The most beautiful natural sites to discover Vestlandet

The Troll Road is the most visited tourist route in Norway. This route includes the famous section called Trollstigen, the Troll Ladder, or The Golden Route. From the end of June to the 10th of August, the Troll Route Museum is open. Climb up Ørnesvingen, the Eagle Bend, a ledge from which you can enjoy a last magnificent view of Geiranger and the fjord. After 20 km, take the Eidsdal-Linge ferry. The road passes through high mountain scenery for about 40 km before starting the descent to Trollstigen. For hundreds of years, an old mule track, climbing up the 180 m high Stigfossen waterfall, was the only communication route between the fjords in Sunnmøre and Romsdal counties. It is now a hiking trail (for those not prone to vertigo). The new Trollstigen road, completed in 1936, winds its way up the side of the mountain with 11 sharp bends and a gradient of 12%. The road, which closes for the winter from mid-September, is not recommended for caravans. Before starting the descent there is a mountain hut, Trollstigen Fjellstue, with a souvenir stand and a cafeteria. A footpath behind the lodge leads to a breathtaking viewpoint near the Giant's Potholes. On the road, from the bend called Bispesvingen, or Bishop's Bend, there is a beautiful view of Åndalsnes and the Romsdal Fjord.

Trolltunga Active is one of the best known and recognized local actors in the region. They offer more than 12 different activities on and around Trolltunga, with a focus on sustainability, quality, surprise effect and above all safety. They will share their knowledge about nature and wildlife, Norwegian traditions and history, and of course trolls and Vikings! To do: combine the hike with a night in one of the Arctic domes! Incredible staff dedicated to making your vacation unforgettable.

The tourist brochures praise two beautiful views of the city: Fløyen and Ulriken. The Ulriken cable car is further from the centre. The funicular to Fløyen Hill is undoubtedly the most pleasant, taking you up to 320 m in 7 minutes and offering a superb view of the fjord. It is only 150 m from the market. It is also possible to go for a walk... or to go back down on a perfectly marked path, on the side of the mountain and in a beautiful vegetation. There is also a nice café and a shop.

Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier in Europe (474 km²) and is a vast glacial plateau from which several tongues of ice stand out. The contrast between the fertile, trough-shaped valleys and the glaciers that slope almost to the sea is spectacular, to say the least. Note that hiking on the glacier is difficult, and even dangerous, so if you want to try it, take a guide! There are many trails to see the glacier up close.

Built in 2005, the Atlantic Ocean Route is an 8.9 km stretch of Route 64. It connects the village of Vevang to the island of Averøy by 8 bridges crossing a string of islands. This route is the second busiest tourist route in Norway after Trollstigen (Route 63, from Langvatnet to Åndalsnes via Geiranger).

It is a high rock overlooking the city. A staircase of 418 steps leads to the top, but it can also be reached by car via the road around the hill. At the top there is a café with a terrace and a summer restaurant (Fjellstua) under a glass dome. There is a fantastic view of the town, which stretches out over the sea, with dark rocky islets off the coast. Turning inland, you can see a row of ice-capped peaks. There are trails up there that can extend the walk by a few hours.

The Troll Wall is a vertical wall more than 1,000 m high, whose ascent is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. Uncharted until 1965, it is now used for climbing in summer and winter. In the 1980s, the wall became, unfortunately, very popular for paragliding jumps. The dangerous and treacherous rising winds caused several fatal accidents, and paragliding was finally banned in 1986.

The horn of the Romsdal valley, which rises 1,550m above the valley, hides a hydroelectric station in its side. An old noble farm, which has belonged to English lords (the Davenports) for generations, nestles on the banks of the Rauma River, which flows through the Romsdal Valley before emptying into the fjord near Åndalsnes. For many years it has been considered one of Norway's best salmon and trout rivers.

By following the marked trails, visitors come to discover traditional agricultural activities (mowing, burn) that will save the végétation vegetation, which is now threatened. Exhibition, film projection and cafeteria. This natural park received the UNESCO Prize for Cultural Landscape in 2001.

This incomparable viewpoint (one of the most beautiful in the region), located at 407 meters above sea level at the end of Vardevegen, allows to admire the city of Molde, the archipelagos that populate the fjords, and the snow-covered peaks (more than two hundred visible on a clear day) that cover the horizon. Many walkers get there on foot from Molde along the Green Corridor (about an hour's walk one way for good walkers). A place not to be missed, especially for those who travel in winter.

The trail starts by bike, bus or car, and it takes a good hour to reach the summit, which is 314 metres high. Since we start from sea level, it is quite a long way. Be careful when it rains as the paths quickly become muddy and slippery. From up there, the 360° view on the city and the fjord is simply breathtaking. It is a very popular place with many walkers and especially the locals who go there on weekends. A must do for the view and for the walk!