SUP safari: 5 fjords where you won't want to let go of your board

The morning begins on the crest, where you can look down at the aquamarine glass fjord and unfold your SUP board before breakfast. The hike-and-paddle format is amazing! It changes the scale in an hour: just a moment ago, the height took your breath away, and now it's the jellyfish swimming close beneath your feet. Norwegian rental companies have seen a fantastic twofold increase in demand for stand-up paddleboarding in the fjords, with tourists seeking a "quiet alternative to motorboats and kayaks."

We've handpicked five bays where SUP loops effortlessly connect with Norway's picturesque hiking trails and the "one backpack, many emotions" logistics, making your adventure seamless and unforgettable.

1. Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord (Sognefjord)

Why here? The UNESCO-listed fjords are sheltered from the wind by cliffs, so the water is often as smooth as a table. SUP Norway offers six-day SUP trips where you spend the night on tiny beaches — your board is like a floating suitcase.

How to combine it with trekking

If you live in Aurland, you can paddle to Undredal (7 km) in the morning, have goat's cheese for lunch, and in the evening, take the classic Prest climb (6 km/+650 m). You get both smooth sailing and great views — the best of outdoor adventures in Norway.

2. Lysefjord

Get your heart pumping at Preikestolen

You can hire SUP boards at the SBK Base shop in Lysebotn. Put your board in a roll-up backpack, hop on the ferry, and in 40 minutes, you'll be gliding between 800-metre walls without having to share the space with lots of other boats.

Hike bonus: as soon as you've swum, put your paddle in the bus luggage rack and climb Kjerag (11 km / +780 m) — you'll see the same fjord, but from the height of a bird of prey. This is the perfect combination for the best national park hikes in Norway.

3. The Hardangerfjord is made up of two smaller fjords: the Sørfjord and the Ulvikfjord.

The floating garden of Hardanger is known for its fruit orchards; the water here is slightly warmer thanks to the shallow bays. SUP tours start in Ulvik. The company that you hire the boards from also provides a dry bag and a map of the local "fruit piers".

After a morning of enjoying cider, go for a hike up the slope to the Oksen panorama (11 km / +950 m). This route is one of the most popular through the Norwegian national parks. However, the crowds disperse at the waterfalls, and only the most determined people reach the top.

4. Hjørundfjord (Sunnmøre Alps)

A mirror for the peaks

The tour company Norway Adventures sets up base camp in the village of Sebø. They issue carbon boards and take you along the cliffs of Saxa — with clear water up to 400 m below you. It is so quiet that you can hear the waves lapping against the surface.

One floor up, you can exercise your legs by walking an evening loop to Røyrhornet (8 km / +760 m). You will see the whole route in front of you, like a curved mirror. If you spend the night in a "fjord pod" on the pier, you can enjoy a day of "silent sailing / loud breathing".

5. Lofoten (Reinefjord and Sakrisøy)

The Caribbean is at 68°N. GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor have lots of offers for "SUP Reine". The route goes along white beaches, past fishermen's red-and-white houses, and to the blue lagoon of Bunes. In summer, the water is +11°C, but you won't find better visibility anywhere else.

The trail is short, but the distance you cover on the way is long. After your morning SUP loop, set off on the Reinebringen trail (3 km / +450 m). Your board will dry on the railing next to the rorbu (a type of wooden house) while you gaze at the zigzags of the fjord. An hour ago, you were leaving your paddle marks in the same place. These shots are perfect for your social media and will really enhance your Norway national parks account.

Equipment and safety

● 10'6" inflatable board — packs into a 70-litre backpack, fits in the luggage compartment of a coach.

● 3 mm neoprene + 50 N life jacket — the water rarely warms up above +14 °C.

● 15-litre dry bag for camera, windbreaker and energy bar.

● Before setting off, check yr.no: if the wind speed exceeds 6 m/s, postpone your trip until the morning or evening — in narrow fjords, gusts can blow the board around like a paper sail.

● Use the buddy line principle: attach the board to your backpack with a carabiner while moving so that you don't lose it when mooring.

Get ready for the most incredible SUP adventure in Norway! Imagine standing at the summit, feeling the rush of excitement as you take in the breathtaking panorama, and then gliding across the water's edge to catch an amazing mirror image of the view. The "get out of the tent, inflate the board, and go" format is amazing! It turns the fjord into your own infinity pool, and every mooring bay becomes a photo studio without filters.

Get out there and try out the awesome routes! Capture the amazing reflections of the rocks on the smooth water with your camera, and send us your SUP beach coordinates. We'd love to hear your tips on how to connect with the best national park hikes in Norway, and we're all ears for your honest stories about your first fall into the icy water! Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime as we create a guide to routes where you'll be soaring high above the sky, nestled in the embrace of majestic mountains, and gliding effortlessly through the purest water in the North.