Iconic hikes

We have compiled a list of iconic hikes and put together this tour suggestion, suited for people who are travelling by car and looking for an active holiday in spectacular nature.

Explore both iconic and hidden gem hikes in Fjord Norway

The tour starts in Stavanger, and this charming harbour town will be the base of your hiking adventure. Venture south to Egersund, then inland to Preikestolen, Kjerag and the magnificent Åkrafjorden before circling back. Along with well-known landmarks, you will also discover well-kept secrets such as Himakånå, Trollpikken and Magma Geopark.

Hike to Trollpikken

Level of difficulty: Green

Start in Stavanger

Take some time to explore Stavanger’s gastronomy and sights before or after your hiking adventure. The town boasts several MICHELIN guide restaurants, one of them, RE-NAA, gained three stars in the guide. These top-notch restaurants combine innovation with tradition, bringing fresh seafood and local produce to your plate. We recommend a stroll through the streets of Stavanger’s Old Town and a visit to the bustling harbour.

On your way to Trollpikken

First up among our iconic hikes is Trollpikken outside of Egersund. An hour-long drive along the E39 will take you straight to Egersund, although a detour via Norwegian Scenic Route Jæren is well worth some extra time on the road to visit the white sandy beaches, green pastures and fascinating lighthouses.

Trollpikken - a potent trace from the Ice Age

A mere two-kilometre drive from Egersund centre is the starting point for the hike to a nature attraction that is well on its way to world fame, a simple but potent rock formation that the tongue-in-cheek locals have named Trollpikken. Its translation will become clear as you approach the top of the hill and get a good view of the phallus-shaped rock formation!

The nearby Magma UNESCO Global Geopark is a unique geological area with incredible diversity. Mountains, lakes, rivers, fjords and fascinating rock formations make up a truly lunar landscape; some of the rocks in the geopark are also found on the surface of the moon.

Vanskelighetsgrad: rød (krevende)

Den neste ikoniske fjellturen, Kjerag, ligger i den dramatiske Lysefjorden. Den krevende turen begynner ved parkeringsplassen ved Øygardstøl, og langs stien venter tre bratte stigninger før du blir belønnet med en ufattelig utsikt over Lysefjorden. Like nedenfor varden finner du Kjeragbolten, den enorme steinblokken kilt fast i en fjellsprekk som minner oss om hvor leken og mektig naturen er.

Lokale guideselskaper kan ta deg med utenom allfarvei for å oppleve magiske øyeblikk hele året.

Den imponerende Lysevegen (vintersteng vei) snirkler seg med sine 27 skarpe hårnålssvinger nedover dalen fra Øygardstøl til Lysebotn. Her finnes det flere overnattingssteder.

Fra Lysebotn frakter kombibåten eller turistfergen (tilgjengelig om sommeren) deg langs hele Lysefjorden til Forsand. Denne populære reisen må bookes på forhånd.

Underveis får du lett øye på Preikestolen, som er neste vandremål, Hengjanefossen og Fantahålå. Vel fremme på Forsand finnes det flere overnattingsmuligheter.

Both of our next iconic hikes are situated in the Lysefjord region. Kjerag and Preikestolen are magnificent cliff formations with a stunning view of the fjord, mountains, green pastures, forests and heather moors. The mountains are so high and steep that only a few villages and isolated hamlets dot the banks of the fjord. Local guide companies offer tours that take you off the beaten path to discover the magic of winter, spring, summer and autumn in the fjords.

On your way to Lysebotn and Kjerag, make time for a photo stop of the impressive Lysevegen road (closed during the winter), with its 27 hair pin bends descending from the top of the valley down to the fjord and Lysebotn village. The hike to Kjerag starts at the parking lot in Øygardstøl. This is a challenging route for hikers in good physical condition. Luckily, the view that you dreamed of while scaling the hills is worth every drop of sweat. The vertical granite wall below your feet towers 1000 meters above the Lysefjord, and nearby the plateau you will find Kjeragbolten. The enormous boulder wedged between a mountain crevasse reminds us of the power and playfulness of nature.

After the hike to Kjerag it is time to relax on the ferry from Lysebotn to Forsand quay (available during the summer). As the ferry glides through the Lysefjord past waterfalls, farms with grazing goats and rock formations, you may also see seals drowsing on the smooth rocks. Your next iconic hike is easily spotted from the deck, the impressive Preikestolen plateau is carved out from the mountainside 604 meters above you. Before tomorrow’s hike to Preikestolen, you can get a night’s well-deserved rest at Haukali 33/3 in Forsand, an authentic, “slow-life” accommodation. Stay in a charming and authentic farmer’s cottage to experience the slow, peaceful atmosphere of the 1850’s.

By Preikestolen Mountain Lodge you will find the well-marked path to the Preikestolen plateau. Whether you are hiking on a sunny day or in the light summer rain, or at sunrise to catch the first beams, the character of Preikestolen changes from one day to the next. The colour palette of the Lysefjord can be anything from glimmering turquoise hues to deep blue, but its beauty is unchanging.

You can also experience Preikestolen and Kjerag by hiking around the Lysefjord. The 100 kilometer long trail consists of eight stages and goes around the entire Lysefjorden. The path is marked and you will discover many hidden gems on the hike.