Visit Trolltunga this year!

Bring your family and friends and give them a Norwegian holiday they will never forget!

Trolltunga is one of the most iconic rock formations in Norway, and the view from the top is simply magical! You stand on a mountain ledge that juts out 700 metres above Ringedalsvatnet, surrounded by dramatic west country scenery.

But when you come to Odda and Hardanger, there are many other experiences that you should also get with you!

Stunning views from Norway's most spectacular rock formation

The hike up to Trolltunga (1180 m above sea level) is mostly in high mountain terrain and is long and demanding. But you get paid for your hard work — a magnificent view awaits you up there! Trolltunga, the small stone plateau protruding from the mountain, 700 meters above Ringedalsvatnet, is the most spectacular rock formation in Norway.

If you start your hike from the parking lot P2 in Skjeggedal, you will spend 8—12 hours with breaks on the 27 km round trip to Trolltunga — 13.5 km each way. You can also start from P3 Seagull Top. From there, the round trip is 20 km. Estimated walking time is 7—10 hours.

You should be in good physical shape and have proper equipment. To get in good enough shape, we recommend practicing walking other counterhill walks beforehand.

The path to Trolltunga is solid and good. We have a mountain guard at the mountain guard hut from around May 17th to mid-October. In the middle of the day, the mountain guard controls the queue at Trolltunga itself, but less there are rescue missions at the same time.

Usually the most foreigners

Did you know that usually close to 90 percent of the people who go to Trolltunga are from abroad? Usually the most visitors are Saturdays. If you go a weekday before the school holidays start, you may have Trolltunga almost entirely to yourself!

More options when you want to experience Trolltunga:

The path to Trolltunga
Most people choose a day trip and start from P2 Skjeggedal or P3 Mågelitopp. In the months of June—September, experienced hikers can walk on own hand.

Day trip with guide to Trolltunga
We recommend going with guide, unless you're mountain-accustomed. The guide will make sure you have a safe and memorable experience!

Trolltunga Via Ferrata
Want a more challenging experience? Then is Trolltunga Via Ferrata perfect! You cycle 6 km along Ringedalsvatnet, and climb the 250 meter Via Ferrata route, before walking the last 3 km until Trolltunga itself. The walk down goes via the Trolltunga trail.
You can combine Trolltunga Via Ferrata with accommodation in a camp on the mountain.

Guided mountain tour — and a night on the mountain
Boats Trolltunga Active and Trolltunga Adventures offers guided Trolltunga tours with accommodation in a great camp on the mountain. Experience nature with all your senses, hear the guides tell stories around the campfire, and enjoy traditional local food!

Camping on your own
Want more time to enjoy our beautiful mountain? Catch both sunset and sunrise with you? Please read more about camping in the mountains first. Set up your tent only in recommended places — and leave no trace behind you!
It can be heavy to carry all the equipment you need. If you opt for a guided tour with accommodation, most of what you need on the trip is included.

To see details and more tour offers, you can visit the websites of Trolltunga Active and Trolltunga Adventures.

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Other experiences nearby

While in Odda, there are many other great experiences you should get with you at the same time! Experience an adventure of cascading waterfalls, emerald green fjords, blue glaciers, snow-capped peaks and lush valleys. Odda is surrounded by two national parks, Folgefonna National Park and Hardangervidda National Park. Get with you too Stave Church in Røldal, Buarbreen, The Power Museum in Tyssedal and Agatunet which is one of the few preserved Norwegian cluster tuna.

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The road to Odda — an experience in itself

When driving to and from Odda and Trolltunga, you should make the most of National Tourist Route Hardanger18 carefully selected roads in Norway have been granted the status of National Tourist Road and the National Tourist Road Hardanger is one of them. The national tourist route in Hardanger is like driving through a magnificent painting — a landscape marked by mountains, fjords, waterfalls and glaciers. Hardanger is a fruit region, where farmers scratch their way to the bottom of the fjord. In many places, berries and fruits are sold along the road.

Waterfalls

Låtefosse is the most famous waterfall in Oddadalen, also known as”Valley of the Waterfalls“. There is no place in the world that has so many waterfalls in such a short stretch as in Oddadalen. In the 10 km long valley there are seven waterfalls!

Kayak trip on Sandvinvatnet or RIB tour on the fjord

You can paddle in kayak on Sandvinvatnet. It is said that this lake and landscape inspired the well-known painting “Brudeferd i Hardanger” which Tidemann and Gude painted in collaboration. It is also possible with a paddle trip on the Hardangerfjorden.

Do you want a more fast-paced experience on the fjord? Rib safari with Trolltunga Active something for you. The tour combines nature, history and culture.

Bretur

If you move on to Jondalwhich is also located in Ullensvang Municipality, you can join a experienced guide on the glacier tour.

Dronningstien and Bondhusvatnet

While in the area, you should catch two other famous mountain tours: Queen's Path and the trip to Bondhusvatnet.
H.M. Dronning Sonja is an experienced hiker and Dronningstien is one of the favorites in Hardanger. The tour runs in the high mountains between Kinsarvik and Lofthus. Along the way there are wonderful views of the Sørfjorden.

If you would rather have an easier trip, we recommend the trip to the beautiful Bondhusvatnet. The ride is well suited for stroller, bicycle and motorized wheelchair.

Hot Sauna

Hot sauna is located in the beautiful Sørfjorden at Børve. Here you can find your resting pulse again after a delicious day in the mountains. Enjoy the silence and jump into the refreshing water for an extra kick. Perfect for recovering the body after a day in the mountains.

Food and drink

We recommend that you end the day at Buer Restaurant. From the restaurant there is a lovely view of Buerbreen. Here you will find delicious dishes based on local ingredients. Along with pages from Hardanger and spectacular scenery, a visit to Buer is a magical total experience.

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Where are you going to spend the night?

Odda has a wide range of accommodation establishments. You can choose anything from Trolltunga Camping idyllic location at Sandvinvatnet to historic Ullensvang Hotels in Lofthus. Whether you're into the outdoors or interested in design, the luxury treetop huts are Woodnest an exciting option.

In Woodnest — Odda Treehouse you will get up close to nature. Feel the tranquility and enjoy the view of the Sørfjorden.

Leif Einar Lothe, with the artist name Lothepus, runs the RV site Camp Lothepus down by the fjord. Lothepus plans to open a new campsite in Odda with a stave church, longhouses and several cabins during 2025.

For those who have been watching the Netflix series Ragnarok, it's extra exciting to stay at Vikinghaug. Viking mound in Odda, or Edda as the place is named in the series, is the location of Jutelheim in “Ragnarok”, where the evil forces reside. In the series, the building is “painted” black and has an additional floor.

Trolltunga Hotell It is beautifully situated between Hardangerfjord and Sandvinvatnet. Or you can choose Hardanger Hotell which is centrally located in the center of Odda. For those interested in art, Tyssedal Hotell the first choice. Here you can explore the world-renowned art collection with paintings by Christian Krogh, Nils Bergslien, Morten Muller, Hans Dahl and Anders Askvold, among others.

More accommodations can be found here.

Shopping

Odda is one of the few towns where you can still find most of the shops clustered in the city centre. Gold House Odda has a workshop where they create their own unique jewelry. With so many outdoor tourists, it is natural to have many sports shops in Odda. Terje Storhaug is a clothing store's own sports department. Next door lies Sport1 Odda and in Sørfjordscenter you will find Sports Outlet Odda. A stone's throw away lies Factory sale of Jerven who make the famous Jervenduks. Wolverine also sells other outdoor clothing.

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Exciting industrial and hydropower history

100 years ago, Odda was one of Norway's most popular destinations. About half of all foreign tourists in Norway visited Odda. Five cruise ships could be located on the fjord at the same time. Tourists from Germany, Britain and Italy were escorted by horse and cart along Sandvinvatnet and further up the Oddadalen valley. They visited Buarbreen, and enjoyed the sight of the waterfalls — Låtefoss, Tjørnadalsfossen, Strandsfossen and Vidfoss. Only in Odda, which was the main destination in Hardanger, between ten and twelve hotels were built.

Simultaneously with these tourists, scientists and capitalists also came to Hardanger. Including Sam Eyde, director of Norsk Hydro, which established AS Tyssefaldene in 1906. They were interested in the waterfalls of Odda, especially in the mighty Skjeggedalsfossen in Tyssedal. Norway experienced an extraordinary industrial growth in the years 1896 to 1920. Within a few years, Odda's character changed from peasant community and tourist idyll to industrial community. The Odda factories supplied industrial products produced by new electrochemical processes to international markets. Then followed 100 years of industrial travel, smelting furnaces and workers' struggle. Odda Smelteverk, Norzink, Boliden and Tinfos Titan & Iron made Odda grey. For many years, Odda was a place no one would stop. The factories were spewing out smoke and the most important thing was to get by as quickly as possible.

Lonely Planet on Odda in 2008:
“Frequently cited as Norway's ugliest town (it does battle with some pretty dire places in Finnmark), Odda is the industrial, iron-smelting capital of the Hardanger region.”

People living in Odda were embarrassed to say where they came from. They said they were from about Hardanger, if anyone asked. But something happened -- environment got on the agenda. New demands were made to the companies and they cleaned up. In addition, Odda Smelteverk went bankrupt in 2003. Today, there are two large power-consuming enterprises left in Odda: Boliden and Tizir. But the smoke is gone and Odda has regained his good name and reputation. With the Trolltunga tourists, the tourists returned in Odda again. In 2020, Odda municipality was merged with Jondal municipality and Ullensvang herad into the larger municipality of Ullensvang. And now new, exciting experiences are constantly emerging in the open-air capital of Ullensvang. And Lothepus and Trolltunga have made the inhabitants proud to be from Odda. The ring is in many ways terminated!

To learn more about Odda's exciting industrial and hydropower history, we recommend a visit to The Power Museum in Tyssedal.

Do you climb Tyssedal Via Ferrata, you will get to know the everyday life that faced the Rallars when they built out the hydroelectric power plant, when they secured rock structures, cast concrete foundations and established pipe streets. Here you get an introduction to Norwegian industrial history along with a spectacular climbing experience.

More information about Ullensvang and Hardanger can be found on these official websites:

hardangerfjord.com/odd

hardangerfjord.com

We welcome you to Ullensvang and Trolltunga!

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