Stardalen is a green and lush valley in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway. You find the valley when traveling along E39 - 240km north of Bergen or 170km from Alesund. Driving from Bergen northwards to i.e. Alesund, passing the beautiful lake Jolster and the community center Skei, 6 km later at Klakegg, you see the sign saying Stardalen to your right.

Stardael valleyThe Jostedalen glacier

 

Stardalen is an U-shaped 14km long unspoiled valley, surrounded by high mountains with waterfalls rushing down the steep mountains. Stardalen river which also is a trout river, floats mostly calm through the  fertile valley.

 Trouts from Stardalen river

 

Local trolls welcome you upon entering the valley.


The highest mountain in Sunnfjord - Snonipa 1827 metres high -  can be reached  from the valley, and you have easy access to many hiking routes from Stardalen, as the 5 hour scenic hike ending in Briksdalen.Or you can do easy hikes  up the beautiful side valleys

 Cattles on their summer dairy farm in Stardalen

 

Befringsdalen or Veitebergdalen valleys.Befringsdalen valley

 

 

                                                                         From Befringsdalen valley

Stardalen is surrounded by the biggest glacier in Norway - the Jostedalen glacier - which  can be reached from the valley.You also find the Myklebust glacier and Haugabreen glacier where guided tours can be done during summer months. www.probit.no/glacierteam/english.html     view towards Haugabreen glacier

Stardalen hyttegrend  (www.stardalenhyttegrend.com) is situated 5 km from the E39 and have 10 very comfortable and well equipped cottagaes for rent.Nearby you find  Stardalen Sommarkafe (www.stardalen.com) cafe- serving really homemade, local dishes at reasonable prices. The food is made  by the local farmers' wives who really know how to cook!!

Local ladies in their Jolster bunad                 Stardalen Sommarkafe and grocery store            

 

 

Local artists and craftsmen are also located in the cafe - making the knitted Jolster sweater, paintings and jewellery.

 

Further in the valley you find Hoyset campingsite where you can rent a cabin or put up your tent. The Hoyset camping is situated just by the toll road taking you to the altitude of 640 metres where you start hiking to the glacier or hike further into  the mountains.

Hoyseth camping View from Hoyseth caping in StardalenDriva river and waterfall near the Hoyseth camping

 

In the nearby river Jolstra you can go rafting. www.jolster-rafting.no/english

Stardalen riverView over the Stardalen valley from n earby Veitebergsdalen valley

 

Another new activity is guided walkings inside  the huge scree where  it is said  thieves used to hide a 200 hundred years back! You can also do the aerial cable 200 metres at the speed of 40 km/hour.  www.tjovura.no 

From the aerial cable in Tjovura

At the very end of the valley - Fonn - you meet the glacier above you, and by taking a hike in the Langedalen valley, you really get close to the Jostedalen glaceier above you. The view from the road near Fonn towards the glacier is really impressive and wonderful! 

Stardalen is very well worth a visit - either you do it as a sidetrip on your way to/fro Bergen or better, stay over night  to really get the chance to admire the scenery.