Fjord Hiking In Norway
Author: By Bill Russell's Mountain Tours
Norwegian Fjord Hiking is a unique adventure. Normally, the spectacular fjords of western Norway are always seen from a boat. Mountain Tours uses small boats to get to tiny fishing villages in the fjords and then leads hikes into the surrounding mountains. This really provides the visitor the fullest opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of the area in a special way not available by boats alone.
Our adventure begins in Bergen, Gateway to the Fjord Country. We embark on fast modern catamarans to our first fishing village deep in the fjord. After disembarking and checking into our seaside hotel, we'll spend days hiking from this destination into the mountains, which rise sharply from the waters. It's a glorious experience viewing the fjords from above.
Our daily hikes range from 5-8 miles. We wander at a leisurely pace besides tumbling rivers; descend into valleys along ancient, winding trails. Waterfalls, like a white wispy mist, hang from the high cliffs. At a woodcarver's house, our track narrows becoming a path and the river levels out. We continue our hike until we are on the shore of the magnificent 30-mile long Sognefjord. The next afternoon we take off our hiking boots and enjoy a boat ride on another of Norway's splendid fjords.
Boating between destinations in Norway is one of the unique aspects of the Mountain Tours Fjord Hiking experience. On most days, there is the option of a shorter, easier hike, or a longer, more rigorous route. Regardless of which hike we choose, we will start each morning with a healthful Norwegian buffet breakfast that will sustain us along the trail. Fjord hiking is the experience of a lifetime.
The Norwegian countryside has excellent hiking trails. Norway is an exciting destination to plan a walking vacation. No other tour operator combines the hiking trails of Fjord Country with cruising through the picture perfect fjords of Norway to arrive at the next great hiking destination.
Fjord Hiking with MOUNTAIN TOURS is truly a cultural experience offering you a wide range of activities to enhance your days on the trails. At the community of Eidfjord the Hardangervidda Nature Center offers exhibitions on life in the area featuring a video, which tells the story about the mountains, the valleys and the fjords, and how it is to live under these conditions. We hike past mountain farms, similar to the one situated 600 meters above Simadalsfjorden and only reachable by foot until the beginning of the 1970's. We glimpse these old farm houses, where you can see how your ancestors used to live, and where it is still possible to meet people who protect the local song heritage by singing the old tunes, and by playing the Hardangerfiddle. As we hike along the heritage trails in Ulvik, in the hills and mountains that surround the village, you get to know more about life in the area in the days gone by. The trails beckon and the high pastures where flocks of sheep graze, clear streams, blue lakes, and striking mountains provide hikers with plenty of off-the-beaten track adventures.
