Stavanger to Bergen: Drive & Hike

Easily accessed by flights from around the UK and Europe, Stavanger is a bustling university city with a fascinating history and a charming place to start your trip. Pick up your car at the airport and head to Stavanger city. After checking into your hotel, have a wander around the city, exploring its pretty 18th century cobbled streets, vibrant harbour and picturesque old town.

Take a ferry from Stavanger to Tau this morning (40min) followed by a short bus ride (25m) to the Pulpit Cabin where you will start this iconic hike. Located 604m high above the Lysefjord, the Pulpit Rock is one of Norway's most photographed sites and a spectacular viewing platform. A steep, narrow trail is rewarded with your first wow-moment of the trip on reaching the summit. Return to Stavanger for another overnight stay.

Walk: 8km, 574m ascent/descent, 4 hrs

Return to the Lysefjord (2.5h drive) for another spectacular hike. The Kjerag mountain soars up to 1000m above sea level on either side of the fjord and your hike today takes you up to the plateau with the ultimate goal of standing on the Kjeragbolten!

This round boulder wedged in between a mountain crevice is unbelievably wide enough to stand on with just that between you and the fjord below. One for the adrenalin junkes! If you prefer you can simply admire the views from the plateau itself. Reaching the bottom, drive to your overnight stop in the idyllic Setesdal Valley, the village of Rysstad.

Ascent/Descent: 530m/530m

Drive Stavanger to Lysebotn: 2.5 hours

Drive Lysebotn to Rysstad: 2 hours

Head towards the Hardangervidda National Park today and enjoy a hike up the mountain of Gaustatoppen for views of approximately one-sixth of Norway! Despite its lofty height of 1883m, the trail is wide and clear and the tourist cabin close to the top serves coffee and waffles to make it all worthwhile! Stay overnight in the nearby Kvitavatn Fjellstoge, a comfortable mountain lodge in spectacular surroundings with private rooms available.

Ascent/Descent: 605m/605m

Drive: 3h, 180km

Driving along the Hardangervidda National Park route today, you have a choice of several easier walks around the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, one of the largest in Europe. Follow a route taken by resistance fighters in the 2nd World War down into a deep gorge, take a short hike up the Rauland mountain for wonderful views of Totak lake, or enjoy a fine mountain trail from Haukeliseter Mountain Cabin. As well as the walks, this is also a breath-taking drive with numerous observation points along the way. Continue to the town of Odda, your hopping off point for your next iconic hike, the Trolltunga!

Walk 1 - The Saboteurs Route: 8km, 2-3 hours

Walk 2 - Walk to Te Cabin, Rauland: 2.5km, 1-2 hours

Walk 3 - Walk from Haukeliseter Mountain Hut: 12km, 4 hours

Drive: 3.5h, 200km

If you were to do one day hike in Norway, and are up for a challenge, the Trolltunga is it! Situated 1000m above sea level, and jutting horizontally out of the mountain like a "trolls tongue", this is one of the finest sea cliffs in Europe. Whilst it is possible to do this hike independently we recommend doing it with a guide, as it is a challenge, taking between 10-12 hours in total. This is also the only way to get that iconic picture of you leaping into the air on the tip of the cliff! Choose the option for the Trolltunga guided hike if you would like to do this.

If you prefer something slightly easier and a bit different, another option is a guided glacier hike in the Folgefonna National Park. (only available 10Jun-01 Sep). Easily adapted to suit all abilities, expert guides will take you over the amazing blue ice telling you all about the physical geography of the glacier and its formation.

You can also return to the Hardangervidda if you prefer some more gentle self-guided walking.

We recommend pre-booking with us if you would like to do Trolltunga or the Glacier Hike.

Ascent/Descent: 1090m/1090m

A short drive (55min) takes you to the Hardangerfjord and your base there for the next 2 nights, the pretty village of Lofthus. Today we recommend one of the most beautiful walks in Hardangerfjord, the famous Husedalen Waterfall Hike. This trail follows a succession of four cascading waterfalls, through the Husedalen valley from Kinsarvik right up to the Hardangervidda plateau.

Ascent/Descent: 775m/755m

Drive: 55m, 44km

Todays trail is a steep one on an easy to follow path offering wonderful views of the fjord, a striking waterfall and the town of Lofthus. You will also be walking up the historical Monk Steps a serious of 616 stone steps built by 13th Century monks as a way to easily access the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.

Ascent/Descent: 905m/905m

A three hour drive takes you from Lofthus to the historic city of Bergen. After dropping off your car and checking into your hotel we recommend taking the floibanen funicular to the viewpoint high above the city, from where you can continue on a walk around the surrounding mountains, or return to the bottom for a wander around pretty Bergen.

Drive: 3h, 150km

Check out after breakfast and make your way back to the airport, or speak to one of our Destination & Adventure Specialists about arranging extra nights. We particularly recommend some additional nights in either Lofthus or Bergen.