Geirangerfjord Hybrid-Electric Cruise Round Trip from Alesund

Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage fjord

Geirangerfjord is a narrow, roughly 15-kilometre arm of the fjord system south-east of Alesund, and since 2005 it has been listed by UNESCO together with Nærøyfjord as one of the West Norwegian Fjords. Its walls rise steeply from the water to mountains well over a thousand metres high, and dozens of waterfalls pour down them in early summer when the snow melts.

Many visitors reach the fjord by car or coach, but a Geirangerfjord cruise from Alesund lets you arrive the way travellers did a century ago: by water. On this trip the boat slows down in the inner fjord so you can photograph the cliffs, the farms clinging to ledges and the reflections on calm days. If you are wondering whether Geirangerfjord is worth visiting, the view from the deck as the village appears at the head of the fjord usually answers the question.

The Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls

The Seven Sisters is the best-known waterfall in Norway: seven separate streams falling side by side down a cliff of around 400 metres. On the opposite side of the fjord is the Suitor, a single fall that, according to local legend, is trying to win the hand of one of the sisters. Between them you may spot the Bridal Veil, a thin fall that looks like lace when the light catches it.

Above the falls sit the abandoned farms of Skageflå and Knivsflå, where families once lived on narrow shelves reachable only by steep paths. The best time to see the waterfalls at full power is late May to early July, when the snowmelt is strongest; by late summer some of the sisters can thin out. The boat passes both on the way in and on the way out, so you get two chances for photos.

Geiranger village and free time ashore

Geiranger is a small village of a few hundred residents at the very end of the fjord, surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and orchards. During your stop you can follow the waterfall walkway that climbs beside the Storfossen falls through the village, visit the octagonal white wooden church on the hillside, or browse the small shops and cafés along the quay.

With four hours on the 10-hour option, fit walkers can hike or take a local bus up towards the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint for the classic view down the fjord, while others prefer a long lunch and a slow stroll. Lunch is not included, so plan to eat in the village. Keep an eye on the clock: the boat leaves on time for the return journey to Alesund.

Storfjorden and Sunnylvsfjorden

Storfjorden is one of Norway's longest fjords, stretching inland from the coast near Alesund for more than 100 kilometres. The first part of the cruise follows its wide waters past green slopes, small farming villages and mountains that still hold snow in June. It is the calm, open start to the day, ideal for settling into a window seat in the lounge.

The boat then turns into Sunnylvsfjorden, narrower and steeper, passing the village of Hellesylt with its waterfall tumbling right into the settlement. From here the mountains close in and the scenery becomes more dramatic until the boat enters Geirangerfjord. The audio guide explains how glaciers carved these valleys and how people farmed and fished here for centuries.

Alesund, the starting point

Alesund is a port town spread over several islands on Norway's west coast, famous for its pastel Art Nouveau buildings, built after a great fire destroyed the centre in 1904. The town is a gateway to the Sunnmøre Alps and the northern fjords, and many cruise ships call here in summer.

The departure pier at Skutvika is a flat ten-minute walk from the centre, so you can easily combine this day trip with an evening walk along the canal or up the steps to the Aksla viewpoint. For anyone asking how to get to Geirangerfjord from Alesund without a car, this direct boat is the simplest answer: you walk to the pier in the morning and step off in the same place in the evening.