Stryn: Fjord, Mountains and Unique Excursions

Stryn combines impressive natural scenery with a wide range of ways to spend a day on holiday. In Lodalen, the landscape is defined by towering mountains, waterfalls, the intensely green Lovatnet and a glacier in the background. Elsewhere, mountain trails lead to historic farms, an old gravel road invites you to enjoy a special drive, and various water activities take centre stage on lakes and fjords. The right accommodation for your trip therefore also depends on whether you mainly want to hike, get out on the water, experience the landscape on a drive, or include culture and local history.

Lodalen and the Lake District

Lodalen lies west of Jostedalsbreen. Its striking scenery of high mountains, dramatic waterfalls and the intensely green Lovatnet makes the landscape a travel experience in its own right. If you would like to combine time on the water with walking, you can canoe and hike in Lodalen. Fishing at Lovatnet is also free. This makes it possible to shape your stay around different interests without having to follow a set itinerary.

Activities on the water are also available at Oldevatnet, including kayaking, canoeing and leisurely boat trips. Equipment can be rented at several locations along the lake. From Olden, Olden Active offers guided kayak trips and RIB rafting on the fjord. If you would rather explore the waterscape at your own pace, these offer alternatives to a guided excursion. These differences may play a part in choosing the focus of your holiday.

Hoven, Hiking Trails and Excursions

In Loen, the Skylift takes visitors almost 1,000 metres up to a restaurant on the edge of Mount Hoven. A much more active way to experience the mountain is the Loen Via Ferrata: secured throughout by a steel cable, this protected climbing route leads from the fjord to the summit of Hoven at 1,011 metres. The two experiences differ in both their format and destination. When planning, it is therefore helpful to consider whether you would prefer to make the ascent by Skylift or focus on a secured via ferrata.

In Oldedalen, hiking ranges from easy walks to more challenging mountain tours. This gives you flexibility in planning your day, as the trails cater to different preferences for activity and hike length without prescribing a particular route. Segestad farm offers a special insight into the former mountain-farming way of life. From Glomnes farm, it can be reached by a roughly one-hour uphill walk. The approximate walking time and ascent are important to consider when deciding on this excursion.

Briksdalsbreen has attracted travellers for more than 150 years and remains one of the region’s most visited natural attractions. If you are interested in nature and the history of life around the glacier, Jostedalsbreen Nasjonalparksenter provides information about natural values, cultural heritage and the history of the people in and around the national park. This offers a different focus from an active day on a hiking trail or out on the water.

Special Routes and Local Discoveries

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen is a hand-built gravel road from Grotli in Skjåk to Videseter in Stryn, and a special route to drive. It offers a different way to experience the landscape than hiking or going on an excursion on the water. At Tvinnefossen, you can park close to the waterfall and experience it up close.

Culture and local offerings can also give an excursion its own character. Singerheimen in Olden is an estate with distinctive green buildings and a lush garden; guided tours share its history. Gamlebutikken på Hjelle is an old general store dating from 1882. Afternoon tea, pizza, soup and lunch dishes are served there; the shop also offers local handicrafts, art and English porcelain. This allows you to complement nature experiences with an interest in cultural history or food.

If you are looking for a range of activities, Hydlaparken has treetop climbing courses, ziplines and a pump track. For mountain biking, the trail network between Ullsheim and Stryn passes through gently rolling terrain with mountain pastures and views of the fjord and mountains. Buses run through Oppstryn, with connections to Stryn and further east and west. These transport links may be relevant when choosing a base for planning your trip.

Places to Continue Your Search

For guidance and to search for a suitable holiday apartment, you can also visit the destination pages: Stryn, Olden, Utvik, Loen, Blaksæter, Oppstryn, Innvik, Hjelle and Briksdalsbre.

For the broader travel overview: Sogn Og Fjordane.