Sightseeing Tour in Trollstigen – Land of Trolls

The big draw here is the journey into Norway’s mountain country, ending at Trollstigen’s famous 11 hairpin bends and high plateau. You leave Ålesund’s Art Nouveau streets behind and pass fjords, waterfalls, strawberry country, and steep mountain roads in one long, scenic day.

I like the early departure, which can put you at the viewpoints before the main crowd, and I like the return-to-port planning for cruise passengers. The main concern is road access: rockfall, landslides, snow, or bad weather can change the route, sometimes at short notice. Some buses have also had poor window visibility or mechanical problems.

Key points to know before booking

• Eleven hairpin bends: The Trollstigen road is the star attraction, but access can be closed by rockfall, landslides, or snow.
• Five scenic stops: You visit Kokarsteinen, Gudbrandsjuvet, the Trollstigen Plateau, Stigfossen, and Trollveggen.
• Built around ship schedules: The tour returns to Prestebrygga Cruise Pier, with an advertised back-to-ship guarantee when your ship details are registered.
• A long scenic drive: Six hours gives you a broad look at Møre og Romsdal, but some stops are brief.
• Comfort varies by vehicle: Air conditioning is included, but vehicle condition has not been consistent.
• English-led commentary: English is the main language, with a second language possible depending on the group.

From Ålesund to the Storfjord

The tour begins at Prestebrygga, the cruise pier in Ålesund. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure, and you need to provide a mobile number with the country code so the operator can reach you if the meeting point or departure time changes.

Ålesund makes a fine starting point. The city spreads across islands at the edge of the Atlantic and is famous for its concentrated Art Nouveau architecture, rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1904. This excursion does not spend time touring the city, though, so you should see Ålesund separately if your port schedule allows.

Once aboard the air-conditioned vehicle, the road heads out past Sjøholt and toward the fjords. The trip is not a quick transfer to Trollstigen. It is a full scenic circuit, and the changing views are part of the value.

The group can include up to 48 people, though some departures have been described as smaller. A smaller group makes boarding and photo stops easier, while a full coach can feel less flexible. The road itself supplies much of the entertainment, with water, mountains, farms, and narrow roads appearing outside the windows.

Kokarsteinen, a five-minute fjord stop

The first stop is Kokarsteinen along the Storfjord, after Sjøholt. You get about five minutes for photographs, so think of this as a quick leg stretch and a chance to frame the fjord rather than a proper visit.

Short stops like this help break up the drive, but five minutes goes quickly. Keep your camera ready and listen carefully for the boarding time. If the weather is clear, the stop gives you an early taste of the water and mountain scenery ahead.

This is also where the bus windows matter. Several accounts describe streaked or dirty glass that blocked views, especially on the scenic side of the vehicle. A clean bus can make a major difference on a tour built around views, so check the vehicle before settling into a seat if you can.

Gudbrandsjuvet and the Valldal valley

The road continues through Stordal and Valldal. Valldal is known for its strawberries, a local detail that adds character to the drive. Do not count on buying ripe berries outside the growing season, though. A mid-May departure, for example, may be too early.

The next stop is Gudbrandsjuvet, a dramatic gorge and waterfall area where the water cuts through the rock. You have around 15 minutes here. That is enough for photographs and a look around, though not enough for a long walk.

I would use the facilities at Gudbrandsjuvet if you need them. One account specifically found the restrooms here better than those at the Trollstigen Plateau. That is a useful little detail on a six-hour mountain trip, especially when the plateau facilities may be closed in poor weather or outside the main season.

This stop is one of the tour’s strongest scenic breaks because it gives you a close look at rushing water rather than only distant mountain views. The guide may also add stories about Valldal, local life, and the area’s geography. Commentary quality can vary by departure. Guides such as Elizabeth and Cian have been singled out for clear, engaging information, while another account found the explanation too thin.

The Trollstigen Plateau and the view from above

After Valldal, the bus climbs toward the Trollstigen Plateau. This is the main event. At the foothill viewpoint, you get approximately 45 minutes, the longest stop of the day.

From here, you can look toward the mountain road and its sharp bends, along with the surrounding peaks and waterfalls. On a clear day, the sight is powerful: the road appears to cling to the mountain, and the scale of the setting makes the drive feel much bigger than a standard coach excursion.

The stop includes time for food and drinks at the shop or cafeteria, at your own expense. That wording matters because meals are not included, and the facilities may not be open. One October departure found the cafeteria and public restrooms closed during foul weather. Bring a snack and some water rather than depending on the plateau café.

Forty-five minutes sounds generous, but it can feel short. You may need time to use the restroom, buy food, take photographs, and walk toward the best viewpoint. If you want a long hike or quiet time on the plateau, this is not that kind of excursion. It is a carefully timed sightseeing stop.

The weather can change the experience completely. Sunshine gives you open mountain views. Rain, sleet, wind, or low cloud can hide the road and peaks. Several departures still offered worthwhile scenery in poor weather, but one account described the plateau as a complete washout, with no clear views and closed facilities.

Pack layers and waterproof clothing even if Ålesund looks mild. Late September and October can bring snow on the upper road, and winter conditions may arrive earlier than you expect. The tour can be enjoyable in cold rain, but you need to accept that the famous view is never guaranteed.

Driving the 11 bends, when the road is open

The advertised route includes a descent on Trollstigen’s old mountain road, with 11 hairpin bends. This is the part many people book for. The bends are narrow, steep, and dramatic, and the driver’s skill becomes part of the experience.

You may find the road thrilling or nerve-racking. One guide and driver combination received praise for making the steep curves feel controlled, while another account called the switchbacks a nail-biter. Both reactions are fair. If winding mountain roads make you uncomfortable, choose a seat near the front and be prepared for a serious climb and descent.

The road is subject to sudden closure because of rockfalls and landslides. Snow can also block the upper section. When the descent is closed, the vehicle may still reach the viewpoint from the southern side, allowing you to see the road from above. In that case, you can still see much of the scenery, but the drive through the bends and the visit to Trollwall may be lost.

This is the most important booking issue. The tour description treats the full road as a major feature, but road conditions can change after you reserve. In past departures, some people were notified only shortly before the tour. If driving the hairpins is your main reason for booking, confirm the current road status with the operator as close to departure as possible.

Stigfossen waterfall and Trollveggen

On the way down, the planned route includes a five-minute photo stop near Stigfossen, a large waterfall beside the road. Five minutes is enough for a quick photograph, not a leisurely walk or extended viewing.

The final stop is Trollveggen Besøkssenter, the Troll Wall visitor center, for about 10 minutes. Trollveggen rises dramatically above the valley and is associated with mountain climbing and base jumping. This gives the tour a different kind of mountain story after the fjords and waterfalls.

Both stops depend on the road being open. If the Trollstigen descent is closed, Stigfossen and Trollveggen may be skipped. That happened on some departures, so do not treat these as guaranteed independent stops.

If the road is accessible and the weather cooperates, this final section rounds out the day well. You get the waterfall, the famous rock wall, and a sense of how serious the terrain is for climbers. If the route is shortened, the tour can feel much less complete, particularly if you paid mainly to experience the full road.

Guides, drivers, and the bus itself

The tour is conducted mainly in English. A second language may be added depending on the passenger mix and availability. The best guides add local stories, information about the towns, and simple explanations of the mountain roads. Troll tales can be fun, but you should also expect practical geography and local detail.

Elizabeth has been praised for clear timing and local information. Cian has been described as adding useful facts and humor when snow forced a changed route. Drivers such as Anika have been praised for handling narrow roads with confidence. These names may not be assigned to your departure, but they show the difference a strong guide and driver can make.

The vehicle is advertised as air-conditioned. That is useful on a six-hour trip, but equipment condition has varied. Reports include dirty windows, a broken front door, ineffective air conditioning on a warm day, and one bus breakdown that caused a delay of about 45 minutes before a replacement arrived.

Those problems are not the norm presented by every departure, but they are worth weighing against the price. A clear window is not a minor luxury here. The right side of the bus may face the best views, and dirty glass can spoil the main reason you came.

Is $139.61 good value?

At $139.61 per person, this is not a cheap transfer. You are paying for a full six-hour excursion, transport over a long mountain route, a guide, several planned stops, and cruise-friendly timing.

The value is strongest if you are in Ålesund for one day and want to reach Trollstigen without arranging a rental car or navigating the mountain road yourself. You also get a broad sample of the region: Storfjord, Stordal, Valldal, Gudbrandsjuvet, the plateau, Stigfossen, and Trollveggen.

The value drops if the road is closed, the weather is poor, or the bus has obstructed windows. A shortened trip may still show beautiful fjords and waterfalls, but it may not deliver the hairpin drive that attracted you. Because the full route is weather dependent, a flexible cancellation policy matters.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection does not solve a last-minute road closure after the 24-hour cut-off, so this is a tour where current conditions deserve attention.

Timing for cruise passengers

This excursion is designed around cruise arrivals and departures. Modified departure times may be announced in advance, and the advertised back-to-ship guarantee applies when you provide the cruise ship name at booking.

The official tour time must end at least one hour before the ship’s departure for that guarantee to apply. That buffer is important because the route is long and mountain roads can be affected by weather, traffic, rockfall, or a vehicle problem.

Still, a guarantee is not a reason to ignore the schedule. Keep your phone on, arrive early, and do not wander far from the vehicle at stops. Five minutes at Kokarsteinen and Stigfossen means the group cannot wait for late arrivals.

Who should book this excursion?

I would choose this tour if you want a wide-ranging day in the countryside and prefer a guide and coach to independent driving. It suits cruise passengers, first-time visitors, photographers, and anyone who wants waterfalls and mountain roads more than city sightseeing.

It is also a good fit if you want someone else to handle the steep route. The drivers have to manage narrow, winding roads, and a good guide keeps the group moving without making every stop feel rushed.

I would think twice if your priority is guaranteed access to the hairpins, Trollwall, or the plateau café. Those features depend on road conditions and opening hours. I would also be cautious if you need fully reliable vehicle access, since one account reported difficulty with a broken bus door for a passenger with mobility needs.

FAQ

Where does the Trollstigen tour begin?

It begins at Prestebrygga Cruise Pier in Ålesund, Norway.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at Prestebrygga Cruise Pier in Ålesund.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup is not included. You meet the group at Prestebrygga.

Is the tour suitable for cruise passengers?

Yes. Departure times are adapted to cruise ship schedules, and a back-to-ship guarantee is offered when you register your cruise ship details. The official tour must end at least one hour before ship departure.

What happens if Trollstigen Road closes?

The tour may still reach the viewpoint from the southern side of the road. You may see the road and surrounding sights, but the descent through the hairpins, Stigfossen, and Trollveggen may not be possible.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book the Land of Trolls tour?

Book it if you see Trollstigen as part of a bigger day of fjords, waterfalls, valleys, and mountain views. The route offers far more than a single viewpoint, and the ship-friendly schedule removes much of the stress of reaching the mountains from Ålesund.

Before paying, check the road status, ask how the current route will operate, and prepare for cold, wet weather. If the road is open and your vehicle has clean windows, this can be one of the most memorable ways to spend a port day. If the road is closed, you need to be satisfied with a scenic substitute rather than the full Trollstigen experience.