Tour de Sønderjylland – Cycling holiday from tent to tent

Discover Sønderjylland on two wheels! You cycle from campsite to campsite and stay overnight in a De Waard teepee tent, which has a diameter of 5 metres and is furnished with two camp beds, a table with two chairs and a stool, two sets of pillows and duvets, as well as pots, pans and tableware. 

You’ll be cycling approximately 65 kilometres every day, as you experience the ever-changing landscape when travelling from east to west and then back to the east coast. 

Day 1

Arrival at Kruså Camping. Kruså Camping is located close to the Danish-German border, and backs onto the plantation at Kiskelund Plantage. At the campsite you can relax in the new pool area or play a round of miniature golf. You can leave your car at the campsite while you’re cycling from tent to tent. 

Day 2

The day’s route begins right on the Danish-German border and takes you through the forest of Kollund Skov that lines Flensburg Fjord. From here the route heads north, slowly climbing until you reach the town of Aabenraa, which is located at the base of Aabenraa Fjord. A quick hill climb out of the town takes you out to the beautiful peninsula of Løjtland and your second overnight venue, Gåsevig Strand Camping, which has its own beach and pétanque square.

Day 3

Today’s route heads out over the cape at Haderslev Næs, with several sections of the ride following the Camino Haderslev Næs hiking route. The main route is just shy of 50 km and leads you through small villages and delightful clusters of holiday homes close to the coast. At Aarøsund, you have the option of making a detour to the ferry berth and sailing out to the island of Årø, which is a real gem in the Little Belt. The cycling route round Årø is almost 10 km in length, and whilst on the island you can visit the local craft brewery, the vineyards at Årø Vingård, or one of a handful of places to eat. Ferry crossings depart every hour. 

Following a visit to Årø, the route runs along minor roads to Haderslev, where you’ll be staying the night at Haderslev Camping, which is part of Haderslev Byferie, situated on the banks of the lake of Haderslev Dam. 

Day 4

On the third cycling day of the tour, the route leads you over the ridge that runs the length of Jutland to the very heart of Sønderjylland. You’ll pass by the towns of Vojens and Gram, both of which offer diverse attractions. Gram is home to the manor house at Gram Slot, which sells products from its own estate in its farm shop and café. From Gram, the route takes you to Arrild Camping, lying in Arrild Ferieby, which boasts a restaurant, grocery store and swimming baths. The route is blessed with a wide variety of countryside, including meadows, bogs, lakes, streams and woodland. 

Day 5

Today things go downhill – quite literally! The route takes you west across the so-called geest, which is landscape that was formed during the Ice Age. At the small town of Hjemsted near Skærbæk you reach the edge of the geest, after which the landscape morphs into flat marshland. At the edge of the geest at Hjemsted is Marsk Tower, a sculptural observation tower which offers fantastic views of the Wadden Sea, the islands and the surrounding landscape. You can take a break here and enjoy a delicious lunch, get a cup of coffee or eat an ice cream. On leaving Hjemsted, you’ll immediately hit the Wadden Sea coast and the causeway to the island of Rømø. The route runs across the 10-km-long causeway to the resort island, where you can cycle through dune heath plantations and numerous clusters of holiday homes. At Lakolk you have the chance to take your bike onto Northern Europe’s broadest beach, go for a dip in the North Sea or take a break at the shopping centre. The route takes in a short tour of the island, and you have to cycle back across the causeway as you return to the mainland. From here, the route follows the leeward side of the dike, running south until you arrive at Ballum Camping, where you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, the smell of the sea and watch the sun set on the horizon. 

Day 6

The route today brings you back to the east coast, so hopefully a westerly wind will help you on your way. There are plenty of things to experience on the route, such as at Bredebro, where you find the shopping precinct at Toosbuys Torv, which boasts the world’s largest ECCO store, and Løgumkloster, where the town’s church contains a fourteenth century chest of relics. The landscape then gradually rises, and after Rødekro you reach the route’s highest point before it meanders along delightful forest roads down to the waters of Aabenraa Fjord. Aabenraa City Camping lies on the outskirts of Aabenraa on a hill with views of the town and the sea. 

Day 7

Your leg muscles will really be put the test today as you experience the east coast’s hilly terrain.

From Aabenraa, the route runs for around 40 km along minor roads and gravel tracks to Sønderjylland’s largest town, Sønderborg. Here you can enjoy lunch at one of the town’s restaurants on the waterfront, visit Sønderborg Castle, experience the war of 1864 at History Centre Dybbøl Banke and enjoy the view from the 16th floor of Alsik Hotel & Spa. The route then runs over Dybbøl Banke via Broager and Gråsten to Lærkelunden Camping, which is on the banks of Flensburg Fjord. If the water in the fjord is too cold for a swim, the campsite has a heated indoor swimming pool. 

Day 8

On your last day in the saddle, you’re free to decide whether you wish to relax with a short trip or you’re happy to tackle a longer ride. The short trip is around 15 km and follows the coastline via Fjordvejen from Rinkenæs to Kruså. If you still have plenty of kilometres left in your legs, you can choose the 50-km route which leads you to the town of Gråsten, where you can visit the palace gardens and the royal kitchen garden, before you head off through the woods via Kværs to Kliplev. From here, the route runs through several plantations on the way to the border. Just before you cross the motorway, the route runs through the former prison camp at Frøslevlejren, where you can visit the camp’s museums and exhibitions, as well as enjoying a cup of coffee or an ice cream in the café. From here, it’s a further 10 km to Kruså Camping. 

When you have reached Kruså Camping, you must drive yourself back to Lærkelunden to collect your luggage.

The campsites offer various extras, including breakfast and dinner. These can be added to your booking by clicking on “change options” under the campsite concerned when you’ve selected the date of your trip. 

You can also purchase baggage transfer between the tents. See more under the transport tab at the top of the page.

If you experience any problems when booking, please contact Destination Sønderjylland on +45 81824570 from Monday until Friday, or send us an email on info@dssj.dk