Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route is a road with breathtaking views

Aurlandsfjellet is a very scenic drive located in Vestland county, Norway. This National Tourist Route is closed in winters and is one of the famous scenic drives in Norway.

Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route

How long is Aurlandsfjellet?

Located in the southern part of the country, Road 243 is 47 km (29 miles) long, running from Aurlandsvangen to Lærdal. It was opened in 1967 and replaced by the Lærdalstunnelen, the world's longest road tunnel at 24.5 kilometers (15.2 miles) long.

Is Aurlandsfjellet challenging?

The drive features steep and narrow parts, wide enough for one car only, with restrictions on the length of buses (maximum length is 12.4 meters). The road is partly steep, so drive in low gear and easy on the brakes. Note that there may be a lot of traffic from Stegastein towards Aurlandsfjorden.

Is Aurlandsfjellet closed?

The road is completely closed in winters, topping out at 1,305m (4,281ft) above sea level. It is known as the "Snow road" due to snow along the road most of the summer. The stretch from Aurlandsvangen is open year-round as far as the viewpoint at Stegastein. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Is Aurlandsfjellet worth it?

The road runs through 20 hairpin turns along lovely scenery with a variety of landscapes. It’s a beautiful drive across a barren plateau through a desolate landscape of snow and rocks with the occasional sprig of grass. Travelling from Lærdal, the view that opens up on the descent towards the dramatic fjord landscape in and around Aurland is astounding, with the award-winning Stegastein viewpoint as the pièce de résistance. Made of laminated timber and steel, this platform sticking 30 meters out into thin air, 650 meters above the fjord gives the landscape a whole new dimension. The drive offers many stops along the way to watch fjords, cascades, and forests.

Facts:

Roads: Road 243
Length: 47km
Highest elevation: 1.306m
Ferries: 0
Winter notice: Closed over the mountain during the winter season between the Aurland/Lærdal municipal boundary and Nalfarbakkane above Aurlandsvangen.
Other: Restrictions on the length of buses and the maximum length is 12,4 metres.

 



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