It was late August in 2013, and we drove from Oslo towards Aurland by the Aurlandsfjord which is a branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord in Western Norway.
We had our kayaks on the roof of the car, and the plan was to paddle and go for a few hikes and just enjoy the beautiful nature that the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord are surrounded by.
GUIDING: For safety reasons, we recommend you to join a guided kayak tour if you are going to kayak in the fjords. Njord Sea Kayak and Wilderness Adventures with base in Flåm and Nordic Ventures with base in Gudvangen offer Guided Kayak Tours on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Sognefjord area.
Hotels and accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of hotels and other places where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Stegastein Viewpoint
We arrived Aurland late in the evening, and drove up to Stegastein Viewpoint above the Aurlandsfjord. We hoped to get some great photography opportunities from this viewpoint the next morning, so we decided just to sleep in the free air. Early in the morning we woke up to the best view in the world.
We packed our stuff early in the morning, before the first tourists came, and stayed at the Stegastein area for a few hours before we drove down the beautiful Aurlandsfjellet Mountain Road towards Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord.
Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord
We continued to Undredal, a small and beautiful village on the other side of the Aurlandsfjord. From here we paddled out on the Aurlandsfjord in our kayaks. It was clear blue sky, wind still, and a perfect day for kayaking. Further out the fjord we rounded the foot of Mt Beitelen and paddled into the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord, one of two Norwegian fjords that are part of our common World Heritage.
The UNESCO Protected Nærøyfjord
In the afternoon, we reached our campsite at Salthella Beach in the middle of the Nærøyfjord. We put up our tent and had something to eat before it became dark.
In the morning I had a short hike to the hill above the campsite before we paddled further into the Nærøyfjord, towards Bakka, a small beautiful village beside the fjord.
From there we hiked up the Rimstigen trail so we could see the beautiful Nærøyfjord from above. The Rimstigen trail starts at Kvernaviki between Bakka and Tufto by the Nærøyfjord.
Heading back to Undredal
The last day we paddled out the Nærøyfjord and into the Aurlandsfjord and back to Undredal which was our starting point for this fjord adventure.
We had three days in two of the most beautiful fjords in Norway where we did what we liked best; Photo, kayaking, hiking and camping. We couldn´t have asked for more, and the weather showed its best side throughout the whole trip.
Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord – What to See and Do
Flåm, Aurland and Gudvangen are perfect starting points for experiences in and around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, two of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic fjords that are also included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Join a fjord safari or a fjord cruise. See the fantastic view from Stegastein viewpoint and taste the local goat cheese in Undredal. Visit the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the history and culture of the Viking Age.
Flåm Railway is the train journey from fjord to mountain, perhaps the most beautiful train journey in the world. Combine this train journey with cycling along Rallarvegen which goes from the high mountains via Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. Aurlandsdalen Valley is one of Norway’s most popular hikes. The Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord are both part of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the northern part of the county of Vestland, in the middle of Western Norway.
Hotels and accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of hotels and other places where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Sakte – Stay and Explore the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
“Sakte” is a collaboration between companies that provide adventures, accommodation, dining and short-travelled food- and products. “Sakte” are located in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord and is an offer for those who want to contribute to a sustainable society in the world heritage area.
How to travel to the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
It is easy to travel to Flåm and Aurland, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Almost “all roads” go to Flåm and Aurland, and you can also travel there by train, bus and boat. It is only a short distance between the two neighboring villages of Flåm and Aurland.
You can start this fjord adventure by train from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal station. Then you get to experience the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen and Flåm Railway, one of Norway’s most spectacular railway lines, from Myrdal station to Flåm, which is located down by the Aurlandsfjord. If you take Flåm Railway, you get to experience the beautiful Flåmsdalen valley at the same time.
There are several daily bus departures between Oslo/Bergen and Flåm.
The nearest airport is Sogndal Airport at Haukåsen near Kaupanger. Most flights that go to and from Sogndal Airport come from and go to Oslo and Bergen. From the airport to Flåm, it is 70 kilometers by road, including a wonderful crossing of the Sognefjord by ferry.