Norway

SUP in Norway, Nærøyfjord

by Titus Kodzoman

@supnorway

Intro

National Geographic Traveller Magazine’ voted the fjords of Norway the number one "unspoiled travel spot" from a list of 115 destinations around the world.

Dramatic mountains mirrored on beautifully flat, pristine waters - this place is what SUP dreams are made of! Sognefjord is the largest & deepest navigable fjord in the world and one of its branches, Nærøyfjord, is undoubtedly the most spectacular.

At 17km long and only 250 metres wide at the narrowest point, paddle boarding Nærøyfjord is definitely one of the most immersive ways to experience the fjords of Norway. The sheer grandeur of Nærøyfjord assails the senses and your perspective is often challenged as you paddle past neck-achingly high cliffs rising to mountains of over 5000ft with literally hundreds of breath-taking waterfalls.

Nærøyfjord is a truly stunning, majestic place to paddle. If you truly want to immerse yourself in nature and head out on a SUP adventure like no other then pack up your kit and your Voyager board for this simply stunning paddle.

Highlights

  • This is a true SUP paradise. The waters are almost always calm due the narrowness of the fjord surrounded by the protecting sheer mountains and side winds are almost non-existent. If you get a rare head-wind that's a bit too much, just stop for a while, rest and take in the beauty. Chances are it won't last long.
  • As a UNESCO protected site of outstanding beauty, nature abounds Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord. Don't be surprised when you are joined by a pod of local dolphins or look up to see a huge sea-eagle soaring over-head.
  • Stand up paddle boarding is the perfect low impact way to respectfully engage with this ecosystem and people who paddle here are invariably blown-away with the experience. With 20 hours of light, days are long and the paddling is wonderfully relaxed.
  • The average air temperature for June/July is 16-24°C (61-75°F) a perfect temperature to explore these waters and you needn’t worry about your drinking water supply, the natural source from the hundreds of waterfalls - it is the sweetest water you will have ever tasted, guaranteed! No filter required.

Local Knowledge

  • Sat Nav

    61.2765177,6.1895937

  • Nearest Parking

    There is various parking points available around Nærøyfjord.

  • Places to Stay

    Camping is the way to go here if you want to see the real unspoilt Norwegian fjords without a tourist in sight.

    SUP Norway have been leading stand up paddle expeditions to Sognefjord using Red Paddle Co touring boards exclusively - they are experts at giving you the best experience possible in the most awe-inspiring nature.

  • Places to Eat / Drink

    Goats can be seen grazing on the steep sides of Aurlandsfjord. If you stop at the tiny village of Undredal you can eat the local specialty of goat stew at the fjord-side restaurant. Make sure to also sample the famous locally made goat cheeses. There is even a statue of a goat in the village square. Basically: If you don't like goats, don't go there!

Things to Know

  • Sognefjord is MASSIVE! If you want to save yourself the trouble of finding the best places and hidden routes then we highly recommend taking a 5 day SUP expedition with SUP Norway