Stavanger to Bergen: Drive & Hike

10 Days & 9 Nights 5 Read 3 reviews

Drive from Stavanger to Bergen via the south-west fjords.
Trolltunga, Preikestolen and Kjerag - 3 of the most iconic hikes of Norway.
The historic cities of Stavanger and Bergen.
Walking on Hardangervidda - one of Europe's largest mountain plateaus.
Hardangerfjord, the "Orchard of Norway".

Drive from the bustling city of Stavanger to historic Bergen, via the Hardangervidda National Park Route and some of the most iconic hikes and fjords of southwest Norway. Ticking off the big classics of Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Kjerag, Trolltunga (Trolls tongue), as well as some easier walks around the Hardangervidda National Park and the majestic Hardangerfjord, this is classic fjord Norway at its best. Enjoying the freedom to stop off as and when you please, take in the finest of dramatic fjord views, walk around one of Europe's largest mountain plateaus and enjoy a beautiful drive along the most scenic of mountain roads.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

Suited to keen walkers looking to tick off some of the classic hikes of Norway. You will enjoy daily hikes of between 8 and 20km, with up to 1090m of ascent, on well-marked trails, and occasionally on fairly rough terrain. Travelling independently by car, your overnight stays are in a mixture of traditional and modern hotels, with 1 night spent in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Tour Type:

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Activity:

Drive and Hike | Exploration of picturesque and remarkable destinations by car combined with walks that highlight the best of a country or region.

Activity Level & Terrain

We grade this tour as moderate overall (with a couple of the days being moderate-strenuous). You will be walking for between 3 and 8 hours per day with ascents of up to 995m.(10 hours and 1090m ascent if you choose to do the optional Trolltunga hike). The Trolltunga is a tough hike but manageable for most people in good shape with the help of a guide. The hike to Gaustatoppen is graded as moderate-strenuous. All of the walks are also optional so this makes it very flexible as to how much walking you may wish to do.

Navigation

Norway has an excellent system for trail-marking and all of the paths you will be following will be well way-marked. We provide comprehensive route notes and maps as well as GPX tracks and access to our navigation based smartphone app, the Macs App. We will also provide a comprehensive road atlas and driving directions.

Accommodations

9 nights accommodation is included in your trip. We have hand-chosen a mixture of traditional and more modern hotels offering a warm welcome, modern facilities and an authentic experience. The hotel in Odda is a simpler but comfortable hotel with a very convenient location for hiking to Trolltunga or to go glacier hiking if you choose. In Rjukan you will stay in a comfortable mountain lodge with private rooms in a spectacular location, providing a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The accommodation we normally use is detailed below, however is subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.

Accommodation Location

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, there is the option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere we will advise you of this before confirming your booking.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

Unfortunately this trip is not available to solo walkers due to the remote nature of some of the walks. However we are able to offer single rooms within your party for a supplement.

Meals

9 breakfasts and 1 evening meal (Day 4) are included. To keep things flexible, other dinners and lunches are not included. Most of your accommodations will be happy to prepare a packed lunch or you can stop on your way at a cafe or restaurant of your choice. Drinks are not included but available at all overnight accommodations.

Included

6 Nights in 3-star standard hotels
2 Nights in a simple hotel in Odda
1 Night in a mountain lodge
1 Dinner
9 Breakfasts
Return Ferry and bus to Pulpit Rock
9 Days Compact Car Hire (similar to VW Golf)
Satellite navigation system in car
Detailed route notes, driving directions, maps, information pack, GPX tracks and access to our navigation app
24-7 Emergency telephone support

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to Stavanger and from Bergen
Lunches
Dinners (other than Day 4)
Drinks and snacks
Funicular on Day 9
Local buses or taxis
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after the trip
Guided hike of Trolltunga
Guided glacier hike

When To Go

You can start this tour anytime between July and middle of September. From the end of August to mid-September, the ferry usually included from Lauvvik to Lysebotn does not operate, so you will need to take an alternative route by road during those dates.

Getting to the Start

By Air - You can fly direct to Stavanger from a number of central destinations in Europe like Amsterdam (1h 30m), Copenhagen (1h), and London (1h 40m). Airlines include KLM, SAS, Norwegian and British Airways. You can also fly via Oslo (50m), with up to 7 flights daily between Oslo and Stavanger with Norwegian. By Rail - NSB (Norwegian State Railway) offer regular train departures to Stavanger from Oslo via Kristiansand, taking approx 8 hours. By Bus - There are several daily bus departures from Oslo (10h), Bergen (5h) and Kristiansand (4h) to Stavanger.

Getting from the End

Your tour finishes in Bergen. You can fly direct from Bergen to a number of central destinations in Europe like Amsterdam (1h 30m), Copenhagen (1h 30m) London (2h), and Paris (2h). You can also fly via Oslo (55m), with up to 20 flights per day between Oslo and Bergen. By Rail - The Bergen Railway stretches between Oslo and Bergen and is a lovely way to travel into/out of Bergen. There are up to 4 departures daily from Bergen to Oslo. The journey passes through some beautiful landscapes and takes approx 7 hours in total. By Ferry - There are a couple of different ways to travel to Bergen by ferry or boat.The famous Hurtigruten cruise line stops there. You can also arrive by one of the high-speed ferries which travel up and down the Norwegian coast with Norled. Or you can catch the ferry from Stavanger with Fjord Line.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes, and lighter clothes for the sunny days, along with a day pack.

Car Hire

9 Days Compact Car Hire (similar to a Volkswagen Golf) is included in your tour cost. You can pay to upgrade to a larger car (recommended for parties over 3). If you prefer to arrange your own car hire you can also select this as an option when making your booking and a reduction will be added to your booking.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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