Compare Geirangerfjord vs. Sognefjord -- similar or which is better?
 

Hi, I'm starting to do my research on Norway again. I hope to make it there this year.

Now could someone compare the merits of these two?

Sample itineraries (with public transportation) can be found here:

http://www.fjord-tours.com/default.asp

(In particular, the much beloved and talked-about "Norway in a Nutshell" vs. "The Golden Route.")

As far as I see, it seems more complicated to get to Geiranger. But it sounds more interesting.

Another complication -- looks like the area is the most accessible mid June, whereas I'm thinking of end of May.

I won't have a car and will have to use public transportation.

Comments and thoughts please? Do I need to see both? Is one preferable to the other?

Thanks.

ttt

We preferred Geirangerfjord and stayed there a couple days traveling around. But we had a car. I'd think (without studying the possibilities) that it IS far more difficult by public transportation which is why there's so much more activity and so many more tourists at Sognefjord area.

Thanks. What do you prefer about Geirangerfjord, Patrick? Just that there were fewer tourists? Is the scenery substantially different?

It looks like the "Golden Route" on the link I gave will traverse the area by public transportation, but that doesn't start until June 15.

I looked into the trip last year and I think that there's a bus from Alesund and/or Andalsnes (and there's an airport in Alesund). But it looked complicated. And possibly not doable until mid June?

Any other thoughts?

I too prefer the Geiranger area and visit there every other year. Visiting this year too. I find the mountains higher and more rugged in Geiranger, wilder if you like.

I suggest using Aalesund as a base doing daytrips. The town it self is not large but very scenic. In May you could do daytrips from Aalesund to Hjørundfjord also known as the Sunnmore Alps or a daytrip to Geiranger. The daytrip from Ålesund to Geiranger does not take you to the Trollstigen road like the Golden route but is nice anyway.

The daytrip timetable, not yet in English:
http://fjord1.no/bussmore/default.asp?page=740
http://fjord1.no/bussmore/default.asp?page=738

From Aalesund you could also do a daytrip to the bird island Runde.

http://fjord1.no/bussmore/default.asp?page=739

Info on Runde
http://www.runde.no/

Sorry for all the replies. I know this is not exactly what you asked for.

Thanks helen.

I looked at one of the schedules and there's apparently a bus before June 15 (the one from Alesund to Geiranger).

Does x67 means except Saturday and Sunday?

(I don't read Norwegian.)

I'll do a bit more thinking. I'm tempted to do Nutshell because it's easier and requires less planning, but I'll look more into links you gave me.

Thanks again.

Yes, x67 = exept Saturday and Sunday,

I guess it is possible to get to Geiranger on Saturday and Sunday as well with a bus from Ålesund to Hellesylt and ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger, but it might not be possible as a one-day round trip.

It is true that the Nutshell is easier and it's also a nice trip.

Thanks. I just took a look at the schedules. Knowing that there's public transportation before June 15 certainly helps. By the way, have you been there before June 15, helen? Just wondering if these things run smoothly (the last thing I want would be to get there and get stuck, as my itinerary will be quite tight).

Wouldn't the Trollstigen road be a highlight of the area? It'd be a shame to get there and not make that. Is this accessible before June 15? What about the Dalsnibba (sp?) peak?

I guess the question boils down to this -- is the "wow factor" for Geiranger much greater? (I know that asking a question like this is, to some extent, meaningless, but it'd be nice to know what one is missing.)

Thanks again!

I did more research. Here're some websites that may be useful to others:

http://www.visitmolde.com

http://www.visitandalsnes.com

In particular, the second link has a link to the Trollstigen road --

http://www.trollstigen.net

with the historic opening dates for the road since 1988. For the last five years, the earliest it's been opened was on 21 May (in 2001) and for all the years given, the earliest was 8 May (1991) and the latest was 6 June (1997).

Air connections to Aaelsund can be obtained via Braathens. It's easiest to fly from Oslo (but it's possible to fly from Bergen also -- fewer flights).

But I think that I'll save this for a future trip because some of the attractions are probably not yet open in the last week of May. I'd of course be interested in hearing more though.

Thanks again.

I've been there at the end of June, as I can't get off from work in May. I almost always travel by car so I don’t have the same problem. It is the least expensive as I use my own and I can make a stop whenever I want. I sometimes do daytrips if it is convenient and I want to take a break from driving. Transport is almost always on time and if not the bus/ferry will wait, they might not get any travellers otherwise. Usually everything works fine unless there's a rockslide... in fact that’s the main reason Trollstigen is closed in winter. Trollstigen and Dalsnibba can occasionally be closed even in June because of late snowfall and that’s probably why tours are not offered. Geiranger is fine in May, and the Eagle road to Eidsdal and Ålesund are open most of the winter so that’s no problem. But I do agree that the season from June 20th to August 31st is probably best as more tours are offered.

Thanks again for your insights, Helen.