If you would like to go to a lovely little village where you can sit in the balcony of your hotel room sipping a drink watching the ever-so-slowly unfolding colors of a fjord and the hills, well….Flåm is the place for you!

Flåm hugs the edge of a steep cliff bordering the Aurlandsfjord. It’s quite a small place with just a few hotels and a couple of places to eat. It is in Southwest Norway, near Aurland. Here’s what we did there:

1. Take the ride on the scenic Flam Railway

First, a ride on the Flam Railway to view deep ravines, waterfalls, valleys and mountain farms on sheer slopes. The journey takes you from the beautiful Aurlandsfjord at Flåm to the Myrdal mountain top – nearly 900 meters above sea level. The ride includes a stop to view the popular Kjosfossen waterfall.

2. Visit the interesting Flam Railway Museum and quaint shops

Flam Railway Museum located on the Flam station is worth taking a look. It is truly fascinating to learn about the history and construction of the railway.

We also found interesting shops with local items and a unique Norwegian troll displayed outside the shops.

3. Enjoy the Fjord Cruise

Next, the fjord cruise (one way or return) from Flåm to Gudvangen or the other way around, through Aurlandfjord and then through the narrow Nærøyfjord (on the UNESCO World Heritage list) to reach Gudvangen. The Nærøyfjord is 17 km long and the narrowest point is only 250 m wide. This passage is one of the most dramatic fjord trips in Europe.

We started in the late afternoon so that it was just getting dark by the time we got back. Amazing shadows, colors and reflections from the light bouncing off the huge towering cliffs on the rippling water!

The cruise was special due to the modern hybrid ferry called the Vision of the Fjords built to allow plenty of unobstructed deck views and large viewing windows inside. It was one amazing experience!

4. Visit the picturesque village of Undredal

Next, we visited the tiny village of Undredal, just a twenty minute drive from Flåm. Norway is famous for its yummy goat cheese and Undredal happens to be a place where they produce this goat cheese! There is a museum called “Eldhuset” where we saw displays centred on the art of cheese making and the process of maturing the cheese. The local white and brown cheese,  cured goat sausages and souvenirs are sold in a local shop ‘Undredalsbui‘ next door.

In addition to this cheese making museum,  Undredal also boasts of a cute Stave Church – the smallest in Scandinavia. 

5. Drive the challenging road to Stegastein Viewpoint

Finally, the scary drive to Stegastein, a magnificent viewpoint high up on the cliff. It is a 15-minute drive on E16 from Aurland and half hour from Flåm. Start early before 9 am so that there is less traffic on this mountain road. Beware, the road is narrow and winding with plenty of blind turns and a sheer cliff on one side with nothing much by way of a crash barrier! Once you reach the top, there are breathtaking views of the fjords!

Plus, lovely walks along the fjord-side. 

 

Flam in Norway
Flåm in Norway

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