Last time The Local Answer took you to Norway on a round trip with Hurtigruten’s coastal steamer. This time, we focus on a two-centre fly-drive to Ålesund and Geiranger.

We flew Norwegian, collected the car at Ålesund airport and drove, after navigating spiralling underwater tunnels to the mainland, straight to our self-catering base at at Geiranger on the UNESCO Geirangerfiord. It’s a gentle, well-signed, two-and-a-half hour drive via Stordal and the Eidsdal ferry. The stunning scenery just gets more impressive by the minute.

Geiranger is perfect for exploring

Journey’s end is Geiranger, at the foot of the precipitous Ørnevegen (Eagle Road) with its iconic views of anchored cruise ships in the narrow fiord end. We spent a week at the well-rated, family-run Grande Hytteutleige og Camping. It’s a beautifully located complex of simple, but comfortable chalets and camping places. It’s a perfect base for exploring – or just relaxing, fishing for supper in the fiord, or hiring a motorboat or kayak for excursions under the majestic waterfalls that tumble into the blue-green water.

Drive over the switchback Trollstigen

We’d recommend trips to nearby Geiranger (best avoided when cruise ships are in!), Flydalsjuvet viewpoint or Storseterfossen waterfall. Make sure to drive over the switchback Trollstigen (Troll’s stairs) to Åndalsnes too. And if you think you recognise locations from the movie Ex Machina, you’re correct. The film’s high-tech house is Valldalen’s Juvet Landscape Hotel – also visited by The Hairy Bikers on their trip to Norway – on the southern approach to the Trollstigen.

Other excursions include Stryn and Briksdals, under the Briksdal glacier, or to Bakeriet I Lom (arguably Norway’s best and also visited by the Hairy Bikers) in Fossbergom, for delicious Skillingsboller. Don’t miss the village’s magnificent stave church either.

Art Nouveau Ålesund

As mentioned earlier, pretty Ålesund is worth visiting at the start or finish of your trip. Highlights include its Art Nouveau architecture and museum, aquarium and views from Mount Aksla. There’s a great selection of places to eat and accommodation – we loved the Quality Hotel Waterfront, which is close to the Avis depot if you plan to return your car there instead of at the airport.

So that’s our fiord focus (although we had a Toyota). Think stunning scenery, ‘Switzerland by the Sea’, and if you self-cater, it’s not nearly as expensive as you’d imagine. You’ll love it.