Western Fjords

The Western Fjords of Norway are home to some incredible hikes that take you from the rocky shoreline up through birch and pine forests before emerging onto the open slopes. These routes lead you to summits with breathtaking panoramas of the Sunnmore Alps and the Fjords below stretching as far as the open sea beyond.

Day 1: Ålesund
Day 2: Saksa
Day 3: Slogen
Day 4: Øye
Day 5: Island of Runde
Day 6: Alnes
Day 7: Ålesund

All the hikes are weather dependant and subject to change. There are many other activities possible, including fishing trips, coastal exploration in the tender, and paddleboarding. The itinerary is very flexible and guests are more than welcome to stay on board if they decide not to go walking.

Day 1: Ålesund
Ålesund is a charming fishing village largely built around the cod and herring industries and is famous for its elaborate ‘Art Nouveau’ architecture. Once you have been welcomed on board and are settled in, the ship leaves the harbor for a short passage to spend the night in one of the many peaceful and picturesque anchorages in the surrounding archipelago.

Day 2: Saksa, 1073 m
Setting off early you make your way to Hjorundfjord with its impressive entrance of peaks reaching up to 5000 feet above sea level. You will be dropped at the base of one of the more famous hikes in the area; Saksa. The hike up the more gentle side of the mountain takes around 4 hours and is rewarded with outstanding views of the Sunmøre Alps and the mighty Hjørundfjord below. The boat spends the night in the beautiful village of Urke where dinner will be served on deck if the weather allows.

Day 3: Slogen, 1564 m
You make the small steam from Slogen up to the head of the Fjord to anchor off in the village of Oye. From here your hiking day begins on ancient trails as you make the ascent to arguably one of the finest summits in the Sumøre Alps, Slogen. Despite its sharp and steep appearance, the top is relatively easy to climb.

This walk can be completed in 6-7 hours but you also have the option to stay the night in a Patchell hut, a typical Norwegian mountain hut, before summiting the mighty Slogen early the following morning.

Day 4: Øye
Once all guests have arrived back in the village of Oye, (Patchell hut option depending) you are offered the opportunity to visit one of the most distinctive hotels in Europe, the Hotel Union.

This unique establishment, a favorite of European royalty and aristocracy, has housed many famous guests and has a charm like no other. You spend the afternoon alongside the floating wooden pier in the village of Sæbo surrounded by traditional turfed roof cottages. Guests can choose a variety of walks in the area, including a loop walk up the Kvistad-Kjerringane valley and be picked up by the ship's tender on the Fjords edge.

Day 5: Island of Runde
Leaving Hjorundfjord, the ship navigates west to the Island of Runde on the outlying skerries of the Heroy region. It has the widest variety of seabird species in Scandinavia and a permanent bird and treasure exhibition. The walking terrain is varied, with flatland tracks, mountain trails, and clifftop paths with a lighthouse at the northwestern peak of the island. These walks offer the chance to see far more wildlife inhabiting the rugged coastlines.

Day 6: Alnes
After lunch, you navigate to the most important fishing village in the region, Alnes, on the island of Godoy. There is a great contrast here between coastal routes and mountain trails. You will love the iconic lighthouse and small museum built-in 1937, and at 22 meters tall it boasts an incredible view over the Atlantic. Storehornet peak rises 497 meters above sea level, giving you a breathtaking view of Giske community.

Day 7: Ålesund
You return back to Ålesund in plenty of time to explore this picturesque city.  A climb up the 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla gives you a panoramic view of this wonderful area of Norway.

Day 1: Ålesund
Day 2: Saebo -  Bjørke
Day 3: Hiking and Urke 
Day 4: Hiking, summit of Maudekollen
Day 5: Øye
Day 6: Ålesund
Day 7: Islands to Ålesund and end of tour

Day 1: Ålesund
Boarding begins at 3 pm on the HMS Gåssten, your home for the next 7 days. Once you settle into your cabin, the  Gåssten departs the historic town of Ålesund while you enjoy drinks and canapés on the deck. After a few hours of navigation, you will arrive at your mooring off the village of Saebo in the heart of Hjorundfjord. With the sun still high in the sky, there is the opportunity to explore the village, fish from the boat, or take a paddleboard on the water. Dinner is served on deck or in the salon depending on the weather.

Day 2: Saebo -  Bjørke
Departing Saebo for Bjørke, you are navigating deep into Hjorundfjord. If the weather is good, there is the option to paddleboard some or all of this 12 km leg. If paddleboarding is not for you then relax on Gåssten’s sundeck and take in the views. Hjorundfjord is flanked by the mighty Sunmøre Alps and never fails to impress with her breathtaking scenery.

On the way to Bjørke, there will be an opportunity to stop for some fishing or swimming. Your cruise finishes anchored off the shores of this remote and peaceful village. Surrounded by high mountains, this is a fantastic place to sit and watch the endless sunset. Even by Norwegian standards, Bjørke is a truly stunning place to spend the night.

Day 3: Hiking and Urke
Today is a day for hiking. After a bracing dip into the waters of Hjorundfjord, breakfast will be served before Gåssten makes her way across the fjord to Urke, a few hours away. Urke is the access point to some of Hjorunfjord’s superb hiking trails. The challenging option is the summit of Saxa, an iconic peak in the Sunmøre region. This hike is relatively short but steep. A short, winding path through the forest leads to an open mountainside with wide vistas and a spectacular view at the top.

For those who prefer a more gentle hike, there is a shorter route to a lower summit, but with equally exceptional views. If you’re feeling super fit then the two can be combined perhaps followed by another bracing swim to reinvigorate tired legs.

A picnic lunch will be provided for hiking. Both hikes pass a beautiful, traditional Norwegian cabin which is the perfect stop for lunch and photographs.

Day 4: Hiking - the summit of Maudekollen
On the second hiking day, you will connect with a local farmer, Erling. His specially modified tractor and trailer will transfer you through the old village of Urke, to the farms and hillside beyond. This part of the adventure ends at the mountain lake on the plateau where Erling will say his goodbyes. From here the hiking starts. Heading towards the summit of Maudekollen, the route weaves through young birch forests and alongside fast-flowing mountain streams. The final ridge to the summit rises in the shadows of the mighty Slogen, one of Norway’s most revered peaks. The view from here is simply spectacular and worth all of the effort. Gåssten sits in the vista, like a speck, floating in the fjord below.

When the hike has come to an end, Anders the local publican will open his quaint village pub, and serve well-earned drinks before dinner either in the pub or back on board the Gåssten.

Day 5: Øye
From Urke the boat navigates east to Øye and the historical Hotel Union. There is the opportunity to paddleboard this relatively short leg.

Once safely anchored, guests are taken ashore to explore the village and visit the hotel. The hotel has played host to Kaiser Wilhelm, Queen Victoria, the King and Queen of Sweden, and Arthur Conan Doyle to name a few. Guests have the opportunity for a guided tour of the hotel, followed by a drink in the bar before a very special dinner. Dinner tonight is a unique Viking Barbeque, served by candlelight in The Old Boathouse.

Day 6: Ålesund
Start your day with a morning swim or paddleboarding before breakfast. The Gåssten will gently make her way north out of Hjorundfjord. Guests can sit on the deck with a drink and a good book and soak up the scenery and majesty of these extraordinary surroundings. The boat drops anchor for the final time in one of the bays off Ålesund for the night. 

There is the option to anchor in the bay at the Storfjord Hotel and guests have dinner at the hotel. (extra cost and reservation required)

Day 7: Islands to Ålesund and end of tour
On this final day,  the anchor is pulled for the last time and Gåssten weaves her way back through the islands to Ålesund with breakfast served en route. Guests depart at 11 am.

Riding an electric bike does not diminish a cycling experience, in fact, it enhances it. Many of us can hike a mountain but cycling a hilly terrain is just too daunting. We crave the hilltop experience but know that the effort would take all our energy leaving little left for enjoyment. It just would not be fun. Electric bikes allow you to thoroughly enjoy terrain that would otherwise prove to be too difficult. The beauty of the electric bike experience is that you get to enjoy all the benefits of cycling, the distance, the terrain, the landscape, and yes, the exhilaration, but you do so at your pace and chosen difficulty level. On the Gässten, you can add variety to your adventure by enjoying a couple of days on an electric bike. This is the perfect addition to a hiking, multi-adventure, and/or family-friendly itinerary. Just ask!

For those who are mountain bike aficionados, the steep mountains surrounding the Fjords are home to some of the best singletracks in the world. Long scenic ascents are rewarded with fast-flowing, loamy trails that descend through ancient forests, steep technical slab rock glistens above the treeline, and endless views with no one around are at the top of every peak. 

Experience Norway as never before on this new mountain biking expedition into the heart of the Norwegian fjords. You’ll steam deep into the labyrinth of fjords aboard our boat Gåssten, which will deliver you to the wildest mountain ridges towering high above you. This is mountain biking at its most raw, and not for the faint-hearted!

This mountain bike tour in Norway takes you into the fjords, challenging your mountain biking skills, stamina, and, at times, mental toughness. You’ll work hard for your rewards on this trip, riding and hiking your mountain bike to towering mountain summits before starting the steep descent back to the comfort of your private charter for dinner deep in the fjords. And with all your meals – even wine and beer – included in the tour price, you don’t need to worry about anything except getting dialed into the Norwegian trails.

We can provide a full week's itinerary for you and your fellow mountain bike aficionados.

Experience big sky vistas and the smoothest tarmac as your peloton winds its way around, over, and through these magnificent Fjords. Take on iconic climbs such as the ‘Trolls Staircase’ and venture deep into Hjorendfjord and beyond, knowing that the comfort of Gåssten is waiting when you return. This unique Cycle adventure takes you from one stunning location to the next and is designed for those road cyclists who 100 km per day is just fine. Highlights include Trollstigan (the Troll Staircase), and Hjørundford. This is a truly world-class bike and cruise.

You will spend each day cycling through the most beautiful and inspiring scenery anywhere on earth. 

It’s hard to imagine a better way to finish off the day than by sitting back on our deck taking in the beauty of the Fjords with a drink before dinner.

Ask us, we can provide you with a full road bike itinerary.

Winter in the Norwegian Fjords is a special experience. Whether you are looking for the Northern Lights in a winter wonderland or Skiing and Snowboard touring in the Sunmøre Alps, a winter week aboard HMS Gåssten is an adventure for those who want to experience a little bit more…

• Ski and Snowboard Touring: The Sunmøre Alps have been carved over the millennia by massive shifting glaciers, creating spectacular peaks, deep valleys, and these iconic Fjords. Every Winter, Atlantic storms hit these ancient peaks, and dump meter upon meter of soft powdery snow ready for Spring. For those adventurous enough to want it, this is some of the best ski-touring and split-boarding in the world. The area boasts 6 of the Top Ten Norwegian ski tours as voted for by the Norwegian Mountain Guides Association. Our internationally qualified guides are experts at planning routes appropriate to the group’s level of experience and their ability to read snowpack ensures your safety at all times. So whether you’re a radical thrill-seeker or a relative novice you will have the ski adventure of a lifetime. We can provide you with a week's long skiing itinerary.
• Northern Lights: December is a time for long nights and short days so the Norwegians make this time of year all about Hygge, a sense of coziness and wellbeing with warm sheepskins, log fires, and candlelight. This Northern Lights charter offers the chance to see this atmospheric phenomenon while experiencing hygge and fine food aboard the beautiful Gåssten. This is the perfect mini-adventure before the Christmas holiday.