Undredal is a beautiful fjord village down by the Aurlandsfjord which is part of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord.
The movie Frozen I is inspired by this small village, with the surrounding steep mountains rising straight up from the fjord.
Some highlights from Undredal and the surrounding area
Undredal is famous for the many goats and it´s local made White- and Brown Goat Cheese.
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norways smallest church and had its 850-years celebration in 1997. At Undredal you will also find what is probably the smallest Fire Station in Europe.
Undredal is a great starting point for hiking in the surrounding mountains and for kayaking on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
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
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norways smallest church and had its 850-years celebration in 1997. The year 1147 is found in the carvings inside the church and is used as the official date of the building.
One of the nearby abandoned Mountain Farms, Nedbergo (530 meters above the Aurlandsfjord) had more sun than the farms down by the fjords, and the people living there were quite wealthy. They even had reserved the foremost benches in Undredal Stave Church, and every sunday they crossed the Aurlandsfjord towards Undredal to go to church. If they were delayed due to weather or other conditions, the others had to wait until those from Nedbergo arrived before the worship service could start.
A visit or a guided tour included folk music inside the church can be ordered via Explore Undredal or at Underdalsbui Grocery Store during the opening hours. Every day during summer, from June 1st to August 31st, you can visit the Stave Church between 13:00 to 17:00 hrs. Tickets are then sold at the entrance.
Local made White- and Brown Goat Cheese
You should taste the local made brown and white goat cheese that is made in Undredal. You can taste and buy the rewarded Goat Cheese at Underdalsbui and Undredal Fjord Cafè/Eldhuset down by the pier.
Undredal has a long tradition in the production of goat cheese. The reason for that is of course the landscape. The goats are the best animals to utilize the resources in this steep fjord-landscape. In the old days it was natural for the farmers to use the goat’s milk to make farm products. Undredal had no road connection, and it was easier for them to sell and distribute brown- and white goat cheese rather than fresh milk.
Eldhuset hosts the tradition of goat cheese and farming in Undredal. They offer both taste, serving, exhibitions and program.
Kayaking the Aurlandsfjord
At the beach at Undredal, close to Underdalsbui, I packed my kayak and glided into the Aurlandsfjord. The feeling was fantastic, sitting in the kayak on the Aurlandsfjord outside Undredal. The silence, only surrounded by the fjord, the beautiful nature and the steep mountains.
Undredal is special for me, this is where I started kayaking in the fjords in the nineties. I still remember the feeling from the early morning, more than 20 years ago, the first time I paddled out from Undredal. The fjord was like a mirror that day, exactly how it was today.
Njord Seakayaking and Nordic Ventures arrange guided kayak trips on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Hiking along the UNESCO-Protected Nærøyfjord
Bleiklindi is a good starting point for walking the Old Postal Road to Styvi six kilometers further out the Nærøyfjord. At Styvi you must turn on the flasher at the quay to give signal to the ferry to stop and take you on board. This is a hike through some of the most scenic fjord-landscape in Norway.
We met at Undredal the night before. Next day we woke up to a beautiful day, and the sun was shining from a clear blue sky. We had breakfast on the pier at Undredal, down by the Aurlandsfjord. It was difficult to break up, we could stay there all day long.
Hike to Hjødna Viewpoint and to Stokko by the Aurlandsfjord
The Hjødna Viewpoint is only a short hike from the center of Undredal. Contact Explore-Undredal for a guided hike which will take around 30 minutes from the starting point to the viewpoint.
The hike to Stokko is an easy walk on a 2.5 kilometer long trail (five kilometer in total) down by the Aurlandsfjord. You start at Undredal, and hike outwards the fjord in North-East direction. The trail goes through old cultural landscape and old meadows, the highest point of the trail is 57 meters.
Kayaking from Undredal into the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
Pictures from Undredal and the Aurlandsfjord
UNDREDAL – Useful Links:
Official page for Sognefjord – Sognefjord.com
Tourist Info – Visit Undredal
The local store – Undredalsbui
Activities in Undredal – Explore Undredal
Undredal Fjord Café – Undredal Brygge
World Heritage Info – Undredal
Church – Undredal Stave Church
Local Goat Cheese – Undredal Stølsysteri
Mountain Farm – Stigen Gard
Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord – What to See and Do
Flåm, Aurland, Gudvangen and Bakka 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, a fjord cruise or enjoy the two fjords from a kayak. 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. There you can also join guided kayak trips, walk along the Nærøyfjord or enjoy the fjord view from the surrounding mountains. 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.
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.
Accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
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