Norway: Hiking in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Guided or Self-Guided Departures Available June to September

Trip Overview

You and your group of adventurous and fun-loving friends are invited on a trip to the Land of the Midnight Sun. Our trip will be focused in the western fjord country. We’ll be based in Lofthus in the Hardanger region on the eastern shore of Sorfjorden, or South Fjord, facing the Folgefonna Glacier on the sunny side of high mountains. Most of our hikes will take place in the Hardangarvidda National Park with views of the Fjord, waterfalls and dramatically steep cliffs. Our hiking adventure will start and end in the beautiful, old coastal city of Bergen. We’ll combine the comfort of first class hotels with an exciting overnight at a high mountain hut, the latter complete with showers and a happy hour. We will also experience transitions in scenery as we hike up from the shore of the Fjord past farms, orchards and flowers up to shrubs and rocky terrain. All of this will take place with the backdrop of a land legendary for Vikings, sagas, trolls (don’t look under any bridges!), and the grand music of Grieg. Norway is one of the youngest and the oldest nations in Europe, and it is certainly its most thinly populated. You’ll enjoy hiking along trails with the world’s fittest and most nature-loving population, and returning to historic hotels in the evening for a Smorgasbord feast.

Highlights

Cost

The cost of this trip will vary depending upon the specific itinerary we develop for your family or group of friends. Please contact us for a quote for your trip.

Rating

Moderate to high energy

Transportation

Private coaches/mini-buses with driver

Sample Daily Itinerary

Day One: Lofthus

We meet in the morning in Bergen at our pre-trip hotel (the Admiral Clarion) and are transported via private coach to Lofthus, the “orchard of Hardanger” on the beautiful Sorfjorden. On the way to Lofthus we will visit Troldhaugen, Grieg’s house and museum in the outskirts of Bergen and stop for a warm-up hike on the fascinating historical trail in the village of Ulvik. That evening we’ll enjoy a welcome drink by the Fjord and the first of four nights of a wonderful Smorgasbord dinner in our historic hotel.

Day Two: Lofthus

After a hearty breakfast we travel to the town of Eidfjord for a walk to Viking graves and a dramatic hike up to Kjeasen, a hillside farm perched high on a hill above the fjord. We’ll return to our hotel by boat. Our evening will be spent feasting on both the glacier view from our hotel and wonderful food while enjoying the company of our friends and the lingering sunlight.

Day Three: Lofthus

Today we hike out the door of our hotel past the orchards of Lofthus and up Nosi to the Hardangervidda National Park, this time taking the Monk’s Steps, 616 huge stones set in place hundreds of years ago by farming monks. This evening we might decide to take a dip in the fjord (don’t worry – it’s not cold) or perhaps take out a row boat before dinner.

Day Four: Lofthus

We travel by coach to Roldal for a visit to one of Norway’s famous stave churches and a hike on the pilgrim’s trail, a route used by pilgrims during the Middle Ages to reach the church on foot in order to benefit from its supposed curative powers.

Day Five: Hardangervidda National Park; Hedlo Hut

Our adventure today begins with a visit to the Hardangervidda Nature Center at the foot of the Voringfossen, Norway’s highest waterfall. The Nature Center provides information on the history, culture and natural environment of beautiful and dramatic western Norway. After our Nature Center visit we transfer to the trailhead leading up to the Hedlo Hut where we have the opportunity to experience hiking the Norwegian way. At the hut we’ll leave our packs and explore one of the many trails that depart from the hut. We enjoy our happy hour tonight amidst the remote beauty of the high plain and the camaraderie of other hikers we have met on the trail.

Day Six: Bergen

We hike down from the hut where we are picked up and taken to our hotel in Bergen. We’ll enjoy a walking through Bryggen, the historical heart of old Bergen, as well as a hike up onto a hill overlooking this charming maritime city. Tonight we say skol to each other at our farewell dinner at a mountain top restaurant overlooking this World Heritage Site city.

Day Seven: Depart Bergen

After breakfast we depart for home or continued adventures in the Land of the Midnight sun.

Please bear in mind that this is a sample itinerary.  We would be delighted to develop a custom proposal for an adventure that is just right for your needs. 

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info@bredeson.com