It was winter, and we visited Aurland and Flåm by the Sognefjord, seeking for some cold adventures. And we got what we wanted; Frozen Fjords.
It is easy to understand why more and more people discover how beautiful and exotic the Norwegian Fjords are during winter. The fjords is a great playground for those who want to ski, go snow-shoe hiking, take a winter-cruise or join a RIB-boat on the fjords or just take in the cold, crispy air and enjoy the beautiful winter-landscape.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the 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.
Team “Frozen Fjords”
We (@tfbergen , @torb and @fjords) met in Aurland by the Aurlandsfjord and stayed at Vangsgaarden Guesthouse for the long-weekend. Aurland and Vangsgaarden is a perfect base for exploring this area. It is a short distance to the fjords and the mountains and the activities, attractions and sights from this place.
Stegastein Viewpoint and Otternes Farm Yard
The first evening we drove up to Stegastein Viewpoint, only a short but steep drive from Aurland. Stegastein is a 33 meter long footbridge made of wood, 640 meters above the Aurlandsfjord. This is one of the greatest viewpoints in Norway, and we went there for a night-photoshoot. We also visited Otternes farmyard between Aurland and Flåm and Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal. See the pictures below.
Fjord Safari on the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord
Next morning we headed towards Flåm at the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, the starting point for our next adventure; a RIB-Boat-Safari on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord with Fjord Safari. We had two hours on the fjord in a small boat. What a day on the fjord we had! And we experienced deer and seals from close up distance in the middle of this beautiful and wild nature.
The Flåm Railway
The day after the Fjord Safari we again headed towards Flåm. This is the starting point of Flåm Railway, one of top 10 railways in the world. This is the train journey from fjord to mountain, and we took it both ways. We had done this train-ride many times during summer, but it was “cool” to experience it in the winter.
Winter in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
The last day, after a nice lunch at Mariannes Bakeri & Kafe in Aurland, we split and returned to our homes. But first we drove to Gudvangen to experience the beauty of the Nærøyfjord and the surrounding fjord landscape. We got a lot of new friends there, the sheep we met were lucky to live in such a beautiful environment.
Thanks to Vangsgaarden and Fjord Safari
Thanks to Vangsgaarden who welcomed us to stay with them during our stay, and also to Fjord Safari for letting us join them on the epic winter-cruise on the fjord. We are longing back, and hope to see you again soon.
Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord – What to See and Do
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 mountain to fjord, 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.
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.