How to Explore the Fjords in Norway
The fjords of western Norway are recognized as one of the most beautiful and unspoiled travel destinations on earth. They have consistently come out on top of National Geographic Traveler's survey of sustainable tourism destinations. Norway's western coast and its fjords can be visited all year round but the weather must be considered during your planning. The fjords can be explored by road, rail or sea, but a combination of all three will allow you to see the most.
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Instructions
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Choose the time of year that you want to visit the Norwegian fjords. May to September is Norway's summer season, when the the days are long and weather is most likely to be warm and sunny. June, July and August are peak season and prices are at their highest. December to April is Norway's winter and temperatures are very low, sometimes disrupting transport links.
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Fly into Oslo, the Norwegian capital. Travel from Oslo to Bergen, a city on the west coast, by train or by ferry. From Bergen, known as the gateway to the Fjords, you can explore the fjords by a combination of ferry and car, or opt for an organized tour with a local tour operator. Norway's longest and deepest fjord, the Sognefjord, can be visited from Bergen as a day trip.
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Strike out from Bergen on the Hurtigruten ferry. This famous ferry makes 34 stops along the Norwegian coast, going all the way to Kirkenes on the Russian border and back. Take the seven day, one way trip north to Kirkenes, which travels all through Norway's spectacular fjord country. Port stops last from thirty minutes to several hours and day trips from the ferry can be arranged during the summer. Cabins must be booked well in advance, especially during high season. From Kirkenes, fly back to Alesund with Scandinavian. Timetables and booking facilities can be found on their website.
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Drive from Alesund back south to Bergen through the heart of Norway's fjord country. Frommer's recommends a week-long driving tour leaving from Alesund that includes recommended excursions and places to stay. On all routes you will have to use car ferries to cross the fjords. These run every half an hour throughout the day.
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Consider an organized tour of the Fjords if you do not want to drive yourself around. Norway is a large country and a tour is the best way to see a good range of its fjords in a limited time. Fjord Travel offers a 10-day fjord tour from Oslo that includes rail, coach and boat travel and visits to several towns and fjords. There are a range of other travel companies offering similar packages from Oslo and Bergen. Your tour should include the Geirangerfjord (on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list), the Art Nouveau town of Alesund, a trip to the Sognefjord and time in Bergen, Sweden's second-largest city.
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Tips & Warnings
Take warm clothing, even if you visit Norway's fjords during the summer.
Make a budget because Norway is an expensive country. A 2009 Mercer study found Oslo to be the 14th most expensive city in the world to live in 2009.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Geiranger Fjord image by Roman from Fotolia.com norway landscape image by Andrei Merkulov from Fotolia.com From Festningsplassen in Oslo image by Einar Bog from Fotolia.com Fossen Norway image by ABFellows from Fotolia.com Nature in Norway image by Han van Vonno from Fotolia.com Preikestolen fjord image by Gretchen from Fotolia.com
