Auto Norway

Group meeting at Bergen central bus station around 10 am (for drivers at 9 am). We rent cars, load things, stop at the supermarket for food for the road.

We leave Bergen and move south towards Stavanger. The road itself is very picturesque - it goes through islands and fjords (Bjørnafjorden, Hardangerfjord, Boknafjorden) and several times we will cross the straits on ferries. In Stavanger we will walk around the city center, and then visit the coast of Havrsfjord to the impressive Swords in the Stone monument. In the evening we settle down for the night in one of the campsites near Stavanger.

Auto - 250 km, 6 hours; walk - 2 km.

We pack up camp and leave Stavanger. We travel through the Ryfast underwater tunnel (20 km long, 290 m below sea level) to the other side of the fjord. We park our cars in the parking lot at the beginning of the trek to Preikestolen, take a snack with us and set out on the route. To get to this famous rock you have to walk a little less than 4 km and gain about 340 meters of altitude, which will take about 2 hours one way. This is the simplest of the 3 tracks included in this tour and that is why we are starting with it. The route consists of alternating flat (sometimes marshy) sections and natural stone stairs. The last section of the trail before the lookout is the most interesting - it offers views of the fjord and rocky cliffs. The “Pulpit” is always crowded, so be patient - you will have to try very hard to take a photo in splendid isolation. For a change, let's take a slightly different route on the way back.

The adventures don't end there. We need to move to a new campsite closer to the start of tomorrow's trek. To do this, we go to Oanes, take a ferry to the other side and then drive around the mountain range for 3 hours to get to the village of Lysebotn. We put up tents in a campsite surrounded by rocks, on the shore of the fjord.

Auto - 190 km, 4 hours; on foot - 8 km, 5 hours.

The tents remain at the campsite, and we drive up to the beginning of the trail (altitude 640 m) and begin to climb up. The trek to the hanging stone will take much longer than yesterday's trek to Preikestolen. The route again has steps and this time some of them will be quite steep. In such areas there are even railings (chains) for safety. We cross two small valleys (grass, sheep, etc.), climb to the Kjerag plateau (1020 m) and walk another 2 kilometers along a stone plank with stunning views of Lysefjord. You will need to go down a little to get to the Kjeragbolten stone. We'll have a snack next to the pea while we wait in line for desperate photos on the hanging stone.

We return to the campsite along the same path. In the evening we watch BASE jumpers jump from the cliffs where we wandered today and land next to the campsite.

Auto - 15 km, 1 hour; on foot - 12 km, 8 hours.

We pack up our tents, board the morning ferry and cross the fjord. Today we have a long journey ahead along mountain roads. There's not much to do there, but the views will be excellent. Along the way there will be several stops at observation platforms. The most important of these is the view of the double waterfall Latefossen. By evening we will reach the village of Odda on the shores of the Hardangerfjord. We settle down at a local campsite. Tomorrow is a hard day, we need to go to bed early.

Auto - 200 km, 5 hours; on foot - 2 km, 1 hour.

This is the longest and most tiring of the tracks on this tour. The ascent to the Troll's Tongue will take from 9 to 12 hours, so we take plenty of food, water and clothing with us. From Odda we climb the mountains to Lake Ringedal and leave the car in the parking lot. There, next to a powerful hydroelectric dam, the trail to the Troll Tongue begins.

The trail is not the easiest (ankle-deep mud, slippery) and very popular. At first we walk through a birch forest, and then an open slope begins with many streams, waterfalls and swamps. Behind you, a view of the large lake Ringedal and the dam begins to emerge, but it is far from certain that you will be in the mood to look at them. The trail goes up all the time and if you are not used to it it can be a bit difficult.

In a couple of hours we will reach the plateau and the going will become easier. True, the weather here is harsher - there are often strong winds, snowfalls (even in summer), and there are always snowdrifts in the ravines. Water is oozing from everywhere. We have to walk along the plateau for quite a long time (10 km). The path winds among rocky hills and numerous reservoirs, from time to time approaching the edge of a rocky cliff from where you can see the majestic lake Ringedal, very similar to a fjord.

About 6 hours after the start we will most likely come to the Troll's Tongue. Be prepared for a long wait in line. This is where warm jackets and snacks will come in handy. Let's go back a little faster. In the evening we return to our “yesterday’s” campsite in Odda.

Auto - 25 km, 1 hour; on foot - 28 km, 12 hours, elevation gain - 950 m.

Most of the journey will be taken by the road to Bergen. Along the way we will make a stop in the Valley of Waterfalls near the village of Kinsarvik and walk along the Sotefossen, Nykkjesøyfossen and Nyastølfossen cascades. And after the ferry across the Hardangerfjord, another large waterfall awaits us - Steinsdalsfoss.

We will arrive in Bergen approximately at 18:00. The tour is over. You can, of course, fly home straight away, but it’s better to stay one more night in the city, take a walk along the embankment and have a festive dinner. To do this, we will stop at a supermarket and rent an apartment or hostel.

Auto - 200 km, 4 hours; on foot - 5 km, 2 hours.

In the morning we return the extra rental cars, part of the group flies home or goes to Oslo by train. And for those who want even more Norway, the next tour begins. There are two options (follow the schedule):

• Northern part of Western Norway: Jotunheimen (with access to the highest point of the country), Troll Staircase, Ålesund, Skala, Bessegen
• Lofoten Islands (Polar Region) - Kvalvika beach, dried cod and fishing houses on stilts