The Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord in Sogn are two of the worlds most beautiful and dramatic fjords. The name Nærøyfjord origin from the norse god ‘Njord’, the God of the Seafarer and the sea.
The Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord are two of many fjordarms in the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord. In 2005, the Nærøyfjord became a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage together with the Geirangerfjord.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord and Sognefjord area.
Accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Some highlights from the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
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.
By the Nærøyfjord, we have the small villages Gudvangen, Bakka, Styvi and Dyrdal. Dyrdal and Styvi are the only places without permanent inhabitants during the winter, and is without road connection.
On July 14th 2005, the Nærøyfjord and the surrounding area was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List together with the Geirangerfjord. Read UNESCO’s own characterization of the Fjord heritage.
What to do and see in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
There are activities to do in this area all year round. You can join a Fjord Cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord or a Fjord Safari to even get closer to the surrounding nature.
You can visit the Viking Village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the real history and culture of the Viking age.
Fjord Cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
Here you will experience the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord (UNESCO World Heritage) in a fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen. Numerous wild and beautiful waterfalls and rivers characterize the landscape, crossing the rugged mountains and deciduous and coniferous forests on their way down to the fjords. Beautiful villages with a sustained cultivated landscape with remainders of old farms and mountain pastures and unique cultural monuments gives a extra dimension to the dramatic natural landscape. Season: all year.
Flåm Railway
Flåm Railway is one of top 10 scenic railways in the world. This is the train journey from fjord to mountain. It starts at Flåm at the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord and ends at Myrdal Train Station which is part of the Bergen Railway. Season: all year.
Fjord Safari on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
Fjord Safari offer fjord excursions where you explore the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. The excursions can be done all year round. The area represents extreme, dramatic and stunning fjord scenery. Season: all year.
Ferry trip on the Sognefjord between Gudvangen and Kaupanger
Kaupanger is one of two ports where the iconic ferry trip along the inner part of the Sognefjord departs and arrives. This is a two and a half hour long fjord cruise on the Sognefjord and the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, between Gudvangen and Kaupanger. You can take your car on this ferry trip. Season: Summer, see link for more information about season and scedule.
Aurland by the Aurlandsfjord
In the middle between Oslo and Bergen lies beautiful Aurland. The idyllic fjord village that offers adventures and nature experiences in beautiful and wild nature. In Aurland, there is something for everyone and not least a treasure trove of local food and drink, and is a perfect place to spend your holiday.
Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord
Flåm is a fantastic starting point for many great dventures in beautiful and wild nature. Where the Aurlandsfjord ends, the Flåmsdalen Valley starts. If the Aurlandsfjord is an adventure, the Flåmsdalen Valley is an even more beautiful adventure, and both should be experienced.
An autumn trip to Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord
One evening in October, I boarded the train at Oslo Central Station. I was going to take the train along Bergen Railway to Myrdal. Finally, I was going to experience the Flåmsdalen valley, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord in autumn colours again. It had been far too long since the last time.
I joined a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Never have I seen these fjords more beautiful than this day. Here are some words that I got from a tourist who was on the same boat trip. He posted the comment on a timelapse video I made from that fjord cruise:
– My girlfriend and I were on this cruise that day and it was truly a magical morning. The water was like glass and the rising sun kept changing the mountain views all around us as we silently glided through the fjord.
Guided Kayak Trips on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
The Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord are great to explore from a kayak. You can join guided kayak-trips both in Flåm at the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord and in Gudvangen at the inner part of the Nærøyfjord.
- Guided Kayak trips on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord – Start from Gudvangen
- Guided Kayak trips on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord – Start from Flåm
NOTE – For safety reasons, we recommend you to join a guided kayak trip if you are going to paddle kayak on the fjords. Here are some good advices on how you can be safer when kayaking on the fjords and during other activities and when traveling in Norway and Western Norway in general.
Season Kayak: Summer, check with the guide companies when they offer guiding. Seasons mentioned on this website are approximately dates.
Flåm Valley
The Flåm Valley is a beautiful small adventure. The valley between Myrdal (866.8 masl) and Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord is 18 kilometer long. The valley is narrow and the mountains are steep, and there are waterfalls and rivers wherever you turn around. Flåm Valley is a great place for hiking and biking. Flåm Zipline sends you off at over 100 kilometers per hour, you are just hanging in a thin steel wire high above the valley. Rallarvegen ends in the Flåm Valley, and you can take the train up and down the Flåm Valley with Flåm Railway. Brekkefossen Waterfall is a popular hiking goal in the Flåm Valley.
Flåm Zipline – The longest zipline in Norway
Take the Flåm Railway from Flåm to Vatnahalsen Station or Bergensbanen Railway from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal Station. From Vatnahalsen it is only a couple of minutes to walk to Flåm Zipline. From Myrdal Station it is 1.5 kilometers to walk. When you have finished the zipline, you can rent a bike and cycle down the Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. Remember to book everything in advance (package with train, zipline and bike rental).
Skjerdal Stølsysteri and Café
Meet goats, sheep and horses at a traditional Norwegian mountain farm. The brown and white goats cheese has been produced in this valley for hundred of years. Experience the life on the farm and taste traditional, local food at Skjerdal Stølsysteri and Cafè. The mountain farm is about 30 minutes hike from Skjerdal outside Aurland. Follow an old farm road up through steep landscape, with beautiful views over the Aurlandsfjord and the surrounding steep mountains.
Fjord Sauna on the fjord outside Flåm
Enjoy the heat in a sauna on the Aurlandsfjord and jump into the fresh water in the Aurlandsfjord. FJORD SAUNA is a floating sauna that is heated with electricity when it is at the quay and with wood when it is out on the fjord.
Season Floating Sauna: All year
Fjord Photography – Fjord Photoshoots
More and more people are choosing the fjords of Norway to do their engagement and wedding photos in the spectacular nature. And for good reason. With so many gorgeous and inspiring locations, the photos are spectacular.
Paul Edmundson of Fjord Photography in Aurland offers his product Fjord Photoshoot for couples to have their pictures taken in front of stunning fjords, mountaintops, waterfalls, forests and historic sites such as Otternes Mountain Farm and Borgund Stave Church. You can even have a Viking theme photoshoot, dressing up with authentic Viking gear and swords.
See some of the stunning locations around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord with some of his pictures below.
Gudvangen – Where the Vikings still live
Gudvangen is the innermost village by the beautiful and wild Nærøyfjord and is a perfect starting point for many great adventures in beautiful and wild nature. Today you can visit the Viking Village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the real history and culture of the Viking age.
Stalheim Hotel
From Stalheim Hotel you have a great view towards the narrow Nærøydalen Valley which is surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls.
IMPORTANT! Due to the great danger of rock falls and both rock- and snow avalanches, the road Stalheimskleiva and the road and trail below Stalheimskleiva are now permanently closed, both for cars, for cycling and for hiking/walking. Do not stay in this area at all due to the high risk of rockfall and avalanches!
Skaldegard Cultural and Historic Farm
Come and visit Skaldegard, an old farmstead that clings to the mountain-side and enjoys splendid views over the Aurlandsfjord and surrounding mountains. Skaldegard invites small groups to come and learn about the local area’s natural environment, history, agriculture and way of life, both past and present. The farm is situated at Skjerdal above the Aurlandsfjord, outside Aurland.
Cycling Rallarvegen from mountain to fjord
One of the finest and most famous cycle roads in Norway is the 82-kilometer long Rallarvegen (the Navvie`s Road) running from the high mountains to the fjord. The most popular part of the cycle route is from Finse, at 1222 meters above sea level, to Flåm down by the Aurlandsfjord.
When arriving in Flåm, you can leave the bike at Flåm Railway Station before you enjoy something good to eat and drink at Ægir Brewery by the harbour.
Hiking the Aurlandsdalen Valley
If you want to have a day or two hiking in the Aurland and Flåm area, you should hike the Aurlandsdalen Valley. Wild scenery, wild rivers, narrow valleys, much history from old Norway and how they lived at that time. Many people consider this as the most beautiful and wildest hike in Norway.
Stegastein Viewpoint and Aurlandsfjellet Mountain Road
The road across Aurlandsfjellet is a journey across a mountain landscape of snow and rocks with the occasional sprig of grass. Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route is a 47-kilometer-long stretch of road between Aurland by the Aurlandsfjord and Lærdal by the Sognefjord. The road is closed during winter.
Stegastein Viewpoint is part of the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route, 650 meters above Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord. Great view towards the Aurlandsfjord and the surrounding mountains. The road up to Stegastein is open all year, also during winter. But during winter, the road is closed just above Stegastein.
Otternes farmyard between Aurland and Flåm
Otternes farmyard is a cluster of 27 old buildings from the 1700s. The view towards the Aurlandsfjord and to Flåm from the farmyard is fantastic. Look south and you see the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord towards Flåm. In the other direction you will see out the Aurlandsfjord towards the mountains which encircle Aurland.
Undredal Fjord Village
Undredal is an idyllic little village down by the Aurlandsfjord which is known for the many goats and the local white and brown goat´s cheese. Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norway’s smallest church. In Undredal you will also find what is believed to be the smallest fire station in Europe.
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal
Undredal Stave Church stands in Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord. Undredal Stave Church is Norway’s smallest church with only 40 seats. The stave church had its 850th anniversary in 1997 AD. The film Frozen I was inspired by this small village and the church, which is surrounded by precipitous mountains that rise straight up from the fjord.
Accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of 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.
FJORDS – Accommodation in Western Norway
Great Hotels in the Fjords of Norway
Bath and Spa Hotels in the Fjords of Norway
Fjords Living – Special Accommodation in the Fjords of Norway
FJORDS – Useful Links
Go Fjords – Big and Small Fjord Experiences
Visit Norway – Official page for Norway
Fjord Norway – Official page for Fjord Norway