Visit Aurland & Aurlandsfjord: 3 Can’t Miss Experiences

Norway has a way of awakening your senses, especially when in Aurland. The mix of raw natural power and serene landscapes make it the ultimate escape.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROPERTY OF SVADORE

Flam is usually just a stop on people’s “Norway In A Nutshell Tour.” But if you, like myself, prefer to explore the less visited areas of countries, then stop for a couple of days in one of the many cities along the Aurlandsfjord. You won’t regret it. Pat and I chose to stay in the neighboring town of Aurland, about 15 minutes from Flam. We stayed at 29|2 Aurland, more on our experience at this quaint yet rustic and upscale stay here: A Taste Of Rural Norway: 29|2 Aurland.

Traveling around the Aurlandsfjord could be expensive and difficult, especially during off peak season. Buses only come and go 3 times a day and taxis are limited and can cost you over $40 for just 15 minutes. Our recommendation in order for you to see the Aurlandsfjord area properly is to rent a hybrid car from Flam AS Car Rental. We worked with Ben, the owner of Flam AS Car Rental, who on the side also manages the taxi service. He currently has 3 hybrid automatic cars available and 4 other cars that are not automatic. They come at a price but are well worth, while given the limited transportation in the area. A car can cost you up to $120, BUT unlike other car rentals it includes insurance coverage, a GPS, a hybrid car (so you are saving on gas!) and the convenience of coming and going as you please. Now that’s a bargain. It’s also the only car rental available within 2 hours of the area. It’s local, but reliable and very easy to work with. The pickup location is a 5-minute walk from Flam, past a bridge and in a small area next to a river with a car wash area. If you have a hard time finding it, just ask the information desk at Flam, they’ll know how to direct you.

Pat and I had the wonderful experience of driving a brand new Toyota Yaris hybrid. The car was impeccable, clean inside and out and in perfect condition. It also drove like a beauty. Benjamin, or Ben, gave us his cellphone number and gave us a ton of recommendations on what to see in the area given our limited time. He was available for us at any time and was just a phone call away. To rent a car from Ben, I recommend you either call him or email him at carrental@flamtravel.no. He may be slow to respond since he is so busy, but I promise he will get back to you!

As always, we only had 24 hours in this magical area, so decided to make the most of it. This was in part thanks to the Nordic white nights phenomenon. During the summer months of mid-May to late July, due to the position of the earth the sun never truly dips completely below the horizon. That meant that the sun was up at 4AM and would “set” at 10:40PM. But it was never truly dark, just twilight. That gave Pat and I a lot of time for activities. So what did we do in the Aurland area:

TURLIFOSSEN WATERFALL

DURATION: 1H 30MIN 

Directly across from 29|2 Aurland is Turlifossen waterfall, an underrated and untouched waterfall that should be climbed by all adventure and thrill seekers. It will get your adrenaline going and will immerse you into what rural Norway is all about. It’s the perfect introduction to your trip to come.

I hadn’t packed any appropriate hiking attire as you will see in my pics, but that didn’t stop me from hiking this beast and getting soaked from head to toe. I was in Norway and was going to experience it the right way! Pat and I hopped on our bikes offered at 29|2 Aurland and headed for Turlifossen.

The entryway isn’t obvious and is guarded by a barb wired fence that you will need to open. Once through it you’ll see a vaguely marked path leading you under the waterfall and up onto the side of Turlifossen. Be careful on your way up, the rocks are slippery and the ground is muddy (and of course…I was wearing white shoes!!). As you make it out of the eye of the storm under the waterfall, your hair and clothes will be drenched in natural spring water and you will find yourself smiling and laughing hysterically. It’s a thrilling experience. Once you make it past the fall, you will climb all the way up on the side of the mountain to the top of the fall.

Pat and I were short on time (we had to be back down by 7PM for a communal dinner at 29|2 Aurland). So we stopped halfway up to take in the views of Aurland’s valleys. It took us about an hour, but we were also ill-equipped and stopping for pictures every now and then, so it might take other people less. The top of Turlifossen can be reached within an hour and a half. At the top you will find a bench where you can take a break and enjoy the views.

STEGASTEIN VIEWPOINT

DURATION: 30 MIN

A major tourist attraction in the Aurlandsfjord area is Stegastein Viewpoint. You can either get there by tour bus along with masses of other people, or rent your own car and avoid the flood of people. I recommend you head there early in the morning to avoid the tour groups. It will be less crowded and allow you to really take in the views.

The road to Stegastein viewpoint and Prest is…scary. It’s basically a one-lane street created for 2 lanes. Which isn’t bad if you’re driving a car, but when the tour buses start coming up it can be quite terrifying. Another reason to go early in the morning, to avoid the traffic and scary tour buses.

Stegastein viewpoint is a touristy overlook created for people who are not the adventurous type but still want to get that “view.” It’s nothing compared to the view you get hiking to Prest (more on that below), but it’s worth a stop if anything for the picture.

PREST MOUNTAIN TOP

DURATION: 3H 30MIN 

The greatest and most scenic experience in Aurland is hiking to Prest and taking in the view of the Aurlandsfjord and its surrounding ice capped mountains. The hike doesn’t open until the first week of June because until then, frost and snow still covers the mountains. This year we got lucky and the path opened a week before while we were there! This hike is not easy and it’s not a walk in the park. It is very vertical and the physical activity and elevation changes will get you out of breath. Whether you choose to do the 3 hour 30 min hike to the top, or only do half the hike. It is a must. It will have you falling in love with Norway and it’s scenic nature once for all. You’ll have to come back for more. For more on our experience hiking Prest, what to wear and how to get there, read on at Aurlandsfjord From Above: The Hike To Prest.

We felt accomplished, invigorated, relaxed and liberated. Nature walks, waterfalls and solitude was just what we needed. It gave us a different perspective on life. It put us in a certain mentality that is hard to describe. If you have more time in Aurland there are many more things to explore from the Laerdal Tunnel, to biking down Aurlandsfjord, exploring Kjosfossen waterfall, and visiting a local farm, the list goes on. But for 24 hours in Aurland, I need to say, this was the best taste of authentic rural Norway we got our entire trip. It was one of the main reasons we will be going back to this beautiful country.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Flam AS Car Rental. All opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

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