The Norwegian Region That Boasts The Best Of The Nation's Natural Beauty, Per Rick Steves

Sharp-ridged mountain peaks jutting toward the sky. Deciduous forests full of pollarded elm trees that remind visitors of fairy tales. Waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet down the cliffside. Alpine lakes in various shades of blue and green. Deep fjords carved into the land by glaciers. Jontunheimen, a mountainous region of Norway known as the "home of the giants," offers all these sights. 

This area of western Norway was heralded by travel expert and television personality Rick Steves as the best place to view the country's natural, rugged beauty. The alpine landscape of Jotunheimen National Park, in particular, "feels like the top of the world," Steves wrote on his website. "You can imagine the Norse spirits of Thor and Odin inhabiting these misty peaks."

A seasoned globetrotter with ancestral roots in Norway, Rick Steves said he would choose this country to live in if he wasn't in the U.S. He has a list of recommendations for visitors to the Jotunheimen region. He suggests travelers find a view of the enormous glacier called Nigardsbreen, take an exhilarating, high-speed boat ride on a fjord, and tour historical sites in the town of Bergen. 

The natural beauty of western Norway is its primary draw, and there are many ways to enjoy that grandeur in Jotunheimen National Park. Hikers come here to experience Galdhøpiggen — Norway's highest peak at 8,100 feet — as well as Besseggen Ridge —the setting of one of the most popular hikes in the country. While hiking, wildlife aficionados can try to spot the reindeer and wolverines that call the park home. Those interested in plant life can find unique things growing, such as glacier buttercup — Norway's highest-growing flower — and the smallest species of tree in the world — the dwarf willow.

If you're interested in Norway's natural beauty, you'll likely want to see a glacier during your visit. Nigardsbreen in western Norway is one of the most accessible. To see it, visitors can travel to the Breheimsenteret Glacier Center. From there, a boat ride and a hike will get you to a viewpoint. Guided hikes of various levels of difficulty leave from the glacier center. Some are family-friendly, while more difficult treks take you onto the glacier itself. "Adventurous travelers can lash on crampons and follow a guide on a trek over the ice and snow," Rick Steves wrote on his blog. "While there are more demanding Nigardsbreen routes, I like to join a family hike — just an hour, but enough to bring me face to face with the glacier's majesty."

When you need a break from adventuring outdoors, you can find respite in the city of Bergen. It's one of the dreamy fjordside towns that Rick Steves recommends as under-the-radar destinations in Norway. In a post about Bergen on his website, Steves recommends visiting the city's Hanseatic Museum, which showcases Bergen's origins as a trading hub and an exporter of fish. After learning of the city's fishing history, you can see its modern-day fish trade in action at the Fish Market, an outdoor market where vendors sell seafood and produce.

Steves also advises visitors to Bergen to take a ride on the Fløibanen, a funicular railway that takes riders on a six-minute journey up Mount Fløyen. There, you can take in sweeping views of the city and its surrounding fjord (and if the sky is clear — even further). "It rises 1,000 feet above the city to dazzling views that lead all the way to the Atlantic," Steves wrote.

Finally, if the outdoors is calling once again, Bergen is a perfect base for adventures in the fjords of Norway. The city is the launching point for dozens of boat tours that vary in length from 1 to 13 hours. There's a broad array of vessels, too. Some visitors cruise along on yachts, others on lightweight powerboats, and one tour even uses a restored steamboat. Steves suggests opting for a powerboat for an exhilarating ride. "As the boat rockets across the water, you'll be thankful for the all-weather suit that comes with the ride," he said.