Geirangerfjord RIB Boat Safari Geiranger

The Geirangerfjord at full speed

The Geirangerfjord is a 15-km branch of the Sunnylvsfjord, cut by glaciers into the mountains of Sunnmøre and listed by UNESCO in 2005 as part of the West Norwegian Fjords. Its steep walls rise more than a thousand metres straight out of deep water, and dozens of waterfalls pour down them after the snowmelt. Seen from a large ferry it is majestic; seen from a RIB, it feels wild and close.

A RIB, or rigid inflatable boat, is a fast, stable open boat with a solid hull and inflatable sides. On this Geirangerfjord RIB tour you feel the wind and the cool air as the boat skims across the water, then slows right down for the sights. Is a RIB safari in Geiranger worth it? If you want adrenaline and the closest possible views in one short hour, it is the most exciting way to see the fjord.

The Seven Sisters and the Suitor up close

The Seven Sisters waterfall, seven streams falling side by side down the cliffs on the north side of the fjord, is the best-known sight in Geiranger. Its tallest stream drops about 250 metres. Opposite stands the Suitor, a single strong fall that, according to local legend, is a young man who kept asking the sisters to marry him and was always refused.

Because the RIB is small and agile, your driver can take it much closer to the falls than larger boats, sometimes right into the edge of the spray so you can taste the fresh water. From late May to July the falls are at their most powerful, thanks to melting snow on the mountains above. Keep your camera in a waterproof pouch, as the mist can be heavy.

Skageflå farm from the water

Skageflå is a mountain farm perched on a ledge around 250 metres above the fjord, reached only by a steep path from the water. Families lived here for centuries, farming tiny fields and keeping animals on the slopes, until it was abandoned in the early 20th century. A well-known local story says the farmers pulled up their ladder whenever the tax collector arrived by boat.

From a RIB at water level you appreciate just how steep the climb was, with the farm buildings appearing as small dots high on the cliff. Your driver explains how people lived with avalanches and long winters, and how the restored farm is kept today. It is a moment that adds human history to the natural drama of the fjord.

Geiranger village and the RIB base

Your safari starts at the RIB base on Maråkvegen in Geiranger village, a few minutes on foot from the harbour, the shops and the cruise tender pier. Here you put on your life jacket and goggles, hear a short safety briefing and board the boat. Geiranger itself is a small village of a few hundred people at the head of the fjord, surrounded by mountain roads and viewpoints.

How to get to Geiranger: it is about three hours by road from Ålesund and around seven from Oslo, and in summer a ferry links it with Hellesylt. Many visitors combine this RIB ride with a coach trip up to Eagle Bend or Dalsnibba. The best time to book a Geiranger RIB trip is from late May to September, when departures run daily and the fjord is at its liveliest.