HI World Destination of the Month: Fjord Norway!

Get Ready to Explore Fjord Norway- The World’s Best Destination as voted by the National Geographic Traveler

The western part of Norway is called ‘Fjord Norway’ and with good reason! The many fjords mean that this region of Norway is blessed with fantastic scenery like nowhere else in the world. The fjords of Norway have retained their natural beauty and feeling of untouched nature. For those of you that aren’t sure, a fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake, with steep land on three sides.

Well-known fjords in Western Norway

Travel in the wake of fishing boats and merchant ships. Most of the landscape in Fjord Norway has changed little since Viking longboats set sail for distant shores.©Photo: Frithjof Fure

SognefjordSognefjord stretchs 204 km into the world famous national parks of Jotunheimen and Jostedalsbreen. Norway’s longest and deepest fjord at 1308m deep and the world’s second longest fjord. Sognefjord is located south of Sogn and Fjordane County.

©Photo: Per Eide

Geiranger Fjord15 km long and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, the Geiranger Fjord attracts travellers with its pristine beauty. Along the fjord you will see farms, situated far up in the mountains; it’s hard to believe that anyone could live there! Geiranger Fjord is situated in Møre og Romsdal county.

©Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life As/Fjord Norway

Nærøyfjord19 km long and part of the Aurland Fjord, which in turn is an arm of the Sognefjord, Nærøyfjord extends to the little place of Gudvangen. This is the narrowest fjord in the world at only 250m at its narrowest point. The mountains in the area stretch 1800m above sea level. Nærøyfjord was in 2005inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nærøyfjord is situated in Sogn and Fjordane county.

©Photo: Frithjof Fure

HardangerfjordAt 179 km long, Hardangerfjord is Norway’s second longest fjord and the third longest in the world. At its deepest, it’s more than 800m. Hardangerfjord is famous for its flowering fruit trees and the glacier Folgefonni, which is located on the south side. Hardangerfjord is located in Hordaland County in the Hardanger area.

©Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life As/Fjord Norway

Hjørundfjorden33 km long and considered by many as one of the most beautiful fjords in the world because of the sharp-pointed peaks on both sides. It is in the core area of Sunnmørsalpene. Hjørundfjorden is situated in Møre og Romsdal county.

©Photo: Odd Inge Worsø

Lysefjord42 km long and almost 500m at it’s deepest. Plateaus, known as Pulpit Rock and Kjerag, is situated along the fjord. Because of high mountains and large lakes on the plateaus, Lysefjord is used for hydropower generation. Lysefjord is located in Ryfylke.

The hostel network in Norway represents 30 HI hostels in Fjord Norway. All hostels are well designed for the modern traveler and are suitable for families and individuals. They are all bookable through hihostels.com. Please click here for more information.

The Bergen Montana hostel is your all year gateway hostel to the fjords. Please click here to check out the Montana hostel.

During your trip why not check out other parts of Norway and stay with HI along the way. The hostel network in Norway covers the whole country with almost 80 hostels. For more information and to make you’re booking please check out the Norway country page .