Hardangerfjord

The Hardangerfjord is the softer, greener of the great fjords, its lower slopes clad in fruit orchards that erupt in white and pink blossom each May. It is also a gateway to giants: the Trolltunga rock ledge, the Voringsfossen waterfall and the Folgefonna glacier all rise from its shores.

History

About 8000 BC, as the glacial ice melted and the land began to rise, the lower parts of the valleys flooded and formed the fjord, which now stretches 180 kilometres from the Atlantic to Odda. Farming along its fertile shores made it the "fruit orchard of Norway", and in 1875 Thomas Cook began weekly cruise departures from London to see its glaciers and waterfalls (Wikipedia, Hardangerfjord).

What's there

• Orchard blossom - the apple and cherry orchards in flower along the fjord in May.
• Trolltunga - the famous cliff ledge reached by a long hike from Odda.
• Voringsfossen - the great waterfall in the Mabodalen above the fjord.
• The Folgefonna glacier - the ice cap on the peninsula in the fjord's midst.

When to go

May for the once-a-year orchard blossom and cider farms; summer for hiking Trolltunga and the high country. Autumn brings fruit harvest and colour.

What to expect

It is broader and gentler than the sheer classic fjords, so come for orchards, cider and access to big hikes rather than the narrowest drama. Trolltunga is a serious full-day hike, not a casual walk. Blossom timing shifts with the weather, so it is a short and uncertain window.

Nearby

Odda is the base for Trolltunga; the Voringsfossen falls and the Folgefonna glacier are within reach.

Key facts