A Great Trip Over Land From Hellesylt To Geiranger Fjord
For a very different perspective, we booked a trip over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord. During our cruise along the Norway fjords we had so many amazing views from the water level. We had a great day as we travelled into the mountains on the railway in Flam. On this day trip we explored the heights of the mountains that surrounded the fjords.
The ship docked in Hellesylt and we departed for an 8 hour bus trip overland to Geiranger. We saw so many iconic sights as we drove along. Glacier rivers and lakes shone with emerald hues. Green valleys were filled with small farms.
We climbed up the mountain for an amazing view from the Dalsnibba Viewpoint out over the Geiranger Fjord. Coming down the mountain switchbacks we made a second stop at the lower Flvdalsjuvet Viewpoint. Far below us we saw the Oceania Cruises Marina in the harbour as it awaited our return.
Travel Through The Countryside
We arrived in the small town of Hellesylt and were charmed. The town settled around a small waterfall with the church on a hill. We left the ship and boarded our bus for a full day tour. The ship continued on to Geiranger and we re-boarded the ship there. There was one small stop for a closer look at the Hellesylt Waterfall before we were on our way.
We drove through typical Norway countryside. There was so much to see on every side of the bus. We passed mountains, rivers, waterfalls and lakes. Small towns were nestled close to water. And we even saw houses with grass on the roofs. We saw these fascinating houses again when we later visited the Faroe Islands.
In the fields we saw hay bales all wrapped in plastic. Our tour guide called these “troll toilet paper”. We got our first exposure to the trolls of Norway when we visited the Akfrafjorden Fjord on our stop in Haugesund. And we saw more trolls on this day trip too.
On a trip over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord we saw so much along the way.
Stops On Our Travels Along The Norway Fjords
On our first short stop we saw the old stone bridge of Honndøla built 1810. In the background we had a great view of the Hornindalsrokken Mountain which reached about 1500 metres high. From this point, it was a short drive to the trail head to climb this mountain.
The next scenic stop was at Lake Hornindalsvatn. This was the deepest lake in Europe at 1670 ft. We walked along the shore and enjoyed the view. Although we did not see any of the abundant trout found in this lake.
At the next stop, we got a short break and explored the village of Stryn. After we had coffee and a treat in the local shop, we wandered down to the River Styrn. The beautiful emerald colour was created from melted ice from the Jostedalen Glacier. This river was apparently one of the best salmon rivers in Norway.
As we continued, we saw a series of beautifully clear glacier lakes. There was a short stop and we caught some amazing reflections along the still waters.
There was a longer stop for lunch at the Grotli Hotel. We had a lovely traditional lunch in the charming hotel. After lunch, we wandered inside and admired the decor. And looked at the history display of the area. Then the views drew us outside.
There were so many great places to stop on a trip over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord.
Climb To The Geiranger Skywalk On Mount Dalsnibba
We drove back along the shores of Lake Djupvatn at 1,030m above sea level. High above the lake we saw mountains and glaciers in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We then started the long drive up Mount Dalsnibba on the steep hairpin road. When we looked down, we got another view of Lake Djupvatn and down the valley. We were amazed when we saw bicyclists climbing with the bus.
We reached the summit at 1500m above sea level. There we found yet more of the fun Norway trolls we first saw on our day trip from Haugesund. The Geiranger Skywalk provided a large viewpoint platform. And when we looked straight down we saw the harbour at Geiranger where our cruise ship waited for our return.
We wandered around the top level and looked at the views in all directions. We saw the twisty road below us. On the rocks we found fanciful rock statues that reminded us of the Canadian Inuit Inuksuk.
The stop at the viewpoint at Mount Dalsnibba was a highlight of our travels over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord.
Down From The Mountains To The Flvdalsjuvet Viewpoint
Our final drive could only go down from here! We began the return drive along another set of hairpin roads. The views down the steep slopes fascinated us.
The final stop for this day trip was at the viewpoint at Flvdalsjuvet. We went to the edge and looked down at a much closer view of the Geiranger harbour. When we looked up with the zoom lens, we just saw the edge of the platform at Mount Dalsnibba high above. We would have loved to stop and picnic in this spot.
The hills flattened out below this point and we got a great valley view. The bus navigated this gentler slope into Geiranger. But we were still amazed the bus managed some of the tight turns along the way.
It was a very long day tour so the bus went right back to the pier. There was no time to wander in town. We crossed a fascinating movable pier and got back on the ship.
It was such an amazing day exploring over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord.
Cruising Out The Geiranger Fjord
When the ship pulled out, we stood on deck and got our last look at the charming town of Geiranger. But our views for the day were not done.
All the way out along the Geiranger Fjord there was so much to see on both sides of the ship. Small towns nestled at the bottom to switchback roads. We saw our first Norway waterfall when we took a boat trip on the Akrajorden Fjord from Haugesund. On our visit to Flam, we saw the thundering Kjosfossen Waterfall. And then on our transit out, everywhere we looked we saw waterfalls that tumbled from the steep rock faces.
The ship passed the Seven Sisters Waterfall close to a bend in the fjord. So it meant the ship was quite close to the side of the fjord when we passed. It was easy to see the water as it fell down the rocks. Passengers and crew were all on deck as we caught this last show.
We were so glad we did a daylight transit out of the Geiranger Fjord. It was the perfect way to finish our day as we travelled from Hellesylt to Geiranger.
Stunning Views On Land From Hellesylt To Geiranger Fjord
We loved all the views we got as we cruised through the Nordic countries. But we were so glad we planned a day trip and travelled over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord. Along the trip we got such beautiful sights in the countryside. And the two high viewpoint stops gave us stunning vistas down to the Geiranger Fjord that stayed in our memories.
We originally booked a small boat excursion on the Geiranger Fjord. That would have been a lot of fun. But we were so glad we changed to the longer inland trip. It was one of our favourite day trips on this cruise along the Norway Fjords.
The ship headed for the next port in Alesund. It was the first but not the last of the charming northern towns in the Norway Fjords.
Have you travelled travelled over land from Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord? Weren’t the views some of the most memorable?
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This sounds like an incredible adventure – and one I’d love to take. I visited Norway briefly and did a fjords cruise, which was definitely amazing but not nearly enough. I’ve vowed to return to Norway someday and explore more of this gorgeous country by land. I’m saving your post for when that dream comes true!
Lynne, We were glad we had so many great stops in the Norway fjords. It was great to cruise along. But we loved the chance to get up high and see the countryside too. I hope you get to visit one day. Linda
Your experience and the write up was so compelling that now I too am going to be booking a land tour in Fiordland of Norway. The view from Flvdalsjuvet Skywalk is breathtaking! The small villages sound so charming, and houses with grass on their roof! I have never seen those! Loved this article.
Vaisakhi, I am glad this tour in Norway sparked your interest. It was great to travel on land in the fjords. Linda
At first, I thought that cyclist that was riding up Mount Dalsnibba was absolutely crazy for trying to ride up that steep drive. But after seeing those amazing views of Lake Djupvatn and the Geiranger fjord where your ship docked, I might have tried to ride up there too! I will say that this whole section of Norway you discovered is absolutely beautiful. I love the small town of Hellesylt too but what I really like is all the waterfalls and glacial lakes amid all the mountains. So breath taking.
Eric, Even after seeing the view we thought the cyclists were crazy. Those roads were narrow and twisty. But we were sure glad we got to see the views. It has been a treat to finally have the time to finish our pics and blog posts on Norway. Some more spots coming in later posts. A good tease to add Norway to a travel wish list. Linda
Ah! Norway looks so lovely! That clear glacier lake is stunning – and cold, I’m sure. The fjords always intrigue me, and the overall landscape – that you’ve showcased beautifully – makes me want to go there. I’ve never been. Gorgeous! Oh, and those cruise ships must have to be maneuvered through there really carefully, but what amazing views.
Jennifer, We were so glad we planned the visit to the Norway fjords. It was great when we were at stops or just navigating the fjords. In places they got a bit narrow but they are really deep. So there was not real challenge for our smaller ships to sail in. We definitely want to go back and see more. Linda
I love traveling through the countryside! IT is my favourite kind of traveling. This is such a great resource, thank you!
We were so glad we got the opportunity to travel overland for this stretch and see the Norway fjords from above. Great to get a different perspective. Linda
The fjords of Norway are definitely on my bucket list! That drive up the mountains on the narrow road, wow, that would be an adventure! And you got great weather too!
Delphine, We had the most amazing weather on our whole trip in the Norway fjords. It was great to get this view from the high point of land. Linda
Hellesylt is so picturesque! In fact, I found your whole 8 hours trip is full with spectacular views. I don’t think you felt bored sitting in the bus at all. It’s funny though how the tour guide named the hay “troll toilet paper.” My husband named it giant marshmallow. 🙂
Umiko, I was worried about an 8 hour bus trip but we stopped regularly enough and saw so much that it went by too quickly. Funny how people have different names for the hay. I always thought of them as shredded wheat. Linda
Norway is such a beautiful country! The glacier lakes are beautiful-I love the color of the water. The viewpoint at Flvdalsjuvet is spectacular and he small towns are very charming. I haven’t been able to visit Norway yet, but visiting some of the fjords are a must for when I do make it.
Melissa, I hope you do get to visit Norway. We loved our different views of the Norway fjords. Linda
I just love Norway! I went out on a short day trip with Visit Flam’s boat in Oslo but didn’t have time to get up to Flam and do this trip. The views from the mountaintops are just stunning. I hope I can get back to the fjords and see more of this country soon.
Alice, It was great to go high above the fjords and get those wonderful panoramic views. Hope you get to go back one day. Linda
This Hellesylt to Geiranger Fjord trip certainly looks one of the best journeys that you have been sharing about your Norway experiences. I too have been to Norway and experienced the fjords but they have mostly been on a ship. The views here that you shared are just amazing on this land trip. The Grotli hotel seems a good place to relax and have a nice lunch. The decor is says a lot about the place.
Roy, We were definitely glad we got off the ship and wandered inland on this tour. So many great spots to stop along the way. Linda
This looks like an amazing trip & I love your photos. I haven’t been to Norway on my travels yet but it is definitely on my list. The reflections in the water & spectacular nature of the landscapes is stunning. Thank you for sharing & I have no doubt it was well worth going inland for this trip!
Sue, We did love our travels in Norway. Each stop was beautiful in its own right. But so much variety in the stops. All great teasers to make us want to go back. Linda
Gorgeous photos! Hellesylt looks like a great village to relax and take in the views. See grass roofed houses is on my bucketlist and this looks like the perfect place to check that off. I love waterfalls, good to know there are many as you leave Geiranger Fjord.
Sherianne, We did love the little villages along the way. So many great places to stop and enjoy the countryside. And there was never a shortage of waterfalls! Linda
What a stunning day trip! All the views and landscapes are amazing, but I’m most drawn to Hellesylt with its beautiful little church and waterfall! It is also interesting to see how green (and warm!) it looks that far north!
Kevin, We loved the chance to see another perspective of the Norway fjords. It was indeed a stunning day trip. Definitely want to go back and explore some more. Linda
OMG, those pictures and landscapes are insane. Nature at its best! I so so wish that I was there right now. I have a feeling that on a drive through all this I would practically be hanging out of my car window capturing it all in. Or maybe we just need to budget lots of stops and there more time to take them in. Loved the new nickname for the bales 😉 Troll toilet paper (ha ha).
Ami, Our trip through the Norway fjords certainly showed us that we need to budget more time on a return trip. There is so much to see that you really need to plan to stop regularly. We definitely plan to go back. Hope you get there one day. Linda
Wow Norwegian countryside is really incredible and so much green too. I never thought Norway has so much greenery. Hellesylt really looks pretty town with houses close to water and having roof covered with grass. Even your long drive up Mount Dalsnibba on the steep hairpin road looks beautiful road trip with beautiful view of Lake Djupvatn and bikers. Everything here is very beautiful from waterfalls to fjords to green fields.
Yukti, We were so excited to do this overland trip. A great way to see the fjords from a different perspective. And we too were surprised with how green everything was. Linda
What a beautiful adventure! I would love to do this 8 hour bus trip overland someday. Can we drive ourselves? I’m sure my hubby would say ‘if a bus can go, we can go’. Norway is a country to take a break in every few years indeed. Those scenes are amazing! 🙂
Jan, I am sure you can do this drive. If bikes and buses can do the hills I am sure you could! Hubby would be right. So many amazing spots for views. Linda
Woow so beautiful and so much inspiration in this post! I have been dreaming of visiting Norway and the fjords there, so this was such a great read. And that Seven Sisters Waterfall is so beautiful! Great post!
Our trip to the Norway Fjords was stunning. Each stop more beautiful than the last.