Hardangerfjord

Hardangerfjord is famous in spring when its apple and cherry orchards burst into pink and white blossom along 180 kilometres of shoreline. This five-day circuit combines slow ferry crossings, a walk on the accessible edge of Folgefonna glacier, and long afternoons in cider farms between Lofthus and Ulvik. The route is slightly more active than the Sognefjord loop but still structured around rest.

Trip Highlights

• Spring blossom season in the Sorfjord orchard belt around Lofthus
• Walking the marked path to the lower tongue of Folgefonna glacier
• Tasting single-variety apple ciders at family-run farm shops
• The Hardanger Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world
• Voeringsfossen waterfall, plunging 182 metres into a gorge
• Rowing on still water at dawn before the tourist boats arrive

Day by Day

1. 1

   Day 1 - Bergen to Norheimsund by express boat

   Leave Bergen on the morning express boat, skirting the outer islands before entering the calmer waters of Hardangerfjord proper. Norheimsund is a small market town with a good walking path along the water. Settle in, rent a bicycle for the afternoon.

2. 2

   Day 2 - Ferry to Lofthus through the orchard belt

   Cross to Lofthus on the local car ferry. From late April through early May the hillside orchards are fully in bloom; at other times the fruit is on the trees or just picked. Walk the steep orchard paths above the fjord and visit two or three farm shops before checking in to a guesthouse.

3. 3

   Day 3 - Folgefonna glacier walk

   A bus from Lofthus climbs to Folgefonna National Park. The guided walk to the lower glacier edge takes around three hours at a comfortable pace; boots and crampons are provided. The views back down over the fjord from the ice are unlike anything at sea level.

4. 4

   Day 4 - Voeringsfossen and Ulvik

   Take the early bus inland to the Hardangervidda plateau rim and walk to Voeringsfossen, where the Bjoreia river drops into a narrow canyon. Return to the fjord and ferry across to Ulvik, the quietest of the main villages, for a cider-farm dinner.

5. 5

   Day 5 - Slow return to Bergen

   The morning is free to row on the glassy fjord or sit in the Ulvik rose garden. The afternoon bus and express boat return you to Bergen. The journey takes the scenic route past the Hardanger Bridge as the light goes gold.