OVERVIEW

Drive towards a viewpoint of one of Norway’s most dramatic and mountainous stretches of road – where trolls supposedly roam at night – and stop at attractions that add to the mythical allure. The deeper you drive into the countryside, the more staggeringly beautiful the landscape will become. While pausing at the Trollstigen Viewpoint and Gudbrandsjuvet lookouts, you can snap photos of the impossibly deep ravines and hear folk legends associated with them. Still, nothing can prepare you for Trollstigen, the so-called Troll’s Path that climbs through the precipitous mountains. The road is narrow, steep and full of hairpin turns. Coming upon the Old Stordal Church will offer a glimpse into real life centuries ago. Itinerant rural artists painted nearly every square inch of its interior with decorative roses and Biblical figures in a style known as rosemaling. The two century-old cobblestone bridges at Skodje are another manmade wonder as they were once Norway’s longest masonry road bridges

HIGHLIGHTS

• Be awed by the steep mountainous landscape when viewing the incredibly serpentine Troll’s Path.
• Stop at spectacularly scenic lookouts and hear folk legends about the surrounding countryside.
• Behold the decoratively painted interior of the old “Rose” Church in Skordal.
• Snap photos of two historical cobblestone bridges from the new bridge that replaced them.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Stunning scenery and the highlights of Alesund are yours to discover in this tour that takes you to the top of Mount Stranda by bus, ferry and cable car. A coffee break with traditional waffles at the top allows you to enjoy the views. Enjoy a short city sightseeing of some of the highlights of Alesund before heading for the fjords. Cross the fjord by ferry, and then drive up the mountain, with great views along the way. Arriving at Mount Stranda’s cable car station, a gondola takes you to the top, 3418 feet above sea level. Here goats graze during summer, and there is even snow in some areas. The panoramic view from Mt. Stranda reaches far and wide. From this privileged view point, you can see Geiranger Fjord, UNESCCO World Heritage site, and Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Continental Europe. After crossing the fjord by ferry, the tour will take a different route back to the pier allowing for some extra sights of Alesund.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the rich fishing heritage of Ålesund by browsing a museum and then boarding a boat to fish in the deep waters of the fjord. On the walk to the Fisheries Museum, the guide will describe how the fishing industry has changed over the centuries. Still, nothing is quite so enlightening as seeing the evidence firsthand in the museum. The exhibits will show how fishing has deeply influenced Ålesund and the surrounding area and how fishing boats have evolved from open eight-oared vessels to today’s modern fishing vessels. The exhibit showcasing klippfisk – a Norwegian staple of dried salted cod – will reveal another aspect of the industry. You will get the opportunity to catch cod with a rod from a traditional fishing boat as it cruises Borgundfjorden, a shallow arm of a larger fjord. These waters are teeming with Norwegian Atlantic cod, a low-calorie high-protein white fish that thrives in cold water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for Norwegian cod while cruising one of the fjords off Ålesund.
• Discover how fishing has influenced the area while browsing the Fisheries Museum.
• Hear entertaining commentary about fishing as you walk through Ålesund.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fly high over Ålesund, the surrounding fjords and the Sunnmore Alps in a helicopter for bird’s-eye view of the area’s extraordinary natural beauty. Once you take a seat inside the helicopter – which holds just six passengers – and its rotors start turning, the thrills will begin in earnest. Although the exact route will depend on the weather conditions, the helicopter is scheduled to begin its flight south over the deep waters of Hjorundfjord and on to Øye, a tiny fishing village nestled at end of the fjord. Continuing on, you can expect to soar over the idyllic villages of Hellsylt, which overlooks the glass-smooth waters of Sunnylsfjord, and Geiranger, yet another gorgeous village. It lies on Geirangerfjord, a steep-walled fjord with tumbling waterfalls that UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for its dramatic natural beauty. As you fly over this quintessential fjord landscape, the majestic Sunnmore Alps will always be in sight.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold Norway’s fjord country from a high-flying helicopter with large windows.
• Fly over the Sunnmore Alps and along stunningly beautiful steep-walled fjords.
• Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of idyllic villages such as Øye, Hellsylt and Geiranger.
• See Geirangerfjord, a fjord so magnificent that UNESCO named it a World Heritage site.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an introductory drive through Ålesund and then continue with a pleasant walk to the most iconic landmarks and spend free time along Kongens Gate, one of the city’s main shopping streets. As you travel around the downtown, you will notice that much of the architecture is Art Nouveau, a beautiful decorative style with free-flowing organic lines. The style was fashionable in the early 20th century when Ålesund was rebuilt following a fire that left nearly the entire city in ruins. Consequently, Ålesund boasts an Art Nouveau ambiance unmatched in Norway or most anywhere else. For a sweeping view of the city, you can ascend, if desire, at the lookout atop Aksla hill via the stairs. After descending, you will be taken to Kongens Gate, a bustling street lined with shops, restaurants and extraordinary architecture. While exploring independently, you might snap photos of the most alluring Art Nouveau buildings, pause for a snack and browse the high-end boutiques.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an enlightening drive around Ålesund that offers a historical perspective.
• Behold the wealth of Art Nouveau architecture that gives Ålesund its unique look.
• Browse the exquisite shops along the pedestrian-only street Kongens Gate.
• Tie up your shoelaces and get ready to ascend. Gaze out over Ålesund from the elevated viewpoint on Aksla hill.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Start your tour with a drive along the Borgund Fjord, through the modern suburbs to the old trading center of Borgund. Here, you’ll visit the Sunnmore Open-Air Museum where you’ll see various types of farmhouses, boathouses and a number of different boats. Shipbuilding was known to be the most reliable along the coast.You’ll find replicas of the so called Kvalsund and Fjortoft boats from the year 700 A.D. Alongside lies the fishing vessel Heland known as the Shetland bus, as it was used to carry Norwegian partisans across the North Sea during World War II. Finish off your tour with an outside visit to the 12th century ancient church of Giske, located on the island of Giske with its deep connections to Norway’s Viking past.

OVERVIEW

Kayak through the sheltered waters surrounding Ålesund while admiring the town’s Art Nouveau architecture and surrounding natural beauty from a unique water perspective. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will paddle off into the shimmering sea. The waters are typically calm as Ålesund sits amid a cluster of islands that protect it from high winds and waves. Although the exact route will be determined based on the conditions and boat traffic, you can expect to kayak about four miles. The mountains in the distance are the Sunnmøre Alps, which provide an inspirational backdrop. As you paddle along not far offshore, you will notice that much of the architecture reflects the Art Nouveau style of the early 20th century. The reason being that most of Ålesund had to be rebuilt following a catastrophic fire in 1904. The guide will describe the points of interest, which are considerable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle a kayak through the typically calm waters off Ålesund.
• Behold the town’s abundant Art Nouveau architecture from a unique water perspective.
• Enjoy the peaceful natural setting with the Sunnmøre Alps in the background.
• Learn about the town’s history and culture as the guide points out the landmarks.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Climb a granite wall to the summit of Mount Aksla using metal hand-holds in the rock face that make the ascent surprisingly easy. As a warm-up, you will walk to the foot of the mountain, which rises somewhat steeply from the town park. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will start climbing by means of the hand-holds that are anchored into the mountain’s rocky southern wall. For added safety, you will be harnessed to a steel cable that runs the length of the via ferrata – meaning “iron route” in Italian. The advantage of ascending via ferrata is that it allows even non-rock-climbers to confidently scale a slope that would otherwise be impossible. There is a bench half-way up where you can pause and take in the spectacular scenery before continuing to the mountaintop. The descent will be much easier. Just walk down the stone staircase.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get a real sense of accomplishment by climbing the rocky southern face of Mount Aksla.
• Use the metal hand-holds and harness that make the ascent easier and more carefree.
• Take a break on the bench halfway up the slope and gaze out over Alesund and beyond.
• Walk down Mount Aksla via the stone steps that are cut into the side of the mountain.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold some of Norway’s most gorgeous fjords from ferries that cruise between the endless string of islands along the country’s western coast. The views will be dramatic the entire way, as you will cruise past towering mountain peaks, precipitous cliffs and teeny villages such as Urke along the northern shore of Norangsfjorden. Some of the fjords are arms of larger waterways such as Hjørundfjord, which cuts inland between the jagged Sunnmøre Alps. When not on the water, you will drive through wild areas such as the Norangsdalen Valley, a narrow landscape that rock slides and avalanches have shaped through the centuries. In 1908, one of those natural disasters dammed the Lygna River and permanently submerged the surrounding village, parts of which can be seen in the shallows. After ascending to the Ljoen lookout, you will enjoy a spectacular view of Geiranger, a fjord that UNESCO has declared a World Heritage site for its outstanding natural beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride several ferries through the pristine fjords that wind their way inland.
• Marvel at the seemingly endless natural beauty of western Norway.
• Drive through spectacularly scenic areas such as the narrow Norangsdalen Valley.
• Behold the UNESCO World Heritage site fjord Geiranger from a lookout point.
• Enjoy a four-course lunch of locally sourced Norwegian specialties at an inland restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a scenic and relaxing cruise on Hjorundfjord, regarded by many as one of the most beautiful fjords in the world and the Queen of Norway’s favorite.

The Hjorundfjord is a 20 mile long arm of the Storfjord, located in the Sunnmore Alps heartland with pointed mountain peaks that encircle the bay on both sides. The north end of the fjord is over 1.5 miles wide, and the deepest point is over 1446 feet.

Your sightseeing boat takes you on an approximately 3-4 hour cruise along the striking scenery that Kaiser Wilhelm valued so highly more than 100 years ago. The views of nature's mountains and fjords from this perspective are simply spectacular.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a scenic drive into the countryside and on to the pedestrian-only Skodje bridges, where you can walk about and enjoy a closer look at the natural wonders. Once you leave Ålesund, the views will become considerably more rural as the surrounding landscape is sparsely populated and undeveloped. The majority of the route will be coastal and occasionally pass through little villages such as Magerholm, which overlooks the lengthy waterway Storfjord. Once you reach the Skodje bridges, you will spend free time exploring on your own. Built with cobblestone in the early 1900s, they are no longer suitable for vehicular traffic, but ideal for walking. Both bridges offer spectacular views of the surrounding natural beauty. You will return to Ålesund following a different route that loops through the island of Ellingsøya. During the panoramic drive through town, you will see the prevailing Art Nouveau architecture and Ålesund Church, which is clad in Norwegian marble.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the natural beauty that surrounds Ålesund on a panoramic drive through the countryside.
• Spend free time admiring the views while walking across the pedestrian-only Skodje bridges.
• Follow a different but equally scenic route back to Ålesund.
• Enjoy a driving tour through Ålesund that focuses on its Art Nouveau architecture.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a natural trail to the summit of nearby Sugarlump Mountain and take in the spectacular views the entire way. It won’t take long to reach the trailhead on Hessa, the island just over the bridge west of Ålesund. Because of its proximity to town, the trail is quite popular and well-trodden. Even so, the approximately 2.5-mile roundtrip hike is considered moderately challenging. The higher you go, the more dramatic the views of Ålesund, the distant Sunnmøre Alps and Borgundfjord, the wide waterway that surrounds the islands of the archipelago. You will hike through coastal vegetation that may be in bloom and on into a rocky moorland at the top. Stops will be made along the way for photos and for the guide to point out and describe the natural wonders and landmarks in town. Few views can rival to one at the summit, which stands nearly 1,000 feet above sea level.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike to the summit of Sugarlump Mountain, the highest point on nearby Hessa Island.
• Be awed by the views of Ålesund, the surrounding fjord and the distant alps.
• Pause along the way for photos and for the guide to describe the points of interest.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.