with alleys. A possible sightseeing stop: “Wolf’s Lair” - Hitler’s wartime headquarters for his invasion of the Soviet Union and the place where he survived Stauffenberg’s bomb only by luck. Our destination today 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 9: Torún, Poland – Prague, Czech Rep. (~ 600 km, 380 miles) Riding through southern Poland we pass by Wroclaw (former german Breslau), 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 10: 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 11: Prague – Salzburg, Austria ( ~450 km, 280 miles) Leaving Prague, we ride on relaxing roads through the scenic and laid-back southern Czech Republic into colorful Austria. Along the Danube River we pass by Linz and go for the beautiful lakes east of Salzburg.
Highlights: roads and scenery of southern Czech Republic and Austria
Hotel: Hotel Seewinkel, Fuschl am See |
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Day 12: Salzburg – Warth, Austria (~420 km, 260 miles) Today we go for the Alps! A possible side loop might bring us to a small corner of Italy – it’s actually not on the list, but it would be country number 10 on this tour... We stay mostly on the southern side of this mountain range – it’s a rider’s paradise! We end up in the small austrian village of Warth, already close to Germany.
Highlights: Alpine roads and scenery
Hotel: Warther Hof |
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Day 13: Warth – Munich, Germany (~210 km, 130 miles) Our last riding day! It’s a fairly short ride – we cross the border to Germany, pass by the famous King Ludwig Castle Neuschwanstein and leave the mountains towards our final destination Munich. An early arrival makes sure that you have time enough to visit the BMW Museum or go for one of the countless bavarian beer gardens. During the final dinner we can remember the unforgettable trip.
Highlights: King Ludwig Castle, southern Bavaria, Munich
Hotel: Marriott München |
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Day 14: 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 10 2011 |
Jul 23 2011 |
14 Days |
$9,250 |
$6,500 |
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Includes F650GS (2-cylinder) motorcycle
Additional charge of $275 for BMW F800GS
Additional charge of $850 for BMW R1200GS
Additional charge of $1,185 for BMW R1200RT
Damage deposit requirement: $2,500
Single room supplement - $675
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 |
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