The western part of Norway is known for it's steep mountains and deep fjords. A lot of tourists, from all over the world, visit this area every year.
In July 2004 we had some visitors from Belgium, a nice couple we have known for many years. They wanted to see some mountains and fjords, so we thought that a trip to Bergen would be nice, including this one day round trip from Bergen to Bergen. The route is train from Bergen to Myrdal, swap train to go with Flåmsbana from Myrdal to Flåm, and finally a boat trip from Flåm to Bergen.
The presentation is split into three parts:
Leg 1, train Bergen - Myrdal
This is a part of Bergensbanen, the Oslo-Bergen railway line.
Leg 2, train Myrdal - Flåm
This is the famous Flåmsbana,
which transports more than half a million people every year, mostly tourists.
Flåmsbana is the third steepest adhesion railway in the world.
Leg 3, boat Flåm - Bergen
This is a boat trip with a high speed boat, taking you the long distance from
Flåm to Bergen in just a few hours, out the 205 km long
Sognefjorden, the
longest and deepest fjord in Norway. Sognefjorden is the second longest
fjord in the world, only Scoresby Sund on Greenland is longer.
The photos in this presentation are made by my brother, some good friends and myself. Photos made by others than me are marked with names.
The fantastic train trip down from Myrdal ended at Flåm station
A lot of people are coming out of the train, to do some shopping, to continue
by boat or bus, or to go up to Myrdal with the next train
There are always several boats in Flåm. The centre high speed craft,
the catamaran M/S Solundir, was waiting for us, to take us to Bergen.
The map of the fjord.
Out the fjord from Flåm, called Aurlandsfjorden.
Rather steep mountains everywhere. At the deepest Sognefjorden is 1.308 meters deep.
The small place Undredal.
The boat stops at many small places along the fjord, if some of
the passengers shall leave the boat, or if someone turns on an orange flashing
light on shore, to alert the boat that passengers are waiting.
The boat windows are often spotted from salt water stains, as can be seen in
this photo.
In a narrow fjord, Nærøyfjorden, towards Gudvangen. Sometimes several boats meet here, in the middle of the fjord, called "midfjords", so passengers can transfer from one boat to another. Afterwards the boats continue in different directions. As far as I know, this only happens (according to the 2010 summer schedule) in the Bergen - Flåm direction. One boat goes in Nærøyfjorden to Gudvangen, another goes in Sognefjorden to Kaupanger and Lærdal, while the high speed boat from Bergen sails in Aurlandsfjorden to Flåm.
Once onboard a boat from Flåm (that time a car ferry) I heard three tourists who wanted to buy tickets to midfjords, which of course is not possible.
The ticket man told the tourist that they had to buy a ticket to their final
destination, but they could leave the boat in any harbour on the way, and
continue their journey with e.g. the next boat on the route, using the same
ticket.
When we approached the assembly point midfjords, the ticket man announced over
the speaker system that we were now midfjords and that travellers to this and
this and that place had to go down to the boat's car deck. That included
the three tourist and us. At the car deck, looking out a side door, the
three tourist understood why they could not make an intermediate stop midfjords.
They got a good laugh. We all transferred from the car ferry to a high
speed boat going westward out the Sognefjord.
I think it's quite rare, to
stop midfjords, connect two or three boats and go on a gangway from one boat to another.
Unfortunately I forgot to make photos.
The captain's seat.
A view in Sognefjorden.
It does not look much like sailing, but according to old seamen, all boats, regardless of propulsion system, are sailing along the water. My brother is a retired officer from the Norwegian navy. In the navy, even submarines are sailing, also when submerged under water.
Many nice places along the fjord. This is Veganeset by Dragsvik.
Some places Sognefjorden is rather wide. This is looking forwards, out the fjord, when
aiming for Balestrand.
Kvikne's Hotel in Balestrand
Balestrand harbour
Many people coming and going. Friend Chris and my son Tom in the foreground.
Our boat on it's way from Balestrand (in the background) to Vik i
Sogn, shot by my brother Bjørn from a mountain side. My brother knew that we were on board the
boat, and claimed to have waved to us, but we of course did not see him.
The boat approaching
Vik i Sogn, also called Viksøyri. This is the same boat the next day, at approx
5 o'clock in the afternoon.
A view in the fjord again. The low land tongue to the right is Vangsnes.
Sometimes several boats meet in a small harbour and have to wait for each other.
In this case Rysjedalsvika. The
bridge of a car ferry (road route 57 Rysjedalsvika - Rutledalen) can be seen behind "Fjordprins". The other
high speed craft is "Fjordtroll".
The high speed boats have powerful water jets, more than 5.500 ps at full power,
here at Rysjedalsvika harbour.
Through the captain's window. This is after turning southwards from
Sognefjorden down towards Bergen.
The same bridge after we passed it
A map of the southwards route.
A lot of power at high speed, 34 knots, 2 x MTU 16V396TB84, 2.040 kW, 1.940 rpm,
Waterjet 2 x KaMeWa type 63S II. That is 5.549 ps. The engines
sounds like music to me, as I am very fond of big engines.
It's rather narrow at some places, looking forwards, less than 10 knots.
A few seconds later, looking backwards.
Speeding up.
Nice scenery.
Going quite slowly, less than 10 knots.
The crew is familiar with the waters. I think this is close to
Alverstraumen and Tveten.
Some seconds later. The bridge is route 565 at Alverstraumen.
Speeding up again, maybe 32 knots.
Full speed ahead.
Another bridge, route E39 between Fatøyni and Knarvik (I think). There are many
bridges in this part of Norway.
A rainbow and some happy tourists.
Another bridge (also route E39, between Nausthaugen and Krossneset) and a costal carrier.
Our speed maybe 32 knots.
Bergen harbour, at 8 o'clock at night. A funicular can take you to Fløyen,
the white house on top of the nearest hill.
We are soon landing in Bergen, between the two other boats.
A happy group on shore. From the left: daughter Pia, friends Chris and Nicky, son Tom
and wife Synøve, July 9th 2004 at 20:02 local time.
Our boat, from the other side of the harbour. The boat is now (Jan. 2010)
for sale, 1,5 mill Euro only.
Bergen seen from Fløyen.
Going down from Fløyen with the funicular. Nicky making a photo, Chris to
the right, two strangers sitting in front.
Bergen harbour at night.
Thanks for the photos:
Nicky Cremers, Belgium
Bjørn Wigholm, Switzerland
Bjørn Sæbø, Norway
Updated 09.04.2013