Norwegian Fjord Cruise

Dramatic coastal landscapes and storybook fjords await when embarking on one of our Norwegian fjord cruises. Our curated range of voyages and land-based journeys offers options for independent travellers as well as those who prefer a more structured experience.

With so many extraordinary routes through Norway, choosing where to begin can feel overwhelming. This guide outlines the key fjord regions to help you find the experience that best suits your travel style.

What is a Norwegian Fjord Cruise?

A fjord cruise in Norway can take several forms.

You may travel the length of the Norwegian coastline aboard the traditional Norwegian Coastal Voyage, known locally as the 'Kystruten', operated by Hurtigruten or Havila. These working coastal ships connect small communities and provide an immersive way to experience fjord landscapes.

Alternatively, you may opt for a shorter ‘port-to-port’ voyage, or combine rail and road travel with scenic fjord cruises into the southern and western fjords.

Choosing a shorter cruise within a land-based itinerary allows you to travel deeper into the fjords without relying on large cruise ships. You avoid tender transfers, stay in character-filled fjord hotels for several nights, and travel at a more considered pace. Luggage handling and transfers can be arranged throughout.

Modern electric and hybrid vessels operate throughout the fjord regions. Some are express boats linking larger towns such as Bergen, Aurland, Geiranger and Flåm. Others are slower local ferries that stop at smaller communities along the route. We can arrange tickets, transfers and luggage portage to ensure seamless connections.

One example is the ‘Vision of The Fjords’ operating in the Nærøyfjord. These purpose-built vessels feature panoramic windows, comfortable lounges, and leading environmental technology.

The Southern and Western Fjords of Norway

The most frequently visited fjords in southwest Norway include:

• Sognefjord
• Hardangerfjord
• Geirangerfjord
• Nordfjord
• Lysefjord

Each has a distinct character. The larger fjords such as Sognefjord resemble vast inland seas, while the narrower fjord arms offer steep cliffs, waterfalls and more intimate scenery.

Sognefjord - Norway’s deepest fjord

Stretching inland from the west coast north of Bergen, Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord.

Within it lie the celebrated Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, visited on the the Highlights of Norway journey and on our private mini-coach tour, Beautiful Norway.

Further north, the Fjærlandsfjord extends towards the foot of Jostedalsbreen, mainland Europe’s largest glacier.

Our Highlights of Sognefjord package explores Balestrand and the glacier-fed fjord arms in depth.

Hardangerfjord - orchards and mountain plateaus

Located south of Bergen, Hardangerfjord is Norway’s third longest fjord and is known for its orchards, waterfalls and access to mountain plateaus.

It is particularly well suited to independent exploration, including self-drive journeys that allow visits to smaller farming communities and fjord-side villages. Our Heroes of Telemark and Hardangerfjord self-drive tour combines fjord landscapes with historic wartime sites and mountain scenery, offering a deeper understanding of this region’s cultural and natural heritage.

Highlights of Hardangerfjord include:

• Trolltunga, one of Norway’s most iconic hikes
• Vøringsfossen waterfall
• Folgefonna Glacier
• Access to the vast Hardangervidda plateau, ideal for hut-to-hut trekking

Lysefjord - a small fjord near Stavanger

The 42-kilometre-long Lysefjord lies in Rogaland, near Stavanger.

It is best known for:

• Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), rising 600 metres above the fjord
• Kjerag, with the dramatic Kjeragbolten boulder wedged high between cliffs

From Stavanger, you can hike to Preikestolen or view it from the water below. Our Southern Fjords and Pulpit Rock package explores this region with time in smaller villages away from the main visitor flows.

Geirangerfjord - UNESCO-listed drama

Geirangerfjord stretches approximately 16 kilometres inland and is one of Norway’s most photographed fjords.

Cruising here brings you close to:

• The Seven Sisters waterfall
• The Suitor waterfall
• Sheer cliffs rising directly from the water

We visit Geirangerfjord on many of our Norway Fjord packages and summer small group tours in Norway, including our "semi-independent" Beautiful Norway minivan tour, which includes a RIB boat excursion and lunch in Geiranger.

This small fjord village receives significant visitor numbers during peak summer months, so thoughtful timing and overnight stays outside the busiest windows can greatly enhance the experience.

Nordfjord - wild scenery with fewer crowds

Nordfjord lies between Geiranger and the Sognefjord region and offers a compelling blend of glaciers, mountains and coastal landscapes.

Although some of its villages are widely photographed, Nordfjord remains less visited than neighbouring fjords and has traditionally been more accessible by road than by cruise. The scenery here feels expansive and dramatic, with glacier-fed lakes, steep valleys and high viewpoints overlooking the fjord below.

Both our Scenic Fjords of Norway small group tour and Norway In-Depth small group tour include a visit to the Loen Skylift, where panoramic views stretch across Nordfjord, surrounding peaks and the turquoise waters below. It is one of the most striking vantage points in western Norway and offers a powerful sense of scale within this lesser-known fjord region.

When is the best time to cruise the southern and western fjords?

The main fjord cruise season runs from June to August, when coastal voyages and fjord services operate at full capacity.

However, many local ferries and express boats run year-round, offering quieter travel outside peak months.

Fjord cruises typically depart from Bergen, Ålesund or Stavanger. We can arrange transfers from train stations along the Oslo–Bergen line, ferry terminals and airports. Luggage transfers between towns can also be organised, allowing you to travel lightly during the day.

Fjords in Northern Norway

Further north, the Trollfjord in Lofoten offers a strikingly different fjord experience.

Located above the Arctic Circle within the Lofoten archipelago, Trollfjord is narrow, dramatic and often visited during a Hurtigruten or Havila coastal voyage. It can also be reached by RIB boat from Svolvær.

Northern Norway combines fjords with open ocean landscapes and fishing villages, creating a more rugged coastal atmosphere.

For travellers wishing to combine fjords with Norway’s iconic scenic roads, our Scenic Fjords of Norway small group tour includes travel along two of the country’s designated Scenic Routes:

• Trollstigen, with its eleven hairpin bends
• The Atlantic Highway, famous for its bridges spanning exposed coastal islets

Planning your Norwegian Fjord Cruise

There is no single ‘best’ fjord cruise. The right journey depends on your pace, interests and preferred travel style.

Whether you wish to sail the entire coast, combine rail with shorter fjord cruises, or base yourself in carefully chosen fjord hotels, we can design a seamless itinerary with luggage handling and transfers arranged throughout.

With careful planning, it is entirely possible to experience multiple fjord regions while avoiding peak congestion.

Contact us for expert advice on selecting the Norwegian fjord cruise that best suits your journey through Norway.