Our day in Flam, Norway was one of the highlights of our July 7-Day Viking Sagas cruise on Holland America’s newest ship, the ms Koningsdam.
After the ms Koningsdam sailed into Norway’s Sognefjord (the world’s deepest and second-longest fjord), and then turned south into Aurlandsfjord, we docked in the picturesque village of Flam, Norway.
From our pre-trip research on Flam, we knew that it’s a small town (pronounced “flom”) with only 350 residents that attracts 450,000 visitors each year.
One of the big attractions for visitors is the scenic Flam Railway. We wanted to avoid the crowds and the expense of this shore excursion, so we headed to the Tourist Information office to learn about alternative ways to explore the area. (You can buy train tickets in the tourist office, but they are generally sold out to the cruise ship’s shore excursions, especially when there are two ships in port.)
We booked a cruise on a sightseeing boat that would transport us through the narrow Nærøyfjord (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to the small town of Gudvangen, with a return to Flam by bus.
With an hour and a half of time before our fjord cruise, I set out to explore the hiking trails that are well marked and begin right in the town.
Within about 10 minutes of hiking, I was rewarded with this view of the Koningsdam docked in Flam, Norway. I continued hiking while Mr. Jones checked out the local shops to buy a rain jacket.
At the appointed time on our tickets, we headed to the dock to join our sightseeing cruise. The Lykkeper offered both indoor and outdoor seating, plus an open front bow for open-air views and photo-taking.
We sailed past small villages, with minor commentary as to what we were seeing.
Sailing down the narrow Nærøyfjord, you witness dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, with a few farms and villages nestled along the shoreline.
The 1.5 hour boat tour ends at Gudvangen, the small town located at the end of the Nærøyfjord where the Nærøydalselvi River empties into the fjord. There are a few shops and restaurants, but the star attraction is the view of the fjord. Note Mr. Jones’ newly-purchased jacket. While it was quite a warm day for Norway, it is still jacket-weather when you are on an open boat close to the water.
We caught the bus heading northeast on the highway to Flam. Much of the highway route is through the 7.1 mile-long Gudvanga Tunnel, so the views are limited on that part of the return.
Upon our return, we had plenty of time to explore more of the village of Flam. The weather was spectacular for a July day in Norway, with no jackets required.
We glanced at the fresh fish at the N.I.F. Seafood stand. The gentleman at the counter insisted that we try a free taste of his seafood curry.
He dipped into this huge vat of seafood curry, and gave us each a spoonful to taste. One bite and it was clear why he was so insistent: it tasted incredible.
Having tasted it, of course we had to purchase an order of the seafood curry, which was served over rice. The curry seasoning was light, not overpowering the four different types of fresh, local fish and seafood included in the dish. Food in Norway is expensive; this one order cost about $20 US, when you figured the conversion from Norwegian kroner. We both agreed this dish was worth every penny.
Next, we were ready to try one of the local beers from Ægir Brewery. Since the day was so beautiful, we enjoyed beers (and complimentary Wi-Fi) at the outdoor seating of a restaurant very close to the ship’s docking location. Along with the fellow travelers at the table next to ours, we celebrated a perfect day in Flam, Norway.
Have your visited Flam, Norway? What was your favorite highlight?
Resources for Flam and the surrounding parts of Norway:
Check out these posts on the Koningsdam cruise ship:
- A Photo Tour of Holland America’s Newest Cruise Ship: the ms Koningsdam
- A Photo Tour of Entertainment on Holland America’s Koningsdam
- Dining on Holland America’s Koningsdam Cruise Ship
- A Look Inside Stateroom 11001 on Holland America’s Koningsdam Cruise Ship
- Views from Holland America’s Koningsdam Cruise Ship
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