Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the town of Luster, consider visiting the beautifully decorated Dale Church
(described next). Farther along, near the hamlet of Nes, you'll have views
across the fjord of the towering Feigumfoss waterfall. Drops and dribbles
come from miles around for this 650-foot tumble. Soon Route 55 veers along
an inlet to the town of Gaupne, where you can choose to detour about an hour
to the Nigard Glacier (up Route 604; described under “Sights on the Lustraf-
jord,” next). After Gaupne, Route 55 enters a tunnel and cuts inland, emer-
ging at a long, fjord-like lake at the town of Hafslo. Just beyond is the turnoff
for Solvorn, a fine home-base town with the ferry across to Urnes and its
stave church (Solvorn and Urnes Stave Church both described under “Sights
on the Lustrafjord,” next). Route 55 continues to Sogndal, where you can
choose to turn off for the Kaupanger and Mannheller ferries across the Sogne-
fjord, or continue on Route 55 to Hella and the boat across to either Dragsvik
(near Balestrand) or Vangsnes (across the Sognefjord, near Vik and Hopper-
stad Stave Church).
RouteTimings:
Ifyou'reapproachingfromLomintheGudbrandsdalVal-
ley, figure about 1.5 hours over Sognefjell to the start of the Lustrafjord at Sk-
jolden, then another 30 minutes to Gaupne (with the optional glacier detour:
2 hours to see it, 4 hours to hike on it). From Gaupne, figure 30 minutes to
Solvorn or 40 minutes to Sogndal. Solvorn to Sogndal is about 30 minutes.
Sogndal to Hella, and its boat to Balestrand, takes about 40 minutes. These
estimated times are conservative, but they don't include photo stops.
These attractions are listed as you'll reach them driving from north to south
along the fjordside Route 55. If you're sleeping in this area, you could visit
all four sights in a single day (but it'd be a busy, somewhat rushed day). If
you're passing through, Dale Church and Solvorn are easy, but the other two
involve major detours—choose one or skip them both.
▲Dale Church (Dale Kyrkje) in Luster
The namesake town of Luster, on the west bank of the Lustrafjord, boasts a
unique 13th-century Gothic church. In a land of wooden stave churches, this
