5. Bergen to Balestrand in 1 day Itinerary of Sognefjord
Segment 5 per the map below ends in Balestrand, another picture perfect small village on the Sognefjord. This segment starts with a rental car in Bergen and takes you north to Balestrand in 1 day across stunning Sognefjord country. The drive is easy and the views around each bend make you truly appreciate the majestic landscape of Norway. This beauty is what you've been yearning for, and it does not disappoint.
Bubbly Tip: It rains a lot in Norway so bring proper rain gear including coats, shoes/boots and umbrellas. And bring layers because you'll need to be able to layer up or down depending on the hour of the day. Don't feel like packing everything? Well there's plenty of fashionable stores throughout the country that set the standard with cool and stylish water-proof rain gear.
Getting to Balestrand
Voss
In segment 2 of our itinerary of Norway, you would have already come through Voss (or Vossevangen). You would have caught the train here after de-boarding the bus from Gudvangen, but you may not have had time to visit. Voss is known as Norway’s extreme sports capital where there are several white water rivers including the Strandaelva and the Raundalselva, both international standard rivers, and where you can also mountain bike, sky dive, and snow ski. The village itself is small and not really worth going out of your way for, but if you stroll around, you can see the Voss Church, a stone church dating from 1278 (we weren't able to enter), Lake Vangsvatnet, and a small shopping district not far from the train station with restaurants and a delicious food truck for a nice lunch stop. It's about 60 miles (100 km) or a 2 hour drive from Bergen.
Hopperstad Stave Church
Only 40 miles (66 km) north of Voss or just over one hour by car is the magnificent Hopperstad Stave Church in the small village of Vikøyri. This is one of only 28 stave churches left in Europe, and it is one of the oldest dating back to approximately 1130 AD. The stave churches are recognizable by their black coatings of tar. They were built between 1130 and 1350 when the Black Death brought all new building to a halt. As part of your paid visit, you'll see the intricately carved portal with dragons and intertwining vines and beautiful wrought-iron work, a canopy over a side altar with paintings from around 1300, an iron-bound chest from the Middle Ages, an altar dating back to 1621, a lectern from the 16th century and twenty runic inscriptions carved into the walls.
Sognefjord
King of the Fjords
The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord and stretches 127 miles (204 kms) inland from the coast north of Bergen. Sognefjord is more than 3,300 feet (1,000 m) deep for about 60 mi (100 kms) of its length, from Rutledal to Hermansverk. The climate of this inner end of Sognefjorden and its branches are not as wet as on the outer coastline. Note: You would have already seen the Sognefjord in segment 2 of our 7 - 10 day perfect itinerary of Norway, and in fact, you can access Balestrand by ferry from Flåm.
Ferry across the Sognefjord
Just 15 minutes up the road in the small town of Vangsnes, you'll find the ferry access point. This will take you across the Sognefjord. Note: in case your car rental car agency didn't tell you, the ferry service will take a photo of your license plate (registration plate) and will bill you through the rental agency.
Bubbly Tip: When waiting to take the ferry at Vangsnes, there are three lanes to the right numbered 1 - 3 that will get out at the second stop for Balestrand and three lanes to the left numbered 4 - 6 getting out at the first ferry stop for Dragsvik. Weirdly, lane 4 - 6 boarded first and then lanes 1 - 3. When in doubt just ask the ferry employee directing traffic onto the boat.
5. Balestrand
Balestrand, conveniently located on the Sognesfjord
Segment number 5 on our perfect 7 - 10 Day Norway itinerary takes you to Balestrand, a small village located on the Sognefjord in Norway. It's not necessarily a destination into itself but it is a convenient stopover town on the Sognesfjord while traveling through this part of Norway. It's larger than Flåm and Gudvangen with a population of around 1,300 people. And because of its small size and the fact it's off the Norway in a Nutshell® route, the village remains quiet and not overrun during tourist season. A hidden gem.
What to See and Do in Balestrand
Enjoy the view of the snowcapped mountains
You've been in the car for a good part of the day, so time to get out for a stroll. In Balestrand, head first for the northwest end of town and you'll find beaches, the marina and impressive views back across the very tranquil Esefjord that ends at the snowcapped mountains. This is the route you would have driven from the ferry. It's stunning and it's quiet. Rent a kayak if you want and see the mountains from the water.
Viking Burial Mounds
There are two burial mounds, also known as barrows, in Balestrand. One of them is said to be of King Bele, a character in the Fridtjov Saga, an Icelandic family saga from the early 1300s. However, it is uncertain whether these characters ever lived. In 1886, a stone chest was found at the bottom of this mound, which contained the grave of a man from the Migration Period (400-550 A.D.). The burial mound was later enlarged to accommodate the grave of another man during the Viking Age.
Hike for the Epic Views of the Fjord
To get incredible views of the fjord from above, hike through the network of well-marked and color coded trails known as Kreklingen. There are easy hikes, where you can stop to take in local flora and fauna and enjoy Balestrand views, and there are more challenging hikes that will get progressively steeper. Google Keipen Starting place in Balestrand where the hike starts (as seen from the picture below) for photos taken by other hikers.
Stop for Dinner or a Cocktail
For dinner, splurge on the memorable smörgåsbord-style store koldt bord dinner in the Kviknes Hotel dining room, then have a delicious cocktail from the hotel bar as you watch the sun set over the fjord from its balcony.
Cruise the Sognesfjord
As part of the Norway in a Nutshell route and Bubbly Tourist 7 - 10 day perfect itinerary of Norway, you would have taken the ferry from Flåm (or Aurland) to Gudvangen across the Aurlandsfjord and the UNESCO listed Naerøyfjord near Gudvangen. If you for some reason missed that portion of our itinerary, Balestrand offers you another chance to cruise the Sognefjord.
What's Next on the Itinerary after Balestrand?
Olden on the Nordfjord
Next on the Bubbly Tourist perfect 7 - 10 day itinerary of Norway is segment 6 which will take you along the Sognefjord up to Olden on the Nordfjord. This continues to be an absolute stunning part of Norway. There is so much to do in Olden, such as the Briksdalbreen Glacier, that it is definitely worth a stop for our itinerary.
Bubbly Bon Voyage!