We are traveling by car from Lilyhammer/Lom down to Solvorn and Balestrand. I would still like to see the Naeroyfjord and would like some comments on the following idea.... Could I make a day trip of leaving Solvern and taking a car ferry from Kaupanger up the Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen and then take the car down to Vik and the Hopperstad Church. Finally arriving at Balestrand via the Vangsnes / Dragsvik ferry? I can't seem to find scheduled times for that last ferry to see if it runs late enough and I can't even verify that it is a car ferry. Any help on this?? Is there an easier way? Thank you.
Posted by
Sweden
6389 posts
Ignore the link in the previous post, here is the ferry schedule from the official source: https://www.norled.no/globalassets/2021-ferjetakster/hella-2.pdf
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you both for your replies.
Do you have any thoughts on whether the drive from the top of the fjord back down to Vik is worth an afternoon's drive, or am I wasting half a day just to see the fjord??
Also, I was planning on leaving Balestrand to Bergen via the coastal route. This would require a couple ferry crossings but I thought it might be a fun adventure. Nothing in the book about it so I thought there might be some folks here with that experience as well.
Posted by
Berlin
2235 posts
I recommend to pre-book tourist ferry Kaupanger - Gudvangen with car.
The Nærøyfjord is unique and very beautiful, so worth the trip.
With car I recommend to drive Stalheimskleiva on your way from Gudvangen to Vangsnes. The route 13 between Myrdal and Vik is a nice fjell. Hopperstad church is worth a stop - behave respectfully on the surrounding cemetery. Finally the huge Fridtjovstatuen in Vangsnes is a surprise - originally a present of a German emperor. At ferry terminal in Vangsnes ensure to sort yourself into the correct lane for your destination on the other side of the fjord.
Posted by
Northern Minnesota
597 posts
We did an 18 day trip this past September, but from the Lom area, where we visited family on the original farm, we went north to Geiranger, Trollstigen, Farstad, and onto Alesund. We did get to Aurland where our cabin was literally on the edge of the water. We had planned to take the afternoon train in Flam, so we hadn't researched anything between Flam and Granvin where we were spending the night. We didn't end up doing the train, but not realizing that Gudvangen was worth a short visit, we drove right on by.
The ferries that are part of the road system are very easy to use. We didn't pay any attention to the time schedule, but instead just drove up and got in line, and I don't think we ever waited more than 20 minutes. We chose to do a passenger only fjord tour in Geiranger. For me, that and all the regular ferry rides we had, were enough time on the fjords.
After seeing the beautiful church in Lom, you might decide that you are good not going out of the way to see another one.
So, I'm really not much help, but it's all beautiful, so I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you choose to do.