Travel with Kevin and Ruth: Tourist ferry from Geiranger to Hellesylt, Norway

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Tourist ferry from Geiranger to Hellesylt, Norway

Many of Norway's ferries are part of the highway system. Others are part of the tourist ferry system, yet they also allow a number of vehicles. We took one such ferry yesterday.

The route from Geiranger to Hellesylt leads through Geirangerfjord, one of the most scenic fjords in the world, and of course this is the fjord that is very popular with the cruise ships.

We checked out the route choices and while taking the ferry would definitely cost more than driving, it would also give us the opportunity to see the fjord from the water. For Max and two passengers, the cost was 1005 kr ($130 CAD, $101 USD) for the one hour and five minute ferry ride. Which we actually thought was not bad considering we get the scenic tour as well. It would also save us about 80 kms (50 miles) driving.

Because we had sat and watched the ferry come and go a few times over the 48 hours since we arrived in Geiranger, we knew that the 8am departure was the least busy. The day before our sailing, I had checked with one of the employees and if the ferry wasn't busy I would not have to remove the bicycles in order to meet the "under 6 meters" price for a motorhome.

We parked in the lineup the night before, so we were the first ones to board for the 8am departure.

Max, in line for the ferry.

Yes, another big cruise ship had arrived at just after 7:00am.

Ready to head on board.

You can see a smaller cruise ship on the left has also entered the harbor.

It actually holds quite a few vehicles.

It turned out there were only 7 other vehicles, including one big bus.

Lots of empty chairs on the top deck.

Looks like a nice morning for a scenic boat ride!

And we're off!

The little tourist resort community of Geirangerfjorden.

On this one hour and five minute boat trip we probably saw over 100 waterfalls.

Some are quite impressive.

Heading up the fjord.

What's that up ahead? Another waterfall??

It couldn't be!

And other one.

Norway is all about the waterfalls.

Scenery along the way.

Can you see the farm just above the center of the photo?

It was an occupied working farm until the 1960's.

Accessible only by boat and then a steep path up.

The Seven Sisters Waterfall.

Can you count the seven waterfalls?

And this is the Suitor waterfall, opposite the Seven Sisters.

Legend has it that the "Seven Sisters" were all unmarried, and the waterfall on the other side of the fjord has been called "The Suitor" after several unsuccessful attempts to court the sisters.

Rainbow in the falls.

More waterfalls.

Colorful waterfalls.

Scenery along the way.

Another old farm accessible only by boat.

You can see Hellesylt in the distance.

And another waterfall.

Arriving at Hellesylt.

Max had a nice front row view!

Waterfall in the village of Hellesylt.

We parked by the waterfall and went for a walk around the village. We found a free WiFi source coming from a small grocery store so went and parked over there to use the WiFi for a couple of hours.

We also checked out the price at the one gas station in town. Ended up putting in a quarter of a tank of diesel at 26.03 kr ($3.37 CAD) per liter. That's about $9.90 USD per gallon. Hopefully we'll be able to get some cheaper than that as we go along, but I wouldn't bet on it!