Discover Norway’s majestic fjords with TravelSmart

The Independent

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00:00Hello and welcome to Troublesmart.

00:03Today we're headed to Norway

00:05to explore some of the country's most breathtaking natural scenery,

00:08the awe-inspiring fjords.

00:25Have you ever been to Norway?

00:26I have not, no.

00:27Yes, but only when I was 10.

00:29Is it on the list?

00:30I would love to go to Norway.

00:31Yeah, no, I would. It looks cool.

00:33No, I haven't, no.

00:34Our friends went at Christmas,

00:36so there are great things about Norway.

00:37No, but I've got friends living there,

00:39so I'm planning to go ASAP.

00:41I have not. I'd love to go to Norway, though.

00:43It looks gorgeous.

00:50Among its many highlights,

00:52for me, it's the fjords that come to mind

00:54when I think of my dream Norwegian holiday.

00:57The towering cliffs and deep blue waters

00:59cutting through lush landscapes.

01:01It's a real testament to nature's power and beauty.

01:07Norway's fjords are among the most impressive

01:09to be found anywhere in the world.

01:11These massive glacial valleys,

01:13carved out over millions of years,

01:15are dotted with charming villages,

01:17hidden waterfalls and lush greenery.

01:20The most famous of them all is the Gorangerfjord.

01:23The UNESCO World Heritage Site

01:25is renowned for its crystal-clear inlets,

01:27high cliffs and beautiful waterfalls,

01:30like the Seven Sisters Waterfall.

01:32I'd recommend hopping on a boat tour

01:34to get up close to the cascading water

01:36and tall green slopes,

01:38with the mountains all around you.

01:42There are over 1,000 fjords in Norway,

01:44of all shapes and sizes.

01:46Ben, can you let me know some of the others

01:48we should be looking out for?

01:49Well, Gorangerfjord is the most well-known,

01:52but the largest and most visited fjord

01:55is Sonjefjord,

01:56majestically known as King of the Fjords.

02:02Sonjefjord is the longest

02:04and deepest fjord in the country,

02:06stretching over 200km inland

02:08from the coast north of Bergen.

02:11For an active experience

02:12that brings you closer to this natural wonder,

02:14explore one of its prettiest and wildest branches,

02:17Narøyfjord, by kayak.

02:19Or you can head up one of the nearby trails

02:21on foot for some incredible views.

02:24For something off the usual tourist trail,

02:26consider Salienfjord.

02:28Located in the far north of Norway,

02:30it's a little more remote and less accessible,

02:33but offers a wonderful, unspoiled experience

02:36with opportunities to spot wildlife.

02:40Reindeer, seabirds and even whales

02:43can be spotted in this isolated area,

02:45and there are remarkable hikes

02:47through the Salan National Park

02:49and nearby mountains.

02:51A similarly peaceful spot

02:53is Alvafjord near Bergen.

02:55It's known for its rich marine life

02:57and is popular for fishing.

02:59It's a fjord where locals go for its quiet beauty,

03:02and it offers an intimate experience

03:04of the surrounding culture and nature.

03:07Trollfjord is a small fjord

03:09located near the Lofoten Islands,

03:11but it still packs a punch.

03:13It's known for its narrow entrance and steep cliffs,

03:16and is somewhat of a hidden gem.

03:18It's a great area for spotting sea eagles,

03:21and during the summer months,

03:23the midnight sun illuminates

03:25the 1,000-metre-high cliffs.

03:28There's no better way to experience

03:30Norway's fjords than by taking a cruise.

03:32From the ship, you'll find unparalleled views

03:35and an intimate connection with the landscape

03:37as you slowly glide through the narrow waterways,

03:40often from the comfort of your own balcony.

03:42Wonderful Lisefjord, in the southwest of Norway,

03:45is famous for the iconic Preikastollen,

03:48or Pulpit Rock,

03:50a massive, flat-topped cliff

03:52that rises above the fjord.

03:54Visiting by cruise ship makes it even more special.

03:57As you sail beneath it,

03:59you get a perfect perspective of the natural wonder.

04:02Remote locations aren't a problem

04:04when you're travelling by ship,

04:06with vessels able to unlock access to areas

04:08that are often unreachable,

04:10or incredibly difficult to reach by land.

04:12Experiencing Norway's fjords on the water

04:14doesn't mean staying on your ship.

04:16For something active, swap your cabin for a kayak

04:19and get up close and personal with the landscape.

04:22For something on land,

04:24the region is filled with hiking trails

04:26that reward walkers with sublime views,

04:28ranging from easy strolls to multi-day treks

04:30for the more seasoned adventurer.

04:32The shores of Norway's fjords

04:34are full of vibrant communities

04:36and authentic Norwegian culture.

04:38In Ålesund, a port town

04:40at the entrance of Geirangerfjord,

04:42visitors can walk the streets

04:44to take in its brilliant Art Nouveau architecture,

04:46or get to know their marine life

04:48at the Atlantic Sea Park Aquarium.

04:50In Fløm, in the south-west of the country,

04:52you can take a ride on its famous railway,

04:54one of the steepest standard-gauge railways

04:56in the world.

04:58On your journey,

05:00you'll chug past the fjord

05:02as well as waterfalls and glaciers.

05:04The village itself sits at the end

05:06of Øresundfjord,

05:08a branch of the Sonjefjord.

05:10For a social media post of the fjords

05:12that's sure to get the likes,

05:14take a snap of the Stagerstein viewpoint,

05:16which juts out 30 metres from the mountainside.

05:18If you find yourself in Gudavangen,

05:20which serves as a gateway to the Narøyfjord,

05:22dive into history at the Viking Village,

05:24where you'll find fascinating insights

05:26into the Viking Age

05:28with lively enactments and tours.

05:32That's it for this episode of Travel Smart.

05:34We'll be back again soon

05:36visiting another amazing destination,

05:38which you can watch online,

05:40on the Independence mobile app,

05:42or on your smart TV.

05:44For all the latest travel news, reviews and advice,

05:46head to our website.

05:48And be sure to check out Simon Calder's podcast.

05:50Bye for now!

06:04.

06:06.

06:08.

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