Sea kayaking Norwegian fjords

I've done this, pre pandemic. My husband and I divided our tine between Oslo & Bergen. In Bergen we rented a car and drove to the Naeroyfjord for a half day kayaking trip. I don't remember the outfit we used. They provided everything - the kayaks, wetsuits, small waterproof gear bags, and lunch. The fjord was stunning. We did some exploring on land (a waterfall, a beautiful little church) as well as several hours of kayaking. My husband is a very experienced kayaker, I was not. We both thought the fjord was the highlight of our trip.

My daughter and I are doing a sea-kayaking tour along the Naeroyfjord this summer in July with Nordic Ventures. My son-in-law and grandson did it a couple of years ago and really liked it a lot, so we're doing it this year. I'm really looking forward to it. They provide lunch, equipment, kayak and they tell you exactly what you need to bring. The Naeroyfjord is a wonderful place to go kayaking because it's one of the narrowest fjords there is and the scenery is very dramatic.

Here is a link to the outfit we’re using. You will also find it with a few other places, but it’s the same tour. This is the original one and the others are just acting as booking agents. https://nordicventures.com/norway-tours/half-day-tours-gudvangen-norway/

I should add that we are doing the half-day sea kayaking tour, but they do offer a full day tour as well. You can find more info here: https://nordicventures.com/norway-tours/naeroyfjord-norway-day-tour/

For what it’s worth we’re spending the night before in Voss, then joining the kayak tour and then continuing our drive towards Alesund.

Mardee's post jogged my memory - Nordic Ventures is the company we used as well.

Kayla, your situation was very similar to mine. My daughter is an experienced kayaker and me, not so much. But I still think it will be fun. I’m really looking forward to it.

Mardee, if you have kayaked before you won't have any trouble. I had kayaked a few times. The ones in the group who had never kayaked before stuck close to the guide but the rest of us would paddle ahead, then circle back.

I'm envious! I'd do that kayak outing again in a heartbeat.

In 2023, we picked up our rental car (electric, since it’s Norway) in Bergen, and drove in and around fjord country for a week and a half, eventually winding up as far north as Stranda, leading to the Geirangerfjord. We did hiking just outside of town, but in late September, hadn’t considered sea kayaking. For a lunch/snack, we also found a small bakery/cafe in town, Hygge by Uteguiden, that had sea kayaks leaning against the building, just outside the door.

It turned out that the main business, Uteguiden, was an outfitter and guide company. I looked up their Website just now, and they do offer multiple sea kayaking options, along with other adventures. Here it is: https://uteguiden.com/en/activity/sea-kayak

P.S. the cafe had great sandwiches and baked treats, too!

I'm very excited about it, Kayla—and I have kayaked before, in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, but it's been a while for me. I think they have two-seater kayaks as well, so I don't know if we'll do that or just each get our own. I'm fine with either.

moss, you will really love it. That area is just gorgeous and the Naeroyfjord is beautiful. As we're doing, you could always spend the night in Voss, which is about a 15-20 minute drive from Gudvangen. Will you have a car? If not, you could take the train to Voss, and then I think there's a bus to Gudvangen.

In August 2024, my daughter and I kayaked on the Lysefjord with Nordic Paddling. We had a great time! We were staying in Stavanger when we did this excursion.

https://www.nordicpaddling.no

moss, you will really love it. That area is just gorgeous and the Naeroyfjord is beautiful. As we're doing, you could always spend the night in Voss, which is about a 15-20 minute drive from Gudvangen. Will you have a car? If not, you could take the train to Voss, and then I think there's a bus to Gudvangen.

Mardee, Thanks for the excellent info. I could definitely rent a car. I’m in the early planning stages.

I have kayaked and canoed before, including canoeing the Boundary Waters, like you, and kayaking in the Apostle Islands.

Oh, that's wonderful, moss! You beat me, as I've never been to the Apostle Islands, although my daughter, son-in-law and their kids went there just last year.

When will you be there this summer? My daughter and I will be spending the night in Voss on July 22, and taking the kayak trip the next day. I hope you'll come back and let us know how everything went!

I haven’t locked in a date yet, but I’d like to be in northern Spain for the solar eclipse on Aug 12, so I might schedule my time in Scandinavia right before that.

And since I’ve never been to Scandinavia, I’d like to explore a bit — maybe fly in to Copenhagen and spend a few days there and visiting Sweden then head up to Norway for the fjords and maybe take a train from Bergen to Oslo then go to Madrid for the eclipse.

Have not checked flights or airfares or anything yet.

Any advice on this plan is very much appreciated !

Moss - I have a friend doing the eclipse in Spain and she booked hotel in December and it was expensive with limited inventory. I think it is one of the most popular places to be for this eclipse and some people booked it a year in advance.

You will love Scandinavia. I wish I had more time when I visited in 2024.

My advice would be to look at lodging in Norway before you get too detailed in planning.

- Joy - Yes, I should have planned this much further in advance. It will be my fourth solar eclipse and I slept in the car for the last three, so will probably do the same this time. But I’m seeing car rental prices out of Bibao or Madrid are super high. Hope it all works out.

Are you interested in going to Iceland at all? I don't know if you're aware, but Icelandair has a perk where you can spend up to 7 nights in Iceland on a layover without extra cost. Of course, you have to check your fares and so on, but that's what my daughter and I are doing. We will be in Iceland for seven nights, Stockholm for three nights, and then the remaining 11 nights in Norway. I've been to Copenhagen before, though, and loved it, and I'm sure you will too.

I envy you going to Spain for the eclipse. That will be a really cool!

I'm not going to go to Iceland on this trip.
I was there last summer using the stopover plan on my way back from the Netherlands.
It was amazing.
I want to go back, but probably not this summer.
You'll have a great time.

I've been there before, but only for a couple of days, and that was back in 2018, so I'm looking forward to spending a whole week there.

Mardee -- are you going to be driving the entire Iceland ring road, since you have a week?

No, we’re spending one night in Reykjavik, then driving to Snaefellsnes, then heading to the Westman Islands, then the South Coast, and ending with Selfoss and seeing the Golden Circle sites.

If I ever drive the Ring Road, I would want at least 10 days to do it..😊

Thanks again for the help with sea kayaking.
I'm all booked with Nordic Ventures