An Epic Road Trip Through Western Norway’s Fjords
Shortly after exploring a charming church in southern Norway, our adventure truly began as we started hunting for the perfect wild camping spot (for more tips on camping in Norway, check out my previous blog post).
We touched down in Oslo in the afternoon, and with a thrilling 400-kilometre journey ahead on non-motorway roads, reaching our first major destination – the legendary Lysefjord – before midnight was simply impossible. This drive was our first taste of Norway’s vast, untamed scale.
In many ways, Norway’s landscapes echo the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands – think endless greenery and the occasional sheep-dodging moment on a single-track road. But Norway is on a grander, more dramatic scale. You can drive for hours through breathtaking emptiness, with each bend in the road building anticipation. The wonderful thing is there are countless spots to simply pull over, breathe in the crisp air, and marvel at nature’s staggering artistry.
The Majesty of the Norwegian Fjords
The morning after our arrival, we were greeted by the awe-inspiring sight of Lysefjord in south-western Norway. This is a place of sheer power: colossal rock walls plunge nearly vertically for over 1,000 metres into the deep, dark water, stretching an impressive 42 kilometres inland. It’s a supremely popular destination, with cruise ships from Stavanger navigating its full length.
Lysefjord is famed for two iconic attractions: the Kjerag mountain and the Preikestolen cliff. Kjerag, sitting at the fjord’s head, is a magnet for serious hikers. Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), however, is the superstar – a massive, flat-topped cliff soaring 604 metres directly above the fjord. Its plateau, a natural square about 25 by 25 metres, draws over 100,000 visitors each year.
The hike to Preikestolen is a 3.8-kilometre (one-way) trek from the car park, a round trip taking roughly 3-4 hours. Don’t be fooled – it’s a demanding walk with constant ascents and descents over rocky paths, so sturdy footwear is essential. Every ounce of effort is forgotten the moment you step onto the cliff’s edge. The panoramic vista and the sheer exhilaration of standing there, with the brisk wind on the Preikestolen plateau, are nothing short of life-affirming!
The entire western coast of Norway is an intricate labyrinth of these deep-cut fjords. While an impressive network of bridges and tunnels helps you cross them, no trip is complete without the classic experience of a scenic ferry ride, gliding across the still, reflective waters. It was an amazing feeling when, crossing the waters, the silence of the fjord was broken only by a ferry’s horn.
We didn’t make it to the mighty Sognefjord on this trip – the largest in Norway and second-largest in the world, located further north – but its statistics are mind-boggling. Reaching depths of 1,308 metres below sea level (interestingly, deepest inland) and stretching over 200 kilometres with an average width of 4.5 km, it’s a true natural wonder.
Another jewel is the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Its colours seem plucked from a fairy tale: brilliant blue water, emerald green vegetation, and the white snow caps of towering mountains. While Geiranger is exceptionally beautiful, you’ll find similarly enchanting scenes in many of the fjords further south.
Norway’s Cascading Waterfalls
Beyond the silent grandeur of the fjords, Norway is a land of moving water. Waterfalls are everywhere – countless brilliant cascades tumbling down verdant cliffs, often directly into the fjords below.
We had a hit-list of famous falls to visit, and they were spectacular. Yet, the real magic often happened spontaneously: around the next corner, we’d be greeted by a completely unexpected, unnamed waterfall – a stunning silver ribbon of water dramatically carving its path down a vertical rock face. It’s these spontaneous discoveries that make a Norwegian road trip unforgettable.
Have you ever had a travel moment where an unexpected sight took your breath away? Use the comment box below to tell us about it.
Related posts
- South of Norway
- Croatian Road Trip: Exploring the Natural Wonders of Dalmatia & Lika
- Iceland
- Autumn road trip to Switzerland
adventures attractions Belgium Bulgaria city break Croatia Czech Republic day out England Estonia France Germany Greece heritage hiking holidays Iceland islands Italy Latvia Lithuania London Montenegro nature Norway Poland recipes Rome Scotland Spain Switzerland