The Hjørundfjord is surrounded by steep mountains, narrow valleys and countless rivers and waterfalls. Between all this lies the idyllic fjord village of Sæbø.
Sæbø is a perfect starting point for activities and adventures on and around the Hjørundfjord. It is from Sæbø that you have the characteristic view towards the Hjørundfjord and Hustadneset with the mountains Slogen and Stålberghornet as beautiful scenery in the background.
Visit Ålesund
Visit Ålesund is the official destination company for the Sunnmøre, Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord and Ålesund area.
Sæbø – The idyllic village by the Hjørundfjord
The idyllic fjord village of Sæbø is a perfect starting point for activities and adventures in and around the Hjørundfjord.
The Hjørundfjord is one of our most beautiful fjords and is surrounded by some of Norway’s most beautiful and famous mountains. The mountains and the fjord invite you to activities all year round.
Around the Hjørundfjord you can go on many mountain hikes with fjord views. Mt Slogen, Saksa and Urkeegga are some of the most famous mountains. Uteguiden organizes guided hikes to Mt Saksa and Slogen, they also offer tailor-made hikes to the other mountains in the area.
The Hjørundfjord is also an eldorado for summit ski tours. This is one of the fjords where it is possible to combine boat trips on the fjord with summit trips on skis. Uteguiden arranges tailor-made skiing and sailing trips with guides and a personal chef onboard the boat. The starting point for these tours is the city of Ålesund, which is just north of the exit of the Hjørundfjord.
There is a ferry connection between Sæbø and Leknes on the other side of the fjord. There is also a ferry connection between Sæbø, Skår, Standal and Trandal which are small towns by the Hjørundfjord, these ferry departures are much less frequent than the ferry between Sæbø and Leknes.
From Leknes, it is just a short drive to Urke and Øye, which are the starting points for great guided hikes to mountains such as Mt Saksa and Slogen. Drink beer at the Fjord pub at Urke. Perhaps you will meet the beautiful ghost Linda if you spend the night in “The Blue Room” at Hotel Union Øye. From the village of Øye, you can also join a guided kayak trip on the Hjørundfjord.
Join a fjord cruise or a kayak trip on the Hjørundfjord. Experience the beautiful Norangsdalen valley and dive in the ruins of an old mountain pasture in lake Lyngstøylvatnet. In the summer you can take part on a fjord cruise on the Hjørundfjord. There are departures from Ålesund, Trandal, Sæbø, Urke and Øye.
A nice hike from Sæbø is the hike up to Gunnarråsa (370 m). There you can try the swing, which has one of the best views in the area. From Gunnarråsa there is a fantastic view of the Hjørundfjord and the beautiful mountains that surround the fjord.
After the mountain hike to Gunnarråsa, you can enjoy heat in a sauna and jump into the fresh water in the Hjørundfjord. Sæbø Fjordsauna has two saunas located by the wharf at Sagafjord Hotel, and they are heated with wood.
There is also a sauna by the fjord at Urke, Urke Fjordsauna, on the other side of the Hjørundfjord. Sauna season: All year round, but check the website for season and booking. You must book an appointment in the saunas in advance, remember to book in the right place. Bathing is at your own risk.
The beautiful Sagafjord Hotel is located right down by the fjord at Sæbø. The hotel is like an oasis, where you can enjoy the silence down by the fjord with the characteristic view towards the Hjørundfjord and Hustadneset with the mountains Slogen and Stålberghornet as a fantastic backdrop.
From Hustadneset you can fish in the Hjørundfjord, straight from the cabins at Hustadnes Fjordhytter.
In addition to the hotel, there are two campsites at Sæbø, Hjørundfjord Camping and Bondalselva Camping.
Rekkedal Gjestehus is located in Bondalen valley, between the Hjørundfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps. Rekkedal focuses on cultural and nature experiences, food and drinks and also puts together events, hikes and accommodation for small and large groups. Remember that at Rekkedal you must book in advance.
There are two grocery stores in the center of Sæbø, Joker Sæbø and Joker Bellingen. Both stores are located in Øyragata in the center of Sæbø, right next to each other. Check the websites of the stores for more information about opening hours and what they have to offer. In the summer season, Joker Sæbø sells, among other things, fishing equipment. There is also a petrol station close to the grocery stores at Sæbø.
Nilsbuda in the center of Sæbø is an arts and crafts outlet that is open on weekends in the summer. Nilsbuda has a sales exhibition of local artists and craftsmen. There is a varied selection of short-travel goods, including paintings, knitwear, soaps, ceramics and glass art.
Below you can see photos from a beautiful autumn day by boat on the Hjørundfjord and Norangsfjorden. Blue skies, bright fjords, beautiful autumn colors and fresh snow on the mountain tops, it doesn’t get any nicer than that. The boat trip started from Bjørke and went out the fjord past Viddal and into Norangsfjorden and then continued across the fjord towards Sæbø and a little way out the Hjørundfjord. Photo: Britt Karin Bjørke.
Fjord Cruise on the Hjørundfjord
This is a fjord cruise that goes between Ålesund and Øye in the heart of Norangsfjorden. The fjord cruise has season in the summer and visits Ålesund, Trandal, Sæbø, Urke and Øye.
The boat goes both ways. See the Cruise Service website for more information about the season, boat routes and booking. Below you see the inner part of the Hjørundfjord with a marked boat route and places where the boat stops.
Guided Hike the Mt Saksa (1073 masl) from Urke
The hike to Mt Saksa start at Urke down by the fjord. The mountain lies between Norangsfjorden and the Hjørundfjord, and you have the fjordview to the two fjords from the start at Urke to the summit at 1073 masl.
You walk a short distance through the forest before reaching some open land. The trail in the forest is steep but well maintained with stairs made of stone on the most difficult stretches.
Bentebu is a nice place to take a break and enjoy the fantastic view towards Norangsfjorden and Øye and the surrounding mountains. Mt Slogen is one of those mountains. We recommend to join a Guided Hike to Mt Saksa.
Sagafjord Hotel at Sæbø
Sagafjord Hotel down by the fjord at Sæbø is a modern adventure hotel. The hotel is like an oasis, where you can enjoy the silence down by the fjord with the characteristic view towards the Hjørundfjord and Hustadneset with the mountains Slogen and Stålberghornet as fantastic scenery in the background.
The hotel collaborates with guides who can tailor make activities such as kayaking, mountain hikes and summit tours on skis. They also have their own marina where they rent out kayaks.
You can also enjoy the heat in a sauna and jump into the fresh water of the Hjørundfjord. Sæbø Fjordsauna has two saunas located on the wharf at Sagafjord Hotell, and they are heated with wood.
In the restaurant at Sagafjord Hotel, you will be served dishes made from the best of local ingredients harvested and produced in and around the Hjørundfjord and on the coast of Sunnmøre.
360 Panorama of Sæbø and the Hjørundfjord
Below you can see a 360 panoramic picture from Mt Dalegubben by Sæbø. Here you can see the entire Hjørundfjord and all the mountains that surround the fjord. The mountains are marked with names. You can also see towards the fjord villagees of Sæbø, Bjørke and Øye. At the bottom of the panoramic picture, you will find navigation buttons that allow you to “travel” around and focus on places you want to take a closer look at. Some panoramic pictures allow you to “jump” to other locations. The 360 panoramic pictures are provided by 360 Aircam by Arild Solberg.
Road Trip Åndalsnes – Geiranger – Sæbø
The Romsdalsfjord, Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord are the three most beautiful and best-known fjords in the fjord county of Møre og Romsdal.
Here you can read about a road trip from Åndalsnes via Geiranger to Sæbø and what you can see and do in the three fjords that you will experience on the trip. You can do this drive in a day, but if you spend a week or two, you will get so much more.
This road trip starts at Åndalsnes by the Romsdalsfjord and ends in Sæbø by the Hjørundfjord. You drive through some of the wildest and most beautiful landscape we have in Norway.
You get to experience the alpine mountains by the Romsdalsfjord, the National Tourist Route Trollstigen – Geiranger, the fantastic ferry trip out of the Geirangerfjord from Geiranger to Hellesylt and the beautiful and wild Norangsdalen valley on the way to the village of Øye and the Hjørundfjord.
The Hjørundfjord – What to see and do
The innermost part of the 35-kilometer-long Hjørundfjord is surrounded by steep mountains, narrow valleys, waterfalls and glaciers. In between all this, there are small idyllic villages down by the fjord, all of which are great starting points for adventures in beautiful nature.
The idyllic fjord village of Sæbø is a perfect starting point for activities and adventures in and around the Hjørundfjord. Sagafjord Hotel is located right down by the fjord at Sæbø. There you can enjoy the silence down by the fjord with the characteristic view towards the Hjørundfjord and Hustadneset with the mountains Slogen and Stålberghornet as a fantastic backdrop.
Try the world’s most famous swing at Christian Gaard Bygdetun in Trandal. A picture of a swing at Trandal on Instagram made the Hjørundfjord world famous.
The mountains surrounding the Hjørundfjord are great for hikes with fjord view. Slogen, Saksa and Urkeegga are the most popular mountains for hiking. Uteguiden organizes guided mountain hikes to Mt Saksa and Slogen, they also offer tailor-made mountain hikes to the other mountain peaks in the area.
Join a fjord cruise or a kayak trip on the Hjørundfjord. Experience beautiful Norangsdalen valley and dive into the ruins of an old mountain pasture in Lake Lyngstøylvatnet.
Drink beer at Fjordpuben in Urke. Fish salmon in Bjørkeelva River at Bjørke. Maybe you get to meet the beautiful ghost Linda if you stay overnight in “The Blue Room” at Hotel Union Øye? The Hjørundfjord is located in the southwestern part of the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
Hotels and Accommodation by the Hjørundfjord
Sagafjord Hotel – Sæbø
Hustadnes Fjordhytter – Sæbø
Hjørundfjorden Brygge, Maritbu – Sæbø
Hjørundfjorden Brygge, Studio – Sæbø
Hjørundfjord Camping – Sæbø
Bondalselva Camping – Sæbø
Rekkedal Gjestehus -Bondalen