14 Fjord Cruises in Ålesund to Build a Day Around

1.Alesund Shore Excursion: From Fjords to Trolls

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 319 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $187Our pick

From Ålesund’s port, ride through fjord country to Kokarsteinen, Gudbrandsjuvet, Valldal, and the Trollstigen Plateau. You’ll stop at Stigfossen and Trollveggen, with an optional buffet lunch. Guides such as Lulu, Claudia, and Giulia have led tours, while the route may change when Trollstigen is closed.

“I can’t choose which was my favorite part about this tour. The views were phenomenal. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The driver was super sweet and gave us a few surprises along time way. Highly recommended taking this tour.”

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2.Round Trip Fjord Cruise to Geirangerfjord

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 255 reviews · from $205

Travel from central Ålesund to Geirangerfjord aboard a comfortable catamaran with indoor seating, panoramic windows, outdoor decks, toilets, and a snack kiosk. An audio guide is available in 10 languages. You get one to three hours in Geiranger for lunch, the waterfall walk, shops, and the UNESCO World Heritage Center before returning by boat.

“Their experience was unforgettable! The scenery is beautiful and the cruise was so wonderful! For anyone on a crusie ship, this tour is perfect for your time in Ålesund. Highly recommend!!”

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3.Hjørundfjord Fjord Cruise roundtrip from Ålesund

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 172 reviews · 5 hours · from $115

Sail from central Ålesund through Hjørundfjord aboard the vintage MS Bruvik. You will pass Trandal, Sæbø, and Urke, then spend about an hour in Øye beneath the Sunnmøre Alps. The boat has indoor and outdoor viewing areas, snacks for purchase, and an English audio guide, though commentary may be limited.

“Really enjoyed our fjord cruise yesterday. It was fabulously sunny which helped. We chose to be dropped off at Sæbo which is a beautiful little place. Got coffee and cake from the supermarket and strolled along the waterfront. There is a huge swing just past the private sauna. Me and my husband both went on it!! Public loo in centre of village. Got picked up after about an hour and half for cruise back. No audio guide or anything like that but it didn’t matter. The scenery was so fabulous. The crew were also lovely. My husband has a bad knee and they were very kind helping him off the…”

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4.Winter Fjord Cruise to Geirangerfjord

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 97 reviews · 9 hours · from $346

Travel from Ålesund to Geiranger on a comfortable catamaran with English, German, and Norwegian guidance. Fjord Rangers explain glaciers, waterfalls, wildlife, and fjord farms. The nine-hour trip includes local food, Flydalsjuvet viewpoint, the Norwegian Fjord Centre, and a 327-step waterfall walk.

“We loved the boot trip so much. Stunning views. The walk next to the frezen watervallen was not hard. But beautifull”

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5.Ålesund to Geiranger Fjord Boat Tour with Return Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 53 reviews · 10h 30m · from $157

Spend a full day moving between fjord and mountain scenery on an English-hosted tour from Ålesund. Cruise Hjørundfjord to Øye, ride through Norang Valley to Hellesylt, then sail Geirangerfjord to Geiranger. You get free time in both villages, a waterfall-water stop, Eagle Road views, and a bus return via Eidsdal and Kokarsteinen.

“enjoyable well coordinated tour. we went in late August so crowds were a bit less on the boat itself. the cruise through both fjords and the bus connection were all very beautiful and we also appreciated the timeliness. keep in mind that Geiranger itself is a boring tourist trap full overrun by cruise ships. what you're really paying for with this tour is the journey. the journey is well worth it and we felt like it was a great value.”

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6.All About the Fjords, in one tour by bus & boat from Ålesund

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 20 reviews · 6 hours · from $167

Combine a 2-hour-15-minute Hjørundfjord cruise with a bus ride through Øye, Norangsdal Valley, Hellesylt, and Ljøen. You will see Hellesylt’s central waterfall, cross Storfjord by ferry, and return to Ålesund in about six hours. An English guide is listed, with an audio guide available in 14 languages.

“A very enjoyable way to get a sense of the fjords and the countryside around them. The combination of ferry and bus probably made for a richer experience then just a ferry trip alone.”

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7.Hjørundfjord Fjord Tour Roundtrip from Ålesund

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $118

Start beside Ålesund’s cruise pier and ride through the narrow Vegsund Strait into Hjørundfjord. You’ll pass Trandal, Sæbø, and Urke before a 30-minute stop in Øye, home of Hotel Union Øye. This English-bookable fjord ride has toilets and a kiosk, but little or no live commentary.

“What an enjoyable boat ride through the amazing fjord! Loved that there were stops to tiny places where people could go hiking. This is a great shore excursion for cruise ships as it was steps away from where we docked and there was a brewery to get refreshed on the way back to the ship!”

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8.Geiranger Fjord Tour from Hellesylt (2 hours in Geiranger)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 14 reviews · from $64Best value

Board the white catamaran MS Keiser Wilhelm beside the Hellesylt cruise terminal for a four-hour round trip through Geirangerfjord. An English-speaking host points out the Seven Sisters, the Suitor, mountain farms, and Friaren Waterfall, where you can taste fresh water. You also get two hours to explore Geiranger on your own.

“I liked the trip through the fjord the best. You should definitely do it. The staff were very friendly. However, they should have dried the benches outside. Otherwise, it was good.”

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9.6 Day Fjord Kayaking Trip Norway

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 5 days 5 hours (approx.) · from $2,199Top rated

Spend six days sea kayaking from Ålesund through the Storfjord and Geirangerfjord toward Geiranger. Norway Adventures supplies kayaks, paddles, safety gear, waterproof bags, camping equipment, and meals. You paddle for hours each day, camp on islands and remote shores, and may see waterfalls, porpoises, eagles, farms, and the Seven Sisters.

“What a memorable trip! We realize we've also been extremely lucky with the weather. The views were breathtaking. We've been to places that you would in no other way normally be able to visit. Beautiful waterfalls, fjords & lush green mountains. This trip had it all! The communication with the organizer was excellent and everything was more than well prepared. We had proper meals and more than enough food & snacks. The kayaks and kayaking gear was of proper quality.”

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10.Fjord Tour with Lunch on MS Bruvik

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 13 reviews · 7 hours · from $156

Spend seven hours aboard the classic MS Bruvik on a round-trip cruise from Ålesund into Hjørundfjord. Expect snow-capped peaks, small fjord villages, live English guiding, quiet viewing time, a simple soup lunch, and a short walk around Sæbø.

“Bardzo fajna wycieczka, dla kogoś kto nigdy nie oglądał fjordów z bliska. Super możliwość zobaczenia tego z innej perspektywy. Ale czas wydłużony. W połowie trasy zatrzymaliśmy się na odstawienie połowy grupy do autokaru, płynęliśmy dalej, a na powrocie zatrzymaliśmy się w tej samej wiosce do zwiedzenia. Tam nie było co zwiedzać, więc straciliśmy łącznie ok 1h. Lepiej w tym czasie byłoby popłynąć dalej albo po prostu wrócić. Lunch to jedynie zupa z dodatkami (ziemniaki, marchewka, kiełbaska, pokrojona parówka) i chlebem i bagietką. Rozgrzewające, ale w smaku nie wiem co miało przypominać. Plus taki, że donosili świeże porcje pieczywa i zupy, więc można było się najeść. Na pokładzie była też ...”

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11.Trandal fjord tour with 3 hours stop at Trandal

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 10 reviews · from $93

Cruise from Ålesund aboard MS Bruvik through Hjørundfjord to Trandal, where you get two hours to explore without a guide. Take photos at the tree swing, walk through the village, or eat at Christan Gaard Bygdetun. English-language service, food not included, and the round trip lasts six hours.

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12.Hjørundfjord Fjord Cruise Afternoon Rountrip from Ålesund

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews

Spend 285 minutes cruising from central Ålesund into Hjørundfjord aboard the restored 1949 liner MS Bruvik. An English-speaking guide accompanies the trip, with outdoor and indoor seating, a bar, views of Trandal, Sæbø, and Urke, plus a stop in Øye and the chance to visit Hotel Union Øye.

“The time that the boat docked on Olya was 25 minutes as opposed to one hour as advertised. That was supposed to be the highlight of the trip. Also the boat cabin smelled like fish . The crew was lovely.”

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13.Private Day Trip to Geirangerfjord

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · from $979

Travel from Ålesund to Hellesylt, sail through Geirangerfjord, visit Geiranger, then cross the Eagle Road and take another ferry to Linge. Your English-speaking driver handles the route in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, with hotel pickup, bottled water, and entrance fees included. Janika is one named guide associated with the experience.

“Janika was terrific. We saw the fjords at our own pace. We visited small quaint towns and avoided the tourist buses. We had a SUV to ourselves for 8 hours.”

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14.Fjord paddle in Hellesylt – Half Day Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $140

Meet your guide at the kayak base beside the camping place in Hellesylt at 10:00 am. You’ll spend about three hours on the fjord in stable kayaks, with equipment and instruction included. The small group is capped at eight, making this a relaxed choice for families and first-time paddlers.

“We had a wonderful experience with Jorge! It was just us out on the water and it was so peaceful and enjoyable. Absolutely 10/10, and Jorge was a delight to spend the afternoon with!”

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