Cruising on the fjords in Norway

Fjords are found in locations where current or past glaciation extended below current sea level. A fjord is formed when a glacier retreats, after carving its typical U-shaped valley, and the sea fills the resulting valley floor. This forms a narrow, steep sided inlet (sometimes deeper than 1300 metres) connected to the sea. The terminal moraine pushed down the valley by the glacier is left underwater at the fjord's entrance, causing the water at the neck of the fjord to be shallower than the main body of the fjord behind it. http://www.fjords.com/

I had no idea what I was getting into when I decided to go on a fjord cruise. I was pleasantly surprised and totally overwhelmed. I started off in Bergen and took the "Sognefjord in a Nutshell" cruise which commenced in Bergen and ended in Oslo with a trip on the famous Flam railway in between.
http://www.norwaynutshell.com/en/explore-the-fjords/sognefjord-in-a-nutshell/

The Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, extends more than 200 km inland to the foot of the Jotunheimen mountains. This area is said to be one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world. We passed quite a few villages some of which had as many as 50 residents and 150 goats! Coming from a populous country like India, it was a novel experience for me.

I decided to stay the night in the small picturesque village of Flåm which is situated innermost in the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the 204-km long and up to 1308-metre-deep Sognefjord. Flåm is also the start or end station of the popular Flåm Railway, depending which way you commence your journey.

Flåm has a population of appximately 400 inhabitants and it is situated in Aurland municipality, which consists of Flåm, Aurland, Gudvangen and Undredal. 

I also did a cruise on the Nærøyfjord in Sognefjord - Western Norway. It is one of the worlds most beautiful and dramatic fjords! The name Nærøyfjord origin from the norse god 'Njord', the god of the seafarer and the sea. Nærøyfjord is one of many fjordarms in the 204 km long Sognefjord, the 'King of the Fjords'. In 2005 it became a part of UNESCO's World Heritage together with Geirangerfjord.

When you book a cruise, you have the option of making it a day trip or an extended trip with many stops along the way. Whatever you ultimately choose, a cruise on the fjords is breathtaking experience - fresh air, dramatic contrasts, vivid colours, pindrop silence, scenic waterfalls and deep blue waters. You have to experience it for yourself but in the meantime, take a look at some of my pics.

The Stave church of Underdal

Gundvagen

Can you believe this is a hotel?

Lost in the solitude of this place.