Hjørundfjord Cruise and Christian Gård

The beautiful Hjørundfjord is still an insider tip. It is surrounded by steep mountains rising vertically up from the fjord with jagged peaks stretching 1.700 metres above sea level. The fjord splits the Sunnmøre Alps in two - with small villages along both sides of the fjord, some even without any road connection. Some of these villages remain unspoilt and have kept their authenticity, as the boat has been the only form of transport for centuries for the people who live here.

In the village of Trandal, in the middle of the charming Hjørundfjord, there are around six inhabitants. Trandal has no road connection to the outside world, and can therefore only be reached via a waterway or a demanding hike. Nevertheless, concerts and festivals such as the country festival and Trandal blues take place.

The capacity of the place is 25 times larger than that of the rural population and is frequently visited by local and national heroes such as Magne Furuholmen and Kjell Inge Røkke.

Here we find the charming inn Christian Gaard Bygdetun. A visit to Christian Gaard is a guaranteed memory for life.

The tour begins at the Ålesund cruise pier by speedboat through the Borgundfjord before entering the impressive Hjørundfjord. Already the boat trip through the idyllic Hjørundfjord, which is framed on both sides by high mountains, is an experience. After a few stops you leave the boat in Trandal. Trandal and the Christian Gaard inn, with only a handful of permanent residents, became famous when the Australian travel magazine Luxury Escapes showed a picture of its tree swing curving out over the Hjørundfjord. Definitely a unique photo opportunity in Norway.

In the late 1990s, the old farm was restored and converted into an inn. The entrepreneur Frank Storeide had the idea of making a living that relies more on the milking of tourists than on goats, as he would have said. Meet the innkeepers and their flock of curious goats as you explore the property, including the opportunity to swing across the fjord. Return to the restored farmhouse for a snack of in -house made gravlax and coffee before heading back to the pier in Ålesund.

Notes: There is walking over uneven terrain, or steps. Hiking shoes and windproof clothing are recommended. This program is not wheelchair accessible.