Walking the Sognefjord

You will be hiking for between 3 and 6 hours per day, and the maximum ascent in one day is about 900m / 3000ft. This trip is suited to keen walkers who are used to hiking in hillier terrain.

On some of the hikes a head for heights is needed, but all walks can be skipped.

Before your trip, we recommend hiking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The terrain varies significantly across the different routes, offering a mix of well-defined paths and more rugged trails. Many sections begin on wide, easy-to-follow tracks, such as gravel or paved roads, before transitioning into steeper or more challenging terrain.

Steep descents with hairpin bends feature in some areas, particularly at the beginning of the Navvies Road from Myrdal to Flåm. Some routes follow undulating paths carved into cliffside landscapes, which can be rocky underfoot and occasionally narrow, requiring careful footing. In some sections handrails provide additional support, and river crossings are managed via stepping stones or sturdy wooden bridges.

The walk to Mt Prest Summit has an exposed section towards the end, and the walk from Balestrand to Raudmelen follows a well maintained trail with a open ridge with views on both sides.

This trip is not suitable for those with vertigo.Mountain paths often traverse scrubland, rocky outcrops, and woodland, sometimes crossing boggy ground, where wooden planks help avoid the worst patches. Trails may also pass through farmland and grassy areas, which can become muddy when wet.

This route is graded Moderate overall, requiring a head for heights. Within the route, individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation is a mix of a modern, 3-star standard city-center hotel in Bergen and traditional 3-star hotels in fjord-side locations, many with fantastic views, good restaurants and terraces where you can relax and look out over the Sognefjord.

If your usual accommodation is unavailable, we'll arrange an alternative of an equal standard and will always discuss any additional costs with you in advance.

Unfortunately, this is not available to solo travelers. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included throughout, along with 2 evening meals on Day 2 & 5.

Packed lunches can be ordered from your accommodation the night before, or you can pick up something along the way.

Drinks aren't included but are available to buy at all of your overnight stops.

You can start this tour on any day of the week from the beginning of June to the end of August.

Summer is the most pleasant time of year to explore the Sognefjord area, with long daylight hours and warm daytime temperatures, although depending on the weather and the preceding winter, there may still be some snow on the higher trails at the start of the season.

We recommend booking as early as possible, as accommodations fill up quickly, though we'll always do our best to accommodate your plans.

Luggage transfers on this trip work a little differently from our usual inn-to-inn routes.

When you are travelling by train and ferry you need to take your luggage with you. Please keep your luggage to a minimum size and a weight that you can easily handle - this will give you a more pleasurable experience when travelling between towns.

When you hike from Myrdal and Flåm, you'll need to carry your bags with you, or arrange a locally payable transfer. The luggage transfer is easily done at the train station cafe at Myrdal, and the bags will wait for you at Flåm station. It costs around 200 NOK and is payable locally.

Norway has an excellent system of trail-marking, and all of the paths you'll be following are well waymarked. Walks usually begin and end at a central point in town, such as a church or bus stop, and access routes to your accommodation aren't included in the daily distance figures given in your itinerary.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you'd like more information on the route, we recommend:
Aurland by Nordeca (map)
Balestrand by Nordeca (map)

Your tour starts and ends in Bergen, which is well connected by air, rail, road and ferry.

BY AIR

Bergen Airport (BGO) has direct flights from a number of central European cities. Flight times include about 1.5 hours from Amsterdam or Copenhagen and 2 hours from London or Paris. You can also fly via Oslo (OSL), which takes about 55 minutes, with up to 20 flights a day between the two.

BY RAIL

The Bergen Railway runs between Oslo and Bergen, with up to 4 departures a day. The journey takes about 7 hours through some beautiful landscapes.

BY ROAD

Driving from Oslo to Bergen takes about 7 hours via the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, part of the National Tourist Route. Other routes, via Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord or Hemsedal, take between 7 and 8 hours.

BY FERRY

The Hurtigruten coastal cruise stops in Bergen, Norled runs high-speed coastal ferries, and Fjord Line sails from Stavanger.

At the end of your tour, you can use any of these routes for your onward travel from Bergen.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation