What would the Norwegian coast be without its fjords? Well, it would be a lot shorter. Measure the western shore of Norway in a straight line and it’s 2,500km, but measure all the inlets and wiggles made by the fjords you’d get a number more than 10 times higher. With their legends of trolls and their twisting views, there’s something a little tricky about their glassy-eyed beauty. Boats hover hesitantly, as if at the entrance of some mountain king’s hall. It’s only right to enjoy this natural wonder as reverently as you can: by hiking, biking, and even, on some fjords, silent electric ferries. But where to start?
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Come and celebrate the Stegosaurus-like coast of Norway – all ridges and edges, and very, very old indeed.
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Two of the most famous fjords, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, are UNESCO-listed, and found in southwest Norway. Further south you’ll find Lysefjord, from which you’ll return evangelising about the beauty of Pulpit Rock. Then there’s Sognefjord, the longest and deepest of the lot. Incredibly, only 10 fjords bear the majority of the cruise ship traffic. As for the thousand or so others – they are yours to explore.
