The Lustrafjord and the Luster area is one of the most beautiful spots in Norway, where the fjord meets the top of Norway with it´s numerous mountains and glaciers.
The Lustrafjord is the innermost branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord. These are some of the adventures you can experience in Luster.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Lustrafjord and Sognefjord area.
Some highlights from the Lustrafjord area
The Lustrafjord and Luster area is deemed to be one of the most beautiful spots in the country. It is where the fjords meet the top of Norway and the mountains and glaciers never ends. There are many wonderful and exciting things to see and do there.
Solvorn is an idyllic village located down by the Lustrafjord. The oldest historical hotel and one of the finest, the Walaker Hotel, is located in the village. Time has in a way stood still in Solvorn. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
From Solvorn, you can take the small ferry across the Lustrafjord to Ornes and visit Urnes Stave Church and see the mighty Feigefossen waterfall which reveals itself in the spring. Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of our remaining stave churches in Norway, and is one of four world heritage sites in Western Norway.
The hike to Mt Molden gives you a fantastic view both in and out of the Lustrafjord. The locals claim this is the best view in Luster, and in Luster there are many great viewpoints.
Nigardsbreen glacier in Jostedal and Austerdalsbreen glacier at Veitastrond are two of the most beautiful and most easily accessible glaciers in Norway. Mørkridsdalen and Fortunsdalen are two classic areas for mountain hikes near Skjolden, which is located at the innermost part of the Lustrafjord. Stay at Skjolden Hotel in Skjolden, a great hotel with short-travelled food and drinks from the top shelf.
High in the Jotunheimen mountains, the Sognefjellet Mountain Road runs between the Lustrafjord and the Gudbrandsdalen Valley. The Sognefjellet National Tourist Route is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe with its 1434 meters above sea level at the highest point. Along the road is Turtagrø Hotel, Sognefjellshytta and Krossbu where you can stay and get information and guide to Hurrungane and the mountains and glaciers around Sognefjellet, which is one of Norway’s wildest mountain areas.
The Lustrafjord is approximately 40 kilometers long and is the innermost branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the middle of Western Norway.
Urnes Stave Church at Ornes by the Lustrafjord
Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of the remaining Stave Churches in Norway, and is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Western Norway. The church was built around year 1130 AD, and is situated at Ornes by the Lustrafjord.
A nice way to explore Urnes Stave Church and the beautiful surroundings is to drive to Solvorn and cross the Lustrafjord by ferry to Ornes. From the ferry quay at Ornes, there is only a short walk uphill to the Stave Church.
During summer you can join a guided “tour” outside and inside the church. There is also a small café close to the church where you can buy short travelled and local made refreshments.
Solvorn and Fjærland – Vibrant Fjord Villages by the sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the lifeblood, indeed the main artery of the villages that lie along the fjord and of the fjord people who live there. The longest fjord is the very reason why these fjord villages exist and that they are located where they do.
Solvorn by the Lustrafjord and Fjærland by the Fjærlandsfjord are two great examples of vibrant fjord villages in the area around the Sognefjord.
Together with Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord, these fjord villages have welcomed tourists since they began visiting Norway in the 17th century. At the same time, time has in a way stood still in these beautiful fjord villages. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
Guided Glacier Hikes on Nigardsbreen Glacier
From Gaupne close to Marifjøra, take to the left towards the Jostedalen Valley and Nigardsbreen Glacier. There you have Breheimsenteret Glacier Centre with its exhibition, multimedia glacier slideshow, information about the glacier and guiding and equipment-rental on the Nigardsbreen Glacier.
The hikes on Nigardsbreen Glacier can be done in small or large groups. All hikes on the glacier are guided by experienced guides, and all necessary equipment are provided.
Some of the hikes you can choose between are Short or Long Blue Ice Hike and Special Blue Ice Hike. You can also choose the KIDS SPECIAL which is a more challenging hike, for sporty and adventurous kids.
You can join the Glacier Bus from Sogndal to Jostedal if you do not have a car, there are one daily departure during the season which is between the end of June to the beginning of September.
Hike to Austerdalsbreen Glacier
For over a hundred years, Austerdalsbreen Glacier, together with the three hanging glaciers Loke, Odín and Tor, have all been recognized as the most beautiful glacial landscape in Europe.
Austerdalsbreen is an offshoot from the larger glacier, Jostedalsbreen. It is located in Austerdalen valley, which is the innermost part of Veitastrond.
From Hafslo in Luster you can drive to Veitastrond. From there, drive the private toll-road to Tungestølen, a brand new Mountain Lodge which had its inauguration in 2019. From there you have a two hour hike to the Austerdalsbreen Glacier.
The three glaciers (Loke, Odin and Tor) are falling down from the plateau glacierJostedalsbreen, together creating the beautiful Austerdalsbreen Glacier down in the valley named Austerdalen.
Hike to Mt Molden
Mt Molden in Luster is a popular hiking destination among the locals. The hike is relatively short, and the fjord view is fantastic.
The trail is marked, and it takes about an hour to hike to the abandoned mountain farm Svarthiller. From Svarthiller you have a great view towards the southern part of the Lustrafjord.
The hike continues from Svarthiller (865 masl) towards Mt Molden at 1116 masl. Parts of the trail to Mt Molden consist of stone stairs built by Sherpas from Nepal.
From the top of Mt Molden you can see the Lustrafjord in all directions. Locals claim that this is the best view in Luster, and in Luster there are many great viewpoints.
Mollandsmarki and Raaum Gard – On the edge
The road to Mollandsmarki is the same road as for the hike to Mt Molden.
But drive past the parking lot where the hike to Molden starts, and continue further towards Mollandsmarki. Soon the Lustrafjord will reveal itself to you, and the view from the road towards the Lustrafjord is fantastic.
In the cabins at Raaum Gard you can literally live right on the edge and look straight down into the fjord and over to Ornes on the other side of the fjord.
Kayak on the Lustrafjord from Skjolden to Ornes and Solvorn
We drove from Oslo in a car stuffed with kayaks and equipment, and our goal for the day was Skjolden at the innermost part of the Lustrafjord.
This was the starting point of this summers kayak adventure. The last part of the drive that day was along the fjord we should paddle the next days, and we could feel the joy when driving in this beautiful scenery.
The next day we glided out onto the Lustrafjord in our kayaks. It was partly cloudy, and the fjord was quiet. We headed towards the western side of the fjord, and paddled a good distance out the fjord on this side. It was a fine day, and the weather got even better and the fjord calmer as we paddled out the fjord.
Fjord Cycling – Guided Cycling by the Fjords
Small, idyllic villages. Thundering Waterfalls. Experience Norwegian nature and culture by bike and join a self-guided and guided ready made round trip from Bergen, to and through the fjord landscape surrounding the Sognefjord and Lustrafjord.
256 kilometer of idyllic roads with little or no traffic and a guide that shows you where the gems are hidden.
Solvorn, Urnes and Feigefossen Waterfall
Solvorn is a beautiful village down by the Lustrafjord. There you have the oldest historical hotel in Norway, the beautiful Walaker Hotel. Eplet Hostel og Jusfabrikk and Villa Solvorn are also located in Solvorn.
From Solvorn you can take the small ferry across the Lustrafjord to Ornes and visit Ornes and Urnes Stave Church. Urnes and the area along the fjord are great starting points for experiences and adventures.
It is about 13 kilometers from Ornes to Feigum. A nice hike is the hike from Feigum to the viewpoint where you can see the Feigefossen Waterfall from up close. Especially early summer, this is a great sight, when the snowmelt is at its maximum and the water flow in the waterfall is at its most powerful.
The hike to the viewpoint is nice and takes around an hour each way, the trail is marked. There is about a 150 meter climb from the start at Feigum to the viewpoint. The trail is rocky in the end and it can be slippery due to water splash from the waterfall. Feigefossen Waterfall has a vertical drop of 229 meters. Season: Summer.
Feigesagi Café is an idyllic café down by the fjord at Feigum, it is open from time to time.
NOTE! This road from Ornes to Feigum and further to Skjolden is narrow and winding, and it can be tight in some sections. Be aware that cars, cyclists and people walking can come towards you and from behind, you must take precautions for this.
RIB-Boat Adventure on the Lustrafjord
Combine a RIB-boat tour on the Lustrafjord with a hike to the impressive 229 meter high Feigefossen Waterfall.
The adventure starts at Skjolden Brygge at Skjolden, and the season is during summer. Video by Adventure Tours Norway.
Sengjaberget Viewpoint at Skjolden
This is a short and easy hike with a great view, 120 meters above Skjolden and the Lustrafjord. You can hike along the road from Skjolden Hotel (one hour hike – 3.2 kilometer) or drive up to the start of the trail and hike from there (15 minutes hike – 320 meter).
From Sengjaberget you have great view towards Eidsvatnet and Eidselva River, Skjolden, the Lustrafjord and Mt Molden in the horizon.
Skjolden, the innermost part of the Lustrafjord
From Gaupne, you can also drive through Luster to Skjolden and Fortun.
Stay at Skjolden Hotel, a beautiful hotel with local food down by innermost part of the Lustrafjord. You can hike into the Mørkrisdalen Valley from Skjolden and the Fortunsdalen Valley from Fortun.
The Fortunsdalen Valley is more spectacular the deeper into the valley you drive, but drive carefully. At the end of the road lies Nørdstedalsseter Mountain Lodge, a good starting point for mountaineering.
Sognefjellet Mountain Road – The Top of Norway
From Skjolden you can drive into Fortun and further up the Sognefjellsvegen National Tourist Route over to Lom in Gudbrandsdalen.
Located at 900 meters above sea level is Turtagrø Hotel, a new and modern mountain hotel where you can get information and guided tours to Hurrungane, one of Norway’s wildest mountain areas.
Drive a little further and you have Sognefjellshytta Mountain Lodge on top of Sognefjellet. The mountain hut has a fantastic view towards Mt Smørstabbtindene, Mt Fannaråken and the glaciers.
Just a few kilometers from Sognefjellshytta in the direction of Lom, you will arrive at Krossbu Fjellstue. They offer guided tours on the Smørstabbreen glacier.
The Lustrafjord – Hotels and Accommodation
Jostedalen – Jostedal Hotell
Jostedalen – Jostedal Camping
Fortun/Hurrungane – Turtagrø Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Resort
Lustrafjord – Sørheim Fjordpanorama
Luster – Dalsøren Camping
Luster – Luster Fjordhytter
Luster – Nes Gard
Marifjøra – Marifjøra Sjøbuer
Mollandsmarki – Heil pao kanten
Norway’s oldest hotel – Walaker Hotell in Solvorn
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Eplet Hostel & Juicefabrikk
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Villa Solvorn
Exclusivity and well-being at Hafslo – BesteBakken
Tungestølen at Veitastrond – Tungestølen Turisthytte
The Lustrafjord – Useful Links
Skjolden – Where fjord meets the mountains: Skjolden.com
Activities in Luster: Visit Skjolden
The UNESCO Protected Urnes Stave Church
Ferry across the Lustrafjord: Lustrabaatane
Glacier Guiding on Nigardsbreen Glacier: Jostedalen Breførarlag
Breheimsenteret Glacier Center in Jostedal: Breheimsenteret
Mountain Hotel in the Hurrungane Mountains: Turtagrø Hotel
Sognefjellet National Tourist Route: Norwegian Scenic Routes
Guided Kayak Trips on the Lustrafjord: Fjordseal at Marifjøra
Guided Motor Boat Tours at Lake Styggevatnet: Ice Troll