Scenic Norway Hiking Tour

Arrive in Ålesund and transfer to your lovely hotel by the water. Ålesund is known for its art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904. Explore on your own or add an adventure into your afternoon. Options include kayaking trips around the historic waterfront buildings; wildlife sea safari; climbing Mt. Aksla for lunch (418 steps); 6 hours long hike up the most famous summits in Norway (Mt Saksa); or perhaps a guided walking tour around the city centre.

Accommodation

This morning, meet your minivan driver and fellow passengers around 10am - be sure to enjoy the port before the minivan arrives. Make yourself comfortable in this private van that will take you through the fjords and along the coast.

Along the way today, you will travel through the Strandafjellet valley, stopping along the way at points of interest.

Your home for the next two nights is the Valldal Fjord Lodge, with a lovely backgarden and traditional livingg rooms and boasting breathtaking views of fjords and mountains. Check in and relax before your dinner at the hotel (2 courses).

Meals

Accommodation

Starting at 9.30am with a guide, the hike takes you through traditional Norwegian farm land and wild nature, with multiple viewpoints with spectacular view. You will stop at Ruggå, a large boulder, and try to make Ruggå sing for you! The first half part is the same as “Viewpoint Ruggå”. From Ruggå you follow a panoramic trail with an amazing fjord view whilst climbing higher up and pass Nysætra, an old mountain farm. After a steep climb, eventually end up at peak Mefjellet and a spectacular view. Enjoy the best view towards the hidden UNESCO fjord Tafjorden, mountains, and valleys around. Along the way, you will find a beautiful place to enjoy a local lunch. If you are looking for a hike with “all included”, this is it!

Meals

Accommodation

After breakfast, be sure to have your cameras charged as you travel from Valldal to Åndalsnes, with stops along the Trollstigen National Scenic Road. Trollstigen is Norway’s most visited tourist road, and this masterpiece in engineering in the midst of majestic natural landscapes is a true joy ride (particularly when you are in the safe hands of our Norwegian driver).

The eleven magnificent hairpin turns along Trollstigen offer fantastic scenery along the mountain road. Each bend has its own name, often named after the person who supervised the construction work on that particular section. At some locations, you will discover that the road is carved into the mountain itself, and in other places it is built in stone instead.

Historically, Trollstigen used to be an important transport passage between the villages Valldal in Indre Sunnmøre and Åndalsnes in Romsdalen. When the road opened in 1939, it wasn’t long before Trollstigen became a tourist attraction.

The Trollstigen is surrounded by mighty mountains that reach an altitude of over 1600 meters. To the west of the road lie the mountains of Bispen (1450m), Kongen (1614m) and Dronninga (1701m), and to the east of the road lie the Stigbottshornet (1583m) and the Storgrovfjellet (1629m).

Your minivan will stop along the way today for photos, rest stops and a stop at the Strawberry Cafe to sample the famous strawberry cakes on offer. You will also stop at the thundering ravine, Gudbrandsjuvet, near the Juvet Hotel. Gudbrandsjuvet is a 5 metre narrow and 20–25 metre high ravine through which the Valldøla River forces itself. The waters have formed a complex of deep potholes and intricate formations. The depth down from the surface of the water is about equal to the depth of ravine down to the river.

Meals

Accommodation

After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to Vengedalen. Before you leave, you will be able to make up a packed lunch from the breakfast table. This is a very typical way for the Norwegians to prepare for a day's hiking.

Today you will be doing the Romsdalseggen Ridge, one of Norway's most 'prestigious' hiking walks, guarantee breathtaking views and exposed trails. The hike is intermediate to advanced level, with a touch of scrambling on the most exposed sections of the hike. You will use about 6-8 hours, depending on the group to do this hike. It is on a 10 km long ridge with around 1000 metres of ascent and 1200 metres descent. The trails are mostly rock sections with some small and big boulders.

On the way home, you will pass the Rampestreken, 537 metres above sea level. The locals love this ramp, and they often do climb up here as exercise to be rewarded with a magnificent, breathtaking view. Note the wonderful pieces of stone construction works by Nepalese Sherpas on the way down. Worth a study itself, called Romsdalstrappa.

Back at your hotel, enjoy an after hike snack and pre dinner aperitif.

Meals

Accommodation

Åndalsnes is a local transport hub so you have many ways to turn for further Norwegian adventures after breakfast this morning. You can travel back by train to Oslo, go further up to Trondheim or continue with the 50 Degrees North minibus.

Meals