RIB Fjordsafari Geirangerfjord: what the cruise ship cannot show you
50 minutes on a rigid inflatable boat beneath the Seven Sisters. Here is what one ferry-schedule obsessive found.
The RIB Fjordsafari puts you 15 meters from the Seven Sisters waterfall at 35 knots. Here is exactly what works, what does not, and whether the 895 NOK price tag is justified.
I have spent eleven years routing tourists through Vestlandet, and I have watched the Geirangerfjord from every angle the road network allows. From the Eagle Road hairpins. From the Dalsnibba viewpoint at 1,500 meters. From the Hellesylt ferry deck. None of those perspectives prepared me for what the fjord looks like from 2 meters above the waterline at 35 knots.
The RIB Fjordsafari Geirangerfjord, operated by RIB Geiranger from Geiranger Brygge, puts you on a rigid inflatable boat and sends you directly beneath the waterfalls that most visitors photograph from the cruise ship rail. The difference is not subtle. It is the difference between looking at a waterfall and feeling the spray hit your face while the guide explains that the abandoned farm on the cliff above was accessible only by ladder until the 1960s.
What the tour actually is
The RIB Fjordsafari departs from Geiranger Brygge, a restored boathouse 100 meters from the cruise dock at Marakvegen 35. Departures run every hour from 09:00 to 19:00 through the summer season (March to December). You spend 50 minutes on the water and roughly 25 minutes getting kitted out beforehand.
The route covers the full UNESCO-listed fjord in both directions. You pass the Seven Sisters waterfall (De Syv Sostrene), the Suitor waterfall (Friaren) on the opposite wall, the Bridal Veil (Bruresloret), and the mountain farms at Blomberg, Knivsflaa, and Skageflaa. The guide narrates in English throughout. Between the commentary, the driver opens the throttle and the boat covers the 15 km fjord at speeds that make the wind feel like it has a personal opinion about your presence.
What they give you
Full flotation suit (sizes XXS to XXL), life jacket, and goggles. The suit goes over your clothes. Changing rooms are provided at Geiranger Brygge. The suits are effective. Multiple reviewers who visited in shoulder season confirmed they stayed dry and warm. One reviewer noted her smaller frame meant swimming in the available sizes, so adjust expectations if you are on either end of the size range.
What works
- The waterfall proximity. The RIB gets within meters of the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil. Multiple reviews describe hearing the falls before seeing them. One reviewer, Stephen S., had already cruised the fjord by ship and wrote: "The boat takes you up very close to a series of tower falls and the pilot gives a brilliant explanation of the history of the area." He rated it 5 stars.
- The guides. Names repeat across reviews: Mario, Richard, Iga. Chrissy wrote: "Our driver Mario was extremely knowledgeable and made every attempt to show us everything during our trip." Another reviewer called the guide's combination of knowledge and humour "perfect." The guides are the product here. They know the fjord history, the abandoned farms, the waterfall folklore.
- The speed. Between the commentary stops, the boat runs fast. Reviews describe the experience as "exhilarating" and "intense." The contrast between slow cruising past the waterfalls and full-throttle runs between them is what makes the hour feel complete rather than stretched.
- The organisation. Check-in at Geiranger Brygge is described as smooth across dozens of reviews. Suits are prepped, the briefing is quick, and the boat departs on schedule. For an operation running every hour through peak season, that is not trivial.
What does not work
- Guide inconsistency. One reviewer, marshadu4, described the scenery as worth it but felt the captain "could have been more informative regarding our surroundings" and called the commentary "a bit boring." This appears to be guide-dependent. The majority of named guides receive strong reviews, but the experience is not identical across every departure.
- The price question. At 895 NOK for adults and 595 NOK for children, this is not a budget activity. Reviewer dwfr rated the tour 3 stars and wrote that it was "quite expensive" and "not that exciting" compared to the cruise ship views. This is the minority opinion, but it is a valid one. If you have already seen the fjord from the ferry deck and your budget is tight, the incremental value is a judgment call.
- Physical limitations. The ride is bumpy. The operator explicitly states the tour is not recommended for pregnant passengers, anyone with back problems, or wheelchair users. Maximum weight is 140 kg. Children must be at least 3 years old with adult supervision up to age 14.
The honest assessment
The RIB Fjordsafari does one thing and does it well: it puts you at water level, face-to-face with the Geirangerfjord walls, in a way that no ferry, no cruise ship, and no viewpoint road can replicate. The speed between stops is genuinely exciting. The guide commentary, when you get a strong guide, turns the geological scenery into human stories about the families who farmed those cliffs.
The 895 NOK price is high by Norwegian activity standards. But this is 50 minutes on a UNESCO fjord in a 12-person boat with a dedicated guide. For comparison, the standard Geiranger to Hellesylt ferry crossing costs 300 to 500 NOK and takes you past the same waterfalls, but from 200 meters away on a vessel with 300 other passengers. The RIB puts you 15 meters away with 11 other people. That is the value proposition.
The logistics
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Operator | RIB Geiranger |
| Meeting point | Geiranger Brygge, Marakvegen 35 (100m from cruise dock) |
| Duration | 50 minutes on water, 75 minutes total with preparation |
| Price (adult) | 895 NOK |
| Price (child 3-15) | 595 NOK |
| Private boat | 8,950 NOK (max 12 passengers) |
| Departures | Every hour, 09:00 to 19:00 (summer) |
| Season | March to December 2026 |
| Included | Flotation suit, life jacket, goggles, English guide |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before departure |
| Min. age | 3 years (under 14 with adult) |
| Max. weight | 140 kg |
Booking
The tour is available through GetYourGuide or directly at ribgeiranger.no. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on both platforms. In July and August, the midday departures (11:00 to 14:00) fill first because they align with cruise ship schedules. Book the 09:00 or the 17:00 departure for a quieter fjord.
Who should book this
- Cruise ship passengers in port for the day. You have 6 to 8 hours. The RIB takes 75 minutes including prep. It is the single most efficient way to experience the fjord at close range.
- Travellers who have already driven the Eagle Road. You have seen Geirangerfjord from above. The RIB shows you the same fjord from below. The two perspectives complement each other.
- Families with children over 3. The speed is fun for children. The suits fit small sizes (XXS). The 50-minute duration is short enough to hold attention.
Who should skip this
- Budget travellers. At 895 NOK per adult, a family of four pays 2,980 NOK for 50 minutes. The Geiranger to Hellesylt ferry shows you the same waterfalls for less than half the price, just from further away.
- Anyone with back or neck issues. The boat bounces. The operator warns you. Listen to them.
- Travellers who get seasick. The Vestfjord crossing from Bodo to Lofoten is rougher, but the RIB's speed and turning create sudden motion changes. If you struggle on ferries, this will not be easier.
Ingrid Solheim is the Fjord Logistics Editor at NorgeTravel. She spent eleven years putting tourists into rental cars in Bergen and watching them drive off with itineraries that were never going to work. Her guides are written so that does not happen to you. She can be reached at hei@norgetravel.com.
Affiliate disclosure: NorgeTravel earns a commission when you book via our GetYourGuide links. Your price does not change. Operators are selected independently.