Hardangerfjord

Adventuring into the magnificent Norwegian wilderness has got to be part of your Norway experience. I would highly recommend a road trip through the Hardangerfjord region, which is home to some of the most epic fjords, picturesque scenery, wonderful waterfalls, stunning hikes and charming villages. We only had time for a three-day trip here, but there are so many incredible wonders to discover you could easily stay for a week.

Time for a Road Trip

We booked our hire car online through Hertz and set off from Bergen, which is around a two-and-a-half hour drive to the central region of the Hardangerfjord. It was extremely easy to pick up the car from the Bergen City Centre Self Service Kiosk which is in the Fjoesangveien multi-story car park (just a short walk away from the city centre).

One thing to note when you are travelling around the fjords is that you need to make sure you plan your route carefully as some fjord crossings will involve getting on a ferry, which may only run once an hour. One thing to note is that you don’t need to have a ticket when boarding as the attendant will scan your registration plate and the fee will be charged back to you via your hire car company.

Where to Stay?

For two nights we stayed in a cosy one bed cabin called ‘Raspberry’ which was situated close to the village of Vines, which has incredible views of the awe inspiring Hardangerfjord from the window. The cabin was situated on the organic Vines Gård Farm which grows delicious plums and cherries, but you’ll also enjoy meeting up with the chickens, ducks and two pigs which live there. Plus, you can buy fresh eggs each morning!

The location of the cabin is perfect as it is situated right in the middle of the Hardangerfjord region, making it easily accessible to all the sights. Each cabin has its own parking space and is equipped with everything you could possibly need for an incredible stay whilst exploring the fjords. What’s more, they also have a range of cabin sizes if you are looking for something a bit bigger.

Steinsdalsfossen

On our drive out from Bergen to our cabin, we made a stop at Steinsdalsfossen which is an immense waterfall located near Norheimsund and is instantly recognisable from the road.

This waterfall is intriguing in that you can walk behind it on a path which runs underneath its rumbling veil to a viewpoint on the other side, without even getting a splash of water on you! Once there you can take in the fantastic views across Norheimsund and the Steinsdalen Valley.

The waterfall is 46 meters in height with a main drop of 20 metres in total and is exceptionally ferocious if you walk down to where the water crashes on the rocks at the bottom. We really enjoyed taking a pit stop here as you can get some beautiful photographs whilst enjoying one of Norway’s most spectacular falls.

Trolltunga

If you want to tackle Trolltunga, then you will need to reserve a whole day for the mammoth 28-kilometre hike. It’s a bit of a bucket list moment for most experienced hikers and is hands down the most awe-inspiring trail we have ever completed.

We started the hike before 8am, to make sure we were back in the car before dark, as the round trip can take between 10 – 12 hours to complete. We began from Skjeggedal Car Park 2 and first tackled the steep swirling path up the mountain, which roughly took us around 45 minutes. You can get a shuttle bus which covers this section, but if like us you like a challenge, then this initial climb definitely gets the blood pumping!

Once you reach the top of the road you will be greeted with the start of the official Trolltunga trail, which is clearly marked all the way. We were able to hike alone due to the season, but between the 1st October to 31st May you will need to be accompanied by a guide due to the often severe winter weather.

The hike is so much more than just reaching the rock itself, there are wall to wall views of remarkable scenery as you make your way through the Norwegian wilderness. You’ll see crystal blue lakes, snow-capped mountains and quaint cabins tucked away amongst the stunning landscape.

The whole route is clearly marked with red T’s painted on different rocks and pathways marked out with piles of stones lining either side. We also used the All Trails app which outlines the whole route and shows you exactly where you are in case you wander off the trail for any reason. The climb through the mountain terrain takes you to around 1180 metres above sea level, it’s mentally and physically tough, but you will be more than rewarded once you reach the top.

The moment you see the famous rock known as the ‘Troll’s Tongue’ you will be taken aback by the beauty of the Lake Ringedalsvatnet Valley and the surrounding mountains. It certainly does look a lot like a Troll’s Tongue sticking out from the side of the cliff edge. Take a deep breath and step out onto the world-famous spot to capture one of the most memorable photos you may ever take. You can feel the wind swirling around you as you look out across the imposing fjord and experience the sudden adrenaline surge, that comes from knowing there’s a 700m drop beneath you. If you have a fear of heights this one will certainly test you to the limits, I even felt weak at the knees after standing on it for a minute or so, but trust me, the sense of achievement far outweighs the fear! Spend some time at the top to recoup and take in the magnificent scenery before starting to make the long decent back down.

From our experience a few pointers would be:

·      Start early to give yourself enough time to enjoy it and not need to rush

·      Make sure to wear a waterproof jacket and hiking boots

·      Pack lots of snacks to keep your energy up

·      Pack a trowel and loo roll as there are no toilets on the hike

·      Always prepare for the worst of weather conditions and wear warm gloves

·      Take a first aid kit and torch in case of emergencies

·      Use the All Trails app to follow the route

·      Bring a refillable water bottle as you can drink from the mountain streams

·      Pack a change of warm clothing and footwear to swap into when you finish