Eresfjord Norway
Norway
Frequently Asked Questions
At the head of the fjord that bears its name, in western Norway, within the municipality of Molde. The few ships that venture here are usually small expedition vessels: this is a rural Norway that the big itineraries pass by.
The seven-kilometre salmon river linking Lake Eikesdalsvatnet to the fjord. Long renowned among anglers, it remains the thread of local life. A hatchery founded in 1956 looks after the salmon and sea trout populations of the catchment.
One of Europe's highest waterfalls: 655 metres of total drop in two stages, including a spectacular free fall on the upper tier. It hides about twenty kilometres from the village, at the head of the Eikesdalen valley.
No, and this matters before booking. Diverted for hydroelectricity in the 1970s despite protests that remain famous in Norway, it only runs at full flow from 20 June to 20 August, when the gates open for the summer.
Moderate. From the Mardalen car park, a two-kilometre path climbs to the foot of the falls in thirty to forty-five minutes, first under old elms, then over steeper ground up to 325 metres. The roar grows with every bend.
The drive is an excursion in itself: the road runs along Lake Eikesdalsvatnet, hemmed in by sheer walls, and passes the Strandfossen, another waterfall visible at the mouth of the valley. The curious carry on toward the Aursjøvegen mountain road.
Walk the banks of the Eira, between wooden fences and wrapped hay bales. Here nature is not visited, it is lived in: farming, fishing and quiet tourism support the farms scattered among meadows and slopes.
Very few. This is a farming hamlet, not a resort: no shops to speak of, no museums, few restaurants. Bring what you need from the ship and do not count on amenities.
Walking shoes and a waterproof: the weather changes quickly between lake and coast, and the Mardalsfossen path ends in the spray of the falls.
The month changes everything: tender greens and swollen torrents in early summer, amber light and coppery slopes from late August. For the Mardalsfossen at full flow, aim for the 20 June to 20 August window.
