At a glance
- Ålesund: Private Hjørundfjord Cruise with Captain is a private group departure from Ålesund with a live guide who speaks English, from US$2619.[1]
- The cruise runs for 4 hours, and you check availability to see the starting times for your date.[1]
- The route takes in the Hjørundfjord, the arm of water beneath the Sunnmøre Alps that stretches for 35km.[1][2]
- You can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
- Shared options on the same fjord start lower: a RIB fjordsafari from US$157, and a roundtrip fjord cruise from Ålesund from US$115.[3][4]
- Top choice RIB Fjordsafari Hjørundfjord from US$157 Duration105 minutes[3]Rating4.88 from 150 reviews[3]GuideLive tour guide: English[3]PaymentReserve now & pay later[3] Check availability
- Hjørundfjord Fjord Cruise from US$115 Duration5 hours[4]Rating4.58 from 282 reviews[4]GuideLive tour guide: English[4]PaymentReserve now & pay later[4] See this tour
- Fjordsafari RIB Hjørundfjord from US$158 Duration2 hours[5]Rating4.93 from 13 reviews[5]GuideLive tour guide: English[5]PaymentReserve now & pay later[5] See this tour
At 1,564 meters above sea level, Slogen rises in the heart of the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. It is distinguished by its spectacular pyramid shape that plunges directly into the waters of Norangsfjord, an arm of the famous Hjørundfjord.
Our verdict: the private cruise with a captain
Worth knowing first
On the water
- Ålesund has an oceanic climate with cold, rainy winters and cool summers.[7]
- A private group departure from Ålesund, with a live guide who speaks English.[1]
- Bring a charged camera and a dry bag, and keep one hand free for the railing.
- Summer evenings stay light late, and the fjord looks different in every kind of weather.
Why the Hjørundfjord suits a private boat
The Hjørundfjord is water where the view changes every few minutes, and a private boat lets you decide when to slow down and look. The fjord stretches for 35km beneath the jagged peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps.[2] Villages sit at the shoreline, reached by boat or by a long road around, and there is almost no traffic on the water. With your own boat, the day bends around your own pace.
The most recognisable peak above you is Slogen, which rises to 1,564 meters and plunges directly into Norangsfjord, an arm of Hjørundfjord.[8] Seen from the water it looks close enough to touch, and its pyramid shape is the thing people remember afterwards. Charge your camera before you leave, and keep it somewhere dry but easy to reach.
A private departure also frees you from a shared timetable. If the water is calm and everyone is enjoying the ride, you can linger near a waterfall or a farm on the slope. If the cloud drops, you can turn for home early. Ask the captain about conditions on the morning of your trip and keep the plan loose.
The private cruise with captain at a glance
Ålesund: Private Hjørundfjord Cruise with Captain is a private group departure from Ålesund with a live tour guide who speaks English, and it runs for 4 hours.[1] The listed from price is US$2619.[1] For a family, a group of friends or two couples, that is the shape of the day: one boat, your own people on board, and a captain who knows the fjord.
For a private fjord cruise from Ålesund, booking is flexible. You can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1] Starting times are not identical on every date, so check availability to see starting times for the day you want before you build a schedule around it.[1]
On the water, expect spray, wind and cooler air even on a bright afternoon. Layers are the Norwegian answer: a base layer, a fleece and a windproof, waterproof outer shell. Bring gloves if your hands get cold easily, and put your phone in a dry bag with a strap.
A RIB throws a white wake across flat water beneath the Sunnmøre Alps.
Villages, ferries and a drowned road along the fjord
The fjord is not empty water. There is an express boat service from Ålesund to Øye in summer that stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke[9], and there are ferry crossings between Ytre Standal, Trandal, Sæbø, Skår and Leknes.[9] From a private boat you see the same places from the water, and you choose how long to stay.
Two landmarks are worth knowing before you sail. Hotel Union Øye is a hotel established in 1891 that gained fame among European aristocracy and luminaries seeking nature without sacrificing luxury and comfort.[10] Inland, Lygnstøylvatnet in Norangsdal was formed by a rock fall from Keipen in 1908, and beneath its waters you can still see remains of the old road, the foundations of the farmhouses and the gateway.[11]
The summer boat and ferry network means you can build a one way day, out on the water and back by road and ferry, if the timings allow. Otherwise, treat the villages as landmarks on your route and let the captain choose a good line along the shore. Ask which side of the fjord gives a fine view of Slogen at the hour you sail.
What you might see on the water
Harbour porpoises are the fjord's most common cetaceans, appearing singly or in small groups as they hunt fish near the surface.[12] They surface briefly and roll, often with a small puff of spray, and they rarely hold one line for long. A quiet boat and a patient pair of eyes both help.
Sea eagles work these cliffs as well, and gulls, terns and cormorants are part of the everyday scene. Keep binoculars in your bag and scan the water ahead of the bow rather than staring straight down at it. Watching like this is a slow pleasure, and it suits the pace of a private boat.
Do not feed wildlife, and keep a respectful distance if a porpoise or a bird comes close. This is a working landscape as well as a beautiful one, with fish farms, small yards and ferries going about their business while you pass. They are as much part of the fjord as the mountains.
from $2619
Ålesund: Private Hjørundfjord Cruise with Captain is a 4 hour private group cruise from Ålesund with a live English speaking guide.[1]
Private boat, RIB or roundtrip cruise: your options
Two private options run on this water. Ålesund: Private Hjørundfjord Cruise is a small group trip limited to 10 participants that runs for 4 hours, from US$3667.[13] The private cruise with captain, from US$2619, also runs for 4 hours.[1] The difference between them comes down to group size and price, not the fjord itself.
If speed appeals more than space, the RIB trips are a cheaper way to see the same fjord. RIB Ålesund - Fjordsafari Hjørundfjord is rated 4.88 from 150 reviews, runs for 105 minutes, and starts from US$157, with Hjørundfjorden as its stop.[3] Fjordsafari with RIB to Hjørundfjord, from US$158, is rated 4.93 from 13 reviews and runs for 2 hours.[5]
The slow option is the roundtrip fjord cruise from Ålesund, from US$115, rated 4.58 from 282 reviews, taking 5 hours with stops at Hjørundfjorden, Trandal, Saebo, Urke and Øye.[4] A one way Hjørundfjord cruise from Ålesund to Øye takes 135 minutes and starts from US$58.[14] A RIB from Hellesylt to the Geirangerfjord, from US$104, is rated 4.94 from 238 reviews and runs for 1 hour.[15]
Getting to Ålesund and what to wear on the water
Ålesund has an oceanic climate, with cold, rainy winters and cool summers.[7] Rain arrives quickly and clears just as fast, so pack a waterproof outer layer, warm mid layers, a hat and thin gloves. Flat shoes with grip beat anything smart on a moving deck, and a neck gaiter earns its place in your day bag.
Arriving is easy, by air or by coastal ship, and the town centre is compact and walkable once you are there. A one way transfer between Ålesund Airport and the city takes 30 minutes and starts from US$134[6], and a private transfer covers the same run in 30 minutes from US$116.[16]
Allow more time than you think you need on departure day. Walk the meeting point the evening before, keep the operator's phone number handy, and be there early with your layers already on. If you are travelling with children, pick a departure that leaves room for a snack and a rest afterwards.
When to go and how to book a private fjord day
Summer gives you the widest choice of boats and departure times. The express boat from Ålesund to Øye runs in summer and stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.[9] Outside those months, services thin out and a private charter becomes the practical way to reach the inner fjord.
The private cruise with captain is listed from US$2619 for 4 hours, with reserve now and pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.[1] Starting times vary by date, so check availability before you build the rest of your day around it.[1]
Think about who is coming. A private boat suits three or four friends, a family with older children, or two couples sharing the cost. If the budget is tighter, a shared RIB on the same fjord is a good alternative. Book the date you want and let the weather settle the rest.
Hjørundfjord boat trips: from prices
From prices in US dollars on the GetYourGuide listings for each trip.[1][3][4][13][15]
Private and shared Hjørundfjord boat trips
From prices in US dollars on the GetYourGuide listings for each trip.[1][3][4][13]
When to plan your private Hjørundfjord cruise
Private cruise planning
Pick your date
Check availability for the date you want to see the starting times for the 4 hour private cruise.[1]
Book the boat
Reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
Plan the transfer
A one way transfer between Ålesund Airport and the city takes 30 minutes and starts from US$134.[6]
Pack for spray
Layers, a windproof shell and a dry bag for your phone make open water much more comfortable.
Watch the water
Harbour porpoises are the fjord's most common cetaceans, appearing singly or in small groups near the surface.[12]
Add a village
In summer the express boat from Ålesund to Øye stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke, which makes time ashore easy.[9]
Ready for the Hjørundfjord with your own captain?
from US$2,619
