Lysefjord

The Lysefjord is a deep, narrow fjord cut into the mountains near Stavanger, walled by some of the most famous cliffs in Norway. High above it sit the Preikestolen, a flat rock platform six hundred metres over the water, and Kjeragbolten, a boulder wedged in a chasm, both reached by celebrated hikes.

Background

The fjord runs 42 kilometres through Strand and Sandnes municipalities, about 25 kilometres east of Stavanger, and its name, light fjord, is said to come from the pale granite of its sides. The walls drop almost sheer for over 1000 metres. At the mouth near Forsand the water is only 13 metres deep, sinking to over 400 metres below Preikestolen. Forsand and Lysebotn sit at opposite ends, and the Lysefjord Bridge is the only crossing. Lysebotn is reached by a road that climbs almost 900 metres through 27 hairpin bends, one of them inside a tunnel. Two hydropower plants, Lyse and Tjodan, supply more than 100,000 people.

Source: Wikipedia, "Lysefjord"

What you'll find

• Preikestolen - the Pulpit Rock, the flat cliff platform far above the fjord.
• Kjeragbolten - the boulder jammed in a crevasse over a kilometre-deep drop.
• The fjord cruise - the boat trip beneath the cliffs and the Hengjane waterfall.
• The sheer walls - the towering rock faces plunging to the dark water.

When to go

Summer for the hikes, when the trails are snow-free and the light long; the cruises run through the warmer months. Early starts beat both the crowds and the afternoon weather on the cliffs.

Practical notes

The famous cliffs mean the trails to Preikestolen and Kjerag are busy and demanding full-day hikes, not casual strolls. The cruise is a gentler alternative for those not hiking. Weather can close in fast on the exposed clifftops, so check forecasts.

Nearby

Stavanger and its old town are the gateway; the Preikestolen and Kjerag trailheads are up in the hills.

Key facts