Summertime Norwegian Fjords

Ålesund promises a captivating blend of history, nature, and adventure. After ascending the 418 steps to Mount Aksla’s summit, which reveals panoramic views across the surrounding islands and fjords, you could be enjoying a summer stroll in the charming city centre, with its colourful Art Nouveau buildings and eateries serving fresh seafood and local dishes like bacalao. Meanwhile, the nearby islands of Giske and Godøy, with their quaint villages and unspoilt scenery, offer opportunities to partake in outdoor pursuits such as hiking and wildlife spotting.

Perhaps the most idyllic of the Norwegian fjords, Hjørundfjord offers the chance to experience nature at its finest, with tranquil waters surrounded by steep mountains dotted with isolated farms and a backdrop of the jagged peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps. During the summer, as your smaller ship scenic cruises along this secret gem away from the crowds, you’ll be struck by the calm and peace of Hjørundfjord as the sun sparkles in its deep blue waters.

Nestled among the magnificent mountains of Romsdalsfjord, Åndalsnes is often called the 'Alp town by the fjord’ and is in one of the most picturesque regions of Norway. Reached on an invigorating hike, the mighty Romsdalseggen Ridge overlooks the surrounding fjords and offers remarkable views of steep mountain peaks and waterfalls, while the serpentine mountain road of Trollstigen, famous for its tight bends and steep inclines, is just a short drive from Åndalsnes. During your explorations, you can sample traditional dishes from this region, like fresh fish caught from the fjords or game. Meanwhile, a journey on the world-famous Rauma Railway offers picturesque views of the Romsdalen Valley, bathed in summer sunlight.

The beautiful village of Olden is nestled in the inner arm of Nordfjord, with sparkling green fjord waters framed by rolling meadows and towering cliff faces. Venture further afield to visit Briksdal Glacier as it glistens in the sun, offering remarkable views across the fjord on a hike to a natural viewing platform, while the village itself is delightfully compact enough to explore on foot, with paths that offer vistas of the surrounding mountains. Meanwhile, one of the steepest cable cars in the world, Loen Skylift, offers you the chance to be transported to the top of Mount Hoven in just a few exhilarating moments. For those wishing for a more tranquil experience, picturesque Lovatnet Lake is close by, whose striking mix of blue and green crystal-clear waters come from melted glaciers.

Stretching over 66 nautical miles from the westernmost point in Norway, overlooking the Sunnmøre Alps, to Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in mainland Europe, picturesque Nordfjord has postcard-perfect ice-blue waters framed by towering peaks covered in lush greenery. As your ship navigates into Innvikfjord, a narrow branch of Nordfjord, the landscape becomes fairytale-like, with the changing colours of forested hillsides leading down to tranquil waters, cascading waterfalls, and remote villages and farms dotted along the fjord edge. Sailing along these fjords in summer also offers chances to spot vibrant apple orchards from the decks of your ship.

A scenic cruise alongside Hornelen offers the opportunity to get closer to Norway's highest sea cliff. Standing at a height of 860m, it rises steeply above the Nordfjord and has been used for centuries as a landmark for passing ships. It is said that a troll lives in the northeast corner of the mountain, an area known as Juratinden by local Norwegians.

The idyllic village of Skjolden is located at the end of Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjorden, where the deep blue waters contrast against the green landscape and red-roofed houses, creating a summer kaleidoscope of colour. Spectacular waterfalls tumble down steep cliffsides into the fjord below, and close by are the magnificent Jotunheimen Mountains and Jostedalsbreen Glacier, which you will have opportunities to explore on a tour from your ship. You’ll also be ideally placed to enjoy a hike to the tiny hut where world-famous Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein exiled himself to write some of his most important works.

Gently sloping green hills, steep mountains, and charming villages surround the jewel-like waters of Lustrafjord, offering miles of incredible natural beauty. As you sail along the fjord, you’ll witness the majestic Feigefossen, one of Norway’s highest waterfalls, at its most powerful in the summer months, and the country’s oldest remaining Stave church, built in the 12^th century. From your ship’s decks, you may have the opportunity to spot marine life such as seals, otters, and dolphins, along with magnificent birdlife flying overhead.