TunheimsFjørå: Relax in a remote luxury lodge

By Eva-Kristin U. Pedersen | Photos: meirenntusenord.com

How about waking up to the silence of an imposingly still, dark-blue Norwegian fjord, and taking the kayak or the paddleboard out for a couple of kilometres, before coming back to a ready-made breakfast? Or going for a hike in the nearby mountains before relaxing in the jacuzzi on the terrace with a glass of wine while the sun slowly sets on the water in front of you.

You can do both and much more at TunheimsFjørå Lodges at Fiskå in Vanylven in north-western Norway. Opened in 2019, these luxury lodges combine just about everything that Norway can offer: spectacular nature and beautifully-designed, cosy lodges, created to be at one with the wilderness that surrounds them.

In harmony with nature

“We really wanted something that was in harmony with nature,” says Anita B. Eikrem, sales and marketing manager at TunheimsFjørå. Eikrem runs the lodges together with her husband, whose family is from Vanylven.

The lodges, designed by architect Stein Halvorsen, seem to hang over the water, and every detail is taken into consideration. “We appreciate refined detail when we travel, and we wanted to offer our guests that when they visit us,” Eikrem adds. Eikrem also underlines that they’ve made the lodges as environmentally friendly as possible, including using ocean water for heating.

TunheimsFjørå: Relax in a remote luxury lodge

TunheimsFjørå is fascinating during the winter.

Guests from all over the world

TunheimsFjørå Lodges proved a popular destination for Norwegians during the pandemic, and are now ready to welcome international guests. “When we started planning, we aimed mainly at the foreign market. COVID-19 changed that, and most of our guests so far have been Norwegians on vacation in their own country. Only now are we seeing more foreigners come,” Eikrem explains.

TunheimsFjørå consists of three lodges, designed by architect Stein Halvorsen. Each has three bedrooms with individual bathrooms, and all are equipped with a kitchen, sauna and jacuzzi on the terrace. The larger lodge, called ‘Fisherman’ seats 18 people around the main table, making it a suitable choice for companies looking to host seminars and teambuilding-sessions at a unique location. Meanwhile, TunheimsFjørå has also proved popular for family gatherings.

There is a lot to do at TunheimsFjørå, one activity is beach volley.

Dine out at home

Guests can choose whether to cook for themselves or to take advantage of the collaboration with a local catering company that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered to the doorstep. Another popular option is to hire a local chef to come and cook at the cabin.

“Several of our returning guests ask specifically for the chef. He’s very popular,” Eikrem says, with a smile. But, whether you go for the chef or the local catering, you’re guaranteed homemade food made of local ingredients.

From surfing to ocean safaris and visits to monasteries

There is no reception at the lodges but, in return, hostess Edel Ruud Barstad makes sure guests are well taken care of from the moment they arrive until they depart. Moreover, TunheimsFjøra lodges are collaborating with several local tourist guides, attractions and activities – plentiful in this part of Norway.

Possibilities range from ocean or fjord safaris, surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding (the equipment is available at the lodges at no extra cost), hiking with guides in the local mountains, yoga and visits to the ancient monastery at Selja. There is also a golf course in the vicinity and, in the winter, there are plenty of opportunities for skiing. “There is a lot to do here but many of our guests also choose just to enjoy the sense of calm and relaxation at the lodges,” says Eikrem.

Each lodge has a jacuzzi on the terrace.

How to get there

Reaching TunheimsFjørå requires some planning. Most guests arrive by car from either Ørsta-Volda airport – about a one-hour drive from the lodges – or Ålesund airport, which has more flights. The drive from Ålesund takes about two hours, including ferries.

If you prefer, you can travel by taxi from the airport, but Eikrem explains that it is useful to have a car to get around once at TunheimsFjørå.

Plans for the future

After three years of activity, Eikrem and her husband are looking to expand their offering: “We plan to set up an additional common lodge that can be used for seminars and meals for larger groups. The idea is to make the lodges an even more attractive destination for businesses and companies. Our main attraction, however – the peace, the quiet and family and couple-friendly atmosphere will remain unchanged, I guarantee,” promises Eikrem. Easy to believe when you’re taking in the seemingly boundless fjord and towering mountain backdrop.