Lysefjord

Visit the “light fjord” to discover sheer cliffs of twinkling granite

You can take a day trip from Stavanger to the beautiful Lysefjord. The name translates to “light fjord”, inspired by the pale granite rocks that are found along the water’s sides. End to end, it measures 42 kilometres (26 miles), with rocky walls dropping nearly vertically over 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) into the water.

Along the fjord are some notable attractions. Pulpit Rock (“Preikestolen”) towers 604 metres (1,981 feet) above the water. Kjerag Mountain, popular for hiking and base jumping, rises 1,084 metres (3,556 feet) into the sky. Hengjanefossen waterfall plunges 400 metres (1,312 feet) down the cliffside into the fjord below. Each site offers dramatic views and memorable experiences.

The Lysefjord is sparsely populated, with only 2 villages: Forsand and Lysebotn. Residents of Forsand rely on ferries because the slopes are too steep for conventional roads, preserving the fjord’s wild character.

Lysebotn is connected by an impressive mountain road rising almost 900 metres (2,700 feet) via 27 hairpin bends and one spiralling tunnel. Near the top of the road is the “Eagle’s Nest” (Øygardstøl), a rest area with a café and trailhead for the 5–6 hour hike to Kjerag.