From Bergen to Nærøyfjord, Hardangerfjord, and Folgefonna Glacier
Hiking in Norway’s Fjord Country
Overview
Mighty glaciers carved Norway's majestic landscapes and the grand-scale majesty is evident everywhere, from snow-capped peaks to deep blue fjords. We'll be surrounded by nature's splendor as we explore two spectacular fjords—Sognefjord, Norway's largest, and ethereal Hardangerfjord. We'll hike through lush orchards, across historic trails, to epic viewpoints with bird's-eye views down the length of the fingers of the fjord, and even on a glacier (if conditions are right), with options for a dip in the fjords at our waterside hotels. In between, we explore villages and taste the wares at family-run farms.
Arrive: Bergen, Norway
Depart: Bergen, Norway
Highlights
- Hike in pristine landscapes of mountains, forests, farms, and tranquil fjords
- Savor the cultural heritage of quaint fjord-side towns, be welcomed at family farms
- Explore by RIB boat, sample seasonal summer dishes, from local lamb to mountain trout
- Enjoy cozy waterside hotels with grand views across the fjords
Itinerary
From Bergen, we ferry to Flam and set off for hikes on the stunning Vindhellavegen section of Kings Road, an ancient mountain trail connecting fjord country between eastern and western Norway. This trail has been in use since the late 1100s and we'll visit the Viking-era 12th century Borgund Stave Church en route. On Day 4, our private RIB boat takes us through UNESCO-listed
Naeroyfjord (too narrow for big cruise ships!), and we hike to a family-run goat farm for a delicious homemade lunch. Our hotel is in Ulvik, nestled along Hardangerfjord in Norway's orchard country.
In Ulvik, we meet with a local in his family home, first built in the 1700s, to learn how life has evolved in Norway over the generations. We'll walk to a family-run apple farm for lunch and cider tasting, then ferry to tranquil Lofthus, set along the fjord and famous for its orchards. We can visit the cottage of composer Edvard Grieg in town, and our hotel offers rowboats for an evening paddle in the fjord.
We hike along the Kinso River past waterfalls, then head to the Folgefonna Glacier for a fantastic day of glacier walking (weather dependent, no experience necessary). Views from atop the glacier extend over magnificent Hardangerfjord and, on a clear day, out to the North Sea. Depart on Day 11 via Bergen.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. While we do not see major elevation gain or loss, you will need to be comfortable hiking 8.5 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 6 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 4-5 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,000 feet gain/loss
- Day 8 – 8.5 miles, 6 hours, 1,500 feet gain, and 2,000 feet loss
All hiking is below 2,000 feet in elevation on mountainous trails. The hikes are mostly moderate and can sometimes be damp, rocky, and muddy. It rains almost every day, so be prepared to hike in mud! There are occasional short, steep sections, and Day 9 includes a 2-hour walk across snowfields with either snowshoes or crampons. No prior experience is needed for this, and it is not technical.
Daytime temperatures are usually in the mid 50s°F and 60s°F, and nighttime temperatures typically drop to the high 30s°F or 40s°F. The weather can provide spectacular and clear days, but rain is very frequent so it is important to bring rain gear and layers. It's possible that hikes will have to be changed or canceled due to the weather, but as rain is so common, this is only in extreme cases.
Some accommodations are in small, charming hotels. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. We stay in one hotel with only single beds available and may only have en-suite restrooms with a shared bath or shower. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that rooms in Scandinavia are smaller than in the US, and at the Utne Hotel, there is a very short, narrow, curved staircase that is used to access the rooms. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
On many days, we will be making our lunches at the hotel's breakfast buffet. This is a tradition for hikers in Norway, and the extensive breakfast buffets include fresh bread, deli meats, tomatoes, smoked salmon (of course!), cheeses, and fruit. Dinners are hearty local fare, including a lot of fresh fish. Many are buffet-style at our hotels, and this is often the only option in smaller fjord-side villages. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
We will experience Norway's excellent ferry system, which is a wonderful way to be immersed in Norwegian culture. You will need to be able to carry your own bags on and off the ferries, and for the short distances between the ferry landings and our hotels (not more than 200 feet). We recommend one medium-sized rolling suitcase and a daypack. Extra luggage can be left at our hotel in Bergen during the trip.
Client Testimonials
"Our experience with Wilderness Travel exceeded our expectations. It was a fantastic trip."
Ann K.
Sunnyvale, CA
"This trip tops my list; at the end of it, I felt more satisfied than after any other I have taken. I have been on several Wilderness Travel trips and have never had a bad experience—they have all been excellent, visiting beautiful countries and experiencing different cultures. But the activities on Norway's Fjord Country provided more opportunities to get to know the land and people than any trip I've been on. Thank you to our charming guides Stefano and Naoise, and thank you, Wilderness Travel!"
Ann S.
New Cumberland, PA
"The itinerary was well designed to expose us to the beauty of Norway, different modes of transportation, its culture/history, local foods. Outstanding leaders—interactive, personable, knowledgeable, senses of humor, flexible, compassionate. I enjoyed the diverse itinerary and hikes, and most of all, the ferry ride to Flam."
Carolyn H.
Asheville, NC
"In addition to the outstanding leaders, the itinerary worked very well and seemed rather ingeniously put together—striking a good balance between traveling enough to see a variety of places and things but not spending too much time in transit. I also liked the reliance on public transportation where possible, which involved some fun travel by rail and water and felt less isolating than using only a private bus or van. I also much enjoyed the historical and cultural aspects of the trip, especially the very special visit to the Hardanger Folk Museum, the stave church at Borgund, the walking tour of Bergen, the RIB boat excursion from Flåm, and visits to a goat farm and an apple farm."
David R.
Arlington, VA
"We all had a wonderful time with our guide. What a professional! So passionate about this trip and saw to it we all had a grand time. It is now of my favorite WT Trips ever!"
Diane S.
Reno, NV
"We had such a great time! The guides were top notch, accommodations were superb, and the overall trip design—with its mix of hiking and delightful activities—was flawless. We really appreciated going places and having activities that were not overrun with large groups of tourists. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who is looking for a unique experience in western Norway. I'm running out of superlatives, but we enjoyed every minute of this trip and our expectations were constantly exceeded. Great work!"
Douglas B.
Eugene, OR
"The trip itself was very good—well organized, interesting, and fun. But our guide and the group we traveled with made it an EXCELLENT trip!"
Elaine C.
Zurich, Switzerland
"Great variety of hiking and culture. Seeing individual farms, orchards, etc. was exceptional."
Ellen and Fred F.
Denver, CO
"I highly recommend this trip to hikers who want to experience Norway's fjords, food, and culture."
Eugenia L.
Berkeley, CA
"A truly delightful journey! The fiords of Norway were so peaceful, I just sat on our hotel front porches each morning and drank them in."
Jack H.
Cockeysville, MD
"The RIB boat ride, kayaking, and especially the glacier walk were adventurous, exciting, and fun. The scenery on the hikes, ferry boat rides and in the small towns on our journey was incredibly beautiful. The quality of the food was amazingly good."
John R.
The Woodlands, TX
"The trip was fabulous and the guides were superb."
Linda F.
Bend, OR
"It goes without saying that Norway is a beautiful and unique country, but our guide made it come alive for us with experiences we could never have had on our own."
Linda G.
W. Hartford, CT
"The cultural experiences were great. Getting to hear and experience local people, food, and flair really added to the trip."
Marianne V.
Chagrin Falls, OH
"We are used to planning our own trips, unless they are taking place in very foreign areas, such as a safari. That said, we and some of our fellow travelers thought that it would have been very hard to plan this trip and coordinate the numerous travel connections, hotels, and hiking trails. And of course, we could not have duplicated the sessions with the local guides and producers. Plus we had the advantage of well-informed Wilderness Travel guides with great personalities and people skills."
Mary S.
Mystic, CT
"Great trip! Beautiful, challenging hikes. Snowshoeing on the glacier was the best: a once in a lifetime experience."
Michael B.
Columbia, MD
"A very enjoyable trip and a great way to see and learn about Norway's history and culture!"
Nancy K.
Hazelhurst, WI
"Loved the trip. The hikes were all very good, the cultural interactions were interesting, the accommodations were good, and the food was excellent. Overall, a very good trip!"
Peter A.
Emerald Hills, CA
"Excellent in all categories—and really, my expectations were truly exceeded. A first rate trip, not a single corner cut, and many nice surprises along the way. I wouldn't change a single thing."
Ricardo S.
Seattle, WA
"Wonderful trip—a great blend of culture and physical activity."
Robyn W.
Bethesda, MD
"A terrific trip in a breathtakingly beautiful country."
Sandra F.
Carmichael, CA
"What a great trip this was. Loved the itinerary and were kept busy on a daily basis with all kinds of fun activities. Traveling with the leaders was an absolute blast (not to mention that the weather was perfect)! I would highly recommend this trip."
Sandy M.
Prescott, AZ
"The spectacular beauty and bucolic life of Norway's Fjord country will be a lasting memory."
Shirley R.
San Rafael, CA
"It was a great way to experience a part of Norway. I LOVED the interactions with local people—made it feel authentic and like we had a genuine experience in the country."
Susan H.
Gold River, CA
"As always...another excellent experience for us with Wilderness Travel."
Thomas S.
Reno, NV
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.