Hidden Gem: Undredal Village in Norway

Hidden deep within the Sognefjord in Norway is the tiny village of Undredal. This charming village has more goats than residents. Our family loves such destinations—less crowded, scenic, and very relaxing. Undredal is only 14km (about 17 minutes) from Flåm, but it's a small village that requires a special detour to reach, with only one road connecting it to the outside. At one point, we thought we had taken the wrong road because it was a narrow industrial road, but there were very few cars. It's a remote village. The village is small, and at the end of it lies the Aurlandsfjord, a 29-kilometer-long branch of the Sognefjord, Norway's longest fjord. There are restaurants and a mini supermarket that offers daily necessities, fresh produce, and even souvenirs. Local women chat at the outdoor seating area, while we enjoyed beautiful strawberries and ice cream. There's also a canoe rental center, and we saw tourists gearing up for their adventure. This hidden gem is famous for having the smallest wooden church in Scandinavia and for producing Norway's unique brown cheese. Astonishingly, this tiny village produces 10 tons of brown cheese annually, making it a significant economic activity. Since Undredal has many goats, the cheese is made from a mix of goat and cow milk, giving it a unique flavor. We tried a small piece and found it initially tasted like caramel, but with a strong goat flavor upon closer tasting, which wasn't to our liking. Undredal is a little-known hidden gem. Most visitors arrive by fjord ferry, which stops at Undredal between Flåm and Gudvangen. When we arrived, there were no cruise ships, so it was very peaceful. The village even has a small and beautiful camping area. We needed to use the restroom but couldn't find one in the village, so we asked at the campsite. The owner pointed out that the restrooms were private, but allowed us to use them for a fee of NOK 20 (about NT 60) per person. The Undredal Stave Church is one of the 28 remaining stave churches in Norway, built in 1147, and is the smallest wooden church in Scandinavia with only 40 seats. The church is famous for its ceiling paintings of biblical figures. However, it was closed when we arrived, with a sign indicating that visits require a phone call and a ticket. So, we just took photos outside and strolled around the charming village, enjoying a leisurely hour there.