Galten, aka mini Trolltunga, is a unique rock that juts out of the mountainside over Dalsfjord and is covered in greenery. This picturesque spot is still relatively unknown. When we hiked it, we truly had the trail to ourselves and the hike was nothing short of spectacular. We highly recommend getting off the beaten path, stopping in Folkestad and hiking Galten when you are in Norway. Here is our guide on how to hike Galten in Norway.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in early September. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
How long is the Galten (Mini Trolltunga)Hike? How much elevation gain is on the Galten Hike?
Galten hike is an out & back hike that is 2.6 miles (4.2 km) with 1535 feet (471 meters) of elevation gain. If you start prior to the toll road, as we recommend to save a little cash, that adds on about 0.5 miles and 100 feet of elevation gain.
How do I hike to Galten? What are the Galten (Mini Trolltunga)Hike Logistics?
This hike first takes you through a pine forest before taking you above the treeline for about a mile until you reach Galten itself. On your way to Galten, you’ll get views of both stunning Voldsfjord and Dalsfjord. Once out of the pine forest, these views on this hike are truly postcard worthy. And with it being a relatively short hike, we’d say it’s a great bang for buck hike.
Once you get to the Summit, there is a book contained in a waterproof container where you can sign saying you were there. From there, you have to walk/climb down to Galten. It is a bit of a scramble but Natalie was able to do it easily and without issue with our 12 month old on her back. We had fun sitting as a family out at this spot.
How long does the Galten (Mini Trolltunga)Hike take?
This hike will take about 3 hours to hike. We hiked Galpen in about 3 hours including stopping at the summit for about 45 minutes.
How much does it cost to park at Galten (Mini Trolltunga)?
If you use the toll road, it costs 50 NOK (5 US dollars). However, you can park before the toll road and forgo this charge easily and only add on less than 0.5 miles of hiking. Here are the coordinates to Galten start and see the picture here.
Is the Galten (Mini Trolltunga)hike busy?
No! We only saw two other people while hiking this trail. One of the people was a local who hikes this trail several times a month to enjoy the tranquil environment this hike offers. The hike was so peaceful and felt untouched. It really seemed like we had the trail to ourselves. It was one of our favorite hikes in Norway because of this. This less popular spot is worth the trek to enjoy the stunning views alone.
Can you hike Galten (Mini Trolltunga)with kids?
Yes! We hiked this trail with our 12-month-old daughter in the backpack carrier. This trail is not technically challenging so as long as you are in decent shape, you should be able to complete it baby wearing. Most kids over 7, and younger depending on experience, should be able to complete this trail as well. You may not want your child to go out onto the Galten rock at these younger ages though. We felt comfortable holding our daughter on the rock but did not let her walk out on to it.
When to hike Galten (Mini Trolltunga)?
Ideally, hike it June 1st-September 30th. Outside of that window, it is more likely the road leading to the Galten trailhead will be covered in snow and the trail will be covered in snow as well.
How do you access the Galten (Mini Trolltunga)trailhead?
You can either access it by driving on the toll road or hiking from parking just prior to the toll road. Here are the coordinates to Galten start.
Where to stay when hiking Galten (Mini Trolltunga)?
We LOVED the Airbnb we stayed at in Folkestad. We were actually able to walk to the Galten trailhead from here. The views from this place were spectacular and the space was comfortable. We really enjoyed talking with our host here who was very helpful suggesting many things to explore in the area. We traveled all over Norway and this was our favorite Airbnb and town. Stay here!
Hiking Galten was one of the highlights of our 2 Week Norway Road Trip. It was so peaceful, serene and scenic. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on planning an epic fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan your hike at Galten. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Norway is the perfect combination of stunning scenery, cute family farms and historic picturesque towns. It seemed that everywhere we looked there were stunning mountain and lake views, making it the perfect place to take a road trip. We spent 2 weeks in Norway on a road trip from Oslo traveling through the fjords and the Southern half of the country. We are excited to share our itinerary with you! On it, you’ll see plenty of stunning fjord scenery, complete some of the most iconic hikes in Norway and visit some of the most picturesque cities Norway has to offer. Want to start planning your own Norway road trip? Here is our 2 week Norway Road Trip itinerary.
FYI: This post is written based on a trip in late August/early September. We took this trip with our 12-month-old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Start/End Road Trip in Oslo
Start/end your 2 Week Norway Road Trip in Oslo. This road trip could also be modified to start in Stavanger and end in Alesund or Bergen. However, that will likely come at a much steeper cost (due to one way rental car fees and more expensive flights in/out of these cities) and realistically may not save you all that much time when you factor in the time of added layovers.
We started our trip in Chicago and took an overnight flight, with a layover in Stockholm, en route to Oslo. If flight schedules allow, stay in Oslo the first day and rest up before starting your 2 week Norway road trip. With having an overnight flight, we were a tad exhausted and quite jet lagged by the time we got to Oslo.
Day 2: Arrive in Oslo, Drive South Coast, Stay in Kristiansand
Arrive as early in the day as possible in Oslo. We had a flight delay and arrived around 12:30 PM. Ideally, we would have arrived earlier to get more of a jump start on the day and to have more time to explore the South coast. However, if flight schedules do not allow for that (as they did not during our trip), you’ll still be able to explore a decent amount of the south coast this day.
Pick up your rental car and start heading south. Looking to save on a rental car? See our How to Save on a Rental Car post for our rental car tips! We got a rental car for only $220 for our 2 week road trip (and that included insurance).
Important Note about Ferries and Tunnels
Note that on this road trip, due to all the different fjords and mountainous terrain in Norway, you will take many ferries and tunnels. We found this to be super cool and unique! However, be aware that most of these ferries and tunnels cost a toll. Our rental car had a pass on it that simply charged these tolls to the rental car company and then we paid the rental car company at the end of our trip once all these tolls were processed. There is no option to even pay cash at the toll so you must have one of these passes. For our two week road trip, we spent about $180 on tolls. Given what a great deal we got on our rental car, we did not find this cost to be too steep.
Drive South Coast
Southern Norway is a popular vacation destination for Norway natives but most foreigners often bypass it. Don’t be one of them! The drive from the Oslo Airport to Kristiansand takes about 4-5 hours (depending on traffic). To break up the drive, stop at some of the picturesque towns along the way. Below are some of our favorites!
Risor, Norway
Risor is one of the best preserved wooden towns in Europe. This town is not only very cute but also very small so you don’t need too much time to explore it. We simply liked walking through the white wooden buildings in the town center and along the harborfront. Everywhere you look in Risor looks like a postcard.
Arendal, Norway
Another charming and picturesque waterfront town on the Southern Coast of Norway is Arendal. In Arendal’s Old Town, bright flowers are popping out of window boxes along the wooden houses. Arendal is bigger than Risor so there are more restaurant and store options here too.
Explore and Stay in Kristiansand
Kristainsand is the biggest city in the Southern part of Norway. The city is laid out in a grid pattern, making the old town easy to explore. In the northern corner, Posebyen, is the largest collection of low, connected wooden houses. These wooden houses felt quintessentially Norway to us. We also walked around the waterfront and harbor outside of the city center. Here, we explored the Christiansholm Festning, a circular fortress that is more decorative than defensive. We also explored the main town square. By simply walking around the city center of this city, you’ll get a good taste of it.
We stayed overnight about 15 minutes outside of the city center at this Kristiansand Airbnb. With having a rental car, we were able to get a better deal driving a little ways outside of the city. After a long day of travel, we were very grateful to have a spacious Airbnb like this one.
Day 2Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 3 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Drive to, Explore & Stay in Stavanger
Drive to Stavanger
This drive will take you about 3 hours and 30 minutes. On this drive, you have the option to stop at the southern coastal town of Mandal. Mandal is the southernmost town in Norway with wooden houses similar to the ones seen in the other Southern cities we mention above.
Explore Stavanger Old Town
Stavanger Old Town is composed of 173 quaint wooden buildings, making it Europe’s largest wooden-house settlement still in existence. All of these wooden buildings were built in the 1700-1800s. The cobblestone streets of Stavanger Old Town certainly make it charming too. We simply liked walking around the waterfront and through the neighborhoods with the wooden houses. There also is a street in the city center that is lined with delicious authentic ethnic restaurants. We enjoyed some really good Indian food here at Nora’s Kitchen. We chatted with a couple that drove all the way from Odda (3+ hours) to eat here so we are not the only ones who thought it was good. The butter paneer was our favorite dish.
Stay in Stavanger Overnight
Many people use Stavanger as a homebase to explore Lysefjord, particularly to hike Pulpit Rock *** (Preikestolen) and Kjeragbolten on this fjord. You also can take a boat from Stavanger to explore Lysefjord from below. We recommend not spending more than one day/night in Stavanger in order to cut down on some drive time when hiking and traveling to both Pulpit Rock *** and Kjeragbolten. There are many cute cottages to stay at in between both along the way.
We stayed at this Airbnb in Stavanger for the night. From this Airbnb, we were able to walk into the city center on a paved path through some charming residential neighborhoods. Being able to access the city center so easily and through these local neighborhoods, we got a real taste of local life during our visit. Rest up tonight before completing your first iconic hike tomorrow.
Day 3Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 4: Hike Pulpit Rock(Preikestolen), Drive Towards Kjeragbolten
Hike Pulpit Rock
Today, hike to the iconic Pulpit Rock. Pulpit Rock, also called Preikestolen, is an impressive rock that towers 2000 feet (600 meters) above Lysefjord. This larger-than-life rock was featured in the movie Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation in 2016. Hike through a beautiful forest and along the fjord before reaching Pulpit Rock itself. This trail is one of the most hiked trails in Norway given its proximity to Stavanger and relatively short length (4.6 miles round trip, 1150 feet of elevation gain, out & back). See our How to Hike Pulpit Rock guide for all the details.
Tip: Try to get an early (or late afternoon) start for this hike to avoid the crowds at Pulpit Rock
If you have to eliminate one of the hikes on this itinerary due to time or other constraints, this would be the first one we would cut. The views on this hike were great but the crowds were not. In comparison to the other trails we hiked on this trip, the crowds were a bit extreme at Pulpit Rock.
Stay between Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten
We highly recommend staying at Fidjeland Hytteutleige between Stavanger and the Kjeragbolten Trailhead. These cute cabins are located less than an hour from the Kjeragbolten trailhead and the location allows you to get a jumpstart on your hike tomorrow. They are conveniently located right off the main road yet in a peaceful, tucked away farm setting. This was the perfect cozy cabin for the three of us. There also was a fun swing in the backyard our daughter enjoyed.
Day 4 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 5 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Hike Kjeragbolten, Drive to Odda
Hike Kjeragbolten
This morning, drive about an hour to the Kjeragbolten trailhead. Kjeragbolten is one of the most scenic and exhilarating hikes you will ever complete. The views and challenge (using chains) to reach the summit, combined with stepping out onto the terrifying yet thrilling Kjerag rock (boulder in between two large rocks with an over 2400 foot drop into the fjord) makes it a hike you will never forget. The adrenaline rush from it is truly invigorating. The hike is 7.5 miles (12 km) with 1870 feet (570 m) of elevation gain and is an out & back hike. See our guide on How to Hike Kjeragbolten for all the details on this hike.
Drive towards Odda
After you finish hiking Kjerabolten, head towards Odda, the closest town to the very iconic Trolltunga hike. Stay in/near Odda for the next 3 nights.
We stayed at this Airbnb in Lofthus, about 30 minutes outside of Odda, and found it to be the perfect homebase for the next three days. Staying outside of Odda, compared to in town where accommodation prices are absurdly inflated, allowed us to get more bang for our buck with our stay. This Airbnb is located on an operational farm and located just off the waterfront of the Fjord. When we booked this Airbnb, we had no idea that the below pictures would be our view from the dock/windows. What a lovely unexpected surprise! Our host here was so kind too. She even gave us the most delicious plums we have ever tasted that were fresh from the farm.
Day 5 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 6 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Hike Bondhusvatnet
Hike Bondhusvatnet
This hike is a must-do near Odda. It is had the best effort to nature enjoyment ratio we completed in Norway. This 2.9 mile (4.6 km) out and back hike with 603 feet (180 meters) of elevation gain offers stunning lake, mountain and forest views. When you arrive at the lake, there are several picnic areas where you can relax and take in the views. FYI, it costs 100 NOK to park here.
Fun fact: this hiking trail originally served to transport ice from Bondhusvatnet glacier down to the fjord in the 1800s
Prepare for Trolltunga Hike
After completing this short yet stunning hike, take the rest of the day to prepare for your longest trek on this itinerary to the iconic Trolltunga tomorrow. If you need groceries, get them in Odda before heading back to your accommodations for the night. There are several large grocery stores in Odda and none in Lofthus.
Day 6 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 7 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Hike Trolltunga
Hike Trolltunga
Today, get an early start to drive to the trailhead of the iconic Trolltunga hike. This was about a 50 minute drive from our Airbnb in Lofthus. Hiking Trolltunga was truly a dream come true. When we saw a picture of the summit of this hike many years ago, we knew we had to hike it.
Trolltunga is one of the most challenging yet memorable hikes you will ever complete. It is, at minimum, 12.4 miles round trip with 2600 feet of elevation gain (length determined where you park and start). The summit of this hike, Trolltunga rock (a rock that juts out from a mountain over stunning Lake Ringedalsvatnet named “the troll’s tongue”) makes it unlike any other hike we have ever done before. Stepping out onto the Trolltunga rock with our daughter is something we will never forget. For all the details on this hike Trolltunga see our How to Hike Trolltunga guide.
Day 8: Drive to Bergen, Steinsdalfossen & Tvindefossen, Stay in Voss
Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall
Today on your 2 week Norway Road Trip, leave your lovely Lofthus accommodations and drive from the Odda area to Bergen (just under a 3 hour drive). On the way, stop at Steinsdalsfossen, a waterfall visible from the road that is along the route to Bergen. Although visible from the road, be sure to get out and explore this waterfall since you can walk behind it. It was fun to walk behind this waterfall where our daughter loved seeing the water cascading above us, and it was a nice, quick way to break up the drive a bit. There is a restroom and gift shop/small restaurant here as well.
You will pass some other waterfalls along your drive to Bergen. Feel free to stop at those and stretch out your legs too. Although less popular, we found some of these roadside waterfalls to be even prettier than Steinsdasfossen, maybe because we were usually the only ones at them.
Explore Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway after Oslo. It is a coastal town that used to be a German settlement and it rains almost 300 days per year here. We were lucky enough to visit on a very clear and sunny day with no rain. The cobblestone streets and 14th century wooden buildings along the harbor make Bergen a picturesque and charming city, so much so that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The list of things to do in Bergen is endless. For a more comprehensive list of places to visit, please see our friend Christine’s Blog Post The Best 8 Things to Do in Bergen. We choose to explore the waterfront, the fish market and take the Funicular to Mount Floyen.
Bergen Fish Market
The Bergen Fish Market along the waterfront has many different restaurants and stands, all with the freshest seafood. We love seafood and unsurprisingly, loved exploring and eating here. The chef at the restaurant we ate at gave our daughter a giant cleaned clam shell, and she really had fun playing with it. We tried whale for the first time too which Sam equated to tasting like a fusion of beef steak and white fish.
Floibanen (Mount Floyen Funicular)
For the best views over Bergen, take an 8 minute funicular ride up the hillside of Mt. Floyen. The funicular takes you up 1050 feet (320 m) above sea level and departs every 30 minutes. Once up here, you can walk around, eat at one of the restaurants or play at one of the playgrounds. We had so much fun playing at the playground here with our daughter. One of the parks had a giant zipline swing that we each had a lot of fun riding on (without a baby of course). We felt like little kids again. The cafe located just after you get off the funicular has really good soft serve ice cream too. We are huge suckers for ice cream and this soft serve did not disappoint.
There are also plenty of hiking trails up on Mt. Floyen and you can choose your own path on these trails. With all the other spectacular hiking we did not feel the need to hike here much. However, if we were spending more time in Bergen, Mount Floyen would be a great escape from the city. Our friends over at Love Hard, Travel Often put it perfectly when they said Mount Floyen is a ‘Nature Lovers Disneyland’. You really could spend days up here. If you are looking for an added workout, you can hike up from the bottom instead of taking the funicular as well.
Tvindefossen
After spending the afternoon in Bergen, drive towards Voss and stop at the Tvidefossen waterfall along the way. Tvidefossen is a499 feet (152m) high waterfall that cascades over a receding cliff. It is a roadside attraction meaning you just drive up to it and no hiking is involved.
Fun Fact: In the 1990s, Tvindesfossen got the reputation for rejuvenation and people from all over the world would come to fill containers with its water.
Stay overnight in Voss
Tonight, stay in Voss. It is about a 1.5 hour drive to Voss from Bergen, and this will set you up well for the next day. This is the Airbnb we stayed at in Voss. We liked the location and being able to relax at the nice accommodations here after a long day of traveling and exploring.
Day 8 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 9 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Flam Railway, Drive to Folkestad
Wake up today and start to drive towards Flam. On the way, consider stopping at Stalheim Hotel for views of Naeroydalen valley from the rear patio. You can walk straight through the lobby to access the outside. Order a drink from the restaurant here and soak in the views. We stopped in the early morning and really think it is only worth a stop if you are here in the afternoon when the valley will be lit up. Otherwise, we found the views to be very similar to other ones throughout our road trip.
Another stop you can make is at the Njardarheimer Viking Village in Gudvangen. Over the summer, this community actually lives as vikings did 1,000 years ago and are not costume performers. It costs about $20 per person to enter.
Flamsbana Railway
Drive about 45 minutes from Voss to Flam to ride on the famous Flamsbana Railway. This train ride takes you 20 km from Flam to/from Mydral. On this ride, you will travel through 20 tunnels and 2,850 feet of elevation. The views are really spectacular, and this is a great way to see the countryside of Norway if you are not doing a road trip. Many people who disembark from large cruise ships that port in Flam take this train ride.
Tip: For the best views on the train, get there early and be ready to be one of the first to board the train. Get a window seat on the right (when facing away from the train station) with a window that also opens. This will allow you to take the best pictures and see the best views without a window obstructing your view. We were a bit turned off to how getting on the train was a bit of a mad rush for the best seat though.
Note: Heaps of Tourists Take Away from the Flamsbana Railway Experience
In sharp contrast to most everything else we did on this road trip through Norway, even more extreme than the Pulpit Rock hike, the Flamsbana Railway was an absurdly busy tourist attraction. You board the train hundreds of yards from where large cruise ships port, leading to its popularity. Over 1 million people take this train each year so do not expect to have the train to yourself by many means. In fact, if you want to get a window seat on this train, you’ll need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure and try to get on the train right away.
That being said, we would do this train ride again but only for the sake of our daughter. She loved this train ride and she was literally glued to the window watching the scenery the whole way. With her being 12-months-old at the time, this was nothing short of adorable. However, we felt we got just as good of views driving elsewhere throughout our 2 week Norway road trip and without the crowds. We find crowds to be mentally exhausting and if you do as well, you may want to skip this one.
If you are interested in taking this train ride, visit the Timetables and Ticket Reservations Flamsbana link here. Be sure to purchase your tickets weeks in advance as, with how popular it is, many times fill up beforehand. There are activities, such as ziplining, at Mydral and you can ride a bicycle or hike down if you want to make a longer day out of it.
Drive to Folkestad
After riding the Flam train, start your drive (about 4.5 hours) to the quaint town of Folkestad.
Laerdal Tunnel
On the way, you will drive through Laerdal tunnel, the world’s longest tunnel (15.2 miles). In fact, on this road trip you will pass through hundreds of tunnels but none nearly as long as Laerdal.
Bøyabreen Glacier
Be sure to stop at Bøyabreen Glacier on your way to Folkestad. This Glacier is just off the main road. Take a short walk down to Glacier and feel the coolness radiating from it. Also, be sure to stop at the restaurant on-site that has arguably even better views of the glacier from inside. We loved the panorama windows here that highlight the glacier.
Folkestad Airbnb
Next stop is the off-the-beaten path town of Folkestad. We loved our stay in the quaint town of Folkestad. Folkestad is not a tourist town, and it truly is really only locally owned farms here. Our Folkestad Airbnb, the guesthouse on a family owned farm, overlooked the Fjord was the perfect little cottage to spend the next two nights. Our host here was so personable and had so many great local recommendations. We felt like family staying here. This Airbnb had everything we needed for a comfortable stay too. Also, this Airbnb was a less than 10 minute walk from the trailhead of where you will hike tomorrow. It was so nice to just be able to walk out the front door to get to the trailhead. We truly loved this Airbnb.
Day 10 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Hike Galten in Folkestad
Galten Hike
The next morning walk or drive (less than 5 minutes) to the Galten trailhead. Galten, AKA mini Trolltunga, is a unique rock covered in greenery that juts out of the mountainside over Dalsfjord. This picturesque spot is still relatively unknown. When we hiked it, we truly had the trail to ourselves and the hike was nothing short of spectacular. We highly recommend getting off the beaten path, stopping in Folkestad and hiking Galten when you are in Norway. See our How to Hike Galten guide for all the details on this hike.
Tip: If you need groceries, be sure to check the Folkestad grocery store hours. This is a tiny town with one grocery store with very limited hours.
Day 11 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Explore Runde, Visit Loen Lake
Explore the Island of Runde
The next morning, drive to Runde. Runde is an island off the west coast of Norway with just over 100 residents. It is famous for bird viewing on its dramatic seaside cliffs throughout the summer (June-early August). Although we visited Runde outside of bird watching season, we found it to be very neat to see the cliffs even without the birds. The island itself is very quaint and peaceful. Speaking with the locals added to Runde’s small town charm. Hiking to/around the seaside cliffs was a highlight of our time in Norway. See our Hiking in Runde Norway guide for all the details on hiking around this island.
Tip: When driving to Runde, be sure to check the ferry schedule to Volda (you have to cross the Fjord on this ferry to drive to Runde). We drove on a Saturday morning when the ferry only left every 40 minutes. We arrived 1 minute after the ferry had departed and we had to wait 39 minutes until the next one came. Had we known this beforehand, we likely would have relaxed at our Airbnb a bit longer or gotten going a little quicker in the morning. Luckily, this was the only spot on our Norway roadtrip where we had to wait more than 20 minutes for the next ferry and our daughter enjoyed walking around the dock while we waited.
Visit Lovatnet Lake
Next, drive from Runde through Loen and Lodalen Valley on your way to Geirangerfjord. This area is so pretty and looks like a scenic painting everywhere you look. Visit Lovatnet Lake in this valley. This lake is different from most in Norway as it has a unique turquoise green/blue lake and was the prettiest lake we saw on our two week Norway road trip.
At Lovatnet Lake, you can spend as little or as much time as you want. You can rent paddle boards, go hiking (most trails not right on the lake) or eat at one of the restaurants along the lake. At this lake, the highlight of our time here was seeing some cows grazing and drinking in the water. Our 12-month-old daughter liked mooing at the cows, and it was so cute. This was the first time she had said ‘moo’ and when we knew story time was finally paying off.
Drive to Geirangerfjord
After visiting Lovatnet Lake, make your way to Geirangerfjord for the night. This town is nothing short of stunning. Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO world Heritage site and is the inspiration for Arendelle in Frozen making it literally a town out of a fairytale. Geiranger has less than 300 year-round residents and less than 20 kids go to the school here. Once kids turn 16, they are sent to Alesund for schooling and live in an apartment on their own at this time.
Fun Fact: This town will inevitably be destroyed by a Tsunami, but it is heavily monitored so that the town should have 72 hours to evacuate
Stop at Viewpoints Driving into Geirangerfjord
On your way into Geirangerfjord, stop at as many viewpoints as you please. There are many viewpoints along the road. However, in our opinion, the BEST viewpoints of Geiranger and Geirangerfjord are from hiking. We really only recommend stopping at the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint on your drive into town. However, stopping at more viewpoints along the road is a great option for people with limited mobility or who do not want to hike for their views. Note, some of the viewpoints (such as Dalsnibba) cost money to access (Flydalsjuvet is free).
Dalsnibba Viewpoint
Look straight down over Geirangerfjord as this spot has the highest views of the valley and Geirangerfjord.
Note: it costs approximately $27/car to visit this spot so it is only worth it to visit on a clear day and if you are planning to do any hiking in the area, you will likely get better views doing that.
Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint
One of best-known photo ops in Norway with its dramatic mountain plateau view high above Geiranger town and Geirangerfjord.
Fun fact: If you have ever seen a classic picture of Norway, chances are, it was taken here. It is one of the most photographed spots in Norway.
Stay Overnight Geriangerfjord
We stayed in a one bedroom cabin at Grande Hytteutleige og Camping. From this cabin we had lovely views looking into Geirangerfjord. Looking onto the fjord while enjoying your morning coffee/tea is not a bad way to live life. The cabin had been recently updated and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. This was also the most economical spot we found to stay at in Geirangerfjord. We had to clean the cabin ourselves before we left but all the supplies were provided, and it did not take long. We saved hundreds of dollars staying here rather than elsewhere as accommodations in Geirangerfjord were much more expensive than other towns in Norway.
Day 11 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Driving Map
Day 12 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Geirangerfjord
After getting a good night’s rest and waking up overlooking Geirangerfjord, head out to explore Geiranger and Geirangerfjord for the day.
Eagle Road Viewing Platform
In the morning, we drove up Eagle Road to a viewing platform with impressive views of Geiranger and Geirangerfjord. This unique zig zag road was directly next to/above our accommodations, making it an easy morning outing. Just after the platform, on the road, there was a small waterfall with a rainbow over it that our baby thought was magical. Behind the platform, there is also a short hiking trail you can take to another small waterfall.
Geirangerfjord Cruise and Hike
With only being in Geirangerfjord one full day, we knew we needed to find the best ‘one & done’ hike in Geirangerfjord. We are so happy we found out about cruising on Geirangerfjord to Skagehola and then hiking back to Geiranger from there.
In the morning, take a cruise along Geirangerfjord where you will get cool views of Eagle Road, several waterfalls and the fjord itself from the boat. The hike to Skagefla starts after you get dropped off at Skagehola (shore below Skagefla where the trail starts). Then, you hike up to Skagefla and then return down the same way to be picked up by boat or hike back into town.
Hike back to Geiranger
Most people hike up to Skagefla, have a picnic and then hike back down to get picked up by a later boat. However, we highly recommend hiking back to Holmberg (and then on the road back to Geiranger) rather than just taking the boat the same way back. Some of our favorite views were past the farm at the highest elevation of the hike over Geirangerfjord and on the way into Holmberg where you get amazing views over Geiranger. Also, there were so many fresh wild blueberries and raspberries to eat on the trail, making the hike a bit sweeter.
The hike is in total about 5 miles with 1800 feet of elevation gain. The cruise to Geirangerfjord can be booked here and costs 550 NOK/person. See our Where to Hike in Geirangerfjord guide for more details on this hike.
Day 13 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Drive Back to Oslo
Drive Back to Oslo
Today, drive back to the Oslo Airport area. It will take you about5.25 hours on the fastest route. Many people opt to take a bit longer, supposedly more scenic, route through Beitostolen that takes about 6.5 hours. However, we felt there were plenty of other scenic viewpoints throughout the trip and we wanted to drive the shortest route. Along the way on the route we took via Rv15 and E6, we saw some very pretty lakes. We truly felt all the driving on this trip was gorgeous. This night, we stayed at this Airbnb near the Oslo Airport. This Airbnb was a great place to do some laundry, cook a meal and pack up before flying home early the next day.
Day 13 Norway 2 Week Road Trip Map
Day 14 Norway 2 Week Road Trip: Fly Home from Oslo
Return your rental car and fly home today. We loved our Norway road trip and were blown away by this country’s beauty.
General Norway Tips
Foods to Try
Brown Cheese: a Norwegian culinary speciality made of whey, cream, goat & cow’s milk. In our opinion it tastes like a creamy caramel flavored cheese.
Fish Soup
Fish Cakes
Not Bad Weather, Only Bad Clothes
In Norway, you can really experience all four seasons in one day
When we visited we had abnormally good weather and it only rained for 2 hours one day while we were driving. Per locals, this is not typical at all. We were told it had rained every day that summer leading up to our visit. Make the investment in solid gear, especially rain gear. Below are items we own & love.
We hope this guide helps you plan your 2 week road trip in Norway. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Geiragngerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is said to be one of the most beautiful fjords in all of Norway. This fjord is actually the inspiration for the beautiful Adendelle in Disney’s hit movie Frozen. With Geirangerfjord being one of the most scenic fjords, we knew we wanted to go hiking here. However, with only being in Geirangerfjord one full day, we knew we needed to find the best ‘one & done’ hike to do. And we were so happy when we found the perfect, unique hike in Geirangerfjord from Skagehola to Geiranger. Here is our guide on where to hike in Geirangerfjord.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in early September. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Take a boat to Skagefla and then hike back to Gerianger
We highly, HIGHLY recommend taking a boat to the Skagefla drop off and then hiking back to Geiranger from there. This unique hike affords stunning views of Geirangerfjord. Map as below.
Book Geirangerfjord Cruise
In order to do this one-way hike in Geirangerfjord, you first book a Cruise on Geirangerfjord to Skagfela (550 NOK). Be sure to book this cruise in advance as it does have limited time spots, especially after September 1st. You take this cruise down through the fjord, past several stunning waterfalls. Once the boat turns around, you will get off the boat on the return route at the Skagehola stop (boat drop-off/pick-up below Skagefla farm).
Where to Hike in Geirangerfjord: Skaagehola to Geiranger Hike Specifics
We measured this one-way hike at just over 5 miles one-way with 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Hike to Skagefla Farm
As mentioned above, the hike to Skagefla starts with a fjord cruise through Geirangerfjord to Skagehola (shore below Skagefla where the trail starts). Here you get off the book and start the steep hike to Skagefla
People had told us this hike was steep before we completed it but we truly did not appreciate how steep this hike was until we completed it. In about 0.5 miles, you gain over 800 feet (250 meters) of elevation making it a stellar workout as well.
Skagefla is one of ten old, abandoned mountain farms in Geirangerfjord. This farm is 250 meters above the fjord and offers a fantastic view of several waterfalls in Geirangerfjord.
The trail then continues onto the highest point of elevation at 1800 feet (550 meters). This is another steep, challenging climb to this spot. You will reach another abandoned farm before starting your descent toward Holmberg. This highest point of elevation offers fantastic views back over Geirangerfjord.
The hike back to Holmberg is then a gradual descent. Just before the final descent, you are afforded the most spectacular views over Geiranger (first picture in this post). Once you arrive in Holmberg, you walk the main road back to Geiranger. It is less than a mile back to Geiranger from this point.
Bonus: On this hike, an unexpected, fun find was many fresh blueberries and raspberries along the path. It was so neat to be able to eat these fresh on the trail. Our daughter loved eating and trying these too!
Note: Trail is slippery even without recent rain
Even without recent rain, due to how water drains into the fjord, the trail is likely to be slippery in spots due to wet/muddy terrain. Especially on your descent into Holmberg. Even though it had not rained in over two weeks when we visited, there were still some very slick spots on the trail. Solid hiking shoes (and being on your A-game with careful steps) are a must for this trail.
Where to Hike in Geirangerfjord: Can kids hike this trail?
Yes! We hiked this trail with our 12-month-old daughter in the backpack carrier. The ascent hike is very steep but the hike to Holmberg/Geiranger is more manageable. We felt comfortable with our daughter in the carrier. Beware that the trail skirts the edge of the fjord and is quite exposed at times. This does pose a dangerous fall risk. However, there are chains in these spots. If your child can handle the steep elevation and you can trust them to be aware of the exposed mountainside at different points, they should be able to complete this hike.
Alternative Routes
Hike from Geiranger/Holmberg to Skagefla Out & Back
You could alternatively hike from Geiranger out & back. This would make it a very long day/hike (10 miles round-trip). We also consider the steep rocky trail that we ascended to the farm from Skagehola dangerously steep. We would have not felt comfortable descending this trail back to the boat drop off/pick up with our baby on our backs. We find ascending up steep elevation to be more manageable than descending down steep elevation.
However, this alternative is a budget option (for someone not baby-wearing) because you do not have to pay for the pricey cruise to Skagefla/Skaghola. However, we thought the cost of the cruise was worth it allows you to see the fjord from the water.
Hike from Boat Drop-Off/Pick Up to Skagefla Out & Back
Another alternative to hiking the full path is that you can hike to Skagefla farm (from the boat drop off spot below it) and then hike back to the boat drop off/pick up (Skagehola) for a boat ride back to Geiranger. Getting picked up at the boat drop off/pick is included in your cruise ticket cost. This shortens the hike to about 1 mile round trip. However, do not let that 1 mile stat fool you. The hike to Skagefla is an exceedingly steep route with 820 feet (250 feet) of elevation gain and round-trip it will take you at least an hour to 1.5 hours to complete.
We highly advise you against this option though as our favorite views on this hike were all past Skagefla farm/past the highest elevation. Our favorite view over Geiranger was near the end of this hike near Holmberg (above).
Note: If you do choose this option, make sure to check when the next boat will be coming to pick you up. Boats, especially after Sept 1st, are very limited and the boats will not wait for you (as they do not know you are coming) if you are not there when they arrive. Make sure you are back to Skagehola before the boat comes to get you. We witnessed one group of hikers narrowly miss the boat as the frantically moved on the trail to jump onboard
Fun Facts about Geirangerfjord:
Inspiration for Arendelle in Frozen
Population less than 300 year round residents
Less than 20 kids are enrolled in the school here. Once kids turn 16, they are sent to Alesund (2 hours away) for school and live in an apartment on their own at this time
The town inevitably is going to be destroyed by a Tsunami at some point but it is heavily monitored so that the residents should have 72 hours to evacuate
Where to Stay in Geirangerfjord?
We stayed at Grande Hytteutleige og Campingin cabin option #3 while visiting Geiranger/Geirangerfjord. These simple one bedroom cabins (with a lofted space and bunk beds) can sleep up to 5 and also have a full kitchen. The real draw to this spot though is the back window/patio views over Geirangerfjord. The views are truly stellar. We would stay at this spot again without hesitation. The staff working here were also very kind and accommodating to us. There are other larger and smaller cabin options here as well to meet your group needs. This accommodation was the perfect space for us to base ourselves for two-nights to hike in Geirangerfjord.
Hiking from Skagefla to Geirnagerfjord was one of the highlights of our 2 Week Norway Road Trip It was so peaceful, serene and scenic. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip Trip guide for all the details on planning an epic fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan where to hike in Geirangerfjord. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Runde is an island off the west coast of Norway with just over 100 residents. It is famous for bird viewing on its dramatic seaside cliffs throughout the summer (June-early August). Although we visited Runde outside of bird watching season, we found it to be very neat to see the cliffs even without the birds. The island itself is very quaint and cute with being so small. There was a small town charm to it when you talk to locals. Hiking to/around the seaside cliffs was a highlight of our time in Norway. Here is our guide on hiking in Runde, Norway.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in early September. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Hike the seaside cliffs in Runde
Runde is a relatively small island. The map above, in Norwegian (given to us by a local), shows the whole island and hiking trails are marked with dashed lines. We recommend starting on the Goksoyr side, where you can access the trail from the road, and then making a loop around the cliffs in a clockwise fashion as highlighted on the map. This hike is in total about 4 miles and just under 1000 feet of elevation gain. You can add on some mileage and elevation by hiking down to the lighthouse as well. However, the best cliff views are from the higher elevations of the hike on the east and west side of the island.
Trailhead on Runde located between two houses
To access the hike, park at the public lot right off the main road, just slightly south of the start of the trailhead. There were public toilets at the parking lot as well to access. From here, walk up the road to the trailhead where you will start your steep climb. The trailhead can be a bit tricky to find, as it is located between two houses but if you are looking for it, you shouldn’t miss it.
First part of the hike on Runde is the steepest
The first part of this hike, if you complete this hike in a counterclockwise fashion as we suggest, is the steepest. Once you get to the highest point on the north tip of the island, your hike will be mostly downhill (unless you hike down to the lighthouse too, then you have to climb back up to the main trail).
Hike through farmland, then along cliffs
You will first hike through some farmland, previously used for peat moss harvesting, before reaching the dramatic sea cliffs. The best views of the cliffs, in our opinion, are on the east side of the trail heading up it to the west. Here, you can see down to the lighthouse where the cliffs slowly taper off in height.
We hiked all the way up to the highest point along the cliffs on the northside. Stopping here is a nice spot to have a picnic and gaze off into the Atlantic ocean. Then we started our descent down on the west side of the island where we did actually see many krykkjer birds nesting along the cliffs (despite being outside of bird viewing season). However, we did not see any puffins.
Tip: If you want the best chance to see nesting birds, especially Puffins, be sure to visit in June-early August.
Beware though that with the bird viewing season comes crowds. Although we did not see many birds on our hike, we also did not see many people. We enjoyed a very peaceful hike, where we only encountered 6 other people the whole time, while visiting during the off-season.
Downhill second half of the hike
From the highest point on this hike, you can cut back across the farmland to make the loop or you can hike down the west side of the island more. Note though that once you start heading down the west side of the trail, after the crossover path to make the loop, the trail becomes more rocky with more scrambling. Be careful! We did not venture too far on this trail due to the more difficult terrain. Instead we headed back across the farmland on the main trail.
As noted above, this hike is 4 miles in total. We found the first climb to be of moderate difficulty but the second half of the hike was a downhill/flat breeze. The first part of this hike is the steepest, if you complete cthis hike in a counterclockwise fashion. Once you get to the highest point on the north tip of the island, your hike will be mostly downhill (unless you hike down to the lighthouse, then you have to climb back up)
Where to stay when hiking in Runde?
We stayed about an hour away from Runde, in Folkestad. We LOVED this Folkestad Airbnb. The views of the farm and fjord from this Airbnb truly are unmatched. This cozy place was the perfect spot to take a day trip to Runde as well as hike Galten ***. 10 out of 10 recommend this spot and town.
You may also consider staying on the small quaint island. Our friend, who lives in Norway and has visited Runde, recommends staying at the Christianborg hotel (nice restaurant on site) or camping near the lighthouse (must hike to) if you are staying on the island.
Tip: Check the ferry schedule from Folkestad to Volda to avoid wait time
If you are staying in Folkestad, check the times of the ferry to Volda. We took the ferry on a Saturday and it was only running every 40 minutes unlike on weekdays where it runs more frequently. We arrived 1 minute after the ferry left so we had to wait 39 minutes for the next one… Had we known the ferry schedule, we likely would have stayed at our Airbnb longer or gotten out the door faster. Capitalizing on some down time, our daughter enjoyed walking around the dock here and we wouldn’t have gotten to do that had we not had to wait.
Hiking in Runde was one of the highlights of our 2 Week Norway Road Trip. See this guide for all the details on planning an epic fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan your visit to Runde and hiking along the seaside cliffs. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Hiking Trolltunga was truly a dream come true. When we saw a picture of the summit of this hike many years ago, we knew we had to complete it. Trolltunga is one of the most challenging yet memorable hikes you will ever complete. The summit of this hike, Trolltunga rock (a rock that juts out from a mountain over stunning Lake Ringedalsvatnet) makes it unlike any other hike we have ever done before. Stepping out onto the Trolltunga rock with our daughter is something we will never forget. Here is our guide on hiking Trolltunga in Norway.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in late August. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Note: Trolltunga is one of our top 5 favorite hikes we have ever completed. That is saying a lot too as we have hiked more miles than we can count all over the world including many US National Parks and Europe. Definitely add Trolltunga to your bucket list.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Hiking Trolltunga FAQs
How long of a hike is Trolltunga? What is the elevation gain?
From the P2 parking lot, Trolltunga is 16.7 miles (27 km) with 4000 feet (1200 m) of elevation gain. It is an out & back hike.
Is there a way to shorten the Trolltunga hike? Details about Parking at P3 at Trolltunga?
Yes! And we highly recommend parking at P3 instead of P2 to shorten your trek to Trolltunga. By parking at P3 instead of P2, you shave off 4.3 miles (7 km) of hiking and 1,300 feet of elevation gain. From P3, the hike is 12.4 miles (20 km) with 2600 feet (800 m) of elevation gain. Parking at P3 saves you approximately 3 hours of hiking round trip and is completely worth the extra cost (600 NOK, about $60 US dollars).
If P3 parking is full, you can also book a shuttle from P2 to P3. Overall, the shuttle costs about the same as parking at P3 (if you only have 2 people). However, you have to start/get a ride back on the shuttle schedule. Parking at P3 is better so you are on your own schedule.
The ‘trail’ going from P2 to P3 is a simple, narrow, heavy switchback road without any unique views. The road from P2 to P3 is not peaceful either as cars and shuttles are driving on it throughout the day. It also makes an already strenuous hike more strenuous without adding any views or nature serenity. Park at P3 (or take the shuttle from P2 to P3)!
Note: There are only 30 car spots at P3 so be sure to book online using the link here as soon as possible in advance to guarantee your spot.
How do I hike Trolltunga? What are the logistics of the Trolltunga Hike?
If you start at P2, which we again do not recommend, you will have a steady climb for over 2 miles on the road before reaching P3. This is the steepest part of the climb and least scenic part of the hike.
From P3, there is approximately 1 mile of slight incline up, followed by another approximately 1.5 miles of more steep incline. After that, the hike involves 2 more climbs but both are less steep and spread out with some down/somewhat flat hiking in between. The hardest part of the hike is the beginning so if you get through the first climb, feel confident you can do the whole hike.
Once you reach Trolltunga, to get down onto the rock, you have to climb down a ladder (built into the rocks) and then you can easily walk onto Trolltunga itself. We did not find walking out onto this rock scary, unlike stepping onto Kjeragbolten. It is very large and wide. When you are on it, you cannot tell how far of a drop it is unless you get close to the edge.
Tip: Throughout the hike, be sure to follow the red T’s on the ground and/or the poles in the rocks to keep on the path at Trolltunga. Numerous people have required rescuing from this trail.
Yes, Trolltunga is a hard hike, but not as hard as we expected. We had read a lot of reviews online of this hike (prior to hiking) saying Trolltunga was the hardest hike most had ever completed. We disagree (maybe because we started the hike at P3 and didn’t hike as far as if you started at P2). Now, this hike is no cake walk but the elevation is spread out and feels manageable. Hiking Trolltunga requires good physical fitness, due to the length and elevation gained, but no technical climbing skills.
Despite Trolltunga being a much longer hike than Kjeragbolten, we found this hike to be easier, mainly because there were no spots where you needed chains to get up due to the steepness.
How far of a drop is it from the Trolltunga rock into Lake Ringedalsvatnet?
Sources vary on this factoid, but it is estimated to be about 2200 feet (670 meters). It is unlikely, unless you get too close to the edge or intentionally jump, that you would fall off this rock. Again, we did not find it scary. If you can climb down the ladder, we think anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can walk onto this rock. We held our 1 year old daughter’s hands as she walked on the rock. It was such a cool moment!
How is it stepping onto the Trolltunga rock (aka the Troll’s Tongue)?
Surreal! Like we said earlier, we have been dreaming of hiking to this spot for years and it was so cool to finally do it. This spot is straight out of a postcard!
How long does it take to hike Trolltunga?
It took us 8 hours to hike Trolltunga from P3. This includes stopping at Trolltunga rock for about 1 hour to take pictures and a break. If you hike from P2, it will likely take about 3 more hours.
Is the Trolltunga hike busy?
When we hiked it, no. However, we hiked it just after the end of peak season (August 30th) and on a Tuesday. Unlike Pulpit Rock, this hike is not overly busy because it is so long and most beginners steer clear of it. And only 30 cars can park at P3. There are definitely other people on the trail but everyone has their own space and there were no traffic jams. We saw about the same amount of people at Kjeragbolten as we did on this trail.
When is the best time to hike Trolltunga?
Hike this trail in the summer/early fall, ideally June 1st-September 30th. Outside of that window, it is not recommended to hike to Trolltunga unless you have a guide as the weather in the area is less predictable. Be sure to check trail conditions too. When we visited, late August, there was no snow on the trail. However, we had unseasonably warm and clear weather for our hike (and really for our entire Norway trip). Many years, in early June, a lot of the trail tends to be covered in snow still.
Can you Hike Trolltunga with kids?
Yes! We completed this hike with our 12-month-old daughter and it is one of our favorite hikes we have completed with her. That being said, this is a very long hike. Some kids may not tolerate being in the carrier or hiking this long. If your child is not being carried, we would say kids should be 10+ and have a decent amount of hiking experience. We saw NO other babies or kids on this hike. All the hikers we saw were adults.
Odda is the closest option to stay while hiking Trolltunga. If you are looking for convenience, stay in this area. However, if you are willing to drive a little further, you can get a place a bit off the beaten path that will give you a more peaceful, and likely beautiful, experience, for a fraction of the cost. We stayed at a farm a bit north of Odda in Lofthus. The fjord views here were spectacular, especially from the dock. I mean just look at the dock views pictured here. We spent 3 nights at this Lofthus Airbnb and wish we could have spent even more time here.
Hiking Trolltunga was one of the top highlights of our 2 Week Norway Road Trip. See this guide for all the details on planning an epic Norwegian fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to hike Trolltunga. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Pulpit Rock, also called Preikestolen, is an impressive rock that towers 2000 feet (600 meters) above Lysefjord. This larger-than-life rock was featured in the movie Mission Impossible Rogue Nation. Pulpit rock is one of the most hiked trails in Norway given its proximity to Stavanger and relatively short length. Here is our guide on how to hike on to hike Pulpit Rock.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in late August. See our 2 Week Norway Road Trip guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Pulpit Rock Hike FAQs
How long is the Pulpit Rock Hike? How much elevation gain is on the Pulpit Rock Hike?
Pulpit Rock is a 4.6 mile (7.6 km) out & back hike with 1150 feet (350m) of elevation gain.
How do I hike Pulpit Rock? What are the Pulpit Rock Logistics?
This hike first takes you through a pine forest before taking you above the treeline for about a mile until you reach Pulpit Rock itself. The trail alternates between less and more steep sections. The hike overall felt like a steady climb up with some more steep areas at certain points. A lot of this hike is on a path of rocks and on variable sized rock stairs. You definitely have to pay attention to your footing throughout the hike.
There is a very short section of the hike along the cliffside. If you have a fear of heights, you may find this difficult. However, there were chains on the edge along the cliff and we did not feel fearful of the height at any time.
Once at Pulpit rock, you can wait in a line to get views from the end of the rock. However, you can see the impressive nature of the rock and how far down it is into the fjord better from the side view. You also can get some really pretty expansive fjord views from the side as well.
How long does the Pulpit Rock Hike take to hike?
This hike will take about 5 hours to complete (on average). We hiked Pulpit rock in about 4.5 hours including stopping at the summit on Pulpit Rock for about an hour.
How much does it cost to park at Pulpit Rock?
250 NOK (about $25 US dollars) in 2022
Is Pulpit Rock hike busy?
Yes! The Pulpit Rock Hike is VERY busy. Pulpit Rock is one of the most hiked trails in all of Norway due to the impressive views that you are afforded on a relatively short hike.
Tip: Hike this trail as early or as late in the evening as possible.
This trail was so busy that it did take away from the experience a bit. We started this hike around 10:30 am on a Saturday and in hindsight, would have started this hike earlier or later. We had ‘traffic jams’ on the trail at times and it was hard to have your own space on the trail for very long. This experience was a stark contrast to hiking Kjeragbolten and Trolltunga.
We have seen some pictures of people on Pulpit rock with no other people in the pictures, but do not expect this for your journey. Expecting to get pictures without others (without photoshopping extensively) is unrealistic. FYI- we do not photoshop people out of any of our pictures as that gives an unrealistic depiction of any experience/hike.
Can you hike Pulpit Rock with kids?
Absolutely! We hiked this trail with our 12-month-old daughter in the backpack carrier. This trail is not technically challenging so as long as you are in decent shape, you should be able to complete it baby wearing. Most kids over 7 years old, and younger depending on experience, should be able to complete this trail.
We saw SO many kids and babies on this trail, more than we have ever seen hiking before. When we got to Pulpit Rock, we realized we had forgotten wipes for changing our daughter’s diaper. Another mom overheard us and kindly gave us some of hers to use. Our babies then had fun taking rocks back and forth from one another. Rocks really can provide hours of entertainment. See our How to Hike with a Baby post for all our baby hiking tips.
When to hike Pulpit Rock?
Ideally, hike it June 1st-September 30th. Outside of that window, it is likely the road to the Pulpit Rock trailhead and trail will be covered in snow and potentially closed.
Fun Fact: Despite being over 2 hours apart driving, Pulpit Rock is located on the same fjord as Kjeragbolten.
How do you access Pulpit Rock from Stavanger?
Ryfylke Tunnel, a 14 km long tunnel, connects Stavanger to Tau on your way to Stavanger. This is one of the world’s longest and deepest subsea tunnels. You will drive through this tunnel if you travel from Stavanger to Pulpit Rock. The cost to go through this tunnel is 140 NOK each way (our rental car company charged us automatically for this when driving through so we didn’t pay anywhere in person). It is about a 45 minute drive from Stavanger to Pulpit Rock.
Where to stay when hiking Pulpit Rock?
We recommend staying in Stavanger and exploring this Norwegian city the day before or after your hike. This town is so quaint and picturesque with its many wooden houses. This is the Stavanger Airbnb we stayed at and would highly recommend. There was a path from our accommodations we were able to take through the neighborhoods to the city center of Stavanger. It was so nice to be able to just walk into town once we arrived. This path also allowed us a peek into local living. We really enjoyed walking through the neighborhoods and the walkable nature of the area itself.
Hiking Pulpit Rock was one of the highlights of our 2 Week Norway Road Trip. See this guide for all the details on planning an epic fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan your hike at Pulpit Rock. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
Kjerabolton is one of the most scenic and exhilarating hikes you will ever complete. The views and challenge (requires the use of chains) to reach the summit, combined with stepping out onto the terrifying yet electrifying Kjerag rock (boulder in between two large rocks with an over 2400 foot drop into the fjord) makes it a hike you will never forget. The adrenaline rush from it is truly invigorating. Here is our guide on how to hike Kjeragbolten in Norway.
FYI: This post is written based on a hike taken in late August. See our Two Week Fjord Road Trip (coming soon***) guide for all the details on this trip. We took this trip with our 12 month old daughter. For all our baby travels tips and tricks see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips and our How to Hike with a Baby post.
Note: Kjerabolton is one of our top 5 favorite hikes we have ever completed. That is saying a lot too as we have hiked more miles than we can count all over the world including many US National Parks and Europe. Definitely add Kjeragbolten to your bucket list!
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!
Hiking Kjeragbolten FAQs
How long of a hike is Kjeragbolten? How much elevation gain on the Kjeragbolten hike?
Kjerabolton hike is 7.5 miles (12 km) with 1870 feet (570 m) of elevation gain. It is an out & back hike.
How do I hike Kjeragbolten? What are the Kjeragbolten hike logistics?
The Kjeragbolten hike has 3 steep and strenuous climbs, mostly completed in the first half on the way out. During these climbs, there are chains to hold onto to help you hike up/down. We really used these chains to help us stay upright on the steep rockside during our descent and ascent. Kjeragbolten is a total of 7.5 miles (12 km) with 1870 feet (570 m) of elevation gain.
The first climb is the most technically difficult and steep while hiking Kjerabolten. You do not need technical climbing skills per se but must be very careful with your footing while climbing these areas with the chains, especially on your descent. Many people turn around during the first climb as they find it to be too strenuous and scary. However, if you can complete the first climb while hiking Kjerabolten, you can complete the whole hike. Don’t give up! Natalie hiked these ascents and descents with our daughter in the backpack carrier.
When not completing these steep climbs, you hike into valleys and over ridges. You will feel like you are on top of the world at times! The views are spectacular.
After the third climb, you enjoy a relatively easy hike for about a mile until you reach Kjerag.
Tip: Be sure to follow the red T’s painted on the ground while hiking Kjeraboton. During foggy conditions, people have lost their way and had to be rescued. Even on a very sunny day, we were sure to stay on track with the red T’s as it would be easy to get off the path on the boulders.
Can I hike Kjeragbolten in the rain?
No! Caution: Do NOT hike Kjeragbolten if it is going to rain or recently rained.
When we hiked Kjeragbolten, it had not rained in over a week. Yet, there were still some slightly damp spots on the rocks that were VERY slippery. With only a couple spots like this, it was manageable taking these spots very slow and using the chains to aid us. However, if all the rocks were wet, this would not be safe to hike. You are hiking up a large smooth slick boulder with chains in several sections. One big slick smooth rock is not conducive to staying upright even with the chains.
Tip: Check weather prior to attempting to hike. Avoid foggy or rainy weather at all costs. People have needed to be rescued after losing their way in the fog.
Sources vary on exactly how far the drop is but we can verify, it’s far! It is at least a 2400 foot (750 meter) drop from the iconic Kerag boulder between the two rocks into the Fjord.
How is stepping onto the Kjerag Boulder when hiking Kjeragbolten?
It is scary. Like really scary! We are not going to sugar coat it. Stepping on to Kjerag is terrifying yet exhilarating. About a ⅓ of the people we saw who attempted to walk onto the Kjerag couldn’t do it. Sam was almost one of them. He made the mistake of looking down (at the 2400 foot fall) on his first attempt before stepping onto the boulder. He just gave a cute little wave from the side of the boulder instead of stepping onto it (see picture) with his first attempt. After Natalie persuaded him that we were not hiking Kjerabolten anytime soon again, he decided to try it again and was able to go out onto the rock. Natalie got onto the rock with her first attempt. Our best advice, take it slow and don’t look down!
Here are pictures of what the Kjerag boulder looks like from behind:
Off to the left of the boulder is where people line up to step onto it one at a time. There is a chain link drilled into the rock you can grab onto to help you get down to the boulder that we both did use. See our Always Have A Trip Planned Instagram for footage of us walking on the boulder versus the shot on the boulder.
The boulder is actually bigger than it looks in pictures. We both agree that Kjerag is stable and plenty big for you to step onto. However, despite being able to see this clearly with our own eyes, we were both scared to step onto the boulder. We still think this hike is worth it even if you do not step onto the Kjerag boulder because the views along the hike and at the boulder are truly stunning. Stepping out onto the boulder is just the adrenaline rush icing on the cake!
Has anyone died hiking Kjeragbolten/stepping onto Kjerag?
No! At the time of writing this post, no one has died hiking Kjerabolten. We actually find this surprising as one wrong step on this boulder would send you plummeting to your death in Lysefjord. Stepping onto this boulder is, in our opinion, scarier than Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park where 10+ people have died in the chains section. However, fewer people hike Kjeragbolten and only stepping out onto the Kjerag boulder itself has a dangerous drop. The rest of the hike is not along steep drop offs, differing from Angel’s landing whereas wrong step throughout the chains section may send you falling to your death.
How long does it take to hike Kjeragbolten?
It takes about 6-8 hours to hike Kjeragbolten. It took us about 6.5 hours total to hike Kjeragbolten, including stopping at the summit for about an hour taking pictures and a break. If you do not have 35 extra pounds strapped to your back and/or a 12 month old with you, you may be able to hike it faster.
Is the Kjeragbolten hike busy?
In comparison to other Norway hikes, such as Pulpit Rock Hike (post coming soon***), no. We hiked Kjerabolten from approximately 9:30 AM-4PM on a Sunday. There were definitely other people on the trail but there was plenty of space on the trail to have our own room. We never felt crowded or traffic jammed on this hike. The number of people was similar to that we saw while hiking Trolltunga (post coming soon***).
When to hike Kjeragbolten?
Only hike Kjeragbolten in the summer as the road leading to the trailhead is closed in the winter. Ideally, hike it June 1st-September 1st. Outside of that window, it is likely the road to the Kjeragbolten trailhead will be covered in snow/closed and the trail will be covered in snow as well.
How much does it cost to hike Kjeragbolten?
Parking fee 300 NOK that you pay to the attendant when you arrive.
How to find Kjeragbolten Hike?
Type in Kjerag parking to Google Maps to locate the Kjeragbolten Trailhead
What is the closest town to Kjeragbolten?
Closest town is Lysebotn (15 mins away), 7.5 hours from Oslo, 2.5 hours from Stavanger (many people set up base here and also hike Pulpit Rock (post coming soon***)).
Where to stay while hiking Kjeragbolten?
We highly recommend staying at Fidjeland Hytteutleige between Stavanger and the Kjeragbolten Trailhead. These cute cabins are located less than an hour from the Kjeragbolten trailhead. They are just off the main road yet in a peaceful farm setting. This was the perfect cozy cabin for us. There also was a fun swing in the backyard our daughter enjoyed.
What else should I do while at the Kjeragbolten trailhead?
Make sure your driving route takes you on the whirlwind road Lysevegan either before or after your hike to Kjeragbolten. This road has 32 hairpin turns and a 9.4% gradient. To access, turn left out of Kjerag Parking lot.
Can you hike Kjerabolton with kids?
Yes! We completed this hike with our 12-month old daughter in a backpack carrier. We would not recommend front carrying on this hike though as it is very steep in spots, making the decent while front carrying dangerous. However, we felt comfortable with her in the backpack carrier the whole time. We saw one person carrying a baby that was maybe 3 months old (in a front carrier, again would not recommend) but other than that, we saw no kids under 10. We did see about 5 kids likely between 10-15 years old on this hike who did not seem to have any problem with completing it. If not carrying your child, we’d recommend kids be 10+ years old and have a decent amount of hiking experience to complete this hike. It is long, strenuous and requires some skill using the chains.
We would say no but that is up to you as the parent. We did see a boy who was about 10 years old step out onto the boulder with a rope tied around his waist that his mom held. We both stepped out on to Kjerag separately without our baby and were terrified enough without our child.
Can you step onto the Kjerag Boulder with someone else?
Yes, but we do not recommend it. We both stepped out onto the boulder alone and would advise stepping onto it one at a time. The boulder is large enough that two people could step out on it together but it is certainly safer to do it one at a time.
Is Kjeragbolten one of the best hikes in Norway?
Yes! WE LOVED hiking Kjerabolten. We highly recommend you complete this hike at some point in your life. It is a challenging hike with the chains on the climbs and exhilarating with stepping out onto the rock. In comparison, we both did like hiking Trolltunga a bit better than Kjeragbolten but it is hard to compare both as they are very different hikes. Hike both and let us know your thoughts!
Note: You have to be on your A-game at most times during this hike due to using the chains and the steep nature of the climbs. It is not a flow state hike.
Hiking Kjeragbolten was one of the highlights of our Two Week Fjord Road Trip (post coming soon***). See this guide for all the details on planning an epic fjord road trip of your own.
We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Kjeragbolten. Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions. Please leave us a comment!
