The Experience Begins...
After landing in Oslo and spending a few days exploring that amazing city (more to come…), we packed up the rental car and headed west to Fjord country!
We arrived in the charming city of Stavanger, known for its cobblestone streets, lined with rows of beautiful wooden homes painted white with brightly colored doors. Some of these homes date back to the 18th century. This is the area where we found our adorable rental for the night.
We spent a few hours exploring the town, including the historic Stavanger Cathedral, which dates back to the Middle Ages, and the picturesque waterfront, with its brightly painted wharf houses, now converted to restaurants and bars. We grabbed a spot on the patio of one of these restaurants and enjoyed a dinner of fresh fish and chips, while taking in the lively port.
We kept it an early night however, knowing the adventures tomorrow would bring… Preikestolen! Stavanger is also known as the gateway to some of Norway’s most famous hikes, and we were stoked to find them!
This would be the start of a packed itinerary, where we would experience some of Norway’s most iconic hikes and explore the stunning southern coast and fjord country! We woke up early and caught a ferry across the water… we were off to start our Norway adventure!
Our introduction to Norwegian hiking was the mighty Preikestolen, and I think this was the perfect place to start!
Preikestolen, aka Pulpit Rock
is an 8km (5 miles) round trip hike that takes you to a razor-edge cliff. Once you reach the edge you can glance down the towering cliffs, 1981ft, to the sapphire waters of Lysefjord... absolutely stunning!
The hike takes you through a combination of boulder fields, mountain valleys and a steady dose of rock stairs and trails. The Norwegians view this as an easy hike, but don’t underestimate it! This hike is challenging, and we were thankful we started with an “easy” one to acclimate ourselves to Norwegian hiking! The hard ones would be coming soon.
As you climb, you are greeted by a few mountain lakes, before reaching the summit and soaking in some spectacular views! The sheer cliffs that reach down to the fjord’s edge will deliver a breathtaking panorama! We patiently waited our turn in the queue (which is a common practice with these hikes) and were rewarded with a stunning view from the top of pulpit rock, a memory that will be forever imprinted in you.
We spent a few hours enjoying the view, taking pictures, and filling our bellies. We packed plenty of snacks and lunch for the hike and were glad we did! We were definitely in need of an energy boost (which for me requires chocolate, and Norway has some yummy chocolate)!
We timed the weather perfectly and decided to soak up the sun by one of the little lakes on the way back. We were pretty sweaty after the climb and enjoyed a quick swim in the crystal clear, alpine water. Talk about refreshing!!
Most of this trail is a steady climb so the way back was downhill and provided beautiful views the whole way.
We started falling in love with Norway that day… and the best was still to come!!
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