Geiranger fjord is one of Norway’s most visited attractions so after two nights at the very good campsite Geirangerfjorden Feriesenter, (coordinates N62 6 54″, E7 11 6″) we drove a mile down the road to Geiranger village itself to catch the Geiranger ferry to Hellesylt, a journey of one hour.
Before boarding the ferry we paid a visit to the Joker supermarket to buy more milk and a few other groceries. After a bill of £31.70 for 9 items it was obvious why the supermarket was called Joker! Just for the record a litre of milk cost £1.75, a carton of orange juice cost £2.03, a box of muesli cost £2.76 and five Norwegian fish cakes cost £5.07.
There are some things in life that you just have to do and catching the ferry with our motorhome along the famous Geiranger fjord is one of those things! Another must do is to take your motorhome on the famous Trollstiggen mountain road. The cost to take our motorhome on the Geiranger ferry was just over £105 (6-10 metre category), expensive but well worth it. It’s difficult to put into words just how awesome the Geiranger fjord is and photographs don’t do it justice, but I’ll post some here anyway. Sheer rock faces and an endless number of waterfalls, including the famous Seven Sisters and Storseterfossen, seem so close that you could reach out and touch them. The ferry, to me, was an excellent alternative to taking a cruise costing many times more than the ferry cost.
Things to do in Geirangerfjord
- Visiting the Geiranger Skywalk: This viewpoint offers stunning views of the fjord and surrounding mountains.
- Taking a boat trip: There are a number of boat tours available in Geirangerfjord, which offer a unique perspective of the scenery.
- Hiking: There are many hiking trails in Geirangerfjord, ranging from easy walks to challenging hikes.
- Visiting the villages: The villages of Geiranger and Valldal are charming and offer a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Tips for driving in Norway
Driving to Geirangerfjord: The drive to Geirangerfjord is scenic but challenging, with winding roads and steep gradients. Motorhomes should be aware of the road conditions and plan their journey accordingly. Because of steep gradients it is a good idea to have your motorhome and brakes services!
Hellesylt and the tsunami threat
The Geiranger ferry takes you to the small town of Hellesylt and the first thing that greeted us was the huge Hellesylt waterfall full of crystal clear water. Hellesylt itself has been featured on the TV series ‘Coast‘ and is located on one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, Storfjorden. The 900 metre high Aknesfjallet looks like any other mountain but along the mountain side runs a 700 metre crack, and it’s growing by 15cm every year. This crack makes the mountain so unstable that the whole mountain will eventually slide into the 300 metre deep fjord below triggering an 80 metre high tsunami. Several towns will be destroyed, which is why the mountain is one of Norway’s most monitored area’s. Residents and tourists will be sent an SMS within 72 hours of the mountains collapse. Best not hang around too long then!
I made a short video, below, of our Geiranger ferry journey.
More motorhome blogs about Norway
Definitive guide to touring Norway with a motorhome
Drive Norway’s Atlantic Road in a Motorhome: An Unforgettable Experience
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