Norway, the country of fjords, midnight sun and one of the longest coastlines in the world. Add to that the overwhelming nature and the hospitable people and you have some very good reasons to explore this beautiful country.

In the fifth part of this 13-part collection, you leave Odda and head further north. First, you have the chance to fill up the tank in the village if you haven't done so yet. It's not a bad idea to keep the tank reasonably full. On some parts of the route, you won't see a gas station for miles. When in doubt, fill up!

You’ve barely set off before you have a pleasant view of the Sørfjorden. This is a 38-kilometre-long fjord that is one of the innermost branches of the main Hardangerfjorden. It is located in the municipality of Ullensvang in Vestland county, Norway. It is the longest arm that branches off the Hardangerfjord. Sørfjorden stretches from just north of the village of Kinsarvik due south to the industrial town of Odda. The Folgefonna Glacier and Folgefonna National Park lie just west of the fjord, and the Hardangervidda mountain plateau lies to the east.
Speaking of the Folgefonna glacier, on the left side of the road you can see the Aednafossen. This is a waterfall on the Aedna river, which falls from a height of 325 meters into the Sørfjorden. At 170 meters wide, it is one of the widest waterfalls in Norway. The Aedna river is fed by the meltwater from the Folgefonna glaciers.

A few kilometres further on you will use the only ferry on this route, the boat from Utne - Kvenndal. It sails every half hour and takes you to the other side of the Hardangerfjorden in fifteen minutes. Where you leave the boat, the Granvinsfjorden begins again. This fjord is an arm of the Hardangerfjord in the municipalities of Granvin and Ullensvang. The fjord is about 10 kilometres long and the width is usually less than 1 kilometre. It has its inlet in the part of the Hardangerfjord known as the Inner Samla Fjord between two small peninsulas: Furenes near the village of Tjoflot on the east side and Håstabbenes on the west side. From there, the fjord runs northeast to the village of Granvin at the head of the fjord. The fjord has steep walls and is bordered by mountains up to 1,200 metres high. The route runs along the Granvinsfjorden to Granvin, so enjoy it to the fullest!

In Granvin you have the possibility to shorten the route a bit. You will then drive 35 kilometers less, which will save you 75 minutes in time. At the T-junction, turn left into the tunnel, you will then automatically end up on the route again.

After turning right in Granvin and exiting the tunnel (with a beautifully lit blue roundabout!), you drive a short distance along the Hardangerfjorden. This fjord is approximately 170 kilometres long and is the fifth largest fjord in the world. The fjord runs from the southwest to the northeast.
The only large islands in front of the fjord are Stord, Bømlo and Tysnesøy. The island of Varaldsøy is located in the fjord. The fjord is approximately 725 metres deep. Side arms of the Hardangerfjord are the Eidfjord and the Sørfjord.

If you find it interesting, you can find a spot to see the Hardanger Bridge in all its glory. This bridge spans the Eidfjorden, the eastern part of the Hardangerfjorden, and is the only fixed crossing across the fjord. The bridge has a total length of 1,380 meters and a main span of 1,310 meters. The bridge was built between February 2009 and August 2013 and replaced a nearby ferry service across the Hardangerfjorden. The bridge was opened on 17 August 2013.

After a few kilometres the route keeps left and you exchange the Hardangerfjorden for the Bagnsfjorden. The outer part of the Osa Fjord is also called the Bagnsfjorden, named after the headland where the fjord begins. A few kilometres further it branches off again into the Ulvikafjorden.
The Ulvikafjorden is an arm of the Osafjorden. It is six kilometres long and runs north from the inlet between Birgjetangen and Staursnes to the town of Ulvik. In the centre of Ulvik the fjord turns east and continues for another two kilometres. This inner part of the fjord is called Ulvikapollen. South of Ulvikapollen lies the village of Hjeltnes. National road 572 runs along the west side of the fjord.

In the town of Ulvik it is high time for a cup of coffee, where better to enjoy it than on the shore of the beautiful lake Ulvikapollen? Beautiful view over the lake and the mountain Kristinuten behind it?

A beautiful additional route that you can drive from Ulvik is the Osafjellsvegen. This road takes you to the high mountain lake Austdølnutvatnet. The (toll) road to it is truly amazing to drive. It is a dead end road, so you return the same way. However, that is no punishment considering the many beautiful things that can be seen along the way.
If you are interested in this, do not turn left at the T-junction after coffee, but turn right and follow the Tyssevikvegen. This soon turns into the Osavegen, after Osa the road narrows at some point and will continue as the Osafjellsvegen.
You will also come across a small wooden house, where you can pay the toll. There is an explanation of how to pay everything.
Please note that you will need at least an extra hour for this Osafjellsvegen, but it is an experience never to be forgotten!

After coffee and the possible excursion to Osafjellsvegen you continue the route, meandering through the Norwegian landscape. You will visit places like Vossevangen, Vinje and Flåm. Finally you will arrive in Aurlandsvangen. Shortly before this place you have the opportunity to fill the tank and the stomach. If in doubt, use this opportunity, there is no gas station in the next 50 kilometers.

At Aurlandsvangen you are on the Aurlandsvegen. On this road you drive on a narrow road along a wild river with numerous rapids and waterfalls. The road also starts to climb slowly until you reach the mountain massif, the natural border and barrier between Aurland and Lærdal. It goes steeply up with a number of hairpin bends. The road over the mountain massif is also called 'snøvegen'. Until the month of July you drive through a snow-covered area, only the road is snow-free. The road is closed in the winter, but the part from Aurlandsvangen is open all year round up to the viewpoint at Stegastein.
Stegastein Lookout is located 650 meters above the Aurlandsfjord and offers you a beautiful view of the fjord. The lookout is designed in such a way that it gives you the feeling of floating above the fjord. A special feature is the glass front of the lookout, which gives you an even better view.
From Stegastein you look into the 29 kilometre long Aurlandsfjord and the villages, one of the branches of the Sognefjord. The Sognefjord is with a length of 204 kilometres the longest fjord in Norway and one of the longest in the world. The village of Aurlandsvangen can also be seen from the lookout. You really do yourself a disservice if you don't stop here.

After enjoying a beautiful number of kilometres on the Aurlandsvegen, you exchange the view for the water of the Årdalsfjorden. The road along this road leads you via Naddvik to Øvre Årdal. In this place you have the opportunity to do some shopping at the local supermarket if desired. You can also arrange something to eat and/or drink at the adjacent petrol station.

Once you have left Øvre Årdal, you will be driving on Tindevegen. This road is the mountain road between Årdal and Turtagrø, a road that you follow for a distance of 32 kilometers. A tourist road that takes you from Sognefjorden to Jotunheimen. The road is also called “the shortcut through Jotunheimen” and is suitable for cars, campers and smaller buses (max 10m). The road is open from May to November.
Tindevegen is a toll road, the prices in 2024 are NOK 100 (€9,-) for a car, for a motorcycle you pay NOK 60,- (€5,50).

At the end of Tindevegen you turn left onto another phenomenal road, the tourist route Sognefjellet. You will only drive a short distance of this before you reach the end point, but it is already a very small foretaste of what is to come on the next route.

After completing the last 12 kilometers you will arrive at the end point of this route, the Vassbakken kro og camping. A not too big, quiet campsite where you can park your camper, tent or caravan. There are also cabins in various sizes for rent. In the background, just like at the Hildal campsite where the route started, a beautiful view over a waterfall, the Åsafossen waterfall.

Have fun riding this route!