Loved it as nice quick way to see the Fjord from a different perspective as close to the water…read more Nice speed makes rude somewhat exhilarating.

Beyond beautiful. The trail up the mountain is not terribly difficult but is mostly metal stairs…read more(327 of them). But all along the way their are picturesque vantages that scream for a photo or, even better, a video. At the top (or at least, as far as we went) is a quaint coffee shop that allows for a drink, a snack, and a chance to catch your breath. You can return by the same trail or venture down the road and check out a small church along the way. Enjoy the incredible beauty of Norway and hike along this trail and see the amazing vistas that only Nature can provide.

Sheep waterfalls and…read more magic Storseterfossen is a famous and very popular waterfall in Geiranger, Norway. The main falls is about 100 feet high and to get close to the waterfall requires about a hour's hike up some fairly steep terrain. The path is well marked and even has some stone steps, so although it might get you puffing in places, it isn't that strenuous. But just beware that hiking is the only way to the top and definitely isn't for people that have trouble going up or down rather steep hills. The entire trip up is incredible, with lovely views of the surrounding hills and small villages. A whole bunch of sheep run loose all over the hill and most are very use to people and will ignore you. Occasional you will have to go around one on the path because they seem to think they always have the right of way. The hike is indeed lovely but the really cool part is the waterfall at the top that you can actually go right behind. Literally stand in a hollowed out spot right behind the roaring water falling one hundred feet from the top of the hill. The only other time I've seen a waterfall this powerful that you could actually get behind was Seljalandsfoss in Iceland. That waterfall actually originates from the Eyjafjallayokull glacier and active volcanic system. Getting down behind the Storseterfossen does take a bit of dexterity because the rocks are wet and slippery and you have to duck to keep from wonking your head on the overhanging rocks. But there are rope guides so with a bit of care it's not too bad. We did however see one woman take a nasty fall on one of the loose rocks and had to be airlifted off the mountain. Storseterfossen is one of those places that just cannot be rated with stupid Yelp stars. It's about as magnificent and ethereal as anyplace can be. The hike up the mountain would be great even without the waterfall. But to actually get to stand behind the roaring falls and feel the ice cold water hitting you in the face and the thunder of the water hammering your ears is amazing. If there is indeed real magic in this world it's contained in places like this.

Disclaimer: This hike can be filled with tourists because they do one-way drop offs from the fjord…read more Even so, it is a stunningly beautiful hike. I did the hike as a two-way hike from Geiranger. You can either way all the way from the city center to the trailhead, or you can drive most of the way and leave your car on the side of the road near where the road starts to climb elevation, right before the camping sites. Be warned that if you park at a camping site they will charge you upwards of $30. The trailhead is easy to find and quickly gains elevation until Homlongssaetra. If you want to keep going, you can continue to Skagefla farm. There is some spectacular camping along the way, although I am not sure if it is technically "legal," but I had no problems.

Absolutely gorgeous hike from Hole up to Grinddalssaetra. Most of it is switchbacks and very…read moregradual. We did this hike in a couple hours to find a good place to eat lunch and escape the crowds. This is exactly what we found as the only other people on the hike were locals. You can drive up quite a ways if you have a car, then park it on the side of the road right when you see the turn off to the right for the trailhead. Ask at the visitor center for a trail map, tell them you are trying to escape the crowds, and they might give you the map for free (they did for me!). There are some good places to camp farther up the ridge if you are looking for that.

Trollstigen Road is an impressive mountain road with eleven hairpin turns in the Romsdal Valley…read more Due to several rockslides, the road was closed for the 2024 summer season, so our original tour was cancelled. Fortunately, we were able to book a tour with Trond from Local Trips to reach the scenic overlook. The viewpoint from the Trollstigen plateau is gorgeous. Nice to be able to make several stops along the way to view steep mountains, towering waterfalls, deep fjords and lush valleys. The view platform itself is actually suspended 200 meters above the ground, but the solid steel and glass construction is sturdy. Not so crowded when we visited, probably due to the road closures making it more challenging to reach the viewing platform. Trollstigen is surrounded by colossal mountains, such as the Bishop, the King and the Queen. Bispen, Kongen and Dronninga. Imagine this road being built almost a century ago. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Norway.

Very cool road with awesome views. I had assumed that it would be a fun drive due to the tight…read moreturns but you need to take it quite slow because it's narrow with blind turns. Unfortunately not too many places to pull over to take pictures. They do have a few including a big stop at the end (with a huge parking lot) that has restrooms, food, store, view points etc. Was a unforgettable experience.

If this church is open, it is definitely worth a peak inside. I guess sometimes it is not, but on…read morethe day my cruise ship docked here, it was. It's a 15 minute walk from the cruise pier, so definitely doable, and you will pass some shops along the way that you can stop at. As for the church, It's so unique, especially if you are used to European churches that are more grand. This one is primarily wood, and it is impressive at how much they are able to maintain it. If the church is not open, even the outside is pretty cool too.

Church was built in 1759. Free to enter. Once you enter, small print out on the right hand wall,…read moretells all about the church.

Stopped on the drive from Ålesund to Trollstigen Road with Trond from Local Trips…read more This was really a beautiful place to stop during the sightseeing tour. We were dropped off at the start of an elevated boardwalk which gave a beautiful view of narrow, high ravine which the Valldøla Rivers rushes through. The waterfall is such a nice view. Love the rainbow that it creates. The boardwalk is also so interesting. The iron walkway weaves back and forth leading to other short hikes. Check out the information board to find other trails. There are also free bathrooms and a few farmers selling the most delicious strawberries and raspberries. A nice place to stop on the way to Trollstigen from Alesund.

Trollstigen, the Land of the Trolls…read more When our original cruise ship tour to Trollstigen was cancelled due to the road being closed for the season due to six major rockslides, our party needed to find an alternative plan. Trond and his small, but mighty, ice cream loving Troll assistant to the rescue. Trond from Local Trips is really a fantastic guide. He was able to coordinate our group to be with him on the same van as per my special request. So happy to be his co-pilot for the day. So easy to meet Trond upon arrival in the Ålesund cruise terminal. Love how adapted the tour, so that we really had an amazing day exploring the region in a small group with seven stops in under seven hours. I have never been on a tour where we were given an itinerary with descriptions of each stop including where we were on the map, what time we would arrive and leave and whether or not there was a WC/water closet. Coupled with Trond's amazing storytelling, knowledge and love of the area and sense of humor, this was the best tour on our vacation to Norway. Just perfect. The Liabygda Ringsetskiftet Viewpoint by the sea was so beautiful. It was one of many stops on our itinerary. To the left, you can see a salmon fish farm and to the right you can see the town Stranda where the Grandiosa pizza-factory is located. Nice to see the Geiranger and Hellesylt Fjords along the way. Don't think. Just go to Trollstigen, The Land of the Trolls with Trond from Local Trips. From the filming of Mission Impossible (with the glasshouses that were rented for the cast and crew) to the Norwegian systems for education, taxes and healthcare to how the fjords and glaciers were formed, you will learn so much, see so much and just come away feeling like you have experienced a magical day.