A relaxed shape, not a schedule — each day has an easy version and everything is swappable if the weather has other ideas.
Land midday, collect the Prado, and head north on the E39. Cross the Sognefjord on the short Oppedal–Lavik ferry, then follow the fjordside road east through Høyanger to Balestrand — one of Norway's classic fjord villages, sitting right on the water with mountains all around.
Dinner and the night at the historic Kviknes Hotel (1877, grand old wooden dining room, fjord views from the terrace). A far better first evening than a highway town.
A gentle morning in Balestrand, then the 10-minute Dragsvik ferry and on to Fjærland — a tiny village of glaciers and second-hand bookshops. Stop at the Bøyabreen glacier viewpoint (visible from the café car park, zero walking required) and the Norwegian Glacier Museum.
Arrive in Olden / Loen early afternoon and settle into base. If legs need stretching, drive 15 minutes to Lovatnet for a first look at that turquoise water.
Over the Strynefjellet pass and down the famous Geirangervegen into Geiranger, stopping at Djupvatnet lake and the Geiranger Skywalk at Dalsnibba — the highest fjord viewpoint in Norway, reached entirely by car. Photo stop at Flydalsjuvet on the descent.
From Geiranger quay, take the fjord sightseeing boat past the Seven Sisters waterfall — the best (and easiest) way to see the fjord. On the way home, detour onto Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, the beautiful old mountain road, if it's open and the weather is clear.
Morning up the Oldedalen valley along Oldevatnet lake to Briksdalsbreen — a gorgeous ~5 km round-trip walk to the glacier past waterfalls (or take the "troll car" shuttle most of the way up).
Afternoon: the Loen Skylift straight up Mt Hoven — five minutes in a cable car to a 1,011 m panorama over the whole fjord, with a restaurant at the top. The single best effort-to-view ratio of the trip.
A — Trollstigen loop: early start. Geiranger → Eidsdal ferry → the legendary Trollstigen hairpins (reopened in 2026 after its rockfall closure) → Romsdalen valley to see Trollveggen, Europe's tallest vertical rock face. The Litlefjellet viewpoint is parent-friendly: toll road up, then just a 20-minute walk. Long but unforgettable.
B — Ålesund: the gentler day. Art-nouveau harbour town, seafood lunch, and the Aksla viewpoint (418 steps or drive up). A great wet-weather choice.
Drive the length of Lovatnet to the Kjenndalen glacier valley and the mighty Ramnefjellsfossen waterfall. Coffee stops, short strolls, no agenda.
If the sky is clear, add the hour's drive to Bergheimsvatnet lake below Eggenipa — the Matterhorn-shaped peak that reflects perfectly on a still day. This is also the natural catch-up day for whichever Sunday option you didn't take.
Leave by 10:00–10:30am to be at the airport comfortably by 5pm. Lunch stop en route (Skei or Førde are the practical halfway points). Fill the tank before returning the car.
Most of the famous fjord highlights sit in a ring around it:
| From base | Drive | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| Lovatnet | 15 min | Turquoise glacier lake, Kjenndalen valley |
| Briksdalsbreen | 40 min | Glacier walk up Oldedalen |
| Loen Skylift | 5 min | Cable car to 1,011 m fjord panorama |
| Stryn | 25 min | Valley village, river views |
| Eggenipa | ~1 hr | Matterhorn-shaped peak & mirror lake |
| Geiranger | ~2 hrs | Fjord, Skywalk, Seven Sisters, Skageflå |
| Ålesund | ~2.5 hrs | Art-nouveau coastal town |
| Trollstigen / Trollveggen | ~3–3.5 hrs | The one big stretch day |