Geiranger

Join us at the travel forum , where you can share your upcoming travel plans, travel experiences or discuss anything about travel. Geiranger is the tiny village and rural community at the eastern end of Geirangerfjord. Hellesylt village sits at the western end of Geirangerfjord, and from there the fjord does a sharp turn north with the name Sunnylvsfjord. The latter fjord is in turn connected to the main fjord, aptly named Storfjord (large fjord), at the small town Stranda. Strictly speaking Geirangerfjord is merely the inner 15-kilometer section of the wider Storfjord system. Storfjord is about 100 km long and one of main fjord systems in Western Norway. While Geiranger and Hellesylt are small villages, Stranda is the municipal centre. Several hundred cruise ships with some 300,000 passengers visit Geirangerfjord every summer, making Geiranger the 2nd biggest cruise port in Norway, only surpassed by Bergen. Many tourists also arrive by charter bus. In addition there is a large number of independent travellers. Geiranger is a small village of 200 people, but the influx of 5,000 or more tourists daily makes Geiranger a relatively crowded place at day time. The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's oldest destinations for international tourism. Cruise ship tourism began in the late 19th century. Kaiser Wilhelm visited Geiranger every summer until World War I. Road 63 "Road 63 (Norway)") between Åndalsnes and Geiranger via Valldal is one of Norway's 18 national tourist routes, these being the most scenic drives in Norway. Location of Geirangergfjord (darker blue) within Møre og Romsdal (green). Geirangerfjord is the southernmost part of great Storfjord. Between Hellesylt and the main fjord is Sunnylvsfjord segment. Road 63 "Road 63 (Norway)") from Eidsdal and Valldal to the north via Eagles Highway (mountain pass, 10 hairpin turns); from Otta , Stryn and Grotli to the South via Geirangervegen (mountain pass, 50 hairpin turns). Road 60 from Stryn or Ålesund to Hellesylt, from Hellesylt car ferry further to Geiranger Cruise ships make semi-regular visits to Geiranger in the Summer months (May-Late August). Cunard Cruises, Queen Elizabeth and other lines visit the Geiranger Fjords every summer. The Geiranger Port [dead link] has a cruise terminal, a Seawalk, and 3–4 anchor positions depending on the size of the ships. Opened in 2013, the Seawalk is a self-propelled three-segment articulated floating pier, 236 m-long by 4.5 m-wide steel platform on 10 pontoons, which moves out to the ship (like a floatable jetwalk) to accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour disembarking from a single ship. With Geiranger a busy cruise port, you may have to take a short tender when there's more than one ship in port. Hellesylt now offers a sizable pier for single ships, while local car ferries use a separate facility for both locations. The sailing into the fjord is not to be missed as many cruisers wake up as early as 4am to witness the stunning beauty of this Norwegian fjord. Or enjoy the Geiranger sail away in the afternoon. Small towns and homes cling to the high cliffsides. Friendly Norwegians' can be seen doing their farmwork, milking cows, working in cliffside garden fields. Temperatures and weather can vary by the minute, it is best to wear warm clothing layers and bring your binoculars to see animals grazing on cliffsides, small Norwegian homes, and the beauty of this fjord. Check if your cruiseline visits the Geiranger Fjord, it is truly one of the best, most relaxing, awe-inspiring cruises that you will ever take. Both towns are easily walkable and scenic, and each blessed is by a waterfall. It's a lovely small Norwegian town that you must visit in the summer months. Plenty of photo opportunities in and around Geiranger. Adventurers take to the hills of Geiranger via walking and sometimes even biking. Winter closes most of the roads in the Geiranger fjord, so it's best to visit in the summer. Watch out for campers, trucks, and tour buse