Round Trip

 

Welcome to the Sognefjord - all year!

Longest - Biggest - Highest - Oldest

The longest fjord, the Sognefjord, lies in the heart of Fjord Norway and extends to the foot of the Jotunheimen and Jostedalsbreen National Parks. The Jostedalsbreen National Park is home to the biggest glacier in mainland Europe, whose spectacular arms of blue ice extend down into fertile valleys. The Jotunheimen National Park contains the highest mountains in Norway. The Sognefjellet Scenic Route passes through the park, is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe. Vibrant local communities offer genuine cultural experiences. Urnes Stave Church is the oldest in Norway and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The Sognefjord region contains more than 15 scenic Fjord Villages. Every single village has it's own unique set of secrets and specialities. They offer unique accommodations, activities, local food and culture. Below we take you on a round trip through the Sognefjord.

From the world’s most beautiful train journey to walking in Jotunheimen. 

Flåm and the world’s narrowest fjord

Flåm is an all-year-round destination and rich in activities and cultural treasures. Surrounded by steep mountain sides, roaring waterfalls and narrow valleys, Flåm is a paradise for anybody looking for natural experiences unavailable anywhere else in the world. Experience The Flåm Railway, Fjord Cruise and other activities in Flåm and Aurland.

 

Lærdal – one of the country’s best-preserved villages 

On to Lærdal, where you can choose the Lærdal tunnel (24.5 km and the world’s longest car tunnel), but the road over the mountain is recommended in summer time. The National Tourist Route Aurlandsfjellet makes its way up over the mountain. Up here at a height of 1300 metres above sea level, the wilderness of stone and snow has a special beauty. Don’t miss the Stegastein viewpoint, an attraction in itself, 600 metres above sea level and 30 metres out into the air. After the descent there is a short drive to Lærdalsøyri, one of the country’s best preserved villages. Visit Borgund Stave Church, which was built around the year 1180 and is one of the most distinctive of the Norwegian stave churches.

 

Årdal – gateway to Jotunheimen

From Lærdal, it takes 30 minutes to drive on the Rv5 national route through the tunnel towards Årdal. Årdal is the gateway to Jotunheimen with over 40 marked routes from Utladalen. In Øvre Årdal, about a 10-minute drive from Årdalstangen, you will find Friluftsbadet which has one of Norway’s largest outdoor pools, a children’s pool and slides. To get to beautiful Utladalen, drive approximately 10 minutes from Øvre Årdal to Hjelle. Park the car at the car park and follow the public roadway “folkevegen” as far as Vetti.

 

Round trip: from the fruit village of Leikanger to world heritage in the Lustrafjord  

The gateway to Sognefjellet and Jostedalsbreen, idyllic villages on the fjord with farm visits, local food and close contact with animals.  

Sogndal – a perfect starting point

Sogndal is the regional centre of Sogn and is, in addition to Flåm, the stopping place for the express boat from Bergen to Sogn.

In the neighbouring village of Kaupanger, just a 10-minute- drive from Sogndal, you can visit Kaupanger Stave Church, built at the end of the 1100s. From Sogndal, it is about 30 minutes’ drive to Fjærland where you can visit The Norwegian Book Town, The Norwegian Glacier Museum and Bøyabreen. Further out over the fjord from Sogndal you get to Leikanger (approximately 20 minutes), a fruit village where one can stay by the fjord and enjoy many of the fabulous hiking routes in the area.

 

Beautiful Solvorn and Ornes at Lustrafjord

Drive for 30 minutes north of Sogndal towards Luster Municipality and make a little detour to Solvorn, a pretty little village by the Lustrafjord. From Solvorn you can board the ferry and make the crossing to Ornes, which takes about 15 minutes. Just a short walk from the ferry terminal, situated on a small headland at a spot with great views of the Lustrafjord, is one of the world’s oldest stave churches. Urnes Stave Church is a cultural monument inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list. After visiting Urnes Stave Church you can take the ferry back or make a round trip via Skjolden and back to Gaupne or Sogndal in about 1.5 hours.

 

Waterfalls, juice production and hiking along the road to Skjolden 

On the road to Skjolden you can see Feigefossen, a 218 metre-high waterfall. You can also view the waterfall close up by walking about 25 minutes away from the road. Onwards towards Skjolden you will have the opportunity to visit Muntehuset and Safthuset museum which were the beginnings of juice production by Lerum – nowadays a well-known Norwegian brand from Sogn. Before you get to Skjolden it is worth stopping at Fuglesteg, a wonderful hike of about 5 kilometres. From Skjolden you can drive up towards Nasjonal Scenic Route Sognefjellet. 
In the opposite direction towards Skjolden and Gaupne there is a detour towards Jostedal (about 40 minutes). In Jostedalen you can visit the Breheimsenteret Glacier Centre and you can hike with experienced guides on the glacier or go kayaking on Nigardsvatnet Lake. There is a bus between Sogndal and Jostedalen/Nigardsbreen (the Breheimsenteret). 

 

Round trip: From the art village of Balestrand to Aqualand in Høyanger  

Homemade cider and an historic hotel for the adults – Aqualand and fun for children.  

Cider and the historic Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand 
Balestrand – Sognefjord’s art village – is home to the magnificent Kviknes Hotel, one of the most distinctive fjord hotels in Norway.

Idyllic Vik and Høyanger

Vik and Høyanger are idyllically situated by the Sognefjord. From Balestrand drive about 9 minutes to the ferry, take the ferry (about 30 minutes) across to Vangsnes, which is about 10 minutes by car from Vik. In Vik you can see Hopperstad Stave Church, which is one of the oldest churches in Norway, built in 1130, and Hove Stone Church, which is the oldest stone building in Sogn, built at the end of the 1100s.

 

Adventures for young and old in Høyanger 

From Balestrand to Høyanger is a 40-minute drive in a north-westerly direction. You can walk the steps along pipelines that were built to tame the enormous volumes of water on the way down to the power station in Høyanger centre. The Siplo stairway has 1,250 steps and the Dalen stairway has 2,500 steps.

The Høyangerbadet swimming pool has something for all age groups. There are slides, a family pool, diving tower, climbing wall and sauna. In the outdoor area there is a pool, a paddle pool, deck chairs and lawns.