This route is one of Norway’s National Tourist Routes and billed as a top scenic drive.I have to class it as a bit underwhelming overall, but taking you through some empty, pleasant high mountain country.The most scenic section of the 28 mile route is at the Stegastein Viewpoint, 15 mins or so above Aurlandsdalen and which should not be missed.Superb views over the fjord landscape and it’s well worth driving up to this point alone.I’ve read that it’s better to drive the Aurlandfjellet in opposite direction we did, so perhaps that would have been better, with the best view – Stegastein – saved till last.
We drove the whole route to make our way to the Jotunheimen area after our 2 nights in Undredal/Sognefjord.We also detoured at Laerdal, to see the stunning Stave Church at Borgund.
The Aurlandsfjellet begins at pretty Aurlandsdalen, a very nice little town which would have been a good base too.I liked it a lot, much nicer than Flam.Very quickly and steeply, it winds its way up to Stegastein.
We had visited the Stegastein viewpoint the night before, a fantastic spot with a big platform which goes right out over the hillside.Couldn’t resist stopping again to admire it all in early morning light.
A nice American guy offered to take our photo.
Then into the car and off across the high and beautifully empty country before dropping down to Laerdal.
To me, the whole route was not of the quality of the Sognefjellet road (Jotunheimen), another of Norway’s 18 National Tourist Routes.(We had also been disappointed at the scenery driving from Bergen to Undredal through Voss.)
Nice to get an early view of the Jotunheimen in the far distance, which already looked great.Was looking forward to that area already.
Then the road wound down, down, down to fjord level again at Laerdal but before taking the ferry from Fodnes to Mannheller and on to Sogndal we detoured to see the stunning Stave Church at Borgund. Well worth a visit.The most impressive of all the Stave Churches we visited.
OTHER NORWAY ADVENTURES – HIKING NORWAY’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN and A CRUISE UP THE WESTERN FJORDS and THE TROLLFJORD AND SEA EAGLES GALORE
THE BEST OF SCOTLAND 