MINI GUIDE
Fjords in Norway
COMPILED BY LORNA PARKES, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANTHONY HAM, STUART BUTLER AND DONNA WHEELER. PHOTOGRAPHS: JUSTIN FOULKES, NORDIC VENTURES, LUIGI VACCARELLA/SIME/4CORNERS, SVERRE HJØRNEVIK/VISIT NORWAY, ZOONAR/R. PANTKE/AGEFOTOSTOCKNorway essentials The know-how
FURTHER READING
Lonely Planet’s Norway
(US$24.99) has in-depth
coverage of the country’s
fjords, plus essays on
landscape, geology and
activities; individual
chapters can be downloaded
at lonelyplanet.com
(US$4.95). The Norwegian
Environment Agency runs
environment.no, covering
local environment issues,
policies and statistics.
Fellowship of Ghosts by Paul
Watkins details adventures
through
Norway’s
fjords and
mountains
(Picador).ESCAPE THE CROWDS
OSolvorn Near some of
Sognefjorden’s best hiking,
biking and paddling, Solvorn is
spectacularly sited, fetchingly
pretty and quiet as a mouse.
OUndredal Tucked between
Flåm and Gudvangen, this is a
lovely little village (pictured
below), whose traditional feel
has been preserved.
OEvanger This tiny village makes
a blissfully peaceful alternative
to nearby Voss. It has a
delightful toy-town feel, with
restored wooden houses and a
gorgeous setting by a lake.
OUtne In Hardangerfjord,
picturesque Utne is famous
for its fruit growing and pristine
traditional streets.
ORosendal Separated from
Hardangerfjord by high
mountains and the Folgefonna
National Park, Rosendal
sits picturesquely by
the fjord with a close
backdrop of high hills.Preikestolen Fjellstue is a
mountain lodge worthy of its
natural surroundings, right at
the trailhead to Pulpit Rock above
Lysefjord. Options include
stylishly simple lodge rooms and
family cottages (preikestolen
fjellstue.no; from US$64).
The historic wooden Utne
Hotel was built in 1722 and offers
smart, modern interiors,
as well as older public spaces with
beautiful original woodwork,
enhanced by attractive antiques,
local textiles and paintings
(utnehotel.no; from US$183).WHERE TO STAY
A beautiful old working farm,
Westerås Gard sits high above
Geiranger, and features two
farmhouse apartments, five
pine-clad cabins and a restaurant
serving homegrown produce
(geiranger.no; open May–Sep;
from US$100).TRANSPORT
Norway’s fjords principally
occupy the west and
southwestern portion of the
country, where there are airports
at Flesland (Bergen), Sola
(Stavanger) and Vigra (Ålesund).
BA flies from Singapore or Kuala
Lumpur via London Heathrow to
Bergen and Stavanger. Reach
Ålesund on KLM via Amsterdam.
Norway has an extremely
efficient public-transport system.
Trains, buses and ferries are often
timed to link with each other. The
fjords are criss-crossed by an
extensive network of car ferries,
but expect long queues and
delays in summer.Preikestolen Fjellstue’s newest
lodge serves up local produceInformation & Transport Activities Sights Sleepingefo