Our last stop for our adventures in Norway was to the tiny but popular tourist town of Geiranger. The beautiful UNESCO protected Geirangerfjord is surrounded by snow-caped mountains, lush green vegetation, and waterfalls that pour over the steep cliffs and fall into the deep blue water of the tranquil fjord below. Along the edge of the fjord are a number of farms (now abandoned) that you can access by boat to explore and learn a bit more about the lifestyle of the farmers and historical Norwegian culture. Three local favorites are the Skageflå, Knivsflå, and Blomberg historical farms. The Blomberg farm especially offers a stunning view of the fjord from 452 meters above sea level, and was inhabited beginning back in the 1600's, but has been restored since for visitors today.
The fjord is lined with stunning waterfalls pouring from the surrounding lush green cliffs. Our two personal favorites were the Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls which are directly across the fjord from one another, the Suitor is said to be pursuing the beautiful sisters. We rented a little boat from Active Geiranger to explore the fjord by water, and to get up close and personal with the breathtaking Seven Sisters Falls which free falls 820 feet from the steep cliffs above.
We decided drive on a small section of The National Tourist Route from Olden to Geiranger, also known as “The Golden Route” which continues north from Geiranger to Trollstigen. The landscape along this road is unlike any other, with rocky plains, craggy hills, trickling streams through bright green meadows. and bright blue icy lakes deepend by snow-melt throughout the summer. The route should take about an hour and a half, but if you stop a lot like we do to enjoy the scenery and explore, I would allow yourself about 3 hours for this stretch. Parts of the golden Route, particularly the high roads, close when the first snow falls, usually in October or November and reopen in May or June depending on weather conditions.
As you near Geiranger on county road 63, you must take the detour and venture up the mountain a little further to stop at the Dalsnibba Mountain Plateau which dominates the landscape at a staggering 4,600 feet above sea level. There is a private toll road called Nibbevege that will take you to the summit about 13 miles from the town center of Geiranger. This viewpoint is probably the best that we found in all of Norway by road, so if you're not up for hiking to mountaintops for that incredible 360 degree view, the Dalsnibba viewpoint is for you.
One of our favorite hikes in this area was near the town of Eidsdal, It started from a parking place called Blåhornet - Kilstisætra. The hike takes you along a beautiful mountain lake, through a little sheep farm, past some remote grass roofed mountain huts, plentiful blueberry bushes, and up to a stunning view of Norddalsfjorden and surrounding hamlets. Although it was pretty consistently drizzling throughout our entire hike, we just marveled at the beauty of things around us, both larger landscape and the small but intricate details of the beautiful countryside. What a beautiful picture of a God who created and cares for both things grand and small. Thank you Norway for an incredible adventure, we will be back!
Labels: Geiranger, Geiranger Blog, Norddalsfjorden, Norway, Norway Blog, Norway Historical Farms, Seven Sisters Falls Blog, The Golden Route Blog, The Road Less Traveled, Travel Blog, Travel Photography, TRLT
