From Hjørundfjord through Geirangerfjord
Norway: Hiking Ålesund & the Sunnmøre Alps
Overview
The snow-capped Sunnmøre Alps rise thousands of feet above the deep waters of 20-mile-long Hjørundfjord, one of the hidden gems of this nature-blessed part of Norway. This little-visited mountain region is where sheer-walled fjords meet jagged peaks, where the quaint meets the dramatic, and where the hikes are challenging—but with high reward. We begin in charming Ålesund, a city spread over small islands in the Atlantic. We’ll hike the trails of Hjørundfjord as well as UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, explore waterways by private boat, visit villages, and along the way, learn about Norway’s rural traditions as we are welcomed by families at their centuries-old farms.
Arrive: Ålesund
Depart: Ålesund
Highlights
- Hike gorgeous trails both at water level and on high ridgelines with breathtaking views of fjords and waterfalls
- Savor eye-popping panoramas over UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and the Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Enjoy cultural experiences, including warm welcomes from local farm families
- Stay in hand-picked hotels in stunning locations, travel between locations by private boat
Itinerary
In Ålesund, with its dramatic setting, we hike up Sukkertoppen for views over the entrances to the fjords we’ll be visiting. At steep-walled Hjørundfjord, with its small settlements, we visit a family-run farm for lunch and enjoy the first of our spectacular ridge hikes, with breathtaking views in all directions of Hjørundfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.
From Loen, a small village tucked away below the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier, we take a gentle hike past alpine lakes. The next day, a cable car carries us 3,000 feet up to the top of Mt. Hoven (in just five minutes!), with grand panoramas along the way. At the top, we’ll enjoy a hike, then dine in this “top of the world” setting at the clifftop Hoven Restaurant, a prime spot for sunset viewing.
Our hike in Geirangerfjord is one of the most scenic in all of Norway, with views stretching from soaring 5,000-foot-high walls to the lacy Seven Sisters Waterfall on the other side of the fjord—it’s a photographer’s dream. From a spot called Ørnsvingene (“The Eagle’s Wings”), another hike rewards us with expansive views of Geirangerfjord’s entire bend from atop the rounded peak of Geitfonnegga (4,770').
Our last hike, straight from our hotel, will bring us epic views of 68-mile-long Storfjord and the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. Depart on Day 11 from Ålesund.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4+, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. It is aimed at those who have some recent mountain hiking experience. You will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady hiking pace of the group.
Average Hiking Day
- 3-5 hours
- 4-5 miles
- 1,600 feet gain/loss
Challenge Days
- Day 3: 5 hours, 5 miles, 2,500' ascent / descent
- Day 8: 5 hours, 5 miles, 2,400' ascent / descent
How Tough Is This Trip?
You must feel comfortable and confident being on the trail for 3-5 hours most days, with recent hiking experience at 5+ miles in a day. You carry just a daypack with the essentials: camera, water bottle, rain gear, and your packed lunch. Sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots are essential. Hiking poles are highly recommended. The daily pacing is flexible and may be adjusted by the Trip Leader. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times.
While the Norwegian mountains are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged. The trails in Norway are kept very natural and not maintained beyond necessity. Trails can be uneven, with large rocks or loose scree. Norway is often rainy, so the rocks on the trail will be wet. There are some exposed roots, muddy spots, and many sections of exposure along steep mountainsides—you must have good balance to hike on these surfaces.
Temperatures should be in the mid-50s-60s, perfect for hiking. The weather can provide spectacular clear days but can also be very wet and changeable, and we want you to be well prepared for all you may encounter. Trip members need to remain flexible in consideration of inclement weather that may require changes, such as substituting different hiking routes, canceling hikes, or switching the days of certain hikes.
Some accommodations are in small, charming hotels and the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that rooms in Scandinavia are smaller than in the US. Multiple hotels do not offer the option of two separate beds. We can request a cot or sofa bed, but availability and room size are limiting factors. On at least two nights, separate beds are not a possibility. Single occupancy rooms can be requested but are not always available due to limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single occupancy room, please make your request as early as possible.
Most lunches will be enjoyed out on the trails. On many days, we make our lunches at the hotel’s breakfast buffet. This is a tradition for hikers in Norway, and the extensive buffets include fresh bread, deli meats, tomatoes, smoked salmon (of course!), cheeses, and fruit. Most evening meals will be multi-course, set-menu dinners at our hotels. Please note that in Europe the dinner hour is later than in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups—most often the evening meal will be at 7:00 pm.
One of the nice features of this trip is how it takes advantage of taxis, vans, and even small private boats to transfer between locations and some of our hotel accommodations. This is a wonderful way to be immersed in Norway's beauty.
Client Testimonials
"The design of this trip was brilliant, with a great variety of hiking, kayaking, RIBing, etc. and very little time in a van (GREAT). Overall one of the best designed trips I have been on. Each day was a new adventure. This was the best trip I have had with WT."
Harold H.
London, Ontario
"This was an incredibly scenic trip. Each of the hotels offered something different and special, and the food was fantastic (seafood heaven!). The hikes were carefully chosen for variety, scenery, and lack of crowds."
Inge K.
Concord, MA
"Of four WT trips, this was by far my favorite. Excellent and challenging hikes; opportunities to be immersed in beautiful environments. Organization was excellent, with flexibility when changes were required or desired. Accommodations were excellent; meals were fantastic, whether at a hotel or a remote mountain farm. Minimal time in cars/buses/vans; maximum time hiking and exploring Norway!"
Kathleen F.
Fargo, ND
"The hiking, natural beauty, food, and hotels are exceptional on this trip. I especially enjoyed being transported by boat through the fjords, thus minimizing time spent in vans and enhancing the experience. Loved this trip!"
Martha H.
Ocean Grove, NJ
"This is one of the best trips I’ve taken with WT. Really well designed with a great combination of hiking and experiences and fabulous lodging."
Michelle J.
Irvine, CA
"Wow, it was one of the best trips ever. Excellent leaders, hikes, accommodations, food, and fellow clients. Everything just felt really well balanced overall—just enough down time, a nice mix of trail lunch days and restaurant lunch stops, etc."
Rob C.
Concord, MA
"The trip design did a great job of keeping us away from the crowds, adding variety with museum tours, kayaking, discussions with locals, history lessons, cultural information, local food, and boat rides."
Tricia D.
Hampton, NJ
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.