Norway - the ultimate nature-based cruise destination
Ålesund
Photo: Arnfinn Tønnesen
Port of Ålesund
Fairway to the fjords and Northern Norway
The picturesque Art Nouveau town of Ålesund has a beautiful setting across several islands stretching out into the sea, and is situated at the very entrance to the world heritage listed Geirangerfjord. The town is also an excellent starting point for round trips to some of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions.
Ålesund is internationally renowned for its unique architecture in the Art Nouveau style. The town was devastated by fire a winter’s night in 1904, laying 850 houses in ashes and leaving 10.000 people homeless. During a remarkably short period of time, the new Ålesund was rebuilt in the unique architectural style, especially significant from 1890-1910, with a myriad of turrets, spires and medieval ornaments. The Art Nouveau Centre portrays the town’s unique position in Norwegian architectural history.
A stroll through Ålesund reveals a town full of colourful and beautiful architecture. Enjoy the charming pedestrian zone and the picturesque fishing harbour where fishermen sell their catch directly from their boats. In a great fire of 23 January 1904 the whole town of Ålesund was destroyed, and a new town rose like Bird Phoenix from the ashes.
Experience the Art Nouveau town and the best views of this spectacular scenery, including a breathtaking panoramic view from Mount Aksla. Enjoy a drive along the Borgundfjord, through the modern suburbs to the bustling old trading centre of Borgund, site of Sunnmøre Museum.
Enjoy a tour through the town centre amongst the Art Nouveau buildings and drive up to the vantage point at Mount Aksla. Visit the award winning Atlanterhavsparken, one of the largest aquariums in Scandinavia. Built into the coastal landscape, facing the mighty ocean, it provides a fascinating insight into the multitude of life beneath the waves.
Explore the saga island of Giske, the birthplace of the Viking chieftain Rollo, who invaded and founded Normandy in 911 and thus became the ancestor of William the Conqueror, sire to the English Royal Family. The island had a unique position during the Viking Era and was the seat of one of Norway’s most powerful noble families.
Enjoy the beautiful and dramatic Hjørundfjord on this combination of a fjord and overland tour (boat and bus). Here in this dramatic scenery you will find large goat farms up in the mountainsides and fish farming plants along the seaside.
Experience one of Norway’s hidden treasures on this roundtrip to the wild and dramatic Hjørundfjord. The fjord is just off the beaten track, but still situated on the very doorstep to Ålesund! See how the locals live, and experience the striking scenery that Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany valued so highly more than 100 years ago.
A stroll through Ålesund reveals a town full of colourful and beautiful architecture. Enjoy the charming pedestrian zone and the picturesque fishing harbour where fishermen sell their catch directly from their boats. In a great fire of 23 January 1904 the whole town of Ålesund was destroyed, and a new town rose like Bird Phoenix from the ashes.
Experience the Art Nouveau town and the best views of this spectacular scenery, including a breathtaking panoramic view from Mount Aksla. Enjoy a drive along the Borgundfjord, through the modern suburbs to the bustling old trading centre of Borgund, site of Sunnmøre Museum.
Enjoy a tour through the town centre amongst the Art Nouveau buildings and drive up to the vantage point at Mount Aksla. Visit the award winning Atlanterhavsparken, one of the largest aquariums in Scandinavia. Built into the coastal landscape, facing the mighty ocean, it provides a fascinating insight into the multitude of life beneath the waves.
Explore the saga island of Giske, the birthplace of the Viking chieftain Rollo, who invaded and founded Normandy in 911 and thus became the ancestor of William the Conqueror, sire to the English Royal Family. The island had a unique position during the Viking Era and was the seat of one of Norway’s most powerful noble families.
Enjoy the beautiful and dramatic Hjørundfjord on this combination of a fjord and overland tour (boat and bus). Here in this dramatic scenery you will find large goat farms up in the mountainsides and fish farming plants along the seaside.
Experience one of Norway’s hidden treasures on this roundtrip to the wild and dramatic Hjørundfjord. The fjord is just off the beaten track, but still situated on the very doorstep to Ålesund! See how the locals live, and experience the striking scenery that Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany valued so highly more than 100 years ago.
The World Heritage listed Geirangerfjord is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Norway. The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains, majestic waterfalls and old deserted farms clinging on to small mountain ledges half way up the mountain sides.
Explore the district of trolls and fairytales in a beautiful natural setting. Here you can really understand how the myths of trolls originated. Experience wild mountains, roaring waterfalls and peaceful nature.
The bird sanctuary Runde has one of the largest nesting cliffs in Norway. More than half a million birds of about 230 different species are to be found at Runde every year. The active bird life starts in March and ebbs out gradually throughout the months of July/August.
Enjoy a scenic tour by boat and bus that includes four short walking tours to local historical sites; Ålesund inner harbour, Bjørnøya coastal fortress, Lepsøyrevet Lighthouse and the old Skodje bridges. Bjørnøya, a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow road, holds a rich Second World War history.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour aboard the cruise ferry Fjordkongen. Relax and enjoy the close up views of the picturesque fishing harbor as well as the seaside views of the town. The cruise ferry will navigate so close to the land and islands that you can almost touch it, and will take you through the narrow passage between Ålesund and Skarbøvik.
Enjoy a round trip around the Storfjord, visit a local beer factory, and admire the magnificent fjord views from the top of Mount Roalden at Strandafjellet. The breathtaking view covers several fjords surrounded by the high and jagged peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps. The view point is easily reached by cable cars.
The small city of Ålesund is one of the most important fishing harbours in Norway. After a fire in 1904 which destroyed most of the old wooden buildings, the town was completely rebuilt on the initiative of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. As a result Ålesunds architecture is unusually consistent and has a unique concentration of Art Nouveau- Jugendstyle.
Safari along the coastline outside Ålesund in a high-speed open RIB boat. The trip normally includes visiting a seal-colony and Runde’s famous bird colonies. For rafting in calmer waters we can offer fjord rafting. Here one can get close up to the mountainsides and waterfalls. The rib-boats have seats
as on a motorbike, nicely padded and with good handles to hold on to.
Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life
Fishing Adventure
Experience a taste of this exhilarating sport on a small local fishing boat! Our fishing excursion will take you on an enjoyable ride out to the waters around Ålesund, to some of your Captain’s favorite spots. The catch can include fish like cod, haddock, pollack and saithe.
Admire the spectacular views from the peak of Sukkertoppen (Sugar Loaf Mountain). The impressive sight of the town with a never ending range of majestic snowcapped peaks in the background is just unforgettable! Opposite you can enjoy the magnificent view of the islands stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean. Quite a contrast – and well worth the climb!
Photo: Fred Jonny Hammer
Sea Kayaking Tour
The tour starts in the calm waters of the picturesque Brosundet canal in the colourful Art Nouveau town of Ålesund - an excellent photo opportunity – before paddling along the fjord to explore the natural beauty of the Norwegian coastline. This kayak excursion offers the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation as you enjoy the scenery and the fresh air.
A Journey Back In Time.
Enjoy a journey that gradually takes you back in time! First of all you will experience the life of the fisherman-farmer and his family. See how they lived and taste the food they used to eat; fishcakes and fish. Try the toys their children used to play with, and the tasks they had to do. Test out your skills - can you walk on stilts?
Games & Action.
Experience new games and have a lot of fun! Children’s Playland is a unique indoor activity centre. The play area is suitable for children of all ages, challenging and exciting. Children will enjoy themselves on one of Norway’s largest play constructions, with obstacle courses, slides, climbing walls etc.
Aquarium - See, Feel & Touch.
Explore the aqua-world on this interactive tour to Atlanterhavsparken. Built into the coastal landscape, it provides a fascinating insight into the multitude of life beneath the waves. Enjoy the show in the ocean tank. Pick up a lobster, a starfish or other sea creatures in the activity room and try out your luck fishing crabs!
They are watching you – and we don’t mean CCTV cameras. You know the feeling; you turn around and there is someone staring at you. The little creatures on the facades of the town’s buildings. We call them the Yoogons. It started like this: The town was rebuilt after a great fire in 1904, and these small glowing creatures, the Yoogons, were blamed for the fire.
Enjoy the dramatic fjord, mountain and coastal landscape from above. Fly over the ragged Sunnmøre Alps in a helicopter – follow the fjord from the open ocean and see how it cuts its way through the mountain ranges and deep into the narrow fjord arms.
This excursion gives you the unique opportunity to learn about the Norwegian way of life. Ålesund has played a leading role in Norway’s fishery and maritime history ever since the Viking era, and the surrounding area is also home to a thriving furniture industry. The town itself has a dramatic story to tell.
The culinary cooking tour is a unique opportunity to learn about the fisheries background and tradition of the town of Ålesund, Norway’s fisheries capital. The group will prepare a gourmet dish in a hands-on cooking class taught by a professional chef. The dish will be made from local Norwegian ingredients and traditional recipes.
Enjoy a scenic tour by boat and bus to the Arctic Museum “Aarvak” in Brandal. Norway’s largest polar museum holds a fascinating collection of arctic animals and birds, hunting equipment and nearly 2.000 photographs, plus the sealing vessel “Aarvak”.