Sognefjord

The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord – 205 km from the coast to the head of the Lustrafjord, and up to 1.308 metres deep. Its arms reach far into the mountains: the Nærøyfjord and the Aurlandsfjord in the south, and in the east the Lustrafjord with Urnes stave church, the Nigardsbreen glacier and Jotunheimen behind. The pin marks Balestrand, a classic fjord village and a stop of the express boat.

Getting around: no road follows the whole fjord – you cross it by car ferry, for example Fodnes–Mannheller, where the queue can be long in summer. The express boat from Bergen (about 5,5 hours to Flåm, April to October) does not take cars. The inner arms are best explored with your own vehicle and a few days’ time.

Routes and stops: the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route with Stegastein above Aurland, the Sognefjellet Scenic Route from Gaupne over the mountain to Lom, the Flåm Railway (about 1 hour, 20 km up to Myrdal, all year) and Feigumfossen in Luster, a quieter waterfall.

Tips for campers: most ferries are short, need no booking and are paid by card or AutoPASS – check the timetable for the smaller crossings. Walking on the Nigardsbreen glacier needs a guide and a trip of its own. The Sognefjord itself is not part of the World Heritage Site – only its arm, the Nærøyfjord, is.