The Geirangerfjord in the Fylke Møre and Romsdal is one of the most famous fjords Norway. He's with that Nærøyfjord part of UNESCO World Heritage.
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places
Geiranger - the small place at the end of the Geirangerfjord is the only place (apart from alpine pastures) on the whole fjord. It is located 100 km from the actual coast, deep inland - and yet the cruise ships can sail right up to the shore. From Geiranger itself there are numerous serpentines dizzyingly high up when you want to leave the place via the road.
background
The Geirangerfjord is one of the most inland fjords in Western Norway. It is a branch of the Sunnylvsfjord, which in turn is a branch of the Storfjord. At 15 km it is not particularly long, but at 0.6 to 1.3 km wide, it is not the narrowest of all fjords. That it is still the destination of hundreds of cruise ships year after year and even the mail ships that Hurtigruten, change your route in summer and make a detour to Geiranger, is due to the remoteness, the unique geology and the spectacular waterfalls that tumble down from the steep, up to 1000 m high cliffs.
getting there
If you don't want to visit the Geirangerfjord with your own vehicle or as part of a cruise, you have to plan your journey carefully. The Geirangerfjord is only accessible from two places, from Geiranger at its end and from Hellesylt at the end of the Sunnylvsfjord. Both places are however Not connected to the rail network and also have no airport.
- The closest Airports are located in about 110 km to the north Molde and in about 90 km to the west Hovden.
- In the street there are different ways to get there:
- The approach is sure to be spectacular Åndalsnes. On the 90 km to Geiranger you first drive up the famous Trollstigen on the Rv 63, take a ferry across the Storfjord and then have to tackle a serpentine route down to Geiranger - unique landscapes on the entire route included.
- From the Jotunheimen or that Dovrefjell Coming you drive about 95 km on the Rv 60 Lom to Geiranger. Here on the plateau, even in summer, it is not uncommon to drive past snow at the edge of the road and, if the visibility is good, you can go to the south of the road Lom See both Glittertind and Galdhøpiggen, the two highest mountains in Norway.
- From the south you can get to Geiranger on the E39 and Rv15
- If you want to travel to the Geirangerfjord from the coast, choose your destination Hellesylt at the end of the Sunnylvsfjord, from where you can take the car ferry to Geiranger. This ferry is also a recommended way of onward travel for anyone who has traveled to the Geirangerfjord via Geiranger.
- By boat you have the only chance to experience the Geiranger in all its beauty and to see the many waterfalls as you drive by. If you don't want to be among the cruisers, you can book a short tour with the Hurtigruten or take the car ferry from Geiranger to Hellesylt or vice versa.
- Geiranger - Hellesylt ferry. Tel.: 47 57 75 72 00. Open: travel time 90 minutes, June - Aug. 8 departures per day in each direction, first departure at 8 a.m., last at 6.30 p.m. Out of season 4 departures per day in each direction, first departure Geiranger 8.00 a.m., Hellesylt 9.30 a.m., last departure Geiranger 5.00 p.m., Hellesylt 6.30 p.m.Price: Car driver NOK 310, adult NOK 155.
- Hurtigruten. Tel.: 49 40 874 083 58 (Booking contact in Germany). Only the northbound Hurtigruten ships call at Geiranger, usually only in the summer months. Geiranger is always called at noon on the 2nd day at 1.30 p.m., between the ports Ålesund and Molde. Disembarkation takes place with small boats, so the ships do not dock themselves. More information: Hurtigruten.
mobility
Mobility on the fjord requires your own boat or mountain equipment and a thirst for adventure, apart from the options described under Getting here. Geiranger is the only inhabited place on the fjord; the numerous alpine pastures, some of which are at a spectacular height on the slopes of the fjord, are uninhabited today. They were and can only be reached on very steep paths, sometimes even via ladders from the fjord bank.
Tourist Attractions
water falls
The numerous waterfalls from the slopes are the special attractions of the Geirangerfjord. Some of them are considered to be the most beautiful waterfalls in Norway. The rainwater and condensation water tumble down from the fells on top of the up to 1000 m high rock walls. The prerequisite for this natural spectacle, however, is that the previous winter brought enough snow with it. In the rare cases where this was not the case, and towards the end of summer, it can happen that the normally wide and high falls are stunted to small rivulets.
- De Syv Søstre - the Seven Sisters on the north bank of the fjord and the Suitor shortly afterwards on the opposite page are the best-known cases and also offer a matching story: The suitor is said to have wooed the seven sisters one after the other, all of whom refused, whereupon he drowned his grief in alcohol, which was expressed in the bottle shape of the waterfall should be found. The Seven Sisters have a fall height of up to 250 m.Depending on the snowfall and rainfall, not all of them are always visible, the best time to visit the completely filled falls is May to July.
Alpine pastures
You can still see the buildings of numerous old farms on the unusually steep slopes of the Geirangerfjord. Today they are deserted, but they still bear witness to the unbelievably arduous, but at the same time good, conditions under which the people of the fjord have lived for many centuries. Difficult to reach and in an often life-threatening environment (snow and scree slopes, crevices in the ground and steep slopes), good harvests could still be achieved due to the given agricultural conditions (small pieces with good soil and up to 24 hours of sunlight in summer). sufficient supplies for the herds are generated in winter and in some cases peaches are even grown.
- Skageflå. The farm, which was given up in 1917, is still used for demonstration purposes and is accessible as part of a hike. Since 2006, Skageflå has had the plaque that has recognized the Geirangerfjord as a World Heritage Site.
Paths and viewpoints
- 1 Ørnevegen. The Adlerstraße is part of the Rv 63 towards Eidsdal. Above the 11 switchbacks at around 500, a platform offers an excellent view of the fjord.Price: freely accessible.
- 2 Flydalsjuvet. Viewpoint for "postcard motifs" from the Geirangerfjord. Located at around 250 m above sea level on road 63 from Lom / Oslo, a little south of Geiranger. according to the Openstreetmap toilet at the parking lot.Price: freely accessible.
- 3 Gieranger Skywalk (Dalsnibba lookout point). The vantage point is reached via the so-called Nibbevegen (road 63, road connection coming from Lom / Oslo). The view is about 18 kilometers by road southeast of Geiranger. A small toll road branches off from Landstrasse 63 at an altitude of 980 m. It leads to an altitude of about 1450 m. At the top there is a turning loop as a parking lot as well as an overhanging viewing platform ("Skywalk"). There is a wide view of the valley of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. A souvenir shop with toilet completes the offer (open Mon-Sun 9 am-5:30pm, as of 03-2019).Open: The toll road is usually open between May and October, see website for current opening times.Price: car 120 kr; Bus 1050 kr; Motorbike 100 kr (as of 2016 according to Openstreetmap).
