THE SOGNEFJORD AREA
Norway’s longest fjord
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Travel slowly. Take your time.
The time to cycle along the fjord, hike through wild valleys, and explore the local culture.
Stop often. Enjoy the view.
Here in Fjord Norway, the nature looks just like a painting.
The Sognefjord – Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, which stretches 204 kilometres inland from the coast north of Bergen – is no exception.
According to UNESCO, the landscape around the fjord arm Nærøyfjorden is “among the most scenically outstanding anywhere”. Which is why it has a place on the World Heritage List.
But don’t take our word for it. Go on a fjord safari in a RIB or with a silent electric boat.
Unless you want to rent a kayak and explore on your own?
Another UNESCO site is the Urnes stave church, while the Borgund stave church near Lærdal is the best preserved church of its kind in Norway.
Travel around and visit idyllic fjord villages like Vikøyri, Solvorn, Sogndal, Høyanger, Balestrand, Lærdalsøyri, and Årdal.
If you need something to read, the book town Fjærland has you covered.
When the day is over, you can rest your head in one of the country’s most exclusive hotels. The wooden Walaker Hotel is the oldest family-run hotel in Norway.
Or do you prefer a more modern alternative, like the boutique hotel 29/2 Aurland?
Practice “slow living” in the fjord village Aurland, which is also known for both organic veggies – and a very special shoe …
Go for a hike in the Utladalen valley, where you can see Europe’s tallest free-falling waterfall. Vettisfossen has a single drop of 275 metres!
Hikers should also check out other famous Sognefjord hikes, like Molden (pictured), Keipen, the Aurlandsdalen valley, and The King’s Road across the Filefjell mountain.
Have you noticed that the water in the innermost part of the fjords often has an emerald green colour?
The alluring colour comes from the melting water from glaciers and snow.
And yes, you can walk on the ice. Join a guided hike on Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European continent, or on one of the glacier arms Nigardsbreen and Flatbreen.
It’s a good idea to start with a tour of the Breheimsenteret glacier centre in Jostedalen or The Norwegian glacier museum in Fjærland.
After all this exercise, the treasures of the sea will taste gooood!
Order something special to accompany it – like a local fruit juice.
The climate around the fjords gives the local food an extra edge: Apples, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and juices tastes excellent here. So does the goat cheeses and cured meats.
You can get memorable experiences through the train window, too.
Jump on the Flåm Railway in the village Flåm and enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys through a lush and mountainous Norwegian landscape.
You can take the Flåm Railway as a part of your Sognefjorden in a nutshell roundtrip.
Flåm is also the final destination on the scenic bike route Rallarvegen – and for a 1,381-metre-long zip line!
Now, meet the Vikings! The authentic Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen is built to scale and houses modern Vikings.
Make sure to join one of the guided tours of the village. You’ll learn all there is to know about the Viking culture.
In the autumn and winter, the Sognefjord shows itself from a very different – and maybe even more beautiful – side.
Go on a pre-packed tour in the spirit of the Vikings.
Not only is the area a ski touring paradise, you can also have loads of fun here without skis – try snowshoe hiking or dog sledging!
If you’re travelling by car, follow the Norwegian Scenic Routes across the mountains Sognefjellet and Gaularfjellet.
Or the “snow road” across Aurlandsfjellet, where you’ll find the breathtaking viewpoint Stegastein.
Longing for the fjords?
Plan your trip to the Sognefjord area!