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Nature and culture that makes you feel alive
Spring, summer, autumn
Last updated: 17.04.2024
Laukelandsfossen waterfall |© Lillian Herland
Fjord Coast & Sunnfjord invite you not only to explore, but to really get a sense of being alive.
Glacier village Jølster
Shaped by water in perpetual motion, the village of Jølster sits like a jewel below the glacier. When you kick your crampon into the ice, rest against a mountain cairn or steer the kayak silently along the shore. When you leave, the snow will cover your tracks, the heather will spring back where you rested, the breeze will smooth out your oar strokes.
The Jostedalsbreen glacier is the biggest glacier in mainland Europe. In Jølster, you can see the glacier from the E39 road in the Kjøsnesfjord and in Stardalen Valley. In 1890, the Norwegian Trekking Association decided to hire guides who were authorized for certain routes across the Jostedalsbreen glacier. Since then, numerous authorized guides have led people along the routes from Lunde to Fjærland and from Fonn in Stardalen to Veitastrond. People were reluctant to walk on the glacier in the olden days. Fast forward to the 1800s, and this traffic began to grow, for shifting cattle, courting young men, or for delivering invitations to weddings or christenings. Tourists started walking on the glacier at the end of the century. It was only in Jølster that the authorized guide tradition was continued in the form of day walks with experienced glacier guides on the Haugabreen glacier.
Walking in a rope team on the glacier is a unique and exciting experience for adults and children alike. If you want to walk on the glacier, use a local guide. Bre og Fjell organizes guided tours on Haugabreen glacier.
Island hopping among Norway's westernmost islands
See the spectacular landscape of Solund with its thousands of islands, islets and skerries. Solund is located at the mouth of the Sognefjord and boasts beautiful, unspoiled nature. The area offers the best kayaking experiences around.
With thousands of islands, islets and skerries, the archipelago abounds with life. The local postal boat links the island communities together, delivering post and transporting the islanders from one island to the next. In summer, you can take the local postal boat to Solund, Bulandet and Værlandet.
From Hardbakke, the trip is mostly in calm waters, and you sail through narrow straits and many island gems. The trip takes you up close to nature and wildlife – porpoises, seals and sea eagles are not an uncommon sight on the trip!
The postal boat stops to deliver post or passengers. The last stop on the regular postal route is the idyllic fishing village Gåsvær, an old trading post, where you can go ashore and buy a coffee and a bite to eat.
After a stop at Gåsvær, the boat continues to the island communities of Bulandet and Værlandet. Here, out at the ocean’s edge, guarded by the majestic mountain Alden, the island communities lie like pearls on a string, linked together by six bridges and a road covering 5,240 metres.
The best kayaking experiences in Norway
There is something magical about the bracing sea air against your skin while you kayak. Every stroke of the oar brings you closer to nature and makes you feel more alive than you have ever felt. It is in these moments that we feel that we are not only spectators to nature, but that we are part of it – part of something bigger than ourselves.
Along Fjord Coast & Sunnfjord, kayaking between islets, skerries, secluded coves and white beaches brings you close to nature. Each stroke of the oar makes you feel more at one with your surroundings. It’s easy to get carried away by the huge sense of freedom you get from kayaking.
Kayak between thousands of islets and skerries
The island communities of Solund, Bulandet and Værlandet lie to the far west, and make up more than 2,000 islands, islets and skerries. It doesn’t take long to get to the open sea, while the islands also provide shelter from the wind and waves.
Måløy lies further north, between chalky white beaches and steep mountains. From the kayak, you can see old trading posts, rich wildlife and beaches scattered along the coast. Bathed in the sun’s rays, they paint an irresistible contrast to the deep blue sea and the magnificent mountains towering in the background.
On the Kjøsnesfjord, you can kayak between Jølster’s wild scenery and glaciers. Traveling to Jølster is to enter the realm of the artist Nikolai Astrup. The blue waters of the beautiful Jølstravatnet lake shimmer alongside twelve villages, and make for a fantastic kayaking trip. Can you see the mountain called Kollen, which is the motif in one of Astrup’s most famous paintings?
Spectacular accommodation
Get up close to nature in a luxurious Birdbox – a romantic hideaway perfectly located on its own private track. You can’t get any closer to nature than this! Birdbox is a prefabricated space designed for rough, Norwegian conditions, which aims to provide shelter and comfort. The idea behind a Birdbox is that it should be small and light enough to be set up on unique sites with minimal encroachment on nature. They offer spectacular views and nature experiences in a romantic atmosphere.
At Flatheim, you can get close to nature, the mountains, the river, the light and the sounds, in the heart of Western Norway’s mountain and fjord landscape. The small farm hotel is located on the Norwegian Scenic Route over Gaularfjellet, and it is the perfect starting point for those who want to explore wild and beautiful scenery.
Glamping
If you are looking for a slightly different kind of place to stay, primitive luxury and being even closer to nature, you can stay in glamping tents right beside the river. Glamping at Flatheim is the good life. The river and nature create the perfect setting for a night spent in the open.
The popular river suites are situated right beside the wild and beautiful river Jølstra, and have taken Instagram by storm! The two spectacular cabins are well hidden from each other and other camping tourists. Each river suite offers luxury and charm, and is equipped with a large, soft bed, hammock and chairs where you can enjoy the sound of the river in peace and quiet. They also have a refrigerator for keeping your cider cold until you get there. If you feel a little daring, you can swim in the natural pool located just by the Elvasuiten suite. Afterwards, you can enjoy a wonderful hot sauna.
Feel at home in the many living rooms at the venerable Svanøy Manor. Here, you have the opportunity to enjoy a meal in the dining room with its hand-painted wallpaper while looking out onto the garden and the bay below, just as aristocrats and Haugean Movement notables did in their day. This stately manor is in a beautiful location overlooking Svanøybukt bay and the Brufjord. Find peace and tranquillity at Svanøy Manor, get a sense of its history and enjoy local fare produced on the island and from the sea around it.
Fishing
Norway’s dramatic coastline is a paradise for fishing enthusiasts. Fishing is part of the region’s cultural heritage, where fishing is more than just a hobby, it’s a passion that is handed down over generations.
As the morning mist clears and the sun begins to shine over the calm sea, fishermen set off to sea. There is something magical about throwing out the line and waiting in anticipation while the boat bobs in the waves, giving you a real sense of calm and satisfaction.
It is in these moments that you really understand the magic of Norway’s coast. A sense of peace and adventure that you won't find anywhere else.
One of Europe's best fishing lakes
Jølstravatnet lake is one of Norway's best fishing lakes, and it’s possible to fish with a rod here all year round. Trout fishers would have to search far and wide to find fish that are this eager to bite!
In early June, you can take part in the annual fishing competition in Jølster. Jølster Aurefest is held over three days and was held for the first time in 2014. The inspiration and background for the event dates all the way back to the fishing competition that took place in 1958. There are great prizes to be won!
Flekke- og Guddalsvassdraget watercourse
At Hellebustfossen waterfall, you could well catch some big salmon. Hellebustfossen waterfall is located on the Flekke- og Guddalsvassdraget watercourse in Fjaler and offers both salmon fishing and other great nature experiences.
Nausta river, one of the best salmon rivers in Norway
Nausta, one of the best salmon rivers and finest watercourses in Norway, flows into the Førdefjord. There’s a 12-kilometre section where salmon can be caught. The river flows through an agricultural landscape and is surrounded by varied and beautiful countryside. It is a typical flood river, so the water level can change significantly in a short space of time.
The most beautiful cycling gems
For those who prefer solid ground, we recommend taking it all in from the seat of a bike. Here, you will be surrounded by magnificent scenery, a beautiful coastal landscape, roaring waterfalls and majestic mountains, scenery with all the ingredients for a truly magical experience.
Cycle between small hamlets, experience a variety of fjord landscapes and rural surroundings, go island hopping between the many islands, enjoy charming small towns and feel the powerful energy of the waterfalls in Sunnfjord.