Splendid Sognefjord

Standing on the deck of the boat, I am surrounded by three different climates. To my left, the sun is blazing bright in the electric blue sky. To my right, fingers of fog swirl and cloak the mountains. Behind me, heavy mist falls obscuring the wake of the boat. I guess this is springtime in Norway.

Norway may not be known for its grand weather, but it is known for its fjords. The largest and most famous fjord in Norway is the Sognefjord. The Sognefjord is also the world’s second longest fjord at approximately 127 miles. Too often travelers only experience the Sognefjord by boat as they travel from Bergen to Flam (or Flam to Bergen) as part of a tour called Norway in a Nutshell. While the scenery from the ferry is spectacular, you miss out exploring the treasures of the fjord villages along the way.

This was my first trip to Norway and my goal was to hike in the sparkling mountains of Balestrand and visit the historic churches of Vik before heading to Oslo.