Hardanger is often referred to as Norway's orchard, and it is not without reason. If you drive through Hardanger, you can witness the beautiful sight of over 600,000 fruit trees. In the spring, the trees are in full bloom, and in the fall, you can literally reap the fruits.
Distance: 391km
Driving time: 7,5 hours (remember to add extra time for the numerous photo opportunities)
Best season: Year-round, every season has its charm
A road trip from Bergen to Hardanger is recommended regardless of season. Spring offers the contrasts of green trees, blue skies, and white peaks. Summer offers bright nights and sweet cherries. Autumn presents a beautiful autumnal color spectrum, and winter shows sights of snow settling like a blanket on the mountain tops and sneaks down towards the fjord.
Hardangerfjord as your companion
Just an hour drive from Bergen, you will find Norheimsund, and get the first glimpse of the Hardangerfjord - your companion for most of the day. You will probably soon continue your journey along the beautiful fjord, but just before you get down to the center of Norheimsund, you should take a quick stop at Steinsdalsfossen. Not only is the waterfall itself a beautiful sight, but you can also walk behind it! You can almost feel the vibrations of the water falling heavily from the mountain above you, and of course, feel the tiny droplets from the water spray onto your skin.
Photo: Norheimsund Rib
If you started early on the road and left Bergen before breakfast, you can have a breakfast stop at the idyllic Thon Hotel Sandven. If you want to both quench both your hunger AND learn about boatbuilding and restoration at the same time, we recommend a visit to the Hardanger Maritime Center.
The journey continues towards Jondal and Herand
As you drive on towards Tørvikbygd (about 15 minutes drive) to take the ferry over to Jondal (ferry ride takes 20 minutes, you will find more information and timetables at Fjord1.no), the mountains seem as if they are rising from the fjord. Maybe you will be tempted onboard by a “Svele,” a type of a thick Norwegian pancake, with either brown cheese or cream?
If you are the active type and would like to experience a bit of winter in the middle of summer, take the trip from Jondal to Fonna Glacier Ski Resort (about 30 minutes drive) and ski on the glacier 1200 m above sea level. If you prefer to stay in the lowlands, you continue directly along the fjord towards Herad.
Photo from Herad: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen
If you need a pitstop, you can stop at the Hereiane picnic area, approx. 10 minutes drive outside Jondal. The “toilet building,” is itself part of the attractions along the National Tourist Roads and is worth a stop. Do not forget to stretch your legs a bit, and feel free to take a short walk out on the rocks and enjoy the view of the fjord and the mountains on the other side.
Around the next turn you come to the idyllic Herand. In this area there were settlers already in the Stone Age, and just a stone's throw away from the center of the village you will find stone carvings from the Bronze Age. The locals have made a cultural walking tour throughout the village which tells more about this, but also about the proud boatbuilding tradition, geology, and cultural history. You can also visit the exhibition at the Herand Cultural History Center as a precursor to the cultural trail walk.
Photo: Linn Kjos Falkenberg
The fruit orchards in Utne
On the way to Utne, see the bountiful orchards and picturesque surroundings. The red and white buildings that contrast against green grass and blue waters and skies are a delight to the eye. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road and take traffic safety into account.
At Utne ferry dock, you will find the Utne Hotel. The white-painted hotel is one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved wooden hotels and has a charming garden surrounded by a picket fence. Have a coffee in the garden and enjoy life, as the ferry comes and goes. When you get back in the car, however, do not drive onto the ferry, but continue inland, to the fjord arm towards Odda. Once again, the orchards are closely packed, and you can look across the fjord to several farms, with high mountains in the background.
Experiences in Aga
After fifteen minutes driving, you can head towards Agatunet, a cluster of 30 historically protected houses, which shows unique examples of West Norwegian building customs from the Middle Ages to today. The summer season offers guided tours, café and exhibitions and activities for children. If you come out of season, it is still worth a stop to look and enjoy a walk on the hiking trail.
In Aga, you can also visit Aga Sideri. In the summer season, you can join the cider tour and learn how traditional Hardanger cider is produced. And of course, you also get to taste it! Children and drivers naturally must stick to the non-alcoholic apple juice.* It is good to know that the farm shop is open year-round so you can also buy bottles to enjoy later. It is otherwise possible to buy cider and apple juice from several of the farms along the way, so you can quickly end up with a small stockpile from various producers. Then it is beneficial to have a car, so you do not have to think so much about whether you have enough space.
Photo from Hardanger: Reinhold Kager
Fjords and Tall Mountains
With the fjord on the left, and farms and tall mountains on the right, the tour continues towards Odda. Odda and Tyssedal is the starting point for the popular hike to Trolltunga, but if you are going on this hike, it is highly recommended to stay in the area both before and after the trip. This is for safety reasons, considering how physically demanding the trip is.
From Odda you can take a small detour to Låtefoss. The waterfall, or rather the waterfalls, thunder down the road and will gladly give you a shower before disappearing under the old stone bridge.
If you want to see more waterfalls, you can continue to Langfossen, Norway's fifth tallest waterfall at 612 meters. Both waterfalls can be included in "the ring of waterfalls", another road trip recommendation from Bergen.
Activities for all
Back in Odda, the trip continues beyond the fjord past Tyssedal towards Ullensvang and Lofthus. Enjoy the scenery as you drive by, or stop for something to eat or drink, or partake in various activities offered. If you want to get closer to the fjord, it is possible to book a guided kayak trip. If you prefer to hike a little up the mountain, Munketrappene to Nosi is recommended. Dronningstien is a popular hiking trail, but as it is a demanding hike, so you should stay overnight in the area before this hike.
Mikkelparken in Kinsarvik is a paradise for children. With a water park, climbing park, race track and farmhouse as some of the offerings, children can stay active for a long time.
The Hardanger Bridge was completed in 2013, and is among the world's ten longest suspension bridges. The structure itself is impressive, and with incredible views of the fjord and mountains on both sides, the drive over is an experience in itself. Even the tunnel on the other side is special. At the roundabout, which is illuminated with blue purple light, take the exit for Ulvik.
Foto: CH - VisitNorway.com
Must see in Ulvik
The Ulvik fruit village is located in the heart of Hardanger, between tall mountains. Besides the great scenery, there are a few other things worth experiencing:
• In Utne, you can experience the fruit and cider tour, where you can walk (or drive) between three farms offering homemade apple cider and other delicious products. Cider tasting is also possible here. The driver must of course stay sober, but there is a lot of good apple juice as well.* Also, it is good to know that you can buy with you (unless your car is already full) to enjoy later. Alternatively, there are several restaurants and bars serving the unique cider, so there are many opportunities to enjoy Hardanger cider back in Bergen.
• The lyricist Olav H. Hauge was born in Ulvik, so you can also visit the interesting Olav H. Hauge centre where you can learn about the poet's life and works
From Ulvik, it is time to return to Bergen via Voss after an eventful day. If you got the taste of waterfalls, after a half hour drive you can take a quick detour to Skjervsfossen.
If you want to experience Hardanger without a car, you can take day trips such as Hardangerfjorden in a nutshell or the Fjord cruise on the Hardangerfjord with a trip to Vøringsfossen.
If you are keen on more road trips, check out this page for more suggestions.
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