The Norwegian Fjords

Route to the fjords

With Holland Norway Lines, you travel comfortably and easily to Kristiansand in Southern Norway and indirectly to the world-famous fjord coast. The fjord coast is one of the main reasons why people travel to Norway. The country has more than a thousand fjords, with the largest concentration on the west coast. Here are some of the most famous fjords located, such as the Hardangerfjord and the Geirangerfjord. The fjords are known for their breath-taking nature, beautiful views and serene atmosphere. Take a round trip with your own car, stopping along the way to enjoy the panoramas over the water and mountains. There are beautiful routes to map out along the fjord coast; one of the most famous routes is the Trollstigen National Tourist Route, a kilometers long route along many fjords, waterfalls and mountains. The area is also ideal for long walks and immersing yourself in this impressive natural beauty of Norway.

The origin of the fjords

The Norwegian fjords were created by glaciers. In the consecutive ice ages over a period of 2.5 million years, the stagnation of the ice has eroded the valleys. When the ice age came to an end and temperatures started to rise, the ice melted, and the fjords took on the shape we know today. ‘Fjord’ is an old-fashioned Viking term and means ‘what you travel through’. This originated because the Vikings used the fjords as a connection to the inland. In 2005, UNESCO recognized the beauty of the Norwegian fjords and included them in the World Heritage List. There are two specific fjords on the list: the West Norwegian Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. These two fjords are impressive examples of the exceptional fjord landscape of Norway.

Activities

At the various fjords, there is plenty to do during the year. In summer, you can go canoeing or kayaking, take a light or heavy walking route, climb rocks, and even take a glacier walk at some fjords. In the mountains surrounding the fjords, there are ski resorts in different places, so in winter you can enjoy different winter sports. In need of calm activities? Then take a look at the train connections that go straight through the mountains and tightly along the fjords. An example of this is the Flåm Railway, one of the most breath-taking train journeys in the world, and also one of the steepest in the world! The railway connects the villages of Flåm and Myrdal, and for almost an hour, there are views of steep mountains, rivers, deep ravines, and waterfalls. The train runs all year round, in the winter months less often, but then, the route also works as a ski lift.