Alesund and Mt Aksla

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know once we disembark the ship at Alesund what street we walk to where we would begin to walk the steps to see the Fjellstua viewpoint at Mt Aklsa?

Also, once were done doing that, does anyone have any recommendations what to do. We are thinking about just walking around the city. Our ship is there from 8 AM until 11 PM. We leave the port unusually late compared to the other fjord ports, especially when you consider there is a not a ton to do. Does anyone know why that might be?

Thanks in advance

Or I am thinking about doing the Trollstigen excursion through the boat albeit very expensive ($229 PP). This may be to good to pass up. Has anyone done this? It is the Romsdal & the Troll Path excursion with HA:

Take a short sightseeing tour of Ålesund city, passing the town of Spjelkavik en route to Sjøholt village.

From Sjøholt, you'll follow the shoreline of Storfjord, enjoying beautiful scenes from the road. You are now in an area known for both salmon fishing and furniture making. The furniture crafted here is exported all over the world. In Stordal alone there are several furniture factories.

Pass the old, octagonal Stordal Church (1789) and through Liabygd and Valldal, renowned for growing sweet strawberries. You will follow the valley towards Trollstigen (the Troll Path), passing the impressive Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge. On top of the mountain you can still see signs of the old road built in 1028 by Viking King Olav.

In the center of the Trolltindene mountain range you will stop for a typical Norwegian buffet lunch of hot and cold dishes, desserts and coffee. A bottle of mineral water or light beer is included per person.

From the highest point on the road, at 2,800 feet above sea level, you will drive the famous Troll Path with its 11 exciting hairpin bends leading down to Isterdalen Valley. Stop to visit the famous Troll Wall -- well known to mountaineers all over the planet. This wall has the highest overhang in Europe and is visited by world-famous climbers every summer.

So I was thinking about doing the Troll Path excursion then when we return we still have plenty of time to visit Aksla viewpoint (now I know why the ship does not leave until 11!) Thoughts?

As far as climbing the hill goes, you basically look for the hill and head towards it. You can get plenty of maps off google, but you don't need them.

I have just returned from a Norwegian Jade cruise which stopped in Alesund. We hired a car from Avis which is a short (10 min walk) from the dock. We were 2nd off the ship and picked up the car just after 8am. We drove to Trollstigen and Trollveggen stopping off at various waterfalls and viewpoints along the way. We did a circuit and were back in Alesund around 3pm. We drove up to the Aksla viewpoint and then returned the car to Avis before 4pm when the office closed. We then wandered around the town for about 1 hour until the heavy rain started and we returned to the ship.

Our route was essentially this - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate+50,+6005+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Trollstigen+Senter,+%C3%85ndalsnes,+Norway/Troll+Wall,+Rauma,+Norway/Aksla+Viewpoint,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/@62.4461954,6.5364053,10z/data=!4m37!4m36!1m10!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3m4!1m2!1d7.0986102!2d62.3409617!3s0x4616a0dfb071545d:0xc459b13e87eecddf!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140e73a9080343:0x58aeb47eee13f4fc!2m2!1d7.6632067!2d62.4535802!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140c3b9657f9cb:0xf7606439db4bc46a!2m2!1d7.7178023!2d62.485801!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da43e06f7ce5:0xac4e477fec50ff3a!2m2!1d6.1640809!2d62.4742868!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3e0

I have just returned from a Norwegian Jade cruise which stopped in Alesund. We hired a car from Avis which is a short (10 min walk) from the dock. We were 2nd off the ship and picked up the car just after 8am. We drove to Trollstigen and Trollveggen stopping off at various waterfalls and viewpoints along the way. We did a circuit and were back in Alesund around 3pm. We drove up to the Aksla viewpoint and then returned the car to Avis before 4pm when the office closed. We then wandered around the town for about 1 hour until the heavy rain started and we returned to the ship.

 

Our route was essentially this - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate+50,+6005+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Trollstigen+Senter,+%C3%85ndalsnes,+Norway/Troll+Wall,+Rauma,+Norway/Aksla+Viewpoint,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/@62.4461954,6.5364053,10z/data=!4m37!4m36!1m10!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3m4!1m2!1d7.0986102!2d62.3409617!3s0x4616a0dfb071545d:0xc459b13e87eecddf!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140e73a9080343:0x58aeb47eee13f4fc!2m2!1d7.6632067!2d62.4535802!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140c3b9657f9cb:0xf7606439db4bc46a!2m2!1d7.7178023!2d62.485801!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da43e06f7ce5:0xac4e477fec50ff3a!2m2!1d6.1640809!2d62.4742868!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3e0

This sounds very interesting since our ship has a long day in Alesund. Unfortunately to read Avis closes at 4 pm however. As my husband loves to make many photos I wonder if with many short stops, plus probably a lunch stop, do we have enough time without feeling in a hurry? Your rouite sounds great and very interesting.

This sounds very interesting since our ship has a long day in Alesund. Unfortunately to read Avis closes at 4 pm however. As my husband loves to make many photos I wonder if with many short stops, plus probably a lunch stop, do we have enough time without feeling in a hurry? Your rouite sounds great and very interesting.

Avis closes at 4pm but you could drop the car and keys off later, there is also a petrol station right next to the Avis office. I stopped several times to take photos and we had a long stop at Trollstigen visitor centre where we had lunch. The roads were quiet, in total I drove around 275km.

Avis closes at 4pm but you could drop the car and keys off later, there is also a petrol station right next to the Avis office. I stopped several times to take photos and we had a long stop at Trollstigen visitor centre where we had lunch. The roads were quiet, in total I drove around 275km.

Thank you. Good to know that we can drop the car and key later if needed. That way we donot need to check the time and feel rushed.

Is the visitor centre where you more or less turned around on the map?

I have just returned from a Norwegian Jade cruise which stopped in Alesund. We hired a car from Avis which is a short (10 min walk) from the dock. We were 2nd off the ship and picked up the car just after 8am. We drove to Trollstigen and Trollveggen stopping off at various waterfalls and viewpoints along the way. We did a circuit and were back in Alesund around 3pm. We drove up to the Aksla viewpoint and then returned the car to Avis before 4pm when the office closed. We then wandered around the town for about 1 hour until the heavy rain started and we returned to the ship.

 

Our route was essentially this - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate+50,+6005+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Trollstigen+Senter,+%C3%85ndalsnes,+Norway/Troll+Wall,+Rauma,+Norway/Aksla+Viewpoint,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/Avis+bilutleie+%C3%85lesund,+Nedre+Strandgate,+%C3%85lesund,+Norway/@62.4461954,6.5364053,10z/data=!4m37!4m36!1m10!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3m4!1m2!1d7.0986102!2d62.3409617!3s0x4616a0dfb071545d:0xc459b13e87eecddf!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140e73a9080343:0x58aeb47eee13f4fc!2m2!1d7.6632067!2d62.4535802!1m5!1m1!1s0x46140c3b9657f9cb:0xf7606439db4bc46a!2m2!1d7.7178023!2d62.485801!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da43e06f7ce5:0xac4e477fec50ff3a!2m2!1d6.1640809!2d62.4742868!1m5!1m1!1s0x4616da3af8b094c3:0x3509e869ba66c98!2m2!1d6.1386038!2d62.470736!3e0

This sounds like a very good idea that we want to follow.

Monarch will arrive in Alesund 8am to 5pm.

How was the drive? Are the road signs clear?

We don't want to go on detour roads and eventually spent more time on the road and missed the ship.

Thanks:)

How was the drive? Are the road signs clear?

The drive was fine as the roads were reasonably quiet, you need to be careful at one part as you leave Alesund where you hit some roundabouts but signs are good in Alesund. Mostly the road signs were smaller than the ones I am used to in the UK. As long as you know which towns you need to turn off you should be fine locating the junctions. The Trollstigen road is well sign-posted from Valldalen. There were quite a lot of tunnels including one that was 6km long near Andalsnes but the views were spectacular, I liked the freedom that I could stop where I wanted and for as long as I wanted. There are a couple of tolls on the road between Andalsnes and Sjoholt but they are automated and quite expensive.

Is the visitor centre where you more or less turned around on the map?

Yes the Trollveggen visitor centre is the furthest point from Alesund. When you come down the 63 from Trollstigen you hit the junction with the E136. You take a right there for a few kms and you reach the Trollveggen visitor centre which is on the right and you get views of the Troll Wall from there. We didn't stay there for long.

You then head back the way you came until you reach Andalsnes and then you follow the E136 all the way back to Alesund along the coast.

One more question re the toll. Did you pay by tollpass (through Avis?) or did you pay with bank or creditcard?

Is the visitor centre where you more or less turned around on the map?

Sorry you were referring to the Trollstigen visitor centre. It is on the 63 road at the top of the hairpin bends.

One more question re the toll. Did you pay by tollpass (through Avis?) or did you pay with bank or creditcard?

I didn't realise that there were tolls before I went, I let Avis pay the toll and they charged it to my credit card a few days later. I wasn't aware that you could pay the tolls yourself, they were automated, no toll stations that I noticed.

One more..... what is easier to drive, clockwise or the other way around? Did you drive uphill or down?

Thanks for all your info!

One more..... what is easier to drive, clockwise or the other way around? Did you drive uphill or down?

I drove down the Troll Road from the Visitor Centre towards Andalsnes. I only had one issue which was trying to get past a large bus coming up the hill and it was very tight, the car in front of me hit the bus with their wing mirror.

It may be easier to pull over if you are coming up the hill as you would be going slower and the view of the waterfalls would be better as they were generally behind us coming down the hill. There are not that many places to stop on the actual part of the road with the hairpin bends and the obvious one beside the bridge was full when we came past. There is a large car park at the bottom of the hill.

The drive was fine as the roads were reasonably quiet, you need to be careful at one part as you leave Alesund where you hit some roundabouts but signs are good in Alesund. Mostly the road signs were smaller than the ones I am used to in the UK. As long as you know which towns you need to turn off you should be fine locating the junctions. The Trollstigen road is well sign-posted from Valldalen. There were quite a lot of tunnels including one that was 6km long near Andalsnes but the views were spectacular, I liked the freedom that I could stop where I wanted and for as long as I wanted. There are a couple of tolls on the road between Andalsnes and Sjoholt but they are automated and quite expensive.

Yes. I like the freedom as you mentioned too.

Did you use GPS for this trip?

For paying tolls, do I need cash or it can be paid by credit card?

How much were the tolls?

Any ferry ride in this route?

If you could plan again, any modifications would you like?

Thanks again.:)

Yes. I like the freedom as you mentioned too.

Did you use GPS for this trip?

For paying tolls, do I need cash or it can be paid by credit card?

How much were the tolls?

Any ferry ride in this route?

If you could plan again, any modifications would you like?

Thanks again.:)

Answers below:

No I didn't use GPS, I think the car had it but it was in Norwegian. I printed instructions from Google Maps and researched using Google Street View.

I don't know what they were in NOK but I was charged just under £14.

No ferry necessary.

Find out the speed limit in Norway for the open road although I wasn't in a hurry. I am not sure that there is a better way to do the route, I am sure that there are pros and cons both ways.

The scenery is amazing, photos don't do it justice. I will maybe upload some pics to this thread.

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Wonderful photos!.We will watch the weather report a few days before and make the decision to rent a car or not. Almost for sure we will after seeing those photos.

Do I understand righ you drove clockwise then? Thanks again.

Answers below:

No I didn't use GPS, I think the car had it but it was in Norwegian. I printed instructions from Google Maps and researched using Google Street View.

I don't know what they were in NOK but I was charged just under £14.

No ferry necessary.

Find out the speed limit in Norway for the open road although I wasn't in a hurry. I am not sure that there is a better way to do the route, I am sure that there are pros and cons both ways.

 

The scenery is amazing, photos don't do it justice. I will maybe upload some pics to this thread.[/quote

 

Your pictures are marvelous.

Is gear box no. 1 good enough to go up?

What kind of rental car did you get?

Was it powerful to go uphill like that?

Thanks.

Wonderful photos!.We will watch the weather report a few days before and make the decision to rent a car or not. Almost for sure we will after seeing those photos.

 

Do I understand righ you drove clockwise then? Thanks again.

Thank you. I wouldn't rely on the weather in Norway, you just have to go with the flow. It is close to 300km round trip, you will get a variety of weather over that distance. Also be aware that the Avis office is small and they could possibly run out of cars, I booked 6 months before we went.

No I drove anti-clockwise. My route was Alesund to Sjoholt, then onto 650 to Valldalen, then 63 to Trollstigen, down the Troll road and visited Trollvegen, turn around and drove back on E136 to Andalsnes and took the E136 along the coast back to Sjoholt (where there are tolls for a tunnel and a new bridge) and onto Alesund. I drove up to Aksla viewpoint on the way back into Alesund and then returned the car to Avis. It was raining when we were at the Aksla viewpoint.

Your pictures are marvelous.

Is gear box no. 1 good enough to go up?

What kind of rental car did you get?

Was it powerful to go uphill like that?

Thanks.

Thank you. I ordered a Ford Focus but I ended up with brand new (17km on the clock) Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with an automatic gearbox although I didn't request an automatic gearbox. The car was powerful enough, the inclines were not too steep, you tended to zig-zag up the hills rather than go straight up. Some really large buses and camper vans go up the hills.

View of Ålesund from Aksla viewpoint in the rain

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We'll be on the Serenade in Aug with Alesund as one of our ports of call. Thanks for all the information.

This sounds very interesting since our ship has a long day in Alesund. Unfortunately to read Avis closes at 4 pm however. As my husband loves to make many photos I wonder if with many short stops, plus probably a lunch stop, do we have enough time without feeling in a hurry? Your rouite sounds great and very interesting.

Ine, I noticed in your signature that you were on the Millennium - Asia itinerary. We'll be sailing on the Millennium 4 B2B's in Mar 2018. This will be our first time to Asia. We would appreciate any information, advice, suggestions, excursions, tours, etc you could share with us. You can email me at Lmack2 at Gmail dot com.

Lynn