Geiranger

  • Geiranger, Loen, Olden, Road-trips, Sandane, Scenic Drives, Stryn

    Drive it Yourself: Geiranger to Sandane via Stryn & Loen

    Drive it Yourself: Geiranger to Sandane via Stryn and Loen

    In June 2023 Sean and I set off for a weekend in the fjords. The goal was to film as much as possible while the weather was good. Originally I had wanted to do the Gamle Strynefjellvegen Tourist Road, but it was still closed because of snow. Oh well – it’s just an excuse to go back!

    This road was beautiful. I hadn’t been to this part of Western Norway for years, and was reminded of just how special it was. A highlight was the stretch from Loen to Utvik; easily the most beautiful fjord I’ve driven along.

    We chose Sandane to spend the night because of the historic hotel; it was a town I had never heard of but I had heard of the hotel. 

    In this article...

    Download this Guide

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

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

    Coming soon.

    View on Store

    Online Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the neighbourhood
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Information about facilities along the way

    Downloadable Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the region & towns
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Facilities including supermarkets, toilets, petrol, hotels, cafes, restaurants with addresses.

    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. 

    Visit Our YouTube Channel

    Geiranger to Sandane via Stryn & Loen

    Geiranger

    This drive begins in Geiranger, a popular village due to its incredible fjord. This is also the end of the Trollstigen Tourist Road, a very popular road in Western Norway. You can read all about Geiranger via our travel guide page. 

    Geiranger Travel Guide

    Flydalsjuvet

    Scenic Overlook

    As you leave Geiranger there is a lovely viewpoint over the village and the fjord called Flydalsjuvet. It’s not to be missed!

    Knuten

    Historic Site

    Knuten (the Knot) is a section of the old road. It’s still the same as it was when it opened in 1882. It is a loop road used to get up/down the steep mountain. The road curves 270 degrees, and was designed to reduce the road graient for passing horses and people.

    It’s important to note that it’s very hard to see Knuten if you’re going down into Geiranger. It’s best viewed if going up from Geiranger.

    Cars are not allowed to go up, but people and bikes can.

    Dalsnibba Viewpoint

    We are now at the famous Dalsnibba Viewpoint. It’s a lengthy detour, but if you can see the mountain peaks, it’s well worth doing.

    Dalsnibba is a viewpoint located at an altitude of 1,746m. From the top, you can see Geiranger, the Geirangerfjord, and the road we’ve taken to get here. The view is unlike anything else. The road is only 5km (3 mi) off the main road, but it takes a long time as the road is narrow, has many hairpin bends, and often has a lot of traffic.

    The road has a toll as it is a private road. You can see updated prices via the link in the description. At the top you’ll find a café, souvenir shop, and incredible views. It is often very, very cold and very windy. Bring extra layers! Snow is common all year round.

    Dalsnibba Viewpoint

    Innlandet County

    Skjåk Municipality

    Skjåk is a municipality in Innlandet. It’s part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdalen. The name comes from an old farm.

    After the last Ice Age, it’s believed reindeer followed the ice as it retreated north to Scandinavia. Skjåk is in the middle of the central migration route for the Scandinavian reindeer. There are ancient large hunting facilities and traces of settlements that show hunting and trapping was important here from the Ice Age until today. There are farm names that date back to the Iron Age. There is a hunting facility for moose from 220-570AD.

    The region is mentioned in the Viking Age and has a rich cultural heritage. St. Olav supposedly travelled through the valley when he was Christianising the villages. He christianised Lom, but Skjåk refused. As a result, the village was burned. St. Olav said: “It’s a pity to burn such a beautiful village”.

    There was a high population growth during the Middle Ages, and there were around 120 farms here just before the Black Death in 1349. After the plague, the population was more than halved. In the second half of the 17th century, the population recovered to the pre-plague numbers. Most of the farms in Skjåk were owned by the farmers. From 1730, the forest began to be exploited for the timber industry.

    You will then turn right, following signs towards Stryn. We did this trip in the low season so were not able to do the Gamle Strynefjellvegen Tourist Road, but if you are doing this drive from mid-June to early September, the road will be open. 

    Vestlandet County

    Stryn Municipality

    Stryn municipality is located around the innermost part of the Nordfjorden. Farming, forestry, fruit growing, animal breeding for fur and manufacturing is important to the region. Stryn is also known for its all-year glacier skiing at Stryn Sommerski.

    Strynefjellet

    Mountains

    Strynefjellet is a mountain range that separates Vestland and Innlandet counties. The mountain area is partly within the Breheimen National Park and the mountains are the main watershed between West and East Norway.

    Oppstrynsvatn

    Lake

    The Oppstrynsvatnet lake is the main outflow of the river Stryneelva, which flows west into the Nordfjorden. The village we are driving through is located by the lake. This is where you also find the Jostedalsbreen National Park Centre.

    Stryn

    The village of Stryn has a population of around 2,600 people. One of the fastest growing industries here is tourism because of the proximity to the national parks and popular areas like Geiranger. Stryn is the administrative centre for the region.

    Stryn Travel Guide

    Loen Skylift

    The Loen Skylift is an incredible cable car that rises 1000m (3300ft) above sea level. We covered it in a separate article, which you can see below. 

    Loen Skylift (coming soon)

    Loen

    Loen is a small village located on the inner part of the Nordfjord. Loen is home to the historic Hotel Alexandra, which opened in 1884. It is named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The hotel has undergone a lot of development since it opened, and it is currently in its fifth generation of the same family running it. Loen Church is from 1838 and is located higher up in the valley, but historical records indicate that a church has been here since the early 14th century.

    Loen Travel Guide

    Olden

    Olden is a small village with around 500 people. This is where the larger cruise ships dock that are heading to Loen or the Jostedalsbreen National Park. In 2019, 102 cruise ships came here. The Briksdalsbreen glacier is a popular hiking destination and is located about 25km (16 mi) from Olden.

    Olden Travel Guide

    Innvik

    Village

    Innvik is a small village with around 430 people living there. At its peak, however, there were over 3,000 people living here.

    Utvik

    Village

    Utvik is a small village with around 332 people living there. The village is located on the southern side of the Nordfjord. Utvik has been an important communications hub for hundreds of years. The Royal Trondheim Postal Route was established through here in 1795, and at Utvik the postal workers would take a boat to the northern side of the fjord.

    Utvik developed as an important place for trade. There was an inn, pier, post office, bakers, dyers, and blacksmiths living here. Trade has existed here since the mid-17th century. Additionally, there has been a church in Utvik since the 14th century, though the church the village has today is from 1840. The altarpiece and pulpit are from 1617, while the church bells are from the Middle Ages.

    Today Utvik has a large production of fruit and berries.

    Gloppen Municipality

    Gloppen is a municipality located just south of the Nordfjord with around 5,800 people living there. Part of the municipality is located around the Gloppefjorden. Gloppen is one of the largest agricultural municipalities in Western Norway and accounts for 10% of Norway’s milk production.

    The word ‘Gloppen’ comes from the old Norse Gloppi and means “narrow opening”. The area was an important place in the Viking Age, and a number of burial mounds have been found here. Some of the oldest burial mounds go back to the 4th century. Karnilshaugen is West Norway’s largest mound – 7 metres high and a diameter of 50 metres. It was probably built as an astronomical mark as the mound is the last point to receive sun during the winter solstice.

    Sandane

    Sandane is a small town with a population of 2,500. The centre is fairly modern, but people have lived here for hundreds of years. The village has a high school, football team, gold course and small airport. The main square of the town is Heradsplassen, which has a monument of a copy of a wooden object that was found dating to the 4th century. The original is in the Historical Museum in Bergen. This is the only wood carving of its type to be found in Norway; similar objects have been found in Iran and Afghanistan.

    Sandane is home to the Gloppen Hotel, one of Norway’s historic hotels. The hotel was established in 1866 and is today owned by the hotel chain Classic Norway. It was extended in 1921 and now has a Swiss-style appearance. The highlight of the hotel is the kitchen. Gloppen Mat is the hotels own production kitchen in the back garden, and the restaurant only serves locally sourced food.

    Sandane Travel Guide

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

    Previous Drive

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Before this drive, we completed the Trollstigen Tourist Road. 

    Trollstigen Tourist Road
  • Geiranger, Lom, National Highways, Road-trips

    Geiranger – Lom Scenic Drive

    Geiranger – Lom Scenic Drive

    The Geiranger-Lom road is one of the most visited ways to get to Geiranger. It follows the Highway 15 from Otta, which is on the E6 between Trondheim and Oslo. It may seem like just a standard highway to get from A-B, but there’s a lot to see and do!

    With incredible photo-stops, scenic overlooks and detours, be sure to spend some time between Geiranger and Lom.

    I have done this drive many times with tour groups. In September 2020 I got to do the drive with the husband as part of our roadtrip around southern Norway.

    In this article...

    Download this Guide

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

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

    View at the Store

    Online Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the neighbourhood
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Information about facilities along the way

    Downloadable Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the region & towns
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Facilities including supermarkets, toilets, petrol, hotels, cafes, restaurants with addresses.

    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. 

    Visit Our YouTube Channel

    The drive: Geiranger to Lom

    Geiranger

    This drive begins in beautiful Geiranger. I’ve got a lot to say about this place, so I’ve put it in a separate article which you’ll see below.

    Geiranger Travel Guide

    Knuten

    Historic Site

    Knuten (the Knot) is a section of the old road. It’s still the same as it was when it opened in 1882. It is a loop road used to get up/down the steep mountain. The road curves 270 degrees, and was designed to reduce the road graient for passing horses and people.

    It’s important to note that it’s very hard to see Knuten if you’re going down into Geiranger. It’s best viewed if going up from Geiranger.

    Cars are not allowed to go up, but people and bikes can.

    Blåfjellbrakka

    Historic Site

    Blåfjellbrakka is a small cabin from 1904. It was built for those who worked to maintain Geirangervegen. It is the only barracks in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The building was restored in 1989 and today it’s a holiday home for employees in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

    They have a small information board on a wooden shed. You can pull over and have a read.

    Dalsnibba

    Viewpoint

    We are now at the famous Dalsnibba Viewpoint. It’s a lengthy detour, but if you can see the mountain peaks, it’s well worth doing.

    At an altitude of 1,746m, you can see Geiranger, the Geirangerfjord, and the road we’ve taken to get here. The view is unlike anything else.

    The road is only 5km (3 mi) off the main road, but it takes a long time as the road is narrow, has many hairpin bends, and often has a lot of traffic.

    The road has a toll as it is a private road. You can see updated prices via the link in the description. At the top you’ll find a café, souvenir shop, and incredible views. It is often very, very cold and very windy. Bring extra layers! Snow is common all year round.

    I wrote a separate article as one of the very first articles for this blog! You can see it here. 

    Dalsnibba Viewpoint

    Innlandet County

    You cross over into Innlandet county. 

    Skjåk Municipality

    Skjåk is a municipality in Innlandet. It’s part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdalen. The name comes from an old farm.

    After the last Ice Age, it’s believed reindeer followed the ice as it retreated north to Scandinavia. Skjåk is in the middle of the central migration route for the Scandinavian reindeer. There are ancient large hunting facilities and traces of settlements that show hunting and trapping was important here from the Ice Age until today. There are farm names that date back to the Iron Age. There is a hunting facility for moose from 220-570AD.

    The region is mentioned in the Viking Age and has a rich cultural heritage. St. Olav supposedly travelled through the valley when he was Christianising the villages. He christianised Lom, but Skjåk refused. As a result, the village was burned. St. Olav said: “It’s a pity to burn such a beautiful village”.

    There was a high population growth during the Middle Ages, and there were around 120 farms here just before the Black Death in 1349. After the plague, the population was more than halved.

    In the second half of the 17th century, the population recovered to the pre-plague numbers. Most of the farms in Skjåk were owned by the farmers. From 1730, the forest began to be exploited for the timber industry.

    Geography

    An ancient route of travel between east and west went up from Skjåk through the Raudal valley and then onwards to Stryn. This area is a historically significant traffic artery between Stryn and Nordfjrod, Geiranger, Sunnmøre, Ottadal, Lom and Vågå.

    Skjåk is the westernmost part of the Gudbrandsdalen region. The community is at the meeting point between east and west. The valley is rain shadowed and therefore one of the most arid places in Europe with an annual precipitation of 250mm (10 inc) per year. It has a subarctic climate.

    Industry

    Due to the lack of rain, Agriculture has been enabled by elaborate irrigation systems for hundreds of years. The area is green and productive rather than being desert like. There are long traditions of pig breeding in the municipality. 19% of the population is involved in agriculture and timber.

    The main village in Skjåk is Bismo, which has the Otta River flowing through it.

    Fun fact: 78% of the municipality is part of a national park.

    Gamle Strynefjellsvegen

    Tourist Road/Detour

    Gamle Strynefjellsvegen is one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads. It’s the old road that came up here from Stryn.

    Unfortunately I have not done this road, so I can’t say too much about it. We were originally going to do it as a detour, but the weather was too bad. It takes about 45 minutes one way, so if you have the time I highly recommend it. To get back to this point quickly, you can take Highway 15 back.

    Click here to visit the website for the Gamle Strynefjellsvegen route.

    Lom Municipality

    You enter Lom municipality. 

    Lom

    Lom is a beautiful town and well worth a visit when in Norway. It is located between some of Norway’s most famous national parks and is home to Lom Stave Church, one of the most impressive stave churches left. 

    Lom Travel Guide

    Continue the drive

    Sognefjellet Tourist Road

    From Lom you can get to the Sognefjellet Tourist Road, one of the 18 National Tourist Roads in Norway. 

    Sognefjellet Tourist Road

    Previous Route

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Drive from Åndalsnes to Geiranger on one of the most famous tourist drives in Norway. 

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    This drive is part of the multi-day series “The Ultimate Norwegian Road-trip”, where we cover the best of Norway in an incredible 10 day drive. You can view the whole road-trip via the link below. 

    The Ultimate Norwegian Road-trip

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

  • Åndalsnes, Geiranger, National Tourist Roads, Road-trips

    Drive it Yourself: Åndalsnes to Geiranger via the Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Drive it Yourself: Åndalsnes to Geiranger via the Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Trollstigen is arguably the most famous of the 18 national tourist roads in Norway. Beginning just outside Åndalsnes in north-western Norway, the road twists and turns up the mountains, across the fjord, and then down to UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Geiranger. The views are incredible, the road is a little nerve-wrecking, but it’s well worth doing.

    You’ve probably seen something like the image above. Trollstigen has been featured countless times on television programs – especially those about cars – and every guidebook will include a picture of it. The road is slightly terrifying, difficult, and not for the inexperienced. However, get to the top and you will be rewarded!

    I got to do the Trollstigen National Tourist Road last September. The weather was miserable and we didn’t see anything, but that didn’t change my opinion of the road. I’m glad I didn’t do it in the middle of summer – the traffic looks like a nightmare. Here’s an overview of everything you can see and do on the road between Åndalsnes and Geiranger. 

    In this article...

    Download this Guide

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

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

    View at the Store

    Online Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the neighbourhood
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Information about facilities along the way

    Downloadable Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the region & towns
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Facilities including supermarkets, toilets, petrol, hotels, cafes, restaurants with addresses.

    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. 

    Visit Our YouTube Channel

    The Drive: Åndalsnes to Geiranger

    Åndalsnes

    This drive begins in Åndalsnes, which is a popular place to stay for those who love outdoor activities. You can learn more about Åndalsnes via the button below. 

    Åndalsnes Travel Guide

    Troll Wall (Trollveggen)

    Mountain Range

    If you continue past the turn for Trollstigen, you’ll be driving along Trollveggen.

    Trollveggen is the tallest vertical rock face in Europe, about 1100m (3600ft) from its base to the summit ridge of the highest point. The wall is popular with skiers and mountain climbers.

    The drive along the E134 provides excellent views of Trollveggen, though the best views are achieved by hiking. 

    If you want to see the whole of Trollveggen, drive to Dombås and back again. One way is 104km (90 minutes), so it is a day trip. Otherwise, you might be coming from Oslo and do the drive from Dombås into Åndalsnes anyway.

     

    Rauma River

    River

    The Rauma river is a 68km (42 mi) long river that runs through Romsdalen, the valley you drive through for Trollveggen. The river used to be famous for salmon fishing, but since an infection, only 5-10% of the stock survives.

    The Rauma River is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Norway. It has a natural green tint from melting ice. The mountains on either side are 1500m – 1800m (4900ft to 5900ft) high.

    Isterdalen

    Valley

    We are in the valley called Isterdalen. It is a distinct U-shaped valley with a steep end point: this is where Trollstigen is. The valley is cultivated for agricultural purposes.

    When driving through the valley, keep an eye out for the famous mountains “Queen”, “King” and “Bishop” on the west side of the valley.

    Trollstigen Resort

    Accommodation

    This quirky cabin rental and camping ground has some – unique? – troll statues you can stop to take photos of. They also have a shop with food and drinks, plus some restrooms.

    Besides the trolls, it’s worth stopping here to look at the maps of the surrounding area. 

    Trollstigen

    Historic Overview

    The road is very old. The market near Åndalsnes began in 1533, and the road was used as the main crossing over the mountain. A text in 1766 says that the mountain road was inspected annually and continuously.

    Around the turn of the 20th century, the road was widened to allow for riding: it was around 1.5m wide. Discussion began for modernising the road and allowing access for wider vehicles. The Armed Forces was interested in the construction of the road for the sake of mobilisation and exercises in connection with a nearby military camp. Additionally, the opening of the Rauma Line provided subsidies for the construction of the road. 

    In 1912, county engineer Hovednark said that the road would become “one of our most important tourist roads.” I’d say he is right!

    In 1916, upgrading of the road began. Throughout the building process, the road was criticised for being an expensive project, but the council began to work on it. The construction of the hairpin turns began in 1930. The turns were designed so they would not be too sharp. Work was done by hand with wheelbarrows, hammers and drills. Two men could do 3m of road a day. Eventually construction workers laid rails on the road so stones and gravel could be transported away.

    Trollstigen officially opened on 31 July 1936 by King Håkon VII. It is practically on the same route as the older path; though most of the older path is the Kløvstien walk. 

    Renovation Work

    Due to the location and weather, Trollstigen is continuously monitored. Due to rockfalls, a section at the bottom of Trollstigen was rebuilt in 2005. The road from Trollstigen to Geiranger was upgraded between 2005-2008 due to the large number of tourists crossing.

    Some of the turns have been widened to allow for buses to get up/down. 

    The Turns

    Each turn is named after the work team member who was responsible for that turn. From the bottom:
    – Otmar Østigård
    – Johan Voll (turns 2-4)
    – Kjelstad
    – Anton Fiva
    – Lars Daniel Tafjord
    – Martin Uri (8 and 10)
    – Arthur Langdal
    – Volda (now called Bispesvingen)

    The turns are named so if you get stuck you can tell the emergency authorities where exactly you are.

    Stats

    • 11 hairpin bends. Several have been widened, while others are their original width
    • There is a 1:12, or 10% gradient
    • The highest point is Alnesreset, where the info centre is, and it’s 850m high
    • The road is 4-6m wide – more at meeting places. When the road first opened, it was 3-4m wide

    Trollstigen Visitor Centre

    Centre

    At the top of Trollstigen is this incredible looking visitor centre. The complex is fairly new: it was built in 2012. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was designed by an architecture firm.

    Here you’ll find restrooms, food, drinks, and souvenirs. There are walking paths all around the centre, and two viewpoints where you can capture that famous view of Trollstigen.

    Since I went on a horribly day, I didn’t get a photo of the road. It’s okay, I can always go back!

    Fjord Municipality

    Shortly after leaving the visitor centre, we cross into Fjord Municipality (Kommune).

    Fjord is a small municipality in the traditional district of Sunnmøre.

    The name ‘Fjord’ is kind of strange. It is not an old or historic name: it was chosen in 2020 for reasons of search enging optimisation. If you google ‘Fjord’, they wanted their muncipality to be the first in the list and bring tourists to the region. They have been criticised by the Language Council of Norway because fjord is a very common place name in the country. Also, they were unhappy that the name was chosen for SEO; they said that names should be based on names with a historic tradition in the area, and that ‘invented names’ with no tradition such as Fjord are unfortunate.

    I tried it and the municipality was not at the top of my list on Google!

    Gudbrandsjuvet

    Scenic area

    After a short drive, you’ll pass brown tourist signs leading you to Gudbrandsjuvet. This is a short detour with some incredible views. 

    Gudbrandsjuvet is a 5m narrow and 25m high ravine. There is a stone bridge across the river: it’s from 1919 and replaced an even older bridge from 1785.

    According to a story from the 1500s, the ravine was named after a man called Gudbrand. He ran off with his new bride and saved himself from his angry pursuers by jumping over the ravine at its narrowest point. Gudbrand was declared an outlaw for his deeds, and lived the rest of his life in a stone hut in one of the side valleys above Gudbrandsjuvet. The valley is still called Gudbrandsdalen (not to be confused with the Gudbrandsdalen north of Oslo) to this day. The story doesn’t mention whether his bride followed him over the ravine.

    There’s a gorgeous visitor centre and platform here. Have a look at the pictures on the VisitÅlesund website (click here). 

    Fun fact
    The British film Ex Machina was partly filmed at the Juvet Landscape Hotel. The hotel is just behind the viewing platform. If you want to stay there, you have to stay for a minimum of 2 nights and pay 4500 NOK per night. 

    Valldal

    Valley

    Valldal is a valley and high tourist area. We’ve been passing caravan parks and cabins for the last 15 or so minutes, so that’s definitely their main industry.

    The valley runs for 30km from Storfjorden to Trollstigen. The valley is relatively flat with a gentle slope, providing great opportunities for agriculture. The valley rises from sea level (by the fjord) to 850m above sea level at Trollstigen.

    St. Olav & Valldal

    Even though the valley is assoicated with tourism today, it is very old. Valldal is mentioned in the Old Norse Sagas. In the Saga of St. Olav, it’s written that Olav fought with a sea serpent in the Storfjord (the fjord Valldal sits on). Olav wins the battle by throwing it in the rock wall of Syltefjellet. To this day, you can see an outline of the serpent on the side of the mountain Syltefjellet.

    Just above the centre of town is Olavsstøtta. This is a monument commemorating the place where Olav sat and watched his boats burn so the enemy could not use them. After that, he set out across Valldalen – the valley we’ve been driving through. As Olav made his way through the valley, he got help from the locals who lived here. As a way to say thanks, he promised that the grain here would never freeze. According to the locals, it has never frozen!

    There’s another place named after him – Olavskilda – which is a spring with water said to have a healing effect. Before the modern times, it was used to give to animals that were unhealthy.

    Tourism

    Valldal is located in the centre of two important tourist destinations in Norway: the Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen. Vallden is located on the tourist route between the two, and understandably it gets a lot of traffic.

    Valldal is surrounded by mountains that are 1500-1800m above sea level. As you can imagine, the surrounding nature attracts a lot of tourism. There are plenty of marked hiking trails in the area, and the Norwegian Tourist Association’s cabins can be found in the region.

    Valldøla, which flows through the river, is known for its salmon and trout fishing. Fishing licences can be bought at the tourist centre in Sylte. Hunting is also common here. Valldal has a large deer herd that every autumn provides food for landowners. Grouse hunting is also possible at the top of the valley.

    Agriculture

    This is the most important industry in Valldal. The valley is known for strawberries. Before the municipality was changed to ‘Fjord’ it was called Norddal and the coat-of-arms was three berries. Besides strawberries, there are also apples, pears, plums, apricots, cherries and walnuts growing in the valley.

    Sylte

    Sylte is the name of the settlement by the fjord, but it’s often also called Valldal town centre. Around 1000 people live here. Historically, Sylte was a common area used by the farmers of Valldal where they all had a boathouse and stalls where they could store horses while attending church as well as private belongings. The area has now been developed and has a petrol station, car repair shop, and grocery store.

    Sylte Church is from 1863. It’s believed there has been a church here for a long time. The site is mentioend in documents as far back as 1589. Some guesses believe that the first church was built in 1100 after church building became common.

    Linge to Eidsdal

    Ferry

    When we get to Linge, we take the ferry over to Eidsdal.

    It’s worth noting that the ferry pier in Linge is one of the attractions along the national tourist route. I don’t know if you’ll spend any time there: we just went straight to the ferry. Click here for info about the attraction. 

    To take the ferry, join the queue in the parking lot. The ferry comes every 30-45 minutes, so you don’t have to wait long. When you are signalled, drive onto the ferry and make sure you park as close as possible to the car in front of you. You then have to turn off your car and leave it.

    How to buy a ticket? Easy. They scan the e-toll tag inside your car. All rentals will have one. After you drop off the car, the rental company sends you a bill for all the tolls/ferries you took.

    When you see the ferry getting closer to the other side, go back to your car. Don’t turn it on until you’re docked. Leave the ferry when instructed. Easy!

    Most ferries serve hot and cold food and drinks and have restrooms.

    You can view the website for the ferry here. 

    Eidsdal

    Village

    Eidsdal is a tiny town. Around 400 people live here, and the major industry is agriculture. Tourism is fastly becoming a major industry, with many campsites, cabins, and guesthouses being built in recent years.

    If you find accommodation in Geiranger is sold out – which is common – or it’s too expensive, Eidsdal is a great affordable alternative. It’s a short drive from Geiranger but accommodation can be half the price for the same standards. 

    Herdalssetra

    Farm

    Herdalssetra is a preserved mountain summer farm and one of the largest alpine farm centres for goat farming. The farm has been in continuous operaton for 300 years. It has several hundred goats, plus some cows, sheep and fjord horses. There are over 30 historic buildings gathered in a cluster. During the summer, the farm is open to the public. You can visit these historic buildings and watch as brown and white goat cheese is produced using the traditional method. The farm also has courses you can take and a café where you can try what’s made here.

    If you see the Snøfrisk brand in supermarkets – that is what is produced here!

    The drive up the toll road is 10km and steep and narrow, so be careful! Honestly, this place is spectacular and I really recommend it.

    The farm is free to access and is open in the summer when the snow has melted. Check their website for info. The drive is about 30 minutes from Eidsdal.

    To get there, you can use GPS (it’s ‘Herdalssetra’ on Google Maps) or drive along the fjord to Norddal and then take the only road that goes up the valley. 

    Stranda Municipality

    The next municipality we drive through is Stranda. It’s a typical fjord municipality with one large town and three small villages: most of the municipality itself is either fjord or mountain.

    Due to the natural environment, Stranda Municipality is one of the most visited in the Nordic countries. Tourism has long traditions here, with the first cruise ship coming into Geiranger in 1869. Today, Geiranger is the second-largest cruise ship port in Norway after Bergen.

    Besides tourism, agriculture is an important industry with around 160 farms producing milk and meat products. Many factories have long traditions for producing meat products, especially salted and cured meat. One of the most famous companies here is Orkla, which produces frozen pizzas (among other things). Since 1979, over 500 million frozen pizzas have been produced at the factory.

    Norwegians are obsessed with frozen pizzas. The number one hit song in 2005 was all about the love of frozen pizza. Click here to hear it. 

    Ørnesvingen

    Scenic Road

    Ørnesvingen is a series of 11 hairpin bends that will take you down to sea level from 620m high. At the top of the bends is the Ørnesvingen viewpoint platform, where you get a spectacular view of the Geirangerfjord, the Seven Sisters, and Geiranger village.

    The road officially opened on 15 September 1955, giving Geiranger a year-round road connection. Yes, this is the only road open in and out of Geiranger all year round. The road got the name “Ørnesvingen” because the area traditionally had lots of eagles (Ørnes = Eagle).

    The climb is steep – 10% – and it can be difficult in summer but especially winter. Traffic can make it difficult as well, so just take your time.

    The viewing point is worth stopping at but it creates its own set of issues. The parking lot is small and during summer it’ll be crowded with buses. Then, you have to cross the road to get to the viewpoint. There are no lights or pedestrian crossings; you just have to make a run for it. If you are spending the night in Geiranger, I recommend coming back later in the day if it’s too crowded. The area also creates traffic jams.

    Geiranger

    You have now made it to Geiranger!

    You can learn about Geiranger through our travel guide. 

    Geiranger Travel Guide

    Continue the drive

    Geiranger - Lom Drive

    Drive up the mountains on this continuation of the tourist road. 

    Geiranger - Lom Drive

    Previous Route

    Atlantic Road

    The Atlantic Road is located close to Åndalsnes. 

    Atlantic Road

    This drive is part of the multi-day series “The Ultimate Norwegian Road-trip”, where we cover the best of Norway in an incredible 10 day drive. You can view the whole road-trip via the link below. 

    The Ultimate Norwegian Road-trip

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

  • Geiranger

    How to Experience Dalsnibba Viewpoint in Geiranger

    Geiranger is undeniably becoming one of the most popular places in Norway to see a fjord. The Geirangerfjord is UNESCO World Heritage-listed as it perfectly represents how a fjord is carved out from melting ice. In other words, the Geirangerfjord is the fjordiest of the fjords. And there is no better place to see the Geirangerfjord than from Dalsnibba Viewpoint.

    Termed ‘Europe’s highest fjord view from a road’, Dalsnibba viewpoint gives you an incredible view over the village of Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord. Located 1500m (4921 feet) above sea level, it’s a truly spectacular sight. It is somewhere I take private groups, and while I definitely think it’s worth making the trip to the top, there are some things you need to keep in mind. Geiranger Travel Guide

    Geiranger Travel Guide

    Table of Contents

    Dalsnibba Viewpoint History

    Regarded as one of the most ambitious road-building projects ever seen in Norway, it’s unsurprising that it took almost one hundred years before the road went from idea to reality. The plan to build a road was first mentioned in the mid-19th century, however back then Geiranger was a tiny farming village. It wasn’t until cruise ships started to arrive at the beginning of the 20th century, and a little later the addition of motorised vehicles, that the road was put into action.

    Construction for the road began in June 1937 and around fifty men were working on the road. It took two years to build and had an unofficial opening in 1939. It was unofficial due to the outbreak of the Second World War, in which Norway was occupied and tourism became non-existent.

    It wasn’t until 18 July 1948 that the road was officially opened, and it tied in with the visit of the first tourist ship to visit the Geirangerfjord since the end of the war.

    Since its opening, the road has become increasingly popular, and due to a steep rise in tourism, the road has been asphalted and widened to two lanes to allow for tourist buses to go up. 

    What You See

    The view is undeniably incredible. For me, I like how clearly it shows how the landscape has been carved out by glaciers. The uneven mountains and rocks in strange places highlight this, and the valley down into the fjord is steep. You also see the village of Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord.

    You can also see a glacier – it’s very small and not one of Norway’s famous ones, but it’s still great to see!

    Amenities

    The viewpoint has restrooms and a souvenir shop. The shop is pretty similar to the one’s down in the village, but it’s worth going in and saying hi to the staff!

    Visiting Dalsnibba Viewpoint

    There are two options for visiting Dalsnibba – doing it yourself, or joining a tour.

    Visiting with a car

    The drive from Geiranger to the viewpoint takes around thirty minutes, but note the road is very narrow and windy – be extra careful when making the trip. Follow highway 63 out of Geiranger (past the Union hotel) and then turn off to the viewpoint. You’ll see the toll station right away.

    Note – on Google Maps the viewpoint is called “Geiranger Skysslag AS”, which is the name of the transport company who own Dalsnibba.

    The fee to enter is 170 NOK per car. You can buy a ticket online in advance, and the toll booth takes card or cash.

    The short drive from the toll booth to the viewpoint consists of hairpin turns, and if you come across a tour bus it can be very tricky. Be careful and follow the bus drivers signals – if he tells you to drive past, drive past. If he tells you to wait, wait.

    Parking is ample at the top, and you park right in front of the viewpoint.

    You go back down the same way you came.

    Visiting without a car

    Several tour buses operate from Geiranger, and this may be a good option if you don’t want to risk your car, or perhaps you just want to sit back and admire the view.

    Nibbebus

    This bus operates purely to drive people between Geiranger and Dalsnibba, and it operates whenever there is a cruise ship in town. The total trip takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, and you spend 15 minutes at the viewpoint. They also stop at Flydalsjuvet, a photo stop closer to the village. The bus has recorded English commentary.

    Price: Adult 395 NOK / Child 200 NOK

    Public Buses

    The public buses in Geiranger also drive up to the viewpoint. The local bus operates three times a day and stops at Dalsnibba for 20 minutes.

    Price: Adult 318 NOK / Child 250 NOK

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is eMobility-0199.jpg
    Source: eMobility Geiranger (http://www.emobgeiranger.no/en/etour-glacier-view/)

    Doing it on your own

    If you don’t want to do it with groups, you can hire someone to take you up there:

    • Take a limousine: Geiranger Fjordservice offers private cars to drive you to the top. They have two different paths to Dalsnibba – either Trollstigen or the old Stryn road. Prices start at 5,300 NOK (Link)
    • Take a Tesla: Geiranger Fjordservice also offers a sightseeing tour in a Tesla. Prices start at 3,600 NOK (Link)
    • Take a taxi: Geiranger Taxi also offers the trip to the top. Like Geiranger Fjordservice, it offers different tours. Prices aren’t listed on the website, but their tours look great. (Link)
    • Take an electric car: It is possible to rent a tiny electric car and drive yourself (or hire a driver) to go to the top. These look like fun! You’ll see them all around Geiranger. Prices start at 1850 NOK (Link)
    • Take an electric bike: If you are wanting a little more, it is also possible to rent an electric bike. Prices start at 230 NOK (Link)

    Walking: It is possible to park at the lower car park and walk up. In the last few years, the old walking path has been restored by Nepalese Sherpa, and it’s possible now to walk up. The walk is 400m but note – it is steep! You would still need some form of transport to get there; walking from Geiranger is very long and difficult.

    Cruise Ships

    Geiranger is a major cruise port, and it’s not uncommon to see a cruise ship in the harbour. If you are travelling on a cruise ship, they likely offer their own excursions to Dalsnibba, though you can save money by doing it yourself.

    If you are not travelling with a cruise ship, consider waiting until the evening to go up Dalsnibba; cruise buses can overpower the viewpoint and almost ruin the experience.

    You can find the cruise ship schedule here: http://www.stranda-hamnevesen.no/cruise-calls

    The weather

    And now for the most popular talking point in Norway – the weather!

    Dalsnibba is located 1500m above sea level, and the west coast of Norway is known for being rainy. That means it’s very common to not see something from the top. Or maybe Geiranger will be covered in clouds, but you’ll have shining sun at the top. In any case, it’s very likely that you won’t see anything.

    Additionally, it’s very common for Dalsnibba to have snow all year round. Even if it’s not snowing, the weather can be considerably colder than in Geiranger, and it will also likely be windy. Bring a warm coat if heading up there.

    Check the weather on yr.no: https://www.yr.no/place/Norway/M%C3%B8re_og_Romsdal/Stranda/Dalsnibba/

    In my experience, I’ve found that I don’t get much of a view about 50% of the time I go.

    Dalsnibba’s website has a webcam: https://www.dalsnibba.no/en/picture-gallery/

    Geiranger Travel Guide