Coastal Ferry Day 2
Ålesund - Geiranger - Hjørundfjord
Welcome to day two of Norway’s coastal ferry! This day depends on what time of the year you are sailing. If you are sailing in winter and spring, you have all day to explore Ålesund. Those travelling in summer get to experience the Geirangerfjord, while those travelling in autumn can visit Urke in the Hjørundfjord. No matter when you take the ferry, this is a spectacular day for the fjords and coastline of Western Norway.
On this day of sailing...
2:45am - 3am
Florø
2nd port - 61.5 degrees north
About Florø
Florø is mentioned in written sources from 1,300 AD but has been known since the Viking Age. In fact, it is believed that many of the Viking voyages outside of Norway began close to Fløro.
Florø got its town charter in 1860 with the goal of becoming a new trading centre roughly halfway between Bergen and Ålesund. A common saying is ‘herring was the foundation of Florø’ because of the historic dependence on herring. The world’s largest herring catches took place here between 1945 and 1957, but now numbers have dwindled.
Florø is now known as a fish farming capital with several of the largest operators concentrating their business here. Oil related activities take place here too.
Florø is the westernmost town on the Norwegian mainland.
5:15am - 5:30am
Måløy
3rd port - 61.9 degrees north - population 3,200
About Måløy
Måløy was founded as a small trading settlement due to its close proximity to the fishing. The town charter is from 1997. The town is still dependent on the fishing industry today, with lots of factories located here to prepare the fish for export.
During World War II, it was used as a German coastal fortress, which led to the eradication of all settlement on the island to make room for the fortress, and as a result of Operation Archery in December 1941.
After leaving Måløy we sail through a strait called Ulvesundet, which is important in Norwegian history. It has provided shelter for mariners sailing north who didn’t want to sail in open stretches of sea. Approximately 30 minutes after leaving Måløy we pass the island of Selja, which is an important historic religious island on the west coast. Those with a good eye (or some binoculars) will see the ruins of the Selje Monastery, the oldest church on the west coast.
8:20am - 8:30am
Torvik
4th port - 62.2 degrees north - population 1,440
About Torvik
Torvik is a small settlement located on the island of Herøy. We stop here at the major freight terminal, Herøyterminalen, which distributes all cargo to and from industries in the municipality. A fishing gear factory is located here.
This is a very short stop.
9:45am - 10am or 8pm
Ålesund
5th port - 62.2 degrees north - population 53,000
About Ålesund
Ålesund is spread out across a series of islands and was built up as a centre for trade once the monopoly on Bergen ended. Ålesund is known as a place during the Viking Age, but the main settlement was a place called Borgund, which was a market town. The Viking credited with founding Normandy is believed to be from near Borgund.
Ålesund suffered a devastating fire in 1904. 800 buildings were destroyed, and during the rebuilding process young Norwegian architects were hired. They were inspired by the art nouveau style, so today Ålesund has a very uniform style and is considered one of the most beautiful places in Norway.
Ålesund is one of the most important fishing ports in Norway. People from Ålesund have influenced fishing industries all over the world, and they were instrumental in establishing the factory ship fleet in Seattle and fish farming in the USA and Canada.
Explore Ålesund Independently
If you are travelling here in winter, you will spend the full day in Ålesund. There are so many wonderful excursions on offer, but if you wish to explore independently you can follow our self-guided walk for Ålesund or hike up Mt. Aksla
What You See from the Ship
The approach to Ålesund is beautiful, and we recommend being outside 30 minutes before arriving into port. From the ship, you’ll be able to see Mt. Askla as well as some of the old warehouses along the waterfront.
Excursions
In summer (June – August) the ship will sail into Geiranger. In autumn (September-October), the ship sails into the Hjørundfjord. Our guide includes both sailings, starting with Geiranger.
The Geirangerfjord
+3 hours after Ålesund: Åknes Mountain
The steep mountainside of Åknes is known as a dangerous avalanche area. The mountains have a large cleft that is expanding at approximately 10cm every year. The mountain is continuously monitor by geologists to determine if the mountain will collapse. The potential collapse of the mountain inspired Norway’s first disaster movie – The Wave. Up on the mountainside you’ll see some abandoned mountain farms.
Shortly after Åknes is the village of Hellesylt. There are finds here from the Stone Age, indicating that people have lived here for thousands of years. Henrik Ibsen, Norway’s famous author, stayed here for a short period in 1862 and this stay gave him inspiration to write the play ‘Brand’.
+3 hours 30 minutes after Ålesund: Beginning of the Geirangerfjord
Geiranger is one of the most popular tourist spots in Norway. The fjord is known for its incredible scenery; it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the most beautiful fjord landscapes in the world.
Shortly after entering the Geirangerfjord, on the starboard side, you’ll see the mountain farm Blomberg. There is a hairpin turn road up to the farm with 28 turns. Blomberg farm was first mentioned in documents in 1650.
+3 hours 38 minutes after Ålesund: The Bridal Veil
The waterfall ‘Bridal Veil’ is on the port side. This waterfall is 300m high and its strength comes from the rain and melting snow. It is possible for the waterfall to dry up completely.
+3 hours 44 minutes after Ålesund: The Seven Sisters
On the port side is the famous waterfall called the Seven Sisters. Sometimes its hard to see them because they are dependen on rainfall and snow. On the starboard side is the waterfall known as ‘The Suitor’. Legend has it that the Suitor proposed to the Seven Sisters on the other side of the fjord, but being stubborn, they never gave him an answer. Frustrated by this, the Suitor found solace in the bottle, which can be seen in the middle of the waterfall, where the water is divided.
The mountain farm Knivsflå is just to the northeast of the Seven Sisters. The farm was first mentioned in 1603 and was abandoned in 1899. The farm was very fertile, which is why people settled there in the first place. However, the farm was exposed to rockslides and therefore the owners had to leave. When the farm was abandoned, 13 children were living here.
Soon after passing ‘The Suitor’ waterfall is the mountain farm Skageflå. In some places the path is so steep that people had to use ladders to reach the farm. Old stories go that when the tax collector would come the farmer would pull the ladders up to avoid paying tax. Children and animals were tethered to the farm to prevent falling down. The farm was abandoned in 1916.
Just before arriving in Geiranger: Ørneveien
Just before the ship anchors in Geiranger, on the port side you’ll be able to see the hairpin road called Ørnevingen. This is the main way in and out of Geiranger by road.
2:25pm - 2:45pm
Geiranger
Population 250
About Geiranger
Geiranger has been an isolated community for hundreds of years as it was either accessible by mountain road or by rowboat. Boat connections started in 1858 and the road was completed at the end of the 19th century. Geiranger quickly grew into a tourist town, with hotels being built and cruise ships calling here.
What You See From the Ship
You can’t leave the ship in Geiranger unless you are doing an excursion, so Geiranger can only be seen from the ship. Geiranger church was built in 1842 and seats 200 people. The first church was possibly built here in 1450.
You can see several mountains here; the tallest is Grindalsnibba at 1636m high.
Excursions
Hurtigruten
Havila
The ship now returns to Ålesund.
7pm - 8pm
Ålesund
5th port - 62.2 degrees north - population 53,000
The ship docks in Ålesund for one hour before resuming its normal schedule to Molde.
+6 minutes after Ålesund: Giske
On the port left side are two islands: Giske and Valderøya. Gisk is the westernmost island of the two and is a historically important island. It was home to the Giske and Arnunge families, which were at one time Norway’s most powerful noble families. One of the oldest manors in Norway is located on Giske. One of the known men from the Arnunge family is Kalv Arneson, who was one of the chieftains that fought Olav Haraldsson (St. Olav) at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030.
Giske Church stands on the island and is from the 12th century. It was originally built as a private chapel for the Giske family. Burial mounds have been found in the southeastern part of the island. Excavations revealed that they are from differing eras: one dates to the Bronze Age, while another one is from approx. 200 AD.
+20 minutes after Ålesund: Vigra
The island Vigra is now on the port side. This is where Ålesund’s airport is, but Vigra was also a Viking settlement. Blindheim farm on the island is mentioned in the Norse sagas and there are several burial mounds here. Historians believe that the father of Gange-Rolv, Ragnvald Mørejarl, lived on the island. Gange-Rolv was forced to flee Norway and eventually settled in the north of France, founding the Duchy of Normandy in 911. Gange-Rolv is the ancestor of William the Conqueror.
Approx 30 minutes before Molde: Romsdal Mountains
If you are travelling in the summer months when the sun remains high in the sky, be outside for the approach into Molde.
The ship sails into the Moldefjord, and on the starboard side are the Romsdal mountains. This is one of the most scenic views of the mountains.
10:35pm - 11:05pm
Molde
6th port - 62.4 degrees north - population 32,000
About Molde
Molde is a charming town surrounded by incredible mountains. Molde was founded on fishing, as were many other ports, and salting plants and herring ports were the reasons Molde was officially given town status in 1612.
Tourists began coming here at the end of the 19th century, and Molde developed into one of the ports they would visit. Molde had beautiful wooden houses and gardens, so it naturally became a tourist town. Because of its large gardens, Molde became known as the ‘City of Roses’.
Much of Molde was destroyed at the start of World War II. King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav, along with the government, hid in Molde. The German forces subjected the town to massive bombing, and a week later the King, Prince and government fed to London. Molde was left in ruins and later rebuilt in a postwar style.
Molde is famous for its annual jazz festival, Molde Jazz, as well as its football team.
The coat-of-arms shows a whale chasing a herring into a barrel, which is based on an old myth that whales chased fish into the fjords. It also portrays the city’s founding industries of herring fisheries and timber exports. Molde was never a whaling port, however the sight of whales was commonly believed to be the start of the spring herring fisheries.
What You See from the Ship
You will clearly see a large building that looks like a sailboat (at least that is the goal). “Seilet” (the Sail) is a hotel that was built in 2002. Close by is Aker Stadium; Molde’s football team is one of the best in Norway.
Molde Cathedral is from 1957. Three other churches have stood on the same tide, with the first one being from 1661. The third one was destroyed during the German bombardment in 1940.