Steim Farm Experience in Vik, Norway

Steim Farm gives you something many Norway tours miss: a close look at ordinary farm life, complete with alpacas, ducks, goats, and a vegetable garden. I like the chance to taste strawberries straight from the garden, and I like the broad view over Vik and the Sognefjord. The small group limit of eight also keeps the visit personal.

The main consideration is timing. The visit lasts about 70 minutes, so it is a focused farm stop rather than a full-day outing. It also depends on good weather, and the animals are living creatures, not a staged show. You may see nesting ducks, young alpacas, or animals in the fields, but the exact visit changes with the season.

• Working farm setting: Steim is an active farm, so the fields, barn, garden, and stables are part of daily life.
• Hands-on animal visits: You may feed and pet alpacas and ducks, with goats, sheep, and a Norwegian fjord horse often nearby.
• Views over Vik: From the farm, you can look down toward Vikøyri and across the Sognefjord.
• Small groups: A maximum of eight people makes it easier to ask questions and spend time with the animals.
• Optional local food: Add a picnic basket for 149 NOK per adult or 89 NOK per child.
• Useful family stop: Children get a few surprises, and the farm suits families with young children.

A Working Farm Above Vik

Steim Farm is not built as a polished animal park. It is a running Norwegian farm, and that difference matters. You walk through places used for real work: fields, a vegetable garden, a barn, and animal stables. The visit explains farm life in the past and today while showing you what happens around the property now.

I like this kind of stop because it gives context to the countryside outside your window. Instead of only looking at green slopes and fjord water, you see how grass becomes animal feed and how a small farm operates through the year. The experience stays simple and local.

Your guide leads you around the farm and explains the work in plain terms. Gaute has guided visitors around the property, and Elin has also led visits, including some arranged from the cruise ship area. The farm team includes Christina and Gaute. The exact guide may vary, but the setting remains the same.

The farm sits at Stadheimsvegen 70, above Vik. Your visit begins and ends there unless transport has been arranged. The official description notes that it may be possible to be dropped at Hove Stone Church instead of the tourist information point, but you should confirm that before booking rather than count on it as standard service.

From Green Grass to Animal Feed

One of the most useful parts of the walk is the explanation of the fields. The guide shows you the grass and describes the process of turning it into feed for the animals. That small detail gives the farm visit more substance than a quick stop to pet a few animals.

You also get a sense of how farming has changed over time. The talk covers farm life before and now, so you can ask about the difference between older methods and the work done today. Since Steim remains an active farm, the details are tied to the ground beneath your feet rather than delivered as a general lesson.

Do not expect a formal agricultural lecture. This is a short, conversational tour. The value comes from seeing the fields, barn, stables, and garden in one compact visit. If you enjoy local food, rural traditions, or practical history, this section may interest you as much as the animals.

Strawberries in the Organic Garden

The organic vegetable garden is a particularly pleasant stop. Depending on the season, you can taste strawberries from the garden, and berry picking has been part of the experience. That gives children something concrete to do and adds a local food note to the visit.

Seasonal timing matters here. Strawberries and raspberries will not be at their best all year, so do not book solely for the fruit. The garden remains worth seeing, but the tasting experience will depend on what is growing when you arrive.

I like that this part connects the farm to the table without turning the visit into a food demonstration. You see where some of the produce begins, then continue to the animals and working buildings. If you choose the optional picnic basket, you can eat in the orchard with views of Vik and the fjord.

The picnic basket costs 149 NOK for an adult and 89 NOK for a child. It is not included in the $32.26 tour price. For a family, the added cost may make sense if you want a quiet outdoor meal and do not want to find lunch immediately after the visit. If you are already carrying food or have a tight schedule, skip it.

Alpacas, Ducks, and the Barn

The animals are the clear draw for many people, and the visit gives you time to meet them at close range. Alpacas are a major part of the farm’s appeal. You may feed them by hand and pet them, and young alpacas have sometimes been present in spring.

Animal behavior can be unpredictable in the best way. A young alpaca may nibble a shirt sleeve or buttons. Ducks and geese may come forward for food, though they are not always as calm as the alpacas. You may also see chickens, and children can receive a small surprise during the visit.

The farm’s ducks sometimes nest in the stable. That is a charming detail, but it also reminds you that this is a real farm, not an arranged animal encounter. You might see nesting birds, animals resting, or creatures that are more interested in their food than in posing for photographs.

The goats graze in pastures above the farm. A Norwegian fjord horse and traditional long-wooled sheep can often be seen from the property. Since the itinerary does not promise close contact with every animal, you should think of these as possible sightings rather than guaranteed encounters.

This is a good place to teach children how to behave around animals. Move slowly, follow the guide’s instructions, and let the animals choose how close they want to come. The small group size helps, since eight people or fewer means less crowding around the feeding areas.

Vikøyri and the Sognefjord Below

The views are a major part of the experience. From Steim Farm, you get a good look over Vik and Vikøyri, the village at the mouth of the Vikja River on the south shore of the Sognefjord. The village sits near the midpoint of Norway’s longest fjord, and the farm’s higher position gives you a useful overview.

This viewpoint helps you understand the shape of the area. You can see the village below, the water beyond it, and the setting that made Vik a practical place for settlement. The view is not a separate lookout with rails and signs. It is part of the farm visit, seen as you walk and, if you choose the picnic basket, while you eat in the orchard.

Weather makes a real difference. On a clear day, the views can be the strongest reason to visit. In poor weather, the farm buildings and animals still offer something to see, but the wide view may be hidden by cloud or rain. The activity requires good weather, so a cancellation can result in another date or a full refund.

You can also glimpse Hove Stone Church from the farm. The church dates to around 1170 and is one of Norway’s oldest stone churches. The farm visit does not replace a proper church visit, but it gives you a useful preview. If transport is available, you may be able to end near the church instead of the tourist information point. Confirm this arrangement in advance.

Why the Small Group Matters

The maximum group size is eight. That is a real advantage on a farm, where the best moments often happen when you can stop, ask a question, or let a child watch an animal without being pushed along.

A small group also suits the style of the visit. You are not moving through a large attraction with a fixed script. The guide can spend a little longer with the alpacas, explain what is happening in the garden, or point out animals in the pasture.

The tradeoff is that spaces may be limited during busy periods. This experience is booked an average of 53 days ahead, which suggests that you should not leave it until the final hours of a Norway trip, especially if you are visiting Vik from a cruise ship and have only one opportunity.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed. The meeting point is the farm at Stadheimsvegen 70, and the activity ends there unless a different drop-off has been arranged.

Is $32.26 a Fair Price?

At $32.26 per person, this is not the cheapest way to fill an hour in Norway, but it is a fair price for a guided, small-group visit to a working farm. You are paying for direct access to the property, the guide’s time, animal interaction, and the setting above Vik.

The value is strongest if you want more than photographs. You get a short explanation of farm work, a walk through the fields and garden, time in the barn and stables, and possible hands-on contact with alpacas and ducks. Families may find the price easier to justify because the visit gives children a clear activity rather than just a view from a bus.

The value is weaker if you want a longer cultural tour or a guaranteed selection of animal encounters. The visit lasts about one hour and ten minutes, and some animals may be in the pastures or unavailable at that moment. You also need to pay extra for the picnic basket.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes are not accepted inside that window. Because the experience depends on good weather, the farm may offer another date or a full refund if conditions force a cancellation.

Best for Families, Cruise Stops, and Curious Adults

Families are a natural match. Children can see animals, taste berries, walk through the garden, and receive a few surprises. The visit has enough variety to hold a young child’s attention without requiring a long hike.

It also works well for adults who want a closer look at rural Norway. The farm gives you a chance to ask about animal care, feed, crops, and the difference between older and modern farm life. You do not need to be interested in farming to enjoy the visit, but a little curiosity makes it more rewarding.

Cruise ship passengers should pay close attention to transport. The stated meeting point is the farm, not the dock. Some visits have included pickup near the cruise ship dock or tourist information point, but that should be arranged and confirmed before you rely on it.

The experience may not suit you if you need a fully sheltered activity, guaranteed access to every animal, or a long historical tour. It is also not the best choice if your schedule leaves no flexibility for weather. The farm is at its best when you can slow down and accept the visit as it comes.

Should You Book Steim Farm?

Book this experience if you want a personal look at farm life near Vik, especially if you are traveling with children or enjoy animals and local food. The strongest reasons are the small group, the chance to feed alpacas and ducks, the organic garden, and the view across Vik and the Sognefjord.

I would also choose it as a counterpoint to Norway’s grand fjord scenery. You get the big view, but you also see the fields, feed, barns, and animals that make the place lived-in. Just allow for the short duration, confirm any transport request, and remember that weather and animal behavior shape the visit.

Skip it if your main goal is a major historic site or a full-day farm program. For a compact, friendly stop with real rural character, though, Steim Farm offers good value and a welcome change of pace.

FAQ

Where does the Steim Farm Experience begin?

The meeting point is Stadheimsvegen 70, 6893 Vik i Sogn, Norway. The activity normally ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the farm visit last?

The visit lasts approximately one hour and ten minutes. The guided farm portion is listed as about one hour.

What animals can I see at Steim Farm?

You can meet alpacas and ducks, and you may also see chickens, goats, a Norwegian fjord horse, and traditional long-wooled sheep. The goats graze in pastures above the farm, while the horse and sheep can often be seen from the property.

Can I feed the animals?

Animal feeding can be part of the visit. Alpacas and ducks may be fed by hand, but the exact interaction can vary.

Is the picnic basket included?

No. A picnic basket is optional and costs 149 NOK per adult or 89 NOK per child. You can enjoy it in the orchard with views over Vik and the fjord.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, and confirmation is provided at the time of booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the farm to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.