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Explore Norway’s Hidden Gems: The Essential Guide

Welcome to the Norwegian Nature Guide! – Part one of a comprehensive guide to Norway that I’m putting together.
Its picturesque mountains, beautiful fjords and never-ending forests usually blow most people whom have visited Norway away. It’s not hard to see why everyone gazes out in disbelief that such a place exists. This country has so much to offer but not everyone knows about its hidden gems, unfortunately. So, it’s time we change that! This nature guide will be covering:

Famous Hikes
Local Favourite Hikes
Fjords
Waterfalls
Arctic Circle

Welcome to my Fatherland, I hope you find this helpful in planning your next trip to Norway.

The following places mentioned are spots that I have personally visited and/or hiked and would definitely recommend to everyone. Being such a massive country, majority of the points of interest are scattered around but these are all easily accessible and along various touristy routes.

Famous Hikes:

The hiking opportunities probably make it one of the top reasons why it is a favourite amongst nature lovers. There is an abundant array of hikes to pick from, you’re never going to run out of options. With longer days and warmer temperatures, summer is the season to set out into the great outdoors and explore by foot. Majority of the hikes are only open during the summer due to safety and there are other activities to experience during the winter months.

The following three hikes are the trinity for international travellers visiting Norway for the sole pursue of hiking. They range in difficulty; distance and time taken so hike according to your fitness level. These are the more popular and tourist orientated hikes (still loved by locals) making it easily accessible by public transport. Should you like more information, details and personal experiences on the following, each heading has a click-through taking you to an individual extensive guide.

Preikestolen/Pulpit Rock

Distance: 8km round trip
Time taken: 2 – 4hrs around trip
Difficulty: Easy
Season: All year around. In winter, crampons are available for rent from Preikestolen Tourist Centre

This is hands down one of the most visited natural attractions and most hiked trail in the country. During the summer, there are tours taking you here from Stavanger centre and it’sca packed with hikers. Since it is the easiest of the hikes, people of all ages can be seen doing it, even dogs do it! The paths are clear and easy to follow but be mindful of the 4 stages of steep incline. Nonetheless, the effort vs reward makes this an amazing starting point to your Norwegian adventure. Make sure to bring your camera, as you’ll capture a stunning view overlooking Lysefjord!

Location: Jørpeland, Rogaland (Western Norway)
Closest major town: Stavanger
Getting here: During the summer months, Tide offers multiple daily transportation to Preikestolen from Stavanger Centre for 300NOK. Alternatively, if you decide to drive, follow the E39 eastbound and go in the direction of Røldal, catching the ferry from Lauvvik to Oanes and follow the signs. This route takes 1.5hrs and the parking at Preikestolen as of November 2016 is 150NOK per day.

Kjeragbolten

Distance: 10km round trip
Time taken: 3.5 – 7hrs around trip
Difficulty: Medium
Season: Summer (April – September)

You may have seen this boulder before in a drone video that was released (and went viral) recently. The subject in the video is none other that Kjeragbolten. This boulder wedged in between two rock faces is such a must-have instagram photo that people are willing to wait in line for over one hour to snap a photo! It is not for the faint hearted and is a dream for the adventure seekers. Depending on your fitness level, this hike can be challenging. There are 3 levels of steep inclinations where chains are used to pull yourself up, while this is an absolute killer on your legs and knees the day after, it’s completely worth the hike. A great spot to look over the town of Lysebotn and over Lysefjord.

Location: Lysebotn, Rogaland (Western Norway)
Closest major city: Stavanger
Getting here: Similarly to Preikestolen, Tide takes you from Stavanger Sentrum to the starting point of Kjerag for 590NOK round trip. Driving there will take about 2.5hrs – simply follow E39 eastbound towards Kongeparken and turn off at Route 45 (towards Sirdal) and once you’ve passed the Ski Centre – continue on the FV975 in the direction of Lysebotn, through the back country roads and there’s parking lot on your left hand side. Once again, day parking will set you back 150NOK as of November 2016.

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Trolltunga

Distance: 22km round trip
Time taken: 8 – 12 hrs round trip
Difficulty: Challenging
Season: April – September. DO NOT attempt in winter.

What list would this be if Trolltunga weren’t on it, right? While a lot of people have completed this hike, it is definitely not a walk in the park.

This hike calls for proper hiking boots and preparation (food and clothes wise) as this 22km round trip takes anywhere between 8 – 12 hrs and should only be attempted during the summer months where days are long, the weather is warmer and there’s a lot of hikers (in case of an emergency). The trail is well maintained by the Norwegian Hiking Association and is continually being improved, which is incredibly useful especially the first kilometres ascend.

The surrounding views are breathtaking, take it all in. Since you’re in the wild, camping is permitted (and for free!) so breaking this hike in half will be easier on your knees – just remember not to leave any trash behind! All in all, this hike is extremely doable; maybe do a bit of training leading up so you’ll enjoy it more. Trust me, a bit of training goes a long way – this is coming from someone whom has done it thrice.

Location: Tyssedal, Hordaland (Western Norway)
Closest major town: Odda
Getting here: There is a bus that can be taken which stops at the first parking lot (6km) from the starting point. If you’re driving, head to the town of Odda and continue northbound on Route 13 towards Tyssedal and follow the signs up the mountain. You will pass one small parking lot half way up the narrow road but keep going until you reach a lake and a massive parking lot in front of Trolltunga Active – this is the starting point of your hike. There are different prices for parking here, depending on how long you take. As of September, an entire day of parking (24hours) will set you back 400NOK.

Personal favourite hikes:

There is so much hiking to be done in Norway that it is almost impossible to include all of them in a short list like this. I am constantly discovering different trails and points of interest around the country but haven’t found the time to visit them yet. Hopefully I will complete more local and off beaten track hikes post graduation.

Gaustatoppen and Galdhøpiggen are both tall mountains standing at 1883m and 2469m respectively. Considering they are both the tallest mountains in their respective county (the latter being the tallest in Norway), the hikes are doable and views rewarding.

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Gaustatoppen:

Standing at 1 883m, Gaustatoppen is the tallest mountain in the county of Telemark, located near the town of Rjukan (2.5 hrs east of Oslo), an area I spent quite a lot of time during my visits to Norway. This isn’t a challenging mountain with clear terrain, it takes 4 hrs to complete the 10km return journey. The Gaustabanen, a cable car taking you up inside the mountain is a good alternative if you encounter bad weather of prefer an easier option. The Gaustabanen is open every day during the summer and costs a fee to take. At the top of the mountain, there is a little cafe where you can sign your name in the visitors log book, tuck into some good Norwegian waffles and on a clear day, you can enjoy a birds eye view overlooking a sixth of the country.

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Galdhøpiggen:

The tallest mountain in Northern Europe stands at 2,469m and is located in Jotunheimen National Park. Although you can ascend this mountain without a guide, I highly recommend hiring one if you lack hiking knowledge or experience in the mountains. On your journey to the top, you will cross a glacier and your guide will rope you to each other for safety. This is a slightly more challenging hike especially for a little pocket rocket like myself (I stand at 1.57m), as some of the steps will ensure you stretch. The taller folks wouldn’t encounter this problem.

The tours take place during the summer months and proper equipment and clothing is advised as the mountain range is covered in snow all year round – we were met with a white out during the hike back in the summer of 2012. This hike will take 6 hours to complete.

During the summer, the ski centre on Galdhøpiggen is open so if you fancy tearing up the slopes, you’ve got the opportunity to do it all year around in Norway!

Fjords

The talking point of everyone’s travels to Norway.
The starting point of most people’s journey into the fjords is through Bergen, coincidentally known as the Gateway City to the Fjords. If you’re looking at a map, there are countless routes taking you through the fjords and without a doubt, whichever route you take, it’ll be amazing no less. Just a heads up, some of these mountain paths can be a very tight squeeze and depending on the time of year, icy as well so drive careful and enjoy the views but please do not slow down while on the highway to take photos, pull over if you want to snap photos.

Lysefjord

The best way to view this fjord is from the top of Preikestolen and Kjerag, which offers undisturbed panoramic views. Alternatively, when you get off the ferry from Lauvvik, drive around the area as you’ll be able to drive along the fjord.

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Aurlandsfjord

From Aurland, drive towards Lærdal (over the mountains) up a winding and narrow road with one too many hairpins taking you to probably the most beautiful viewpoint over the fjord. This is my personal favourite fjord (and viewpoint) as you’re welcomed to views of the town and uninterrupted views seeing down the fjord. There is a small area to stop and snap some photos on the way up but drive carefully and slowly here as most parts of the route is only wide enough for one car!

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Nærøyfjord

This is a UNESCO listed fjord and said to be the inspiration behind Disney’s Frozen. If you’re driving from Bergen, head east on E16 towards Gudvangen where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the fjord. If you would like to see the fjord from the water, a ferry is available taking you around the fjord, surrounding you with its majestic beauty.

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Hardangerfjord

This fjord has really deep blue coloured water and it’s beautiful! If you fancy camping with a view, there are several campsites set up along the sides of the mountain (at about mid point) and they don’t cost too much more than the regular campsites. It is easy enough to spend the day away driving along the E16 and stopping at one too many areas to take in all the beauty.

Geirangerfjord

This UNESCO-listed fjord, likely the most iconic of them all, resides in the Møre og Romsdal county and hosts the Sever Sisters Waterfalls, one of Norway’s most photographed waterfalls. You can arrange several fjord cruises to view it. Alternatively, you can kayak through the fjord. Villages along the fjord offer kayak rentals. Fjord Norway installed Queen Sonja’s Chair at one of the numerous viewpoints. From there, you can overlook the town, observing ferries come and go from the harbor, appearing like miniature toy boats.

Waterfalls

The best time to see the Norwegian waterfalls at its full force will probably be in late spring – early summer, when the snow starts melting and water rushes down to the rivers, lakes and open sea. Thanks to the infrastructure in Norway, a lot of the tourist routes take you past these waterfalls so it can be see on the way to places. There are parking lots on the side of the road so you’ll be able to stretch your legs and snap a couple of photos along your journey.

Låtefossen

An amazing waterfall that you’ll see on your journey along National Road 13 – south of Odda. This 165m waterfall is unique in its own right by featuring two individual streams that converge in the middle. There is a parking space on the left side of this photograph where you can step out and enjoy this scenery.

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Månafossen

Månafossen is the tallest waterfall in the Rogaland county standing at 92m. To get to the viewpoint in the photo, it takes about 15 – 30 mins up a steep incline with chains for aiding. You can attempt the hike year-round, but in the winter months, ice covers the surfaces, making the hike challenging. The path continues up and around to the other side of the falls taking you to a farm called Mån.

Vøringfossen

The famous waterfall in Norway is located in the Hardangervidda area. Visitors can easily detour to see this waterfall. The photo above shows the waterfall in the Spring when the water was still frozen. However, as the snow melts, the scenery changes, revealing a 182m plunging waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. Hikers can explore a trail leading near the foot of the falls, but it’s only accessible during the summer due to slippery conditions in the winter months.

Tvindefossen

This 110m waterfall sits off the E16 between Voss and Flåm and while it’s not the tallest waterfall in the county, it is still a marvel to look at.

Arctic Circle

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Midnight Sun

Imagine going to bed and the sun is still shining brightly through your blinds and waking up to the sun high in the sky. It’s a bit of an odd sensation but that’s what happens during the summer months especially in the Northern parts of Norway. Watching the sun gently touch the horizon and rise again is quite amazing, but it might take you some time to get used to it. I personally saw it whilst visiting my relatives in Bodø.

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Northern Lights

This is probably on everyone’s bucket list – the Northern Lights. Solar activity determines how far south you can witness it, but heading further north increases your chances of seeing it! Many visitors favor Tromsø, considered the northernmost city on mainland Norway. While there is no guarantee to see the Lights, they are breathtaking to witness. Be sure to rug up as temperatures plummet during the winter.

Oh, wow! Not sure about you but that was a lot of ground to cover for the first instalment. There you have it, a local’s guide to some off the beaten nature spots in Norway that will be sure spice up your itinerary. What were some of your favourite suggestions?

Peace, love and good vibes.

This Post Has 30 Comments

  1. Lynne Sarao

    Wow! Norway really is insanely beautiful. I’m planning a trip next June and I’m definitely going to add all of those hikes and waterfalls to my itinerary! Great guide!

  2. Vishal

    A very nice informative post. Unbelievable photos. I wish if I could visit Kjeragbolten soon as the picture is really awesome.

  3. neha

    I can clearly see from your post why Norway is famous among nature lovers, particularly it’s hiking trails. And loved the details in your post. I am going to save it for future when we plan a trip here.

  4. Abby

    Such stunning photos! Love the beautiful scenery and natural formations. Norway is very beautiful!

  5. Oi Meira

    If you asked me to give a comment by talking, I would be Speechless. First time I heard about this country when I read Haruki Murakami’s novel, Norwegian Wood. But it doesn’t have anything to do with the country itself. So I am so amazed while seeing all your beautiful pictures. For now, I am still struggling to become a full time traveler. I will start from ASEAN and going up and up to Norway, hopefully. So far, my favorite is Låtefossen!! 🙂 I enjoyed reading this post.

  6. Punita

    Now that I have read this post, I know exactly how to plan and prepare for Norway. And I can only imagine the sights! The first two hiking trips seems pretty comfortable. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Stacey

    I definitely have to pin this. My boyfriend and I are dying to explore Norway! Maybe next winter

  8. Ticker Eats The World

    Such an amazing post with beautiful photos and some great information about places to visit in Norway. I had been there about a decade ago and loved the place. Had a chance to experience frozen fjords in Sandvika and since the rest of the time I was in Oslo, I did miss out on the more natural Norway. The waterfalls and the various other fjords that you have mentioned all are just so amazing, I can’t wait to re-visit Norway. Thanks

  9. Excellent guide. I have been to Norway twice and I plan to go at least 10 more times ha ha! My grandfather was from Bergen so I have a very strong connection the country. Have a lot family around Bergen that I must visit again! I get obsessed with Norway, it’s just ridiculously beautiful. Sigh.

  10. Norway is stunningly beautiful and when we think of Norway only 3 things comes to our mind: Northern lights, Fjords and hikes! This is perfect guide for us who look are forward in doing all these 3 things! Beautiful pictures Caroline!

  11. Diana - MVMT Blog

    My sister and I traveled to Norway for the first time this summer and we are hooked!! We hiked Trolltunga and a smaller hike called Buarbreen in Odda which we really enjoyed. We would love to go back and hike Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten, although it terrifies me a bit just thinking about stepping onto that little rock wedged in between the two cliffs. Norway has the best hikes/views!

  12. Lisa

    We are hikers too so this is right up my alley. All that gorgeous scenery and those views just can’t be beat. I love how your pictures captured the beauty so well. I can’t wait to visit and hike, hike ,hike and I am a sucker for waterfalls! Love this post!

  13. Luda

    Awesome and super helpful list – definitely saving this for later! I’m a beginner to the world of hiking (hehe) but I would love to check out some of the waterfalls and fjords 🙂

  14. Jean

    This is a great guide. Love getting out into nature and Norway certainly seems to have a lot of options. I’m so tempted to take the cable car up Gaustatoppen. Just for something a little different.

  15. Some great places to see on this list. I climbed Trolltunga back in September and it is really hard work! I was amazed by all the people there seeing as it was such a hard climb. We had to queue for an hour to get out on the rock :-/
    Thanks for sharing your local guide 🙂

  16. Soumya Nambiar

    Norway is so gorgeous, Caroline. But I never knew that there were so many Fjords around. The first hike seems to be the doable one for me. But I would love to do the Trolltunga but guess it is quite challenging. Northern lights have been on my bucket list for so long.

  17. Kreete

    This is probably the best article I have read on hiking in Norway! I want to go and do all the hiking, especially the Trolltunga and climbing Galdhøpiggen. They sound so interesting, especially after completing a 40 km hike over two days here in Australia. It’s a shame though, everyone has to wait for an hour to get the photos. Tromso is one of the cities I would love to visit too and how awesome it would be to see the sun never setting! Can’t wait to visit!

  18. Natalie

    I’ve wondered where the boulder that look is like it is barely suspended between mountains actually is!! I’m not sure how close I could get…. as wonderful as the views are… that might feel scary so close to the edge. 🙂 What a glorious country to explore. We love to hike and think the kids would enjoy these amazing views… though from a safe distance 😉

  19. Ahh I LOVE Norway and am so keen to go back. I’ve pinned this post for later hehe 🙂 I really appreciate that you listed way more than just the really touristy/well-known sights. I’m bummed because I visited Norway in March, when the weather wasn’t ideal for any of these hikes. I guess I didn’t think about that when I planned my trip! That all just means I have to go back 😀

  20. Gel

    It seemed like to have been to every corners of Norway! The country truly boasts of a lot of adventure activities and from your post and photos, I love chasing waterfalls and trekking!

  21. Anthony Jury

    When someone says an 8 -12 hour walk you would normally fall over just thinking about it. But some of those hikes in Norway look sublime and you couldn’t help getting lost in time.

  22. Kristine

    Nydelige bilder! Jeg får virkelig hjemlengsel av å lese dette innlegget – spesielt om preikestolen (er fra Stavanger). Skal heldigvis feire jul i Norge for første gang på to år nå 🙂

  23. Brigitte

    Super useful article! I’ve wanted to go to Norway for a long time now, but somehow it didn’t happen yet. I want to try all of these hikes, but I guess I’ll need a bit more time training still!

  24. Doro

    Beautiful photos! I woud love to visit Norway soon, I’ll pin this for later 🙂

  25. Sally White

    You have a lot of information here! It would make a great travel ebook! Not many people know about hiking in Norway. Would love to try it with my kids. Thank you for sharing ?

  26. Traveling Ken

    This has been a great insight into Norway for me. I never read much about it, which is unfortunate. I always wondered where that boulder that sits wedged between the two cliffs was located, Kjeragbolten, and now I know! I love practicing photography especially in nature, and your pictures alone make me want to hit Norway! Thank you!

  27. Sheena

    I visited Norway in the winter last year – it was too cold! I really want to get back but in the summer to take on some of these hikes & spend more time in the outdoors. Of course, I need a photo at Trolltunga!

  28. Frank

    woow thats looks so amazing!

  29. Susanna

    We might try and do
    Gaustatoppen in the last part of our trip. Also your guide to the fjords will be super helpful for our southern fjords road trip! Thanks!

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