The village of Sunndalsøra stands at the head of the long winding Sunndalsfjorden and at the mouth of the River Driva. It's a remote spot in the heart of Norway's fjord region so the only route inland is back down the Driva valley, where the Rv7 leads to Oppdal. Visitors who hire a car in Sunndalsøra however can explore some amazing scenery. Spectacular roads lead further out through the mountains and inlets towards the North Sea coast. Highlights of the area include the fabulous mountain valley of Innderdalen, the dramatic gorge at Grødalen where four waterfalls cascade down the mountains, and the Leikvin open-air rural heritage museum and gardens.
Sunndalsøra occupies a spectacular spot framed by the steep slopes of snow-capped mountains reaching to over 5,000ft. To some extent the town is dominated by the state-of-the-art aluminium plant on the edge of the fjord, but there are attractions to see too. If you hire a car be sure to visit the pretty green-spired village church, the arts centre, and the shops, cafes and restaurants designed to cater for a wide catchment area; there's even a small golf course. Other tourist highlights include fishing for salmon on the Driva River, climbing, trekking and boat trips along the fjord.
