Bergen, Trolltunga, and the best hikes in the Norwegian Fjords

Our trip starts early (7:30 AM) by the world famous, and UNESCO listed harbour of Bergen. You can feel the excitement within the group, as we set off for the magnificent fjords of Aurland. Mostly, we will spend our day on the magnificent Sognefjord. One of the world’s longest, and most spectacular fjords. The moment you start thinking that nature can’t be more spectacular, we move into the Aurlandsfjord. As an enormous shaft, the narrow and beautiful walls of Aurlandsfjord surround us. The spectacular landscape has earned this tiny community a place next to Nærøyfjord on the UNESCO world heritage list. Our hiking goal for the day is the mountain Prest (1478 meters above sea level). Some parts of the trail might feel exposed, but we guarantee that the experience on the top is worth it. From here you will have a perfect view of the large fjord landscape. Our accommodation for the night is Vangsgaarden, a restored farm from the 1750’s. Through hard work, the owners have maintained the authenticity of the buildings, and it has small lovely gardens surrounding it. No need for feeling at home – this is home!  

Just like yesterday’s dinner, your breakfast is a combination of local and healthy ingredients. We travel like  locals, the bus stop is a short walk from the hotel, and from here the bus will take us towards our goal for today. Some places make Norwegians extra proud, and the valley of Aurlandsdalen is one of these places. Sparkling green coloured cliffs, summer pasture farms, wild nature, fun hiking and small waterfalls makes you feel like you are hiking in a postcard. The better part of the hike is slightly downhill; hence the terrain is easy, but the walk is quite long. However, with plenty of breaks, healthy food, and the beauty of the surroundings to motivate us, the only worry we will have is that the day will end eventually. We return to Vangsgaarden, where a lovely three-course dinner with a Norwegian touch awaits! 

Today we head south with a railway that many people consider to be «the world’s most beautiful train journey». The Flam Railway is a favourite ride and the main reason why people visit the area. We leave the train in Voss, and our goal today is to experience authentic Norwegian agriculture, culture, architecture and nature. Voss is famous for being the extreme sports capital of Norway, and from here we head towards the fruit capital of Hardanger. On our way, we will pass spectacular architecture, such as the hanging bridge of Hardanger, Norway’s longest swinging bridge, even longer than the Golden Gate bridge. Apples and cider were first introduced here by English monks in the 1300’s. Today, Norwegians know Hardanger best for its lovely blooming and exquisite fruit handcraft. By now, we should all be ready for a majestic sight. The length of today’s hike is not the longest, but that does not make it less exciting. As we cross a small bridge, the 182 meters of free falling water appears to us, called Vøringsfossen, one of Norway's most famous waterfall. It is a majestic sight, watching and hearing the water thundering down from the mountainside is an experience you will never forget!

We spend the night in one of the oldest hotels in Norway, Utne Hotel, staying here is like being in a history book, with careful thought given to architectural details, amenities and décor. Our three-course menu at the hotel restaurants is a result of their chefs’ interest in ingredients from local small-scale producers in Hardanger. As an appetiser, we will join them tasting a lovely batch of locally produced cider. Welcome!

Early breakfast, our legs are rested, and we are ready to experience The Trolls Tongue! People come from all over the world to experience Trolltunga, and today it’s our turn! In English, it is named the Troll's Tongue. Trolltunga is a spectacular mountain formation situated 1,100 meters above sea level, and 700 meters above the lake of Ringedal. This is a long hike (10-12 hours), the longest hike of the trip, so we start off early in the morning, and will have dinner quite late. Even though the hike is tough, it is both doable and worth it! We will have time to relax at the top, enjoy the view, and take memorable photos on the plateau. This place inspired many Norwegian artists during the Romantic era and led to some of the most remarkable artworks ever coming out of Norway. It has been a long day, so a well-deserved dinner awaits us in the local village of Odda. Nice and fed we head back to Utne Hotel. 

Ever seen or hiked on a glacier before? From our hotel, we make our way up to Folgefonna and go for a full day walk (4-6 hours) on the glacier. Folgefonna is Norway's third biggest glacier, and our tour starts in Folgefonna National Park. Hiking on the glacier plateau is not particularly hard, but it is a truly magnificent experience walking roped up on the 350m thick carpet of ice! When the weather allows, it is a spectacular view of the surrounding fjord landscape from the glacier. During this day we will walk at a gentle pace, and take the time to enjoy our company, and beautiful scenery. After the glacier hike we drive 1,5 hours to Voss, where our accommodation for the night welcome us for our final farewell dinner together.

All cultures have its special kind of traditional food, and western Norway is no exception. The village of Voss is known for its traditional sheep cuisine. And, we would love to give you the opportunity to experience one of the more wonderful traditions of this area. At the accommodation, we will have the opportunity to taste the cuisine of Smalahove. We promise you a once in a lifetime experience and a lot of good memories to get the laughter going during the last dinner together.

Our journey ends in Voss after breakfast, 0900AM. 

For those of you who would like to stay longer in Norway – Voss has connections to Bergen or Oslo with train. Let us know if you need any assistance or tips on what do after the trip. Maybe you want to combine this tour with one of our other tours? You can easily book your train ticket on https://www.vy.no/en