Traveling to Norway and not seeing its amazing fjords would be a top-level sin in the “Visit Norway” Bible. There are almost 1.200 fjords in this Scandinavian country, so you practically need to be blind or very determined to miss these natural wonders.

Where there are fjords, there are also steep cliffs created by the glacier. Cliffs mean mountains, and mountains mean hiking! It’s simple: if you want to experience true Norwegian nature, you need to put your hiking boots on! Hiking in Norway rocks.

In this article, I’ll take you to the best places to hike in Norway – three locales in the charming, yet seductive cliff-hiking paradise, the Lysefjord!

Lysefjord – home to the best hikes in Norway

Lysefjord is a 42-kilometer-long fjord in Rogaland County, in southwestern Norway.

Its name might mean a light fjord, but it still offers plenty of hiking options of varying difficulty. Lysefjord is home to some extraordinary rock formations. Some are more famous than others, but each of them provides memorable hiking trips, spectacular views, and a feeling of achievement.

Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten, and Kalleliklumpen should make it to your Norway trekking bucket list!

For the best hikes in Norway, head to Lysefjord, the home of extraordinary rock formations

With the advent of social media which promoted some of the Norwegian rocks into Instagrammable must-do photo shoot sites, hiking in Norway became trendier than ever. Some of the Norwegian hiking trails became a magnet to an abundance of loud and disrespectful tourists who might affect the experience of your hiking holidays.

If you are mainly aiming for some Facebook likes, follow this list from top to bottom as it, more or less, rates the hiking sites from the most accessible ones to the least popular ones.

If you still believe that the best hiking vacations are the ones where you can indeed meet nature, without the intrusion of uncontrollable laughter, screaming, and portable music players, head to the bottom of this “best hikes in Norway” list – you might have the rock just for yourself!

You can do some great hikes in Norway at Aurlandsfjord too - check it out!

Best places for a Lysefjord hike

1. Preikestolen hike

Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, is one of the most famous hikes in Norway. The flat mountain plateau protruding 30 meters from the mountainside, attracts close to 300 thousand visitors every year! This makes it one of the top tourist attractions in Norway.

It’s a hike of medium difficulty, which makes it suitable for even a family visit.

But this doesn’t mean Preikestolen doesn’t have any hiking risk. It is the major site of mountain aid interventions as, with such a high number of hikers, someone does need to get injured.

Besides several suicides that happened on this spot, serious accidents or death cases are not registered.

Out of the three hikes in this selection, this one has the trail with the best signposting. If you follow the trek, you can hardly get lost!

But what you will undoubtedly get is some breathtaking scenery to enjoy. Pine forests, waterfalls, and lakes add another dimension to the beauty of the climb. It is hard not to fall in love with Norwegian nature.

As a filming site for “Mission Impossible” and various stunts that raise the daredevil bar, this masterpiece of Mother Nature’s work has been doomed to become as popular as it is, one of the best hikes in Norway.

Read the complete guide to Preikestolen if you want to prepare for the hike adequately. This blog post includes suggestions on how to get there, where to stay, and where to eat.

2. Kjerag hike

Hike to Kjeragbolten, or Kjerag boulder, a rock wedged in the mountain crevice, is definitely number two of all possible hikes you can do in the Lysefjord area.

The abyss below is staggering – almost one kilometer to the sea level.

But this is Mount Kjerag’s lucky rock – nobody fell yet! And the truth is it looks much more daring from the front side. The access around the small ledge in the back is challenging, but one can assist oneself with a rope.

Some courage is still demanded. It’s not rare that hikers chicken out at the last moment.

The hike to the iconic Kjeragbolten demands some 3 hours each way. Steeper sections of the climb require the use of guide chains, but I’ve seen people of all generations doing the hike. As long as you are reasonably fit, you shouldn’t worry much about making it.

This area has no trees, so don’t expect any shade from the sun, except if you strategically hide behind some freestanding grand boulder on the way.

However, there are two green valleys on the hiking trail, which provide a great picnic spot. They are also the favorite grazing ground for the sheep, so your Kjerag postcard will have all the essential elements.

With the beauty of the trail and the excitement of the final rock selfie, the Kjerag hike qualifies as one of the best day hikes in Norway. Well, some start climbing it just before twilight, but that is definitely not recommendable.

Read the complete guide to Kjeragbolten if you want to prepare for Kjerag hike adequately. This blog post includes suggestions on how to get there, where to stay, and where to eat.

3. Kalleliklumpen hike

At the moment of writing, hashtag #kalleliklumpen has been used on Instagram precisely 19 times (four of which were mine).

In comparison to #preikestolen (161.000) and #kjerag (36.500), Kalleliklumpen rock is at the start of its instafame. Hidden behind the path covered with spider webs, this is a fantastic secret spot of Lysefjord.

For the benefit of the site, I hope its popularity will not skyrocket soon.

Luckily, the start of the hike is not as easily accessible as the first two – no roads lead to Flørli.

Staying at Flørli 4444 is the prerequisite to hike to Kalleliklumpen, and ferries will take you there between April and September. Now is the perfect time to book your bed in this limited-space facility!

Flørli Cliff Hike leading to Kalleliklumpen is a 2-hour round trek.

Well, unless you divert to additional astonishing rock sites, such as Kalleligjelet and Kallelifjellet. Beware, these paths are not beaten, so they pass some exposed sections and walk you over the cloudlike soft floor sodden with water.

Count on your sense of orientation if you want to return to the village safely! I relaxed too much, so I confess I did have some short periods of panic when trying to identify the right path to go back.

The views are magnificent along the path, but the final stepping on Kalleliklumpen rock is not for the faint of heart. You do it at your own risk, and they suggest that one person at a time stands on this table-sized boulder.

The drop from it is stomach-churning, and scientists do not monitor the rock as in Preikestolen’s case. Kalleliklumpen looks like a mini Trolltunga that might fall at any moment. It doesn’t mean it will, but it doesn’t mean it won’t. I certainly nominate it as one of the best hikes in Norway.

Additional hike in the Flørli area: Flørlitrappene is famous for being the world’s longest wooden staircase – there are 4444 of them!

Read the complete guide to Flørli, if you want to prepare for the hikes in this area adequately. This blog post includes suggestions on how to get there, where to stay, and where to eat.

Packing list for hiking in Lysefjord

1. solid hiking boots (not flip-flops, and I say that because I saw someone wearing them!) – when mountains are wet, parts of the route can get quite slippery
2. warm clothes in more layers (you might want to take something off, add something on, or even change it entirely on the top when the sudden stop makes your sweat cold) – wool is good for undergarments, and windproof and waterproof materials for the outwear
3. food and drinks for the day
4. basic first aid equipment (sticking plaster)
5. headlamp
6. sunglasses and sunscreen
7. fully charged mobile phone, with an extra battery if you take a lot of pictures and check the Internet on the go
8. bag for collecting your garbage

A final word of advice for hiking in Norway

1. Be in good physical form!
2. Do not start hiking too late in the day!
3. Do not rush yourself! Take it slowly, the least you need is to twist an ankle on these somewhat tricky, but doable day hikes.
4. Respect nature as well as others on the way! Nature is best consumed in silence, and with open eyes, not through the loud exchange of screams.
5. Do not overestimate yourself! After a long hike, take a breath, eat a snack, drink some water, and only then approach the edge of the rock! The view will not run away, while your sense of balance may get easily challenged if tired.

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There are more than 1000 fjords in Norway, and sometimes their branches become more famous than the main fjords. In Southern Norway, Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord are picturesque side arms of Sognefjord, often called “the king of the fjords”.

Deep and narrow, some 200 kilometers away from the open seas, this secretive place started gaining serious international attention two centuries ago. The first “tourists” to visit Aurland were English lords. They discovered the area as a great fishing destination and practically launched tourism in Aurlandsdalen.

The largest Aurland valley abounds with natural and cultural attractions. There is almost no reason to decide not to visit Aurland! The mountains, the valley, and the Aurlandsfjord itself offer so many things to do in Aurland, the activities that will become rewarding and most memorable experiences!

If you are looking for the best hikes in Norway, definitely put Lysefjord in your itinerary!

Tourism in Aurlandsfjord

Aurland’s population counts 1787 inhabitants. On 1468 square kilometers of the municipality, there are only five villages. Bakka, Flam, Undredal, and Gudvangen are all worth checking out, but if you are looking for the best way to visit Aurland, try to find accommodation in the village of Aurlandsvangen.

Whether you plan to visit Aurland from Oslo through Laerdal Tunnel (with 24,5 km, the longest road tunnel in the world), by Flamsbana or Flam railway (the world’s steepest train ride) or by boat from Bergen (cruise trip through Norway’s longest fjord), you can be sure the journey itself will be an unforgettable one!

Wealthy English lords sailed Aurlandsfjord in the 19th century, looking for salmon

In the times when the wealthy English gentry started discovering Aurland, nobody even dreamed of engineering masterpieces. Halfway through the 19^th century, sailing up the fjord was the main access point to this beautiful part of the world, whose uniqueness was recently approved even by UNESCO.

In their time, English lords were traveling with boatloads of servants and luggage, just to get to the streams and rivers abundant with trout and salmon.

You might not be into fishing like the Salmon Lords, as Norwegians liked to call them, but there is still plenty of amazing things to do when you visit Aurland! Here are my top 9!

9 reasons to visit Aurland, Norway

1. Experience Flam Railway!

Have you heard of Flamsbana (Norwegians spell it Flåmsbana)? It is often described as one of the most scenic train rides in the world.

Single fare for a one-hour trip between Myrdal and Flam, on the 19-kilometers-long track, costs 390 NOK (about 40 Euros). For that price, one doesn’t expect anything but spectacular!

The construction of the Flam Railway began in 1924, but it started to operate in 1940.

Today, it is known as the steepest non-funicular railway in the world. During one ride, the train descends (or ascends) 866 meters. The majority of the historic railway has a maximum gradient of 5,5 %!

The excitement for passengers does not come from the fear that the train might end up in Aurlandsfjord waters. The ride is very safe. What makes it an exceptional experience is the fantastic landscape the train travels through! Slant mountainsides, twenty tunnels, winding roads, lush vegetation, gurgling waterfalls, and foaming streams all add up to the exciting travel experience.

Opera at the waterfall?

Nature is the responsible one for the very ride. Barely 1,5 kilometers from the high plateau of Myrdal, Kjosfossen is a waterfall that powers the Flam Line.

Its total fall of around 225 meters is not only an excellent location for Aurland’s hydroelectric power station but also a beautiful spot to take a short break from the train ride.

After exiting the train at this station, passengers can observe the waterfall from the platform.

In the summer season, an opera-dance performance takes place here. An actress in a red dress and perched blonde wig appears and disappears on different spots around the waterfall. She represents Huldra, the forest version of a mermaid in Scandinavian mythology. Her seductive dance and song should amuse the tourists, but to be honest, nature overshadows this poorly directed ballet performance.

If you’ve decided to travel Flamsbana uphill (from Flam to Myrdal), as I did, you could shorten Flam waiting time for your train by visiting the free Flam Railway Museum, enjoying some beer at Aegir microbrewery, or just observing the gigantic cruise ships anchored in front of this small village.

For more exciting activities to do in this beautiful Scandinavian country, check other Pipeaway articles in the Norway category.

2. Have breakfast at Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri!

While planning to visit Aurland, you might ask yourself whether you should stay in Flam or Aurlandsvangen. While Flam has a logical position at the end of the Flam Railway, it is a village mostly overshadowed by regularly anchored cruise ships. I prefer visiting it to actually staying in it.

My choice was Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri in Aurlandsvangen. This lovely guesthouse is situated at the very center of Aurland, a one-minute walk away from the bus station. It is also located just by the fjord, which offers fantastic views from most of its rooms.

This is where the Salmon Lords came to enjoy the fishing sport in the famous Aurland River. Only the best hospitality was reserved for the British guests. Ohnstad-Stigen family, the current owners of the hotel, certainly kept that tradition alive.

Swinging chair in front of the reception, antique furniture and old photographs throughout the guest house, a piano in the lounge room where one can drink a free cup of tea or coffee… It all evokes nostalgic emotions towards the past times of the oldest hotel in Aurland.

Hotel with a museum value

Vangsgaarden grounds resemble a small museum, set in the surrounding of a beautiful garden. It is a collection of some of the longest-standing buildings in the area.

Aabelheim is the oldest house in the whole village! Colonel Meidell built it in the mid-eighteenth century, and in 1830 sold it to the priest Ole Aabel.

Today, the house is preserved as a Norwegian cultural heritage. The good news is that this historic venue is where you can eat your breakfast while staying in Vangsgaarden. While it is a very basic and simple local-style buffet, the whole setting upgrades it to an extraordinary experience.

All rooms at Vangsgaarden guest house are different but relate to this old-school charm.

Mine was facing west, so I could enjoy the views of the calm fjord all day long, from the comfort of my room AND en-suite bathroom. With such a slow-motion reality in front of the window, turning on the room TV was not tempting at all!

For an even closer experience of Aurlandsfjord, one can stay just at its banks! A row of fishermen’s cabins have balconies over the fjord where one can completely immerse in the meditative panoramic views.

Stepping into the shoes of the Salmon Lords feels literal! You could practically pull out your fishing gear and secure your lunch while lying down in your bed!

For the latest prices at Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri, click here!

3. Visit Aurland lookout!

Stegastein viewpoint is a daring construction just above Aurlandsvangen.

The world-renowned architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen imagined the Aurland lookout bridge as a steel structure dressed in pine.

The idea was that Aurland viewpoint would jut out 30 meters from the mountainside, ending with an angled thin pane of glass that would keep visitors safe from slipping off the edge.

After Aurland’s viewing platform with a daring drop was opened to the public in 2006, it quickly became a social-media-favorite! The ski jump, as it was nicknamed soon, was offering unparalleled panoramic views of Aurlandsfjord and surrounding mountains.

Stegastein lookout turned to be one of the most photographed viewpoints in the region! Everyone wanted to take an Instagram selfie while suspended over the amazing fjord landscape, 650 meters above sea level!

Hike to Stegastein

If I were you, I wouldn’t take an organized sightseeing bus tour to Stegastein viewpoint. Those Flam and Aurland tourists all arrive at this futuristic skywalk at the same time. All of them squeezing on the platform that is 3,3 meters wide and 31 meters long, does not provide the best moment to enjoy the views. There is always someone who will obstruct it!

Instead, you can hike to Aurland lookout point from Aurlandsvangen! There is a hiking trail through the woods which, however, might get slippery in certain parts of the year.

When I visited in September, I went back down via the so-called Snow Road, occasionally stopping to talk to local sheep. I handled these winding 8 kilometers in about two hours. That was about the same amount of time I needed to climb through the shorter, but visually more pleasing forest route.

When visiting Stegastein, the marvel of modern engineering, make sure to stop at the toilet that is also perched out over the mountainside. Due to the stunning Aurlandsfjord views from where you are responding to nature’s calls, DesignCurial Magazine named this facility at Aurland lookout – the most beautiful toilet in 2015.

If you like hiking in Norway, you might love conquering these longest stairs in the world!

4. Explore the Otternes Farm!

Situated on the mountainside between Aurland and Flam, Otternes is a farm that has been abandoned since 1996. It seems as if this cluster of cottages froze in the 18^th century when they started building these houses.

Squeaking doors lead into dark interiors full of old carriages and farming tools. The sun rays seep in through the gaps in the wooden walls, creating an unusual, if not somewhat spooky atmosphere.

The whole abandoned village is a scenic spot for your Instagram! It already played as a set for different movies, so make use of those time-worn backgrounds!

Step into this rural museum of Aurlandsfjord, open doors, and explore!

5. Discover Aurland shoes, the original penny loafers!

The world-famous Aurland shoes are again something we should thank Salmon Lords for! In those times, when they were exploring the great Norwegian outdoors while looking for fish, their boots were quickly wearing off. The shoe repair was in demand, and locals responded!

Aurland became the shoemaker village! In the industry’s heyday, after the 1930s, 19 independent makers were employing nearly a hundred families. They were producing 100 thousand pairs of Aurland shoes a year! Most of them closed down at the end of the 1960s when shoemakers retrained to work in the hydropower plant.

Andreas and Inga Wangen established Aurland Shoe Factory in 1939. Today, with its five shoemakers, it is the only surviving factory in the area still making the Aurland shoe by hand. They have had no competition since 1986.

“We produce 6000 pairs a year. Well, less, if the weather is nice. Because then we have a lunch break outside”, says Wanarat Mjoes with a smile.

She is originally from Thailand. The rest of the workforce is half Romanian, half Norwegian.

This multiethnic work environment produces shoes with a lifetime guarantee, as they use only the best materials. Besides the cow leather, the shoes can be made of seal or fish skin. Some extravagant versions include even the horsetail!

The history of Aurland Shoes

Aurland shoe shop in Aurlandsvangen is actually an entrance to the museum and factory workshop. Here, one can witness the whole shoemaking process and learn about the history of the iconic shoes.

They were based on Teseskoen (Tese shoes), the simple footwear made in Aurland in the 19^th century. The producers Andreas and Vebjorn Vangen attracted quite some interest with them at Chicago World Fair in 1893.

However, it was Nils Tveranger who made the first Aurland shoe in 1908. Probably inspired by Iroquois shoes, at the beginning they called the product – Aurland Moccasin.

Aurland shoes definitely inspired America’s Weejun shoes (Norwegian shoes?). The influences between Scandinavia and the States were constantly traveling over the Atlantic.

During the Second World War, Aurlandskoen (Aurland shoes) became known under the new nickname. You probably ask yourself why are penny loafers called penny loafers? Coins became the jewelry on Aurland shoes! Owners would slip in 10 or 25 ore in the strap across the front of the shoe.

It was a practical mini wallet for just-in-case scenarios, enough to make a phone call or pay for the bus fare. However, coins in penny loafers also became a symbol of the union against the occupiers, the same as paper clips on jackets or red top hats. Turning the pennies on the crown side represented a silent resistance when the royal family had to flee to England during the Second World War.

Norway stopped using 10-ore coins in 2003, but Wanarat happily shows that they have buckets of these for decades to come. They don’t expect the crisis any time soon! The only carrier of Aurland shoemaking tradition has no intention of stopping it.

6. Eat salmon at Duehuset pub!

Aurlandsvangen is a small village, so don’t expect many restaurants or places to eat! Besides the central Aurland supermarket, two main spots to grab a bite do not even compete with each other’s working hours! So, where to eat in Aurland?

Aurlandskafeen is an eco-bakery and a café offering homemade pastries, cakes, and sandwiches, from 10 am till 4 pm. You can enjoy your coffee and organic food while sitting on the terrace overlooking the river feeding the Aurlandsfjord.

Duehuset is a pub and a restaurant open only in the evening hours. It is locals’ favorite place to grab a beer, but also the traditional Aurland food made of local products.

To stay on with the topic, I wanted to try the wild salmon from the Barents Sea, and it didn’t disappoint! Accompanied by amandine potatoes and vegetables, it was presented in a very straightforward, pub-style way. And I could imagine why those English lords wanted to come to measure their hunting skills in precisely this area.

Lamb fillet from Haugen farm was delicious as well, especially as I wanted to check why Aurland’s coat-of-arms includes the image of a silver goat. Sadly, there was no goat on the menu, unless its famous cheese went into Laila’s baked cheesecake, which was refreshing indeed!

7. Witness some mind-blowing glass blowing!

Just when you get to think there is nothing exciting to see in Aurlandsvangen beyond a once-a-week working cinema, the whole fantasy unravels in front of you.

Merete Rein left her farming duties, determined to become a – glassblower!

After learning the craft in Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, in 2012 she opened a glassblowing studio on the banks of the Aurlandsfjord.

You can watch her work through the glass window, but I was lucky enough to be able to witness this hard and VERY hot job from the closest proximity.

The results of Merete’s endeavors are displayed in the little shop, open for customers every day from 10 am till 5 pm. You can find decorative, but also functional products made of glass, inspired by the nature of the Sognefjord. It is a great place to make your non-commercial Aurland shopping!

8. Visit Aurland churches!

Aurland is home to some nice church architecture worth exploring.

Closest to your hotel, Vangen Church was built in 1202. Even if it is an early Gothic building, the influences of English architecture are apparent. English merchants were visiting Aurland even centuries before the Salmon Lords fell in love with its fish.

Flam Church is a smaller brown wooden church from 1670. Located some 3 kilometers up the Flam valley, this nicely decorated church has some unique art depicting deciduous trees and animals such as a lion!

Undredal Stave Church is the smallest working church in the whole of Scandinavia! Erected in 1147, this white wooden building measures 12 by 4 meters, and can barely seat 40 people.

9. Fjord, lake, waterfall, enjoy till the last drop!

Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe, might be just three hours train ride away, but Aurland is one of the driest areas in Norway! One can enjoy the beautiful Sognefjord nature even during the mild winters.

When the weather is not right for swimming (for Aurland weather forecast, check yr.no, the highly reliable Norwegian weather forecasting site), one can rent a kayak or a canoe.

If you don’t want to explore the fjord waters, you can at least enjoy the gorgeous sunsets while sitting on the bench next to the fjord. For some different views, you could visit the piers of Vassbygdevatnet Lake.

If you are a waterfall fan, one is just a short hike away from the center of Aurlandsvangen. It will take you half an hour easy walk to get to Turlifossen, next to road 50. Its total height is 245 meters, and while the woods partially obstruct the views, seeing the product of glacier melting is still a nice little detour.

The whole valley of Aurlandsdalen is a fantastic hiking destination! Every year 30.000 hikers enjoy the natural beauty provided by these mountains!

If you want to learn more about the Aurlandsfjord area, consider purchasing this guidebook written by a local!

Aurlandsfjord attractions – conclusion

Visitors to Norway should not miss its fjords. Aurlandsfjord is the place where history, nature, culture, art, fashion, and gastronomy meet in an authentic experience.

Whether you prefer to hike, rent a bike, jump in a kayak, or explore Aurland while paragliding, natural rewards will bomb you from frog’s to bird’s eye perspective.

Aurland is made for photography, but more than just a beautiful picture, it is capable of pulling you into experiences that will last. Salmon lords couldn’t resist it, many after them either.

Old churches, historic houses and even building the most improbable transport options to this oasis, prove that people have been seeing its worth for centuries. And they don’t plan to leave any time soon!

Today, even the locals have trouble finding the housing that would be available for buying or renting. When one grabs a piece of paradise, one hardly lets it go.

Visit Aurland and Aurlandsfjord, Norway’s best-kept secrets!

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Disclosure: My stay at Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri and my meal at Duehuset were complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Visit Aurland, Norway: Staying at Aurlandsfjord Like a Lord appeared first on Pipeaway.

It may demand some nerves and a giant leap of faith while you try to hold yourself together and refrain from looking down, at the gaping mouth of the abyss. One slippage and your Kjeragbolten accident could only be fatal.

The egg-shaped rock you are about to step on will become your crowning platform while, maybe like Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince, you discover a whole new world of courage and survival. Your planet is Kjeragbolten boulder, and you are smiling for the camera, maybe even laughing in death’s face.

Kjeragbolten, the Stone Bridge of Norway for some, and the Stone of Love for others, is possibly the most famous rock in the country, competing for the title with the likes of Preikestolen and Trolltunga (Norwegian alternative to the Potato Chip Rock).

Are you up for the Kjerag trek challenge? Do you have what it takes to step on the hanging Kjerag rock? Are you willing to testify your devotion while standing on Norway’s Stone of Love?

Kjeragbolten Rock between two cliffs in Norway – the chicken or the egg dilemma

If mountains were laying eggs, this would probably be the most unusual nest of all. The rock wedged between two cliffs is on the southern side of Lysefjord, Norway. It balances above a daunting drop.

‘So, how was Kjeragbolten formed?’, you ask a perfectly valid question. Kjerag boulder is an unusual result of a usual geological process. The five-cubic-meter rock was deposited during the last glacial period, estimated at 50,000 BC. In the continuous alternating game of melting of the Norwegian Glacier and flooding of the valleys, this rock got jammed in the rock formation that many millenniums later promoted it into a prime tourist attraction.

Suspended above the kilometer-deep chasm, Kjeragbolten rock is a seductive spot for taking daredevil pictures. It is a stone bridge of Norway that tests the courage of its visitors.

In an adapted version of the old dilemma about the chicken and the egg, people are queuing in long lines to step on Kjerag. After waiting, which could last anywhere between a few minutes and an hour, just before their moment to step on the stone egg arrives, some of the hikers simply – chicken out.

If you prefer more conventional challenges, in Lysefjord you can also climb the longest stairway in the world, in Flørli!

Why is Kjeragbolten nicknamed Norway’s Stone of Love?

In recent years, new urban legends formed around the most famous Kjerag boulder. One of these says that a couple that manages to stand together on Kjeragbolten can count on eternal love.

This is the reason why the rock became known as the Stone of Love of Norway, where many daring duos try to share a kiss, a hug, or at least constricted space, in the hope of getting the blessing by the Cupid of cliffs.

Of course, there is something rather obvious about this legend. Couples that do not manage to conquer the challenge of the romantic rock cannot count on a lifetime of love and happiness, simply because, well… They are not around to tell us that, are they?

Lonely boulders in the shaggy mountain

Kjerag got its name probably by combining the words kje (kid) and rag (goat’s hair). It might be that the shaggy-looking surface of the rough mountainside reminded Norwegians of goat babies’ hair.

I haven’t seen any goats, but quite a few sheep were using the gorgeous valleys as the grazing ground. They were bravely jumping from one rock to another, not caring at all about the fact that humans marked this hiking route – as advanced. Sheep’s bells were added to the idyllic atmosphere, heightened by the wooden pathways and streams cutting through the green carpet-looking meadows. The scene did look like a painting, but trust me: Saint-Exupéry did not draw the sheep, they were real!

Kjerag looked like a perfect free camping setting. There were indeed some hikers setting up their tents along the way. Spending a day and a night in this fascinating mountain must be a special experience.

However, there were no trees on the path, so one shouldn’t expect to find shade on the Mount Kjerag hike. Some more massive boulders offered the only shadow one could find on the way.

These did not end up wedging in some dramatic setting, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t present great photo ops! I stopped by many of them. These boulders were almost praying for a snapshot, while the majority of the hikers would just be rushing to the Kjerag star. It is not easy to compete with the reputation of the famous ones.

For more Norwegian natural beauty, consider visiting Aurlandsfjord!

Don’t get lost at the Kjerag trek!

The hiking path to Kjerag starts at the Øygardstølen parking lot. There are three steep ascends in total (the first one being the hardest part), but more challenging sections come with guide chains that provide significant assistance. Do use them! They will help you not to fall on Kjerag! Also, consider wearing gloves when grabbing the chains, as this might reduce the pain in your fingers afterward.

In between these ascends, the Kjerag hiking path goes over two green broad valleys: Little Stordalen and Stordalen. It ends with a walk over the polished granite of the Kjerag Massive to Nesatind, the place with the most spectacular views.

While the largest part of the route is clearly marked with cairns (stone pile markers) and red T’s painted on them, many people lose orientation in the final part of the Kjeragbolten hike. Possibly distracted by the views, maybe confused by too many decorative cairns, perhaps by just following other lost hikers in front of them… They stop following the ‘T’, and end up going too much to the right (the side looking at the fjord).

Be careful, look at (hopefully) where people are returning from – this is the correct (and ONLY) entrance to the notch-approach to Kjerag boulder. So: instead of heading to the cliffs directly, you need to go a bit further up on the left side, before descending through the shallow streambed.

I stayed near the Kjerag stone for four hours, and every several minutes there would be hikers coming from the wrong and utterly inaccessible direction.

With me waving to them and hand-sign-instructing on how to reach the boulder, some thought I was even a mountain guide!

The signs could definitely be improved at the end of the path. That’s the mountain guide in me speaking.

If you prefer not to explore the Kjerag mountain on your own, you can avoid getting lost by joining this 5-star guided hike!

Kjeragbolten Rock is not a place for solitude

While I was directing the lost hikers from a distance, someone might have thought that I engaged in the most altruistic behaviors of all. The truth is it was quite the opposite. With a constant flow of incoming hikers, I knew that the longer they hiked, the longer it would take them to leave the place. So in a fantasized scenario of mine, if I’d help them reach the boulder sooner, they would also leave sooner. And I would have it all for myself.

Frankly, I hate queuing and making the selfie fool of myself in front of everyone. Over the years, I witnessed selfie madness all over the world, in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Greece… And being a part of that is not a pleasant experience.

I also dislike hiking in the crowds, especially if they consist of loud-music-playing Chinese and overtly enthusiastic Ukrainians flagging Kjeragbolten up with their real national flag as if they were conquering the Moon.

But my efforts were futile. With all my “helpful” guiding through the mountain, the flow of visitors wouldn’t slow down. In four hours of my guard, there was no moment of rest for the poor Kjerag boulder.

“Don’t be sad!”, a fox whispered in my ear. It suddenly appeared out of nowhere and, by looking at my weeping prince-face, it told me a secret: “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.“

Then Saint-Exupéry whispered my line: “Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.“

I’ve published a short video of my Kjeragbolten visit on Pipeaway’s Youtube channel, check it out:

Kjeragbolten deaths, falls, and accidents: Is Kjerag rock dangerous?

Hundreds of people enter the queue in front of this extraordinary spherical rock. Some step on it, others crawl out on it, depending on how severe their fear of heights is.

The access to Kjerag boulder is around the small ledge, and this part probably demands more courage than standing on the rock itself.

Has anyone fallen from Kjeragbolten? No, there is no record of any fall-down Kjeragbolten accident.

Kjerag and danger are still words worth considering together – approach THE boulder of Norway with caution! Do not rush yourself, take a moment to breathe in after the strenuous hike, drink, and eat something.

To access the Kjerag boulder, you can use the rope for assistance. I’ve seen a girl not even paying attention to the string attached to the rock, and almost entangling her foot just before stepping on the Kjerag stone.

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 'The Little Prince'

I’ve also seen another one jumping for the photo and having quite an ungraceful landing on the rock. If you don’t have the ballerina sense of balance, do not engage in boulder jumping! Just because you’ve seen other people doing something risky, it doesn’t mean you are capable of repeating it. Know your limits, and act accordingly.

If you have an underlying sense of balance, stepping on the Kjerag boulder is relatively safe. Kjeragbolten deaths or serious accidents are not known in the statistics. Some claim that the hanging rock of Norway has a lucky charm.

However, a cliff nearby is one of the world’s most active and spectacular BASE-jumping sites. Since the first registered Kjeragbolten BASE jump in 1994, more than 50.000 jumps happened here. Sadly, it is still a dangerous sport; twelve people jumped from Kjerag to – death.

If you are looking for other extreme ways to explore Kjerag, you could try walking on the slackline, rope jumping, or balancing on chairs while in the handstand on the Kjerag boulder itself. Always explore your limits wisely, so that the Kjeragbolten death statistic remains empty.

Do you want to do more amazing hikes at Lysefjord? Check Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock in Norway, one of the country's most famous cliffs!

When to climb Kjerag, Norway?

A season for Kjerag lasts from June to September. In the winter months, Kjerag road is not open due to snow.

Choose weekdays to avoid long waits at the boulder site.

Check the sunset time, so you don’t start your hike too late in the day.

If you like wet weather, Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe could be your thing!

How to get to Kjeragbolten?

During June, July, and August, getting to Kjerag is quite simple; there is a daily direct Tide bus connection from Stavanger (the nearest airport) to Kjerag (Øygardstølen parking lot). The return ticket costs 66 Euros. Beware that you will have exactly 6 hours and 15 minutes to do the Kjeragbolten hike if you don’t want the bus to leave without you. That is why for the less stressful hiking experience, I recommend staying in the closest town of Lysebotn for one night at least. Two nights, if you take into account the unpredictable weather in the area.

From Stavanger, Lysebotn is also reachable by ferry, and the ticket price is 140 Norwegian Krones (15 Euros). Boats might not operate every day; check the timetable on the Kolumbus website.

As I was traveling on the weekend, a bus to Kjerag was the only option to reach the area. But as I posted a message on the Kjerag Tourist Information Facebook page, I managed to join the car ride with Timo and Viral, two other hikers heading the same way. Carpooling is not only the cheapest way to get to Kjerag, but also an ecological choice. Share the costs, and reduce congestion as well as air pollution!

To reach Kjeragbolten from Øygardstølen, just follow the crowds and the T-marked trail. If you come by car, the parking fee is 200 NOK (21 Euro).

If you head from Øygardstølen to Lysebotn, there is an exciting road with hairpin turns, one of them in the middle of the narrow tunnel. So slow down when inside; you might get surprised by an unexpected 180-degree turn!

The owner of the Hauane Bed & Breakfast, the guesthouse where I stayed, gladly picked me up both ways, while on another occasion I hitchhiked for this 15-minute ride with some Spanish hiking couple and Norwegian blokes who used the winding road for the adrenaline ride on skateboards.

As always, mind the sheep on the way! They are not Saint-Exupéry’s drawing.

Besides hiking to Kjeragbolten, there are many more things to do in the area. Check out other attractions in the vicinity!

Staying near Kjeragbolten Rock – Hauane Bed & Breakfast

As mentioned, Lysebotn in the Lysefjord’s valley is the closest town to Kjerag Mountain. That is if you consider a place with a dozen permanent residents – a town. There is no real shop here and, only at some places, one can buy simple snacks.

Still, if you are looking for accommodation near Kjeragbolten, Lysebotn is the place to anchor yourself! This means you could start climbing Kjerag before the crowds from Stavanger arrive (which gives you some 2,5 hour advantage time).

While Lysebotn does provide hostel and campground options, the most comfortable place to stay close to Kjerag is Hauane Bed & Breakfast. It is an old farm transformed into a mini-hotel of just five charming rooms.

Decorated with antique cabinets, smoking pipes, oil paintings, old wooden clocks, and faded photographs, it speaks tradition in every little detail. That includes the tradition of hunting, so do not get too surprised when you see a bearskin rug on the dining room floor.

Where to eat in Lysebotn?

At Hauane B&B you will be able to fill yourself with energy for the hike, as traditional Norwegian breakfast here comes in the form of a hearty buffet. Local cheese, pickled fish, homemade crackers, and pancakes are just some of the items on the table.

If you want to eat dinner as well, you will need to order it a day in advance. For 250 NOK (26 Euros), you will get a three-course menu, and mine was quite delicious (mackerel salad as a starter, pork cheeks cooked for hours in beer for the main course, and homemade pie with plums from the garden for dessert).

For an alternative, you could also head to Olavs Pub, the favorite meeting place of the BASE jumpers; eat your 185-NOK-worth cheeseburger (19 Euros) under a giant parachute stretched over the pub ceiling.

If you are starving after hiking Kjerag, the restaurant at Øygardstølen parking lot might be your quickest solution. But I haven’t eaten there, so cannot share any impression.

How to deal with muscle pain?

Hauane Bed & Breakfast has another surprise for its guests. After a long hike, resting in the private sauna will be a balm for your tired body!

You can also choose to relax in the well-kept garden, with a mountain backdrop for your afternoon tea.

Single room in Hauane Bed & Breakfast costs 72 Euros per night.

Kjeragbolten facts

• Kjeragbolten height: 984 meters
• Hike elevation: 460 meters
• Kjeragbolten hike distance (one way): 6 kilometers
• Kjerag hike time (one way): 3 hours
• Difficulty: demanding
• Number of Kjerag deaths: 12 (BASE jumpers)
• Kjerag weather: Before you decide to visit Kjeragbolten, check Yr.no, the highly reliable Norwegian weather forecasting site. Another useful resource is the Kjerag Tourist Information Facebook page – every morning around 7 am Kjerag Mountain forecast is published.
• Fun fact: I have no idea where this mystical place is exactly, but supposedly just before reaching the top of the Kjerag Mountain, hikers can experience an unusual sensation: a sound similar to a gunshot and smoke coming out of the mountain. The first record of the phenomenon dates to 1855.

Would you step on this rock stuck between two cliffs like some stone bridge?
Please comment below!
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This post was originally published on October 5th, 2018, and was updated on November 14th, 2023.

Disclosure: My stay at Hauane Bed & Breakfast was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

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