GuardTrailsNorway · July
Off the beaten track
The Secret Fjords & Wild Islands of Western Norway
Less-visited places, with one or two classics all the same.
Discover the untouched, quieter side of Norway's dramatic landscapes by exploring remote fishing islands, hidden alpine valleys, and historic cultural gems away from the main tourist crowds.
- days17
- bases8
- stages9
- nights16
- transfer days7
- stage to stage1,365 km
- by road and boat, day by day28 h 59
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July and days of walking.
The area
the remote islands of the west coast, the dramatic Hjørundfjord, and the hidden alpine valleys of the central mountains
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Alesund | ArrivalAlesund, arrival | Road 20 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Oye | TransferHjørundfjord & Mount Slogen | 2 h 18 road and boat | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Oye | Day on siteHjørundfjord & Mount Slogen | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Selje | TransferSelje Abbey & Holy Island | Road 2 h 16 | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Selje | Day on siteSelje Abbey & Holy Island | — | |
| Day6 | Evening base : Fjaerland | TransferFjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier | 3 h 36 road and boat | |
| Day7 | Evening base : Fjaerland | Day on siteFjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier | — | |
| Day8 | Evening base : Undredal | TransferUndredal & Aurlandsfjord | 2 h 40 road and boat | |
| Day9 | Evening base : Undredal | Day on siteUndredal & Aurlandsfjord | — | |
| Day10 | Evening base : Valldal | TransferValldal & Herdalssetra Farm | 6 h 12 road and boat | |
| Day11 | Evening base : Valldal | Day on siteValldal & Herdalssetra Farm | — | |
| Day12 | Evening base : Valldal | Day on siteValldal & Herdalssetra Farm | — | |
| Day13 | Evening base : Sunndalsora | TransferInnerdalen Valley | Road 3 h 12 | |
| Day14 | Evening base : Sunndalsora | Day on siteInnerdalen Valley | — | |
| Day15 | Evening base : Ona | TransferOna Island & Remote Lighthouse | 4 h 58 road and boat | |
| Day16 | Evening base : Ona | Day on siteOna Island & Remote Lighthouse | — | |
| Day17 | — | DepartureAlesund, departure | 3 h 27 road and boat |
- programme
- travel
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
What it leaves aside
This itinerary bypasses the highly crowded Geirangerfjord and the famous Trollstigen road to focus on the serene Hjørundfjord and the car-free wilderness of Innerdalen.
Places it did not keep
The Geirangerfjord · The Trollstigen mountain road · The Jotunheimen National Park
Getting there
Fly to Ålesund Airport (AES), 20 min by road from the start.
Boat crossings
To reach Hjørundfjord & Mount Slogen: a crossing by boat (about 50 min).
To reach Fjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier: a crossing by boat (about 1 h 04).
To reach Undredal & Aurlandsfjord: a crossing by boat (about 45 min).
To reach Valldal & Herdalssetra Farm: a crossing by boat (about 43 min).
To reach Ona Island & Remote Lighthouse: a crossing by boat (about 2 h 45).
To reach Ålesund Gateway: a crossing by boat (about 1 h 21).
This journey includes a boat: timetables are not checked here, confirm them before booking.
Where you sleep
The region offers a variety of accommodations including hotels, mountain cabins, and campsites, but booking well in advance is essential during the peak summer season.
Safety
Norway: no warning from the UK authorities (FCDO). Advice of 2026-08-25 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 17days
- The area needs, at least
- 9days
- Days kept
- 17days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 21 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 25 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 14%
- Windy day
- 6%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 90 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
9 stages over 17 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
A trip requiring excellent fitness: D3 includes a walk of more than 6 h 30 in one go.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1ARRIVALAlesund, arrival · night in Alesund2 h 30 planned · 20 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Oye
Hjørundfjord & Mount Slogen
We sleep in Sæbø, 100 m from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 2Hjørundfjord & Mount Slogen · night in Oye7 h 30 planned · 2 h 18 by road and boatSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASERequires excellent fitnessHjørundfjord & Mount Slogen · night in Oye10 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 3 · Selje
Selje Abbey & Holy Island
We sleep in Selja, 700 m from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 4Selje Abbey & Holy Island · night in Selje7 h 30 planned · 2 h 16 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 5AT BASESelje Abbey & Holy Island · night in Selje9 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 4 · Fjaerland
Fjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier
We sleep at Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel, 10 km away
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 6TRANSFERFjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier · night in Fjaerland6 h planned · 3 h 36 by road and boatSee the day →
- Day 7AT BASEFjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier · night in Fjaerland10 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 5 · Undredal
Undredal & Aurlandsfjord
We sleep in Undredal, 100 m from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 8TRANSFERUndredal & Aurlandsfjord · night in Undredal7 h 30 planned · 2 h 40 by road and boatSee the day →
- Day 9AT BASEUndredal & Aurlandsfjord · night in Undredal7 h 30 plannedSee the day →
- Day 10TRANSFERValldal & Herdalssetra Farm · night in Valldal3 h 30 planned · 6 h 12 by road and boatSee the day →
- Day 11AT BASEValldal & Herdalssetra Farm · night in Valldal6 h 30 plannedSee the day →
- Day 12AT BASEValldal & Herdalssetra Farm · night in Valldal5 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 7 · Sunndalsora
Innerdalen Valley
We sleep in Grøa, 8.6 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 13TRANSFERInnerdalen Valley · night in Sunndalsora6 h 30 planned · 3 h 12 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 14AT BASEInnerdalen Valley · night in Sunndalsora5 h 30 plannedSee the day →
Stage 8 · Ona
Ona Island & Remote Lighthouse
We sleep in Ona, 100 m from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 15TRANSFEROna Island & Remote Lighthouse · night in Ona5 h planned · 4 h 58 by road and boatSee the day →
- Day 16AT BASEOna Island & Remote Lighthouse · night in Ona10 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 17DEPARTUREAlesund, departure · end of the trip3 h planned · 3 h 27 by road and boatSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€2,543 to €4,069 per person
€150 to €239 per day
Based on: 5 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 1 November 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
3 points to look at before booking.
D15Ferry with limited departures: check the timetable and book — Alesund → Ona
ferry with limited departures — the timetable is not checked here: look it up before booking
D4Ferry with limited departures: check the timetable and book — Selje → Selja
ferry with limited departures — the timetable is not checked here: look it up before booking
D7Check opening times and crowds for this season — Fjærland & Bøyabreen Glacier
Glacier trail ice conditions
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →