Day 16: In the Troll Church, Waiting for the Ferry & the Tunnel Maze to Ålesund

Today was planned as a contrast program: First deep into the mountain, then a long wait, and finally deep under the sea. Our destination was the Art Nouveau city Ålesund, but the journey there was the real adventure.

Trek into the Underworld: The Trollkyrkja

Before we hit the trail, we laced up our hiking boots for a special natural wonder: The Trollkyrkja (Troll Church). This is not a normal mountain hike, as the goal is three marble and limestone caverns. Equipped with flashlights, we ventured into the caves. It is dark, damp, and cool – and suddenly, you stand before an underground waterfall illuminated by an opening above. An absolutely magical place that was definitely worth the sweaty climb.

Norwegian 'Hygge' at the Ferry Terminal

After the hike, we continued to Gossa Island. From here, we planned to take the ferry to Finnøy. The plan was good, but reality taught us patience. The ferry was a hefty hour late. You quickly learn here: 'Norwegian hygge' is not always positive. ;-) But when you're at the harbor, seagulls are screaming, and you're on vacation, it's bearable. Stress doesn’t help here anyway.

Engineering at its Best: The Nordøyvegen

When the ferry finally dropped us off at Finnøy, the most thrilling driving part of the day began. The route to Ålesund goes over the so-called Nordøyvegen. This is a gigantic construction project of bridges and – especially – underwater tunnels that connect the islands to the mainland. It felt like endless ups and downs, diving deep beneath the sea and emerging over spectacular bridges back into the light. A technical masterpiece where a driver won't get bored.

Arrival in Urban Ålesund

In the evening, we reached the Ålesund region. The contrast to yesterday couldn’t be greater. Yesterday: Wild camping on a meadow in the middle of nowhere. Today: A hotel in an urban setting, street noise, rows of houses. We are back in civilization. Ålesund is known for its architecture and its location on several islands – we hope to see more of this tomorrow. For today, it was enough to simply fall into a freshly made bed after the cave tour and tunnel marathon.

Day Summary:

• Hike: Trollkyrkja – Waterfalls in the mountain are a must!

• Test of Patience: 1 hour wait for the ferry (Gossa-Finnøy).

• Drive: Spectacular underwater tunnels on the way to Ålesund.

• Accommodation: Hotel comfort instead of tent romance.