At a glance
- The Hjørundfjord stretches for 35km beneath the peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, with side valleys and small farms along the water.[1]
- An express boat service from Ålesund to Øye runs in summer and stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[2]
- Ferry crossings between Ytre Standal, Trandal, Sæbø, Skår and Leknes let drivers move around the fjord by water.[2]
- A one way Hjørundfjord cruise from Ålesund to Øye takes 135 minutes and starts from US$58, with stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[3]
- The RIB fjord safari takes 105 minutes, starts from US$157 and is rated 4.88 from 150 reviews.[4]
- Top choice RIB to Hjorundfjord from US$157 Duration105 minutes[4]Rating4.88 from 150 reviews[4]GuideLive tour guide: English[4]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[4] Check availability
- Roundtrip fjord cruise from US$115 Duration5 hours[5]Rating4.58 from 282 reviews[5]GuideLive tour guide: English[5]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[5] See this tour
- Fjordsafari by RIB from US$158 Duration2 hours[6]Rating4.93 from 13 reviews[6]GuideLive tour guide: English[6]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[6] See this tour
As an arm of the enormous Storfjord, the Hjørundfjord stretches for 35km beneath the jagged mountain peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps.
Worth it: a day on the Hjorundfjord by boat
Worth knowing first
Why the Hjorundfjord Is Worth the Boat Ride
The Hjørundfjord stretches for 35km beneath the jagged mountain peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps.[1] From the deck of a small boat the scale is what stays with you. The walls rise almost straight out of green water, side valleys open and close as you pass them, and farms sit on the few flat patches of ground where anyone could build. There are no large towns along the fjord, and the villages are small enough to notice one by one. What you hear is the engine, the water and the birds.
Slogen is a 1,564-meter mountain rising in the Sunnmøre Alps, with a spectacular pyramid shape that plunges directly into Norangsfjord, an arm of Hjørundfjord.[9] You do not need to climb it to enjoy it. Watch for it as the boat works its way up the fjord, and notice how the light changes on it through the day. On a still morning the water holds a mirror image of the peak, and on a windy afternoon the surface breaks into dark chop instead.
Hjorundfjord Ferry and Express Boat Options
Without a car, the boat is the way in. There is an express boat service from Ålesund to Øye in summer that stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[2] That makes a simple day out: board in Ålesund, watch the town give way to open water and then to the narrow fjord, and step off at one of the small stops along the way. If you are staying overnight in a village, the same service brings you back on another day.
Drivers can use ferry crossings between Ytre Standal, Trandal, Sæbø, Skår and Leknes.[2] These short crossings tie the villages to the road network and turn the fjord into something you can loop around rather than an out and back trip. Check times locally before you set out, allow more room in your day than you think you need, and treat the crossings as part of the outing rather than as dead time between viewpoints.
Steep walls and quiet water on the inner Hjorundfjord
One Way Boat Tickets and Round Trips
You do not have to commit to a full day on the water. A one way cruise from Ålesund to Øye takes 135 minutes and starts from US$58, with an English speaking host or greeter, and stops at Hjørundfjorden, Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[3] The sailing in the other direction, from Øye back to Ålesund, also takes 135 minutes and starts from US$58.[10] Booking one direction and travelling back by road is one way to see the fjord without covering the same stretch of water twice.
For a round trip that brings you back to where you started, the Hjørundfjord Fjord Cruise roundtrip from Ålesund takes 5 hours and starts from US$115, calling at Hjørundfjorden, Trandal, Saebo, Urke and Øye before turning back.[5] It is rated 4.58 from 282 reviews.[5] A long stretch on the water sounds like a lot until you see how often the view changes.
On either route, keep an eye on the side fjords. Norangsfjord branches off the main fjord, and the valley road that runs inland from Øye leads toward Norangsdal. The villages along the way have small harbours and jetties where the boat ties up for a few minutes at a time, and the walk from a jetty into a village rarely takes long.
Hurtigruten, Havila and Coastal Voyages
Many travellers see this coast from the deck of a coastal ship rather than a day boat. If you are weighing a Hurtigruten Hjørundfjord detour or a Havila Hjørundfjord excursion against a land based stay, Ålesund is the practical base to work from, and it is where the day boats and the RIB safaris leave from.
The way to plan it is to treat a coastal voyage as the spine of the trip and the fjord as a branch off it. Look at how much time you have ashore when the ship is in port, then pick a boat trip that fits inside that window. A RIB safari can sit inside a short port call, and a fjord cruise suits a longer day. Book anything with a free cancellation window early and you keep the option of changing your mind.[4]
Keep the plan loose. Check the starting time when you book, since boats run to a timetable that shifts with the season, and leave a buffer either side of a port call so a late arrival does not cost you the trip. Reserve now and pay later is listed on these boat trips, and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund means you can commit early with little risk.[4][5]
35km
The Hjørundfjord stretches for 35km beneath the jagged mountain peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps.[1]
RIB Fjord Safaris from Alesund
If you want speed rather than a slow cruise, the RIB Ålesund - Fjordsafari Hjørundfjord takes 105 minutes, starts from US$157 and stops in Hjørundfjorden, with a live English speaking guide.[4] It is rated 4.88 from 150 reviews.[4] A RIB sits low in the water, so you feel the swell and cover a lot of distance in a short time. Hold on, keep your camera tucked away in the fast stretches, and enjoy the cold air on your face.
A second RIB option to the same fjord takes 2 hours and starts from US$158.[6] If you are based further north and want a different stretch of water, the RIB from Hellesylt runs past the Seven Sisters Waterfall and Friaren into Geirangerfjord in 1 hour, from US$104.[11] Each of these is listed with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[4][6][11]
Villages, Hotels and a Sunken Road
Hotel Union Øye is a hotel established in 1891 that gained fame among European aristocracy and luminaries seeking nature without sacrificing luxury and comfort.[12] It is a good reason to step off the boat at Øye and walk a little. The building is part of the reason the inner fjord feels less remote than the map suggests, and a coffee or a night here is a very different fjord experience from a RIB ride.
In 1908, a rock fall from Keipen formed Lygnstøylvatnet in Norangsdal, and beneath its waters remains of the old road, farmhouse foundations and gateway are still visible.[13] On a calm day the surface is clear enough to make out the line of the old road below. It is a strange and quiet place, and it sits close to the fjord side of the valley, which makes it a simple addition to a day ashore.
Wildlife, Weather and What to Wear
Harbour porpoises are the fjord's most common cetaceans, appearing singly or in small groups as they hunt fish near the surface.[8] They are small, fast and easy to miss, so keep your eyes on the water when the boat slows or turns. A pair of binoculars helps, and so does patience. Quiet stretches of the fjord are often the best places to look.
Ålesund has an oceanic climate with cold, rainy winters and cool summers.[7] On the water it feels cooler than on land, so a windproof layer, gloves and a hat earn their place even in midsummer. Bring sunglasses, because the light off the fjord is bright, and a dry bag for anything you do not want to get wet.
Comfortable shoes with grip matter more than style, whether you are stepping onto a wet jetty or walking a farm track. Pack water and something to eat for the day, and take a light backpack rather than a heavy one. Layers you can pull on and off are the whole trick: cool mornings, warm middays and cold evenings are all part of a day out here.
How long the boat trips last
Durations in hours as listed on each tour page.[5][6][11][14]
What the boat trips cost
From-prices in US dollars for these tour listings.[3][4][5][6]
When to plan a boat trip
Getting there by boat
Start from Alesund
Alesund is the base for the boat trips into the fjord, with the express boat and the RIB safaris leaving from the waterfront.
Take the summer express boat
An express boat service from Ålesund to Øye runs in summer and stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[2]
Use the local ferries
Ferry crossings between Ytre Standal, Trandal, Sæbø, Skår and Leknes connect the villages for drivers.[2]
Book a RIB safari
The RIB into Hjørundfjorden takes 105 minutes and starts from US$157.[4]
Watch the weather
Alesund has cool summers and cold, rainy winters, so pick a day with light wind and dress for spray.[7]
See the Hjorundfjord from water level on a RIB fjord safari
from US$157Reserve now & pay later
