Drive it Yourself: Aurlandsfjellet Tourist Road

The Aurlandsfjellet Tourist Road is a short but incredibly diverse mountain road between the villages of Lærdal and Aurland near Flåm in Western Norway.

The road is 45km in total length, and it has earned the nickname ‘Snow Road’ because snow typically remains on the mountains all year round. 

With most of the tourist roads in Norway, you really can do them in either direction. For Aurlandsfjellet, however, I strongly recommend you start at Lærdal and head to Aurland. The reveal of the mountains and fjords is much more dramatic. 

Aurlandsfjellet was completed in 1967, and it used to be the main road between the two towns. Since 2000, however, the main highway E16 has gone through the new Lærdal Tunnel instead. The Lærdal Tunnel is 24.5km long, making it one of the longest tunnels in the world. You can take the tunnel, I mean it is quicker, but the Aurlandsfjellet Tourist Road is much more fun!

Here’s my guide on where to stop for photos and what to do on the Aurlandsfjellet Tourist Road. 

In this article...

Download this Guide

All of our guides can be downloaded via my online store. 

I offer downloadable versions of our self-guided drives on my online store. 

Online Guide

Downloadable Guide

Watch on Youtube

All of our roadtrips are available on YouTube to watch. They include information about the area provided in text and voiceover form, plus they show the drive in full (sped up in some spots!) so you can get an idea what the drive is like. 

Aurlandsfjellet Tourist Road

Lærdal

This drive begins in Lærdal, a historic trading town. Originally, the main market town used to be across the fjord in Kaupanger (see my article on Kaupanger Stave Church). However, some time in the 15th or 16th century, it moved acoss to Lærdal.

Lærdal is on the historic postal route between Bergen and Oslo. When coming from Oslo, Lærdal was the place where the postal workers would leave their horses and embark on boats. They would dock at Gudvangen, take horses to Bolstadoyri, and then take boats to Bergen.

In Lærdal you have to stop at the historic district. These are a collection of preserved wooden houses from the 17th to 19th centuries. The main street is Øyragata, and you can see different architectural styles from traditional building customs to Swiss and Art Nouveau, and then Classicism and Functionalism. There’s a telecommunications and postal museum in the town today.

Another attraction is the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre, which was opened by King Harald in 1996. It has a salmon ladder, salmon observatory, rapids with live fish, exhibitions, cafes and restaurant. 

Vedhaugane

Scenic Stop

This is a scenic overlook of the mountains. From here, you can see the Jotunheimen massif – on a clear day! A walkway and an ‘infinity’ bench curve away from the road.

Flotane

Scenic Stop

This is where you feel like you are on top of the world! There’s a rest area with benches and restrooms – they are only open in the summer.

Stegastein Viewpoint

Scenic Stop

This is where you feel like you are on top of the world! There’s a rest area with benches and restrooms – they are only open in the summer.

Aurland

We’ve made it to Aurland! That was easy. There’s a lot to see and do in Aurland, so don’t simply pass through it on your way to Flåm. In fact, Aurland is the more peaceful version of Flåm. 

The Previous Drive

Sognefjellet Tourist Road

Drive through the dramatic Sognefjellet Tourist Road to reach the Sognefjord. 

If you liked this drive, or if you have any travel tips, please leave a comment in the section below!

Welcome to the Hidden North

The Hidden North is an online travel guide written by me, Emma, to help you make the best of your trip to Northern Europe. Welcome!

Originally from Australia, I moved to Bergen in Norway eight years ago after marrying a local ‘Bergenser’. I started doing local tours of Bergen before becoming a tour leader in Northern Europe. After doing that for a few years, I have settled down in Bergen to operate my tour company I Love Bergen and write my travel site The Hidden North

Follow me on social media!

I wrote a book!

My first book – the West Norway Road-trip Guide – is now available for order! This book is the perfect guide for planning a trip to Western Norway and includes dozens of roads + detailed information on what to see and do. It is a mix between travel guide and directoy. 

Need help planning a trip?

I can help you plan your trip to Northern Europe. Book me for a consultation or let me put together the whole itinerary!

Recent Posts on the Website