Tear out page here then fold along the dotted lines TURN OVER FOR MAP AND NUMBER LOCATIONS
Fold 1MINI GUIDE
Fjords in
Norway
Norway’s fjords provide a dreamy backdrop for
Scandinavian spring getaways starring quaint
historic villages, panoramic walking trails and
water-based fun.Seven Sisters Falls
cascading into
GeirangerfjordExperiences on water
Best walks History & culture
TROLLTUNGA DAY
HIKE
Trolltunga is a narrow finger of
rock that protrudes over the void
high above Ringedalsvatnet lake
in the Hardangerfjord region.
The trail starts at Skjeggedal,
from where Trolltunga and its
picture-postcard views are an
eight- to 10-hour return hike
away. En route, look out for
the Tyssestrengene waterfall
(trail open June–September).PREIKESTOLEN
SHORT HIKE
With astonishingly uniform cliffs
on three sides, plunging 604m
to the fjord below, ‘Pulpit Rock’
is one of southwest Norway’s
most emblematic images. It’s an
unrivalled fjord vantage point,
with views directly up Lysefjord.
The steep, two-hour, 2.4-mile
trail leading there is well marked
and leaves from Preikestolhytta
Vandrerhjem. The final climb
involves a scramble across
granite slabs and along some
windy cliffs (trail open all year).AURLANDSDALEN
VALLEY FOUR-DAY HIKE
This classic culture-rich and
nature-abundant trek, from
Geiteryggen to Aurland through
a 25-mile glacial valley, follows
a stream from source to sea
and traverses one of the oldest
trading routes between eastern
and western Norway. The final
section, from Østerbø (820m)
to Vassbygdi (95m), is the most
scenic and also makes for a
hugely enjoyable day hike
(allow six to seven hours; trail
open June–September).GEIRANGERFJORD
FERRY TRIP
This king of fjords is a Unesco
World Heritage site in Norway’s
southwest and the 10-mile
chug through it has to be one of
the world’s loveliest ferry
journeys. Long-abandoned
farmsteads still cling to the
fjord’s near-sheer cliffs, while
ice-cold cascades tumble, twist
and gush down to emerald-
green waters (geirangerfjord.no;
from US$27).KAYAKING NÆRØYFJORD
AND HARDANGERFJORD
Nordic Ventures runs guided
tours, including one-day trips
with lunch, overnight adventures
with a chance to camp by the
water’s edge, and three-day
expeditions offering a
combination of kayaking and
hiking. The Voss-based company
also rents kayaks if you’d rather
strike out alone (nordicventures.
com; guided tours from US$80,
one-day kayak rental US$72).SPEED BOAT ON
SOGNEFJORDEN
To see more of the fjords in less
time, take an exhilarating scoot
through parts of this vast fjord
network in an inflatable boat
(full-length waterproof kit
supplied – you’ll need it).
The trips, run by Fjord Safari
in Flåm, can include wildlife
spotting, talks about the fjords’
heritage, or a village pitstop for
cheese-tasting (fjordsafari.com;
tours from US$72).OTTERNES
This restored hamlet, high above
the fjord between Flåm and
Aurland, is a working farm and
living museum. The oldest
buildings date from the early 17th
century and were lived in until the
1990s. There are tours and a café
dishing up coffee, pancakes and
rømmegrøt, a rich porridge
served with cured meat (otternes.
no; admission/tour US$6/
US$9.70; open Jun–Sep).URNES STAVE
CHURCH
Norway’s oldest preserved place
of worship perches in a sublime
spot gazing out over Lustrafjord.
The original church was built
around 1130, while most of
today’s structure was built a
century later. Elaborate wooden
carvings decorate the north wall,
and ticket prices include an
interesting 45-minute tour. To get
here, take the hourly ferry from
Solvorn (open May–Sep; US$11).BALESTRAND’S VIKING-
AGE BARROWS
Just half a mile south from the
small fjord-side holiday resort of
Balestrand, excavation of a pair
of barrows has revealed
remnants of a Viking boat, two
skeletons, jewellery and several
weapons. One mound is topped
by a statue of legendary King
Bele, erected by Germany’s
Kaiser Wilhelm II. Obsessed with
Nordic mythology, he regularly
spent his holidays here.Hiking the ancient track through
the Aurlandsdalen ValleyNordic Ventures offers single or
double sea kayak fjord toursUrnes Stave Church is a
Unesco World Heritage SiteFold 2