Nærøyfjord
Nærøyfjord is the narrowest fjord in the world. It is located in Norway, in the municipality of Aurlandom, Sogn og Fjordane province and is one of the arms of the Sogne Fjord. Its width is only 250 meters and its depth reaches up to 500 meters. At the same time, there are areas where the depth of the fjord does not exceed 10. Mighty mountains, 1700 meters high, waterfalls, green valleys – all these natural wonders surround the Nerey Fjord. It is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. In 2005, the fjord was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
.General information
The Nerey Fjord is 17 kilometers long, with numerous farmhouses on its shores, and the area itself was inhabited as far back as ten thousand years ago. Agriculture plays an important role in this region, and the land has been cultivated for over 3000 years. The fjord itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
.The bay owes its beauty to steep slopes, waterfalls, glaciers, coniferous forests, blue lakes, winding rivers and mighty mountains. And in the warm waters of the bay there are seals, which can be watched in good weather when they swim out to bask in the sun.
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On the tops of the cliffs were equipped with observation platforms specially for vacationers. From the height of such majestic mountains, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of the sea and sheer cliffs.
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Traveling along the Nerøy Fjord is part of “Norway in Miniature”, the country’s most popular sightseeing tour. In the south of the Nærøy Fjord, in a narrow gorge surrounded by steep cliffs, lurks the village of Gudvangen, from which ferries to Flom and Laeldal depart. Gudvanden has always been perceived among Norwegians as something mystical. Since ancient times the area has been a temple, where various rituals were held.
.There is a small hotel in Gudvangen, the rooms of which are decorated in an ancient style. The souvenirs offered in the local shop are hard to find elsewhere, they are themed and made by local artisans. The exoticism of Gudvanden is abundant – the soot-covered walls, the smoke from the fireplaces, the smell of paint from their workshops. But the white caves of Gudvanden will greet guests with the play of light and shadow and the purest emerald ponds.
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There are several settlements on the shores of the fjord, which are completely empty in winter, during this period there is no automobile communication with the settlements. Usually tourists come to the shores of the fjord from May to September. There are plenty of opportunities for active recreation here. Many companies offer a trip on the fjord in inflatable boats, the adventure is completely safe and gives the opportunity to see for yourself all the charms of wildlife.
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For lovers of hiking a real discovery will be the “Royal Trail”, it is very picturesque and leads along the entire coast. More experienced tourists go to Beitelen, it is not an easy journey, but the view of the Nerøy Fjord is fantastic. With an experienced guide, you can choose to go kayaking or canoeing.
.How to get to Nerøy Fjord
Nerøy Fjord is located 350 kilometers, northwest of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The time taken by train by rail, by bus and by your own car is about the same – 6 hours.
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From Bergen (the distance between Bergen and Nærøy Fjord is about 150 kilometers).
By car.By car, the whole journey will take about two and a half hours.Take the E16 highway to Voss and Stalheim.From Stalheim, take the mountain serpentine with 13 steep turns down to the Nærøydalen valley.
By bus.The journey, like by car, will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes.Nor-Way Bussekspress buses leave daily for Gudvangen.From Gudvangen, walk or take a ferry to any place on the fjord. By train.Travel time is 3 to 4 hours, but you’ll see more sights.Take the train to Myrdal on the Bergen Railroad.At Myrdal station, change to a train to Flom on the Flom Railroad.From Flom, take the ferry to the village of Gudvangen..From Oslo (the distance between Oslo and Nærøy Fjord is about 350 kilometers).
.By car.By car, the journey from Oslo will take approximately 5-6 hours.Take the E18 highway to Sandvika.From Sandvika, take the E16 highway past Hønefoss, Fagernes, Vang and Borgund to the village of Gudvangen.
. By bus.The journey by bus will take about 7 hours.The buses are the same as those from Bergen, the Nor-Way Bussekspress, will take you to Gudvangen. By train.Travel time is about 6 hours, the route is almost the same as from Bergen, except for the departure point.Take the train from Oslo to Myrdal on the Bergen railroad.At Myrdal station, change to a train going to Flom..