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.
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.
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. On 14 July 2005, the Nærøyfjord together with the Geirangerfjord became part of our common UNESCO’s world heritage.
From Flåm you can take part in a fjord safari or a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. You can take this fjord cruise as a round trip (both ways) or one way combined with bus between Flåm and Gudvangen. See the great view from Stegastein viewpoint, 650 meters above Aurland. Taste the local goat’s cheese in Undredal or in Skjerdal, two villages by the Aurlandsfjord.
Flåm Railway is the train journey from fjord to mountain, perhaps the most beautiful railway in the world. You can 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 lower part of Aurlandsdalen, which is also the most popular, starts from Østerbø and ends at Vassbygdi in Aurland.
The Flåm Valley is a beautiful 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.
By the Nærøyfjord, we have the small villages of Gudvangen, Bakka, Styvi and Dyrdal. Styvi is the only place without permanent inhabitants during the winter, and is together with Dyrdal without road connection. Gudvangen is one of two ports where the iconic ferry trip along the inner part of the Sognefjord departs and arrives. Visit the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the history and culture of the Viking Age.
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.
From Oslo and Bergen to the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord in one day
You can travel by train from Oslo or from Bergen to Myrdal and further by train down the Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. In Flåm, you can buy yourself a good cup of coffee and something good to eat at Flåm Bakery before you board the boat and join a Fjord Cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. You can do all of this in one day, and best of all, the entire trip is sustainable.
You get to experience Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, Flåmsdalen Valley, Flåm and the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. Both train and boat on this round trip are electric. The boats run on batteries that are charged up on short-distance hydropower. The boats are both sustainable and silent, which makes the trips on the fjord an even better experience.
Winter – It is easy to understand why more and more people are discovering how beautiful and exotic the Norwegian fjords are in winter. The fjords is a fantastic playground for those who want to ski, go snowshoeing, take a winter fjord cruise or a RIB boat trip on the fjords or just take in the cold and fresh air and enjoy the beautiful winter landscape.
Flåm and Aurland are perfect starting points for exploring this area. It is a short distance to the fjords and the mountains and all the activities, attractions and sights you can do starting from these two fjord villages. Read about our winter trip to Aurland. The video below is from a winter trip from Oslo to Flåm. In the video we see Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, Flåmsdalen Valley, Flåm, the Aurlandsfjord and Stegastein in winter clothes.
Season and Time to use – Day trip or more, season all year round. We recommend staying longer and experiencing more in this wonderful area.
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.
The boats from run on batteries that are charged with electricity from short-distance hydroelectric power. The boat trips are both sustainable, climate-friendly and silent, which makes the trips on the fjord an even better experience.
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 – from fjord to mountain
Flåm Railway has been named one of the ten most beautiful railways in the world. It starts at Flåm at the inner part of the Aurlandsfjord and ends at Myrdal Train Station which is part of the Bergen Railway.
This is the train journey from fjord to mountain, and many people take the train ride both ways.
Flåm Railway is one of Norway’s most spectacular railways with its 20 tunnels and a gradient of 1 to 18 on almost 80% of the line. The train stops at Kjosfossen Waterfall where passengers can experience and take pictures of the wild and beautiful waterfall before the train continues on to the end stations which is Myrdal on the high mountain or Flåm down by the fjord.
Flåmsbana is also a fantastic experience in winter. It is highly recommended! Season: all year.
FjordSafari – Activities on and around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
FjordSafari offers guided activities, adventures and fjord excursions by RIB boat where you will get to explore the UNESCO world heritage site on and around the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord.
The area represents an extreme, dramatic and a fantastic fjord landscape.
Their slogan is BOAT – HIKE – BIKE – SNOW, and they give you experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Season: The activities and excursions can be done all year round, but they vary between summer and winter excursions.
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 Kaupanger and Gudvangen.
On this ferry trip you will see the mighty Sognefjord, where the fjord is at its widest. The outermost part of the Aurlandsfjord is narrower than the Sognefjord, but still quite wide. The Nærøyfjord is narrow and the precipitous mountains rise high above the fjord.
Countless rivers and waterfalls cascade down the steep mountain sides. On this ferry trip you can see and experience the stark contrasts and the beautiful and wild nature of this wonderful piece of Norway.
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.
It is a short way to well known tourist attractions such as Aurlandsdalen Valley, Aurlandsfjellet, Aurlandsvegen Mountain Road and Stegastein Viewpoint. But the Aurlandsfjord itself is perhaps the most beautiful and most famous of them all.
There are many activities you can do in this area all year round. You can take a Fjord Cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord or you can join a Fjord Safari in a RIB-boat to get even closer to 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. Marianne Bakery and Café at Aurlandsvangen serves you a good atmosphere, the best of baked goods and a good selection of coffee and other drinks.
Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord
Flåm is one of several fjord villages located by the Aurlandsfjord. Flåm is a fantastic starting point for many great adventures 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.
It is easy to travel to Flåm. “All roads” leads to Flåm, and you can also get there by train via the Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. If you take the Flåm Railway down to Flåm, you will experience the beautiful Flåmsdalen Valley at the same time.
You can experience and do a lot with Flåm as a starting point. A fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord or a trip on the fjord with Fjord Safari is a must. So is a visit to Flåm Bakery, located on the quay near where the fjord cruise starts.
You can see and do a lot with Flåm as a starting point. In Flåm there are many places to eat and sleep. It is also a short distance to other beautiful fjords where you can visit idyllic fjord villages and experience beautiful and dramatic nature.
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.
You can combine a Fjord Safari on the Aurlandsfjord with a visit to Skjerdal Stølsysteri and Cafè, then you need to walk from the fjord and up to the café. This service is provided by FjordSafari in collaboration with Skjerdal Stølsysteri and Café.
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.
Gudvangen is a perfect starting point for many great adventures in beautiful and wild nature. Gudvangen is a tiny village where the Nærøyfjord ends. The Nærøyfjord is a perfect base for adventures and nature experiences.
If you include the nearby area on and around the Aurlandsfjord, you can stay there for weeks and discover new and wonderful adventures every day.
Today you can visit the Viking Village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the real history and culture of the Viking age.
Guided hike to Rimstigen above the Nærøyfjord
The Hike from Tufto by the Nærøyfjord to Rimstigen Viewpoint is very steep. The two kilometer long Rimstigen Trail starts down by the fjord and ends 725 meters above it.
A guided hike up to Rimstigen and back will take you around seven hours, and the prize is a fantastic view of the UNESCO Protected Nærøyfjord. A private guide will be with you and a light meal will be served in amazing surroundings. The guided hike includes transportation from Voss, Gudvangen or Flåm to where the hike starts.
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. Many people combine this hike with biking along the Rallarvegen (the old Navvies Road), that is an excellent option if you have the time.
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.
The lower part of Aurlandsdalen is the most dramatic. It is a 20 kilometer long hike that starts at Østerbø and ends in Vassbygdi by Aurland.
There is now a bus-service that has made it easy to travel to and from the start and end of the Aurlandsdalen hike. The bus will transport you between Flåm, Aurland, Vassbygdi and Østerbø. This Bus-service is delivered by Norway´s Best.
Stegastein Viewpoint and Aurlandsfjellet Mountain Road
Stegastein Viewpoint is part of the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route, 650 meters above Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord. Great view from the viewpoint towards the Aurlandsfjord and the surrounding mountains. Stegastein Viewpoint is a wooden platform, made of of glulam, which juts 30 meters out from the mountainside by the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route. The panorama-view, 650 meters above Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord, is one of the best views in the fjords.
At Flåm you can rent a small electric car, and you can experience Stegastein Viewpoint and the area around Flåm and Aurland. The electric car is an urban two-seater which is fun and easy to drive, and the GPS-guide will supply you with loads of interesting things along the way. Season: Summer, check Norway´s Best website.
You can also join a sightseeing bus from Flåm to Stegastein Viewpoint. Departures at Flåm and Aurland. The tour will take one to two hours.
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.
The movie Frozen I is inspired by this small village, with the surrounding steep mountains rising straight up from the fjord.
You do not need to go hiking or onto a fjord adventure when visiting Undredal. Many people just want so see and experience this beautiful village and the fjord from land, to buy some goat cheese from Underdalsbui and to learn about the tradition of goat cheese and farming in Undredal with tasting at Eldhuset by the pier.
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 year 1147 AD. is found in the carvings inside the church and is used as the official date of the building.
Season: There are no fixed times for guided tours of the church except for a period in the summer. A visit or a guided tour inside the church can be booked via Visit Undredal. See the official website for season and opening hours.
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.