This unique trip combines two of Norway's greatest icons together with stays at the classic Hotel Ullensvang, and the modern Preikestolen Mountain Lodge. This is without a doubt Norway in a nutshell! Add-in the fact that this is a winter trip, which means that you get to visit these landmarks without the large tourist crowds, and we can't see any reason why you shouldn't come. Join us on this winter adventure today!
Highlights
- Hike to both Trolltunga and Preikestolen
- Stay at the gorgeous Hotel Ullensvang and the modern Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.
- Relax at Ullensvang Bath with amenities such as an infinity pool and a sauna.
- Experience walking on snowshoes while hiking to Trolltunga.
- Drive one of Norway's National Scenic Routes, Ryfylkeveien on the way to Preikestolen.
- Explore some of Norway's most iconic landmarks off-season.
- Feel the serenity of winter with majestic mountains all to ourselves.
When thinking about Norway there's usually a couple of places that pop up in people's minds. Trolltunga and Preikestolen are definitely two of these. Iconic landmarks that share a lot of similarities. Great views, spectacular scenery, a lot of tourists... The latter - we guarantee you - will not be an issue on this trip. Imagine yourself walking on snow-covered mountains all alone, the only one there will be your group, the guide, the cool wind of winter, and the sound of your feet crackling about on the compact snow. The sights that await us it that of winter solitude. It almost feels like the mountains are asleep, waiting for the next season to kick into gear. Summed up, its nothing short of spectacular!
But there's more to this trip than what's just been described. Shortly after you arrive in Norway we will embark on a scenic drive to our first accommodation where you can awe at the idyllic landscape where cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains will give you plenty of opportunities to get a snapshot of what Norway is all about. After a couple of hours, you have arrived at Hotel Ullensvang, a classic Norwegian accommodation right by the shores of the Hardangerfjord. Go for a dip in their infinity pool or relax in their sauna.
Between the beats of Trolltunga and Preikestolen, you will also have the time to slumber along one of our National Scenic Routes - Ryfylkeveien - where rural Norway is presented to you at every twist and turn. The final night will be spent at the modern Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, an architectural landmark in this region of our country. This is the trip for you that want to experience some of Norway's definite highlights when no one else is doing it!
Physical Level and Risk
So that you can have a good experience, it is important that you choose a trip that suits your ability level. The scales for physical requirements and risk are general. Therefore, it is important that you read more about the difficulty of the specific trip under “Details”. This will help you to gain an understanding of the level required and the risks involved for each specific trip.
Read more about physical requirements and risk here.
Physical: 3
On these trips, some of the stages are demanding. On level 3 mountain hikes, there are often some long stages, and / or a demanding summit push where it can get cold. You must stand up to reach the goal, and have a good training basis and good health before departure. We sleep in tents and / or in cabins and hotels, but you do not have to have experience with tent life to participate. If the trip includes activities such as kayaking, cycling, climbing, glacier, skiing / mountaineering, it is an advantage to have experience with this activity. Read more about the grading on our trips here
Risk: 3
Activities / trips with some risk. Some incidents may occur, and they may be of such a nature that they require professional help. Read more about the grading on our trips here
What's included
- All accommodations
- All meals
- Professional nature guide
- All transportation from day 1-4
See more of what's included under the "details" tab
Contact
Questions about the trip? Don't hesitate to contact our project leader below, or contact our office here.
Eirik Nilsen
eirik@hvitserk.com +47 23213080
Details
Difficulty
Level 3 out of 5. Please read more about our level of difficulty here. The hardest hike is the hike to Trolltunga; it can take up to 12 hours altogether. The other hike to Preikestolen will be about 4 hours. You should have hiking experience from similar conditions and feel comfortable with hiking on snow. Good fitness and some hiking experience with a good attitude will also prepare you for this trip.
What to bring?
Have a look at the full equipment list by clicking "Equipment list" in the menu above. You can leave your luggage in the car or at the accommodation each day, so when hiking, you only have to carry what you need for the day.
How to get there?
The starting point of this trip is Bergen which is reachable by daily trains and flights from Oslo and also by flights from some European cities like Amsterdam. Please let us know if you need tips on how to get to Bergen! The guide will meet you outside the airport at 12.00 PM.
Accommodation
We stay in unique and welcoming accommodations within the area. If you are traveling alone, you will share a same-sex twin room. If you would like a single room, please request this directly for a single, additional payment of 2000 NOK.
Baggage
Due to limited space in the minibus, we ask that you bring one piece of luggage (we recommend a duffel bag, which is easier than a rolling bag to transport on this tour) with your clothes, toiletries, and items necessary for when we are not hiking. We require you to bring a day pack (hip belt strongly recommended) to use when hiking for food, water, cameras, and layers.
Insurance
You need a travel and health insurance, which also includes transportation back to your country. Remember to bring your insurance card/information.
Languages
The guide will speak English.
Changes may occur
We reserve the right to make changes to the program, and the price. The day to day program is indicative, and changes may occur. Please have a look at our terms and conditions.
Number of participants
Minimum: 4 people; Maximum: 8 people.
What's included?
- Professional nature guide
- Accommodation for three nights
- Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner (as described in the day to day program).
- All local transport (ferries, buses, transfers, etc.)
Not included in the price:
- Transportation to Bergen.
- Transportation from Stavanger.
- Drinks and snacks.
Day by Day
day
1
Transfer from Bergen to Hotel Ullensvang
Today your Norwegian adventure starts! On arrival in Bergen, the guide will meet us outside the airport at 12.00 PM. From here we drive for about 2,5 hrs to our first accommodation, Hotel Ullensvang. During the trip, we will pass by villages, fjords, cascading waterfalls, and mountains. We will also drive over the Hardangerfjord Bridge, a spectacular suspense bridge built in 2013. On arrival at Hotel Ullensvang make your way to your room before enjoying the amenities the hotel has to offer. There is a large swimming pool (with an infinity pool) going from the inside to the outside of the building, and also hot-tubs and a sauna. In the evening we enjoy dinner together, going through the days ahead.
day
2
Hike to Trolltunga
This will certainly be a day to remember! Today we will hike to the world-famous Trolltunga, or "Troll's Tongue" as it is called in English. Usually, people do this hike in the summer, but we are so fortunate that we get to do this while no one else is doing it, in the snow-covered winter. And with snowshoes on! Trolltunga is a spectacular mountain formation situated 1,100 meters above sea level, and 700 meters above the lake of Ringedal. Trolltunga is a long hike (10-12 hours), the longest hike of the trip so we start quite early driving from our accommodation at 06.40 AM, meeting our local guide in Skjeggedal at 07.30 AM. Dinner today will usually be served quite late (8-9 PM) depending on what kind of weather and trail conditions we meet on today's hike. Even though the hike is tough, it is both doable and worth it! We will have time to relax at the top, enjoy the view, and take memorable photos on the plateau.
day
3
Hike to Preikestolen
We enjoy a quiet start to the morning after the tough hike yesterday. After breakfast, we will make our way to our next destination, Preikestolen. Before we start the hike, we will enjoy a four-hour drive along the National Scenic Route: Ryfylkeveien. Sit back, relax, and take in the scenery that's passing by us. There will be rural villages, fjords, mountains, lakes and waterfalls, all the components needed for a spectacular drive. On arrival in the afternoon, we will hike towards Preikestolen. At this time of the year, the weather is constantly changing so the trail is often covered in both snow and ice. The guide will adjust the use of equipment according to the conditions. After approximately 2.5 hours of hiking, we are there! 604 meters above Lysefjorden with panoramic views that certainly will take your breath away. Again, we are all alone on the plateau so make sure to save the memories, we are some of the lucky few that get to experience this. After spending some time at this gorgeous natural viewing point we head back to our accommodation for tonight's dinner.
day
4
Transfer to Stavanger
Today is unfortunately our last day together. After breakfast, we will drive from Preikestolen Mountain Lodge to Stavanger to drop everyone off at their preferred location. This will either be in the city center of Stavanger or at Stavanger Airport. We hope that your stay in Norway will leave you with everlasting memories and dreams of new visits!
(We highly recommend spending a day or two in Stavanger after the trip. This coastal city is home to an array of great restaurants, nice museums, street art, and churches. If you want a touch of urban Norway as well, this could be the place.)
Equipment List
Take a good look at this list, and make sure you bring everything you need. We encourage you to use what you have for this trip, and purchase items if you're missing something important on the list below. We have divided the gear list into three categories:
- Required: If you do not own this gear, you must acquire it for your trip.
- Recommended: Gear we suggest to be comfortable, but it is not imperative.
- Optional: Fun, additional luxuries.
Layering is extremely important in a variable climate like Norway. This list will guide you through the essentials. Remember the Norwegian saying "There is no bad weather, only bad gear", and prepare appropriately for any weather. You can read about the weather where you're traveling here.
The video below is for SUMMER gear, but you can still get some good tips for Winter! Welcome to Norway!
Please contact us at hvitserk@norrona.com if you have any questions and check out our gear page to learn more.
We always recommend wool in the Norwegian Mountains, but if you already have synthetic layers and don't want to buy new ones, synthetic is okay.
Required:
|
BASE LAYER - 2 SETS |
Two sets of wool long-sleeved top and bottom. Warm, Extra Warm or Expedition thickness is recommended. |
|
MID-LAYER |
A medium thickness wool or fleece top to go over your base layer. |
|
INSULATED JACKET |
A thick, warm, insulated jacket to put on during breaks. We recommend a puffy jacket with down or synthetic. |
|
SHELL JACKET |
Gore-Tex or similar is mandatory. Extremely important in Norwegian climate. The jacket must be water-proof, have a hood, and make sure you don’t get wet even if it rains or snows all day. We recommend jackets with pit zips for ventilation. |
|
MEDIUM INSULATED JACKET |
Use a synthetic or down jacket that fits over your base layer and mid layer, yet underneath your rain shell. Should be comfortable with full range of movement when all layers are on. |
|
EXTRA TOP LAYER |
Bring an extra medium thick layer to add underneath your medium insulated jacket in case you get cold quickly. |
|
GLOVES & MITTENS |
1 thin pair of wool gloves to protect your hands. 1 pair of over mittens for additional warmth with windproofing. 1 extra pair of thick mittens in case yours get wet. 3 in total. |
|
HATS |
2 warm hats. 1 thick, 1 thin. Make sure at least one has a windproof lining. |
|
HIKING SOCKS |
4 pairs, we recommend wool, above the ankle or higher. 2 thin. 2 thick. We recommend a 5th pair that is extra thick for evenings. |
|
BOOTS |
Warm boots comfortable for snowshoeing all day. |
|
BACKPACK |
Day pack- 20-40 liters. |
|
SUNGLASSES |
UV rated, we recommend a strap to keep them in place and so they don't get lost. |
|
SUNSCREEN / CHAPSTICK |
Make sure the Chapstick has UV rated sunscreen in it. |
|
WATER BOTTLES |
Insulated water bottle, 2-liter capacity. Do not bring a camelback bladder, this will freeze in cold temperatures. |
|
TOILETRIES |
Personal basics: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc... |
|
PERSONAL MEDICATIONS |
Make sure you bring any personal meds you need on your trip and ensure the Hvitserk office is updated on your allergies or needs. |
|
WATERPROOF SHELL PANTS |
Waterproof shell pants. Gortex is best. We recommend heavier duty pants to keep you warm with zips for ventilation. |
|
HEADLAMP |
Make sure you bring extra batteries as they die faster in the cold. |
|
SWIMWEAR |
If you want to grab a swim, relax in the hot tub or in the sauna. |
Recommended:
|
WOOL UNDERWEAR |
We highly recommend bringing wool underwear and bra. No cotton. |
|
COMPRESSION SACKS FOR GEAR |
Recommended for storing your gear, keeping it dry, and compressing your down jackets to create more space. |
|
BALACLAVA OR BUFF |
A wool layer to protect your neck and face. |
|
THERMOS |
We recommend a thermos for hot drinks to have with you all day. We suggest a large, 1-liter thermos. |
|
FIRST AID KIT |
If you have certain hiking aids specific to you: i.e. blister care or ibuprofen, etc... |
|
CAMERA |
Its important to be present while hiking, but also a great joy to bring some snapshots home with you for memory lane. |
|
CASUAL CLOTHES |
A reminder to bring a set of clothes for transfers, relaxing in the evenings, and non-hiking time. An extra, dry pair of shoes is recommended for after and before hiking. |
|
SITTING MAT |
Strongly recommended to insulate you from the ground. |
Optional:
|
ANTIBAC |
If you need it for the bathroom or lunch. |
|
WET WIPE OR TOILET PAPER |
If you have a bathroom emergency while hiking. We use "pack it in pack it out" ethics, so you will need to carry out your used items and throw them away later. |
|
EAR PLUGS |
If youre a light sleeper. |
|
JOURNAL AND PEN |
In order to take notes and write about the trip. |
|
SNACKS |
Chocolate, nuts or energy bars if there is something particular you enjoy eating. You will have the opportunity to buy snacks on your trip. |
Bed linens and towels are included all nights. All the equipment you need for the glacier hike on day three is also included, also hiking boots that are compatible with crampons.
