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The Serene Hardangerfjord

Hardangerfjord - the land of waterfalls
 
Discover one of Norway’s greatest fjords on this flexible and varied self-guided walking holiday. Stay in high-quality fjordside hotels – three of which have a pool – and enjoy unforgettable views as you journey by boat and bus, as well as on foot.
The Serene Hardangerfjord. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
The Serene Hardangerfjord. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in Hardangerfjord

Spectacular Hardangerfjord, the southernmost of the three great fjords, is blessed by a mild climate and renowned for its glorious colours. On this walk and exhilarating journey, you wander down from the forests and moorland above Voss to reach the deepest, most spectacular fingers of Hardangerfjord as it claws its way into the mountains of Hardangervidda.
Journeys by bus and boat are as much a part of the pleasure of this holiday as the walking. With our travel options, you can enjoy the itinerary with a minimum of walking; or by following our walk notes you can experience spectacular routes high above the fjords, and pastoral lower level walks for an intimate experience of rural Norway.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    Summers in this region are similar to those in northern England, so be prepared for both warm, sunny weather and rain.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C -1 0 5 9 15 19 20 19 14 9 3 1
    mm 123 89 97 49 56 71 78 95 160 161 150 151
  • Arrival in Voss
    Night 1: at Fleischer’s Hotel (the first of two nights here).

    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.

    Please note: on the days you travel between hotels, you take your luggage with you – the buses and boats stop outside the hotels, so little or no walking is involved. The only exception to this is day 2, when your bags are transported ahead to enable you to walk part of the way between Voss and Ulvik.
  • Choice of walks from Voss: 6.5km or 8.5km
    Both of today's options provide a wonderful introduction to Norway’s cultural heritage.

    Circular walk via Folkemuseum: 8.5km, 3hrs
    The first begins with a visit to the excellent Folkemuseum above Voss, followed by a gentle traverse above Vangsvatnet lake.

    Circular walk via Bordalsgjelet: 6.5km, 2hrs
    The second is a gentle excursion to the impressive Bordalsgjelet gorge to the south of town, taking in Voss church and skirting the end of Vangsvatnet lake to reach the Bordalsgjelet, a dramatic vertical-sided gorge through which the Bordalselvi river flows. Your return along the main shopping street in Voss, bustling with cafés and street life.
    Visit the excellent Folkemuseum above Voss
    Circular walk via Folkemuseum: 8.5km
    Explore the dramatic Bordalsgjelet gorge
    Circular walk via Bordalsgjelet: 6.5km
  • Voss to Ulvik, via Granvin
    Today you travel by bus from Voss to Granvin. You can either stay on the bus all the way to Ulvik, or get off here and walk to your next hotel.

    Linear walk from Granvin to Ulvik: 16km, 5.5hrs
    From Granvin you join the route of the old post road as it winds through forests, pasture and high moorland, passing isolated farms and the picturesque lake at Vatnaset before descending to the village of Ulvik and the fjordside Brakanes Hotel.
    Linear walk from Granvin to Ulvik: 16km
    Forests and pastures between Granvin and Ulvik
  • Circular walk from Ulvik: 13km, 5.5hrs
    Head out on a walk through the cider-making country to the east of Ulvik – with the opportunity to sample the produce – before ascending to Solsaevatnet lake, nestled in the mountains.
     
    Circular walk from Ulvik: 13km
    Above Ulvik
  • Ulvik to Lofthus by bus; circular walk via Folk Museum: 9km, 2.5hrs
    From Ulvik you travel by bus along the fjord and across the impressive 1.4km-long Hardanger suspension bridge, Norway’s longest. On arrival in Lofthus, where you spend two nights at Hotel Ullensvang, we suggest that you head out on a low-level walk that follows the Fruit Trail north through orchards of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees, to reach the Skrelhaugen Folk Museum – a group of preserved traditional wooden buildings.
    Circular walk via Folk Musuem: 9km
    The Fruit Trail around Lofthus
  • Choice of walks from Lofthus: 7km or 18.5km

    Circular walk via Queens' Trail: 18.5km, 6hrs
    For a literal highlight, there’s no better walk than the Queen’s Trail, legs permitting, with views over the Sørfjord to the glaciers of the Folgefonna National Park before a steep descent of the spectacular Monks’ Steps, 616 stone steps built by Cistercian monks from York in the 13th century.

    Circular walk via Hoveden: 7km, 3hrs
    Alternatively, take on the more moderate climb to the extraordinary viewpoint at Hoveden for a lasting image of one of Norway’s most striking fjords.
    The spectacular Queen's Trail
    Circular walk via Queens' Trail: 18.5km
    Circular walk via Hoveden: 7km
  • Linear walk from Lofthus: 8km, 2.5hrs; Lofthus to Bergen by boat & bus
    You have plenty of time today to head up the River Opo to a viewpoint from where you can gaze towards Norway’s third tallest waterfall, returning on the opposite bank to visit the village's restored 13th-century church containing a wonderful decorated gallery and pulpit.

    Your final views of the week’s memorable landscapes are from the water as you journey by boat through the early evening to Norheimsund, and then on to Bergen by bus. Norway’s second-largest city is set in a wonderful location on the western fjords. You spend your final night in the historic Bryggen area at the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, just a short stroll from the seafood restaurants around the harbour, for a final taste of Norway.
    Linear walk from Lofthus: 8km
    Head up the River Opo for a view of Norway's third tallest waterfall
 

Accommodation

There is a long history of hospitality in the Hardangerfjord region and the welcoming hotels we have chosen for you reflect this. Although some of these hotels are also amongst the most historic and characterful in Norway, over the years they have grown in size and so can sometimes be busier than a ‘typical’ Inntravel hotel, though this in no way detracts from their superb settings and high standards of service.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 7 nights: 28 May 2022 - 29 August 2022 & 28 May 2023 - 29 August 2023

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    28 May - 12 Jun 2022 £1435 £580
    13 Jun - 22 Aug 2022 £1495 £595
    28 May - 12 Jun 2023 £1580 £640
    13 Jun - 22 Aug 2023 £1645 £655
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    You can upgrade your City Card in Bergen. For a 48hr card add £11pp, for a 72hr card add £17pp.
    Hotel Ullensvang, Lofthus (with dinner) Double room Single room
    28 May - 29 Aug 2022 £174 £306
    28 May - 29 Aug 2023 £192 £338
    Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, Bergen (B&B) Double room Single room
    28 May - 29 Aug 2022 £168 £230
    28 May - 29 Aug 2023 £186 £256
    Prices include a 24-hour City Card
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bergen
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Bergen SAS,  Wideroe 
    Aberdeen - Bergen (via Stavanger) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Bergen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Birmingham - Bergen (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Birmingham - Bergen (via Paris CDG) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Bergen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bergen Loganair 
    Edinburgh - Bergen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Bergen (via CPH) Norwegian 
    Edinburgh - Bergen (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bergen Loganair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bergen Norwegian 
    Gatwick - Bergen (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bergen Wideroe 
    Heathrow - Bergen, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Heathrow - Bergen, via Oslo (Gardermoen) SAS 
    Heathrow - Bergen, via Stavanger SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Bergen Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bergen SAS 
    Manchester - Bergen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Manchester - Bergen (via Oslo (Gardermoen) SAS 
    Manchester - Bergen (with touchdown in Inverness) Loganair 
    Manchester - Bergen, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Bergen Loganair 
    Newcastle - Bergen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bergen

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Bergen to Voss station (1h20) £27-£30 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own arrangements city centre to airport pay locally flexible
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 6 dinners
    4 picnics
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • itinerant transfers
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 7 reviews
  • Ms S Bradbury-Pratt
    Nottingham
    01 June 2022

    We were very, very lucky with the weather and had a dry and sunny week. The walking was beautiful, peaceful and unspoiled. Some challenging (in a good way) climbs and spectacular scenery. Hard to pick a favourite walk - we loved the linear walk from Granvin to Ulvik - no signs but very peaceful; the climb up to the lake above Ulvik was was tricky to follow on the ground, but so worth it to sit in splendid isolation by the lake shore for our picnic - majestic scenery; Queen Sonia's trail delivered genuinely awesome views. The setting of the hotels Brakanes and Ullensvang is glorious and we loved the outdoor pool facilities in Ullensvang.

  • Mr R Mitten
    Australia
    21 September 2019

    Great that all rooms had top views.

    Waterfall walk was challenging but rewarding

  • Mr G Dobson
    London
    23 August 2019

    This was an excellent introduction to the fjords of western Norway. The scenery was truly amazing, the walks exhilarating and challenging. One of our best holidays ever!

  • Professor S Messer
    USA
    17 August 2019

    A beautiful hiking trip. Norway has spectacular scenery. However, lots of rain, in August at least.

  • Ms M Fritz
    Haywards Heath
    16 July 2019

    The hotels with fjord views were great. The walk up the side of the 4 waterfalls walk was exhilarating though challenging.

  • Mr M Green
    Stroud
    15 July 2019

    Overall a superb holiday, with dramatic scenery , great walking (and walking notes) and generally good hotels.  All the arrangements worked like clockwork (except for three delayed SAS flights out of 4)

    Our top tip:  one night in Voss offset by two nights in Ulvik Would make best use of the superb hotel at Ulvik.  Voss is OK but Ulvik is superb.

    We were lucky to arrive in Bergen the same weekend as the Tall Ships were in town.  That was the 'icing on the cake' But it did result in late nights with the bands and street entertainers making use of the long daylight hours.  (This is not a complaint!!)

    Our only minor complaint is the competition with coach parties which threatened to overwhelm one hotel (Kinsarvik) and turned meal times into a scrum.

  • Anon
    13 July 2019

    We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday. We were given helpful and informed advice on the level of walking before we booked, the arrangements worked like clockwork. In all hotels we had rooms with lovely views and often restaurant tables overlooking the fjord. We were well looked after. You do need to be a competent map reader, as warned. That said, the walking was beautiful and on most walks we saw no-one else all day. Magical. Norway is very expensive, so it was good to have all meals booked in advance (except Bergen). Thank you Inntravel for a great holiday.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Norway, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). There is no need to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) as this (and still-current EHICs) is not valid in Norway. However, should you need medical help, you can show your UK passport at the medical facility and treatment will be provided on the same terms as for Norwegian nationals. It is important that, if you already have travel insurance in place, the terms do not exclude medical cover, especially for existing conditions, in the absence of an EHIC.
  • The most widely spoken language is Norwegian. The currency is the Kroner. Norwegian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 7/7/2022 6:21:15 PM