The Seven Waterfalls: A private expedition to Hardanger

Departure from Bergen Our tour starts in the city of Bergen – the Gateway to the Fjords. Founded in 1070, the city contains many historical and cultural landmarks. We will pass some of them on our way from the city and also on our return.

Sørfjorden and Osterøy We head towards the Osterøy area. Sørfjorden (the Southern fjord) is part of the Osterfjord system, a peculiar natural phenomenon where a saltwater inlet completely surrounds Osterøy, the largest inland island in Northern Europe. We drive along the Southern fjord until we reach the crossroads at Trengereid.

Hardangervegen (Route 7) We continue along the historic Hardanger Road (Norwegian Route 7). This road is a tourist attraction in itself, offering views of dramatic mountains, quiet lakes, and rushing streams. On our way to the Hardangerfjord, we make several dedicated photo stops.

Waterfall 1 & 2: Mørkhølsfossen and Fossen Bratte First, we see Mørkhølsfossen, a short and wide waterfall located on a mountain river. Our first major stop is at Fossen Bratte, a stunning 79-meter (259 ft) tall waterfall. We highly recommend a short walk to the bottom of the falls to feel the roaring freshness.

Waterfall 3: Steinsdalsfossen Next is Steinsdalsfossen (50 meters tall). This is one of Norway’s most unique sights because of the safe path that allows you to walk behind the falling water without getting wet.

Fyksesund Bridge and Steinstø After passing Norheimsund and Øystese, we cross the Fyksesund Bridge, a beautiful suspension bridge built in 1937. On the other side lies Steinstø, a small farming community where we can stop at the local fruit farm and café for a cup of coffee and traditional apple pie.

Waterfall 4: Skjervsfossen Before crossing the main fjord, we take a short detour to Skjervsfossen. This impressive waterfall features twin falls plunging from a height of 150 meters.

The Hardanger Bridge We cross the Hardangerfjord via the Hardanger Bridge, a magnificent suspension bridge opened in 2013 with a main span of 1,310 meters. The crossing is preceded and followed by long tunnels, including a unique underground roundabout. We stop at a viewpoint to admire the bridge’s engineering and the fjord view.

Lunch at Hardangerviddahallen We drive to Øvre Eidfjord, where we typically have time for lunch at the cozy Hardangervidda Hall Restaurant (open April–October), located at the entrance to the high mountain plateau.

Waterfall 5: Vøringsfossen We reach the mighty Vøringsfossen, 182 meters (597 ft) tall, at the end of the Måbødalen valley. You can experience the waterfall from several secure platforms overhanging the canyon, offering a mesmerizing view of the raging waters and the rugged tundra landscape.

Odda and the Folgefonna Tunnel We travel south to the town of Odda, located at the innermost part of the Sørfjorden. From here, we drive through the Folgefonn Tunnel, Norway’s fourth longest tunnel (11.15 km), which runs directly under the massive Folgefonna glacier.

Waterfall 6: Furebergsfossen On the other side of the mountain, we follow the Maurangsfjord to Furebergsfossen. This 90-meter (295 ft) waterfall is unique because the water flows directly into the salty waters of the fjord.

Waterfall 7: Koldalsfossen Our final major stop is Koldalsfossen in Eikelandsosen. We take a short walk to admire the last of our seven waterfalls before we cross the fjord by ferry and head back to Bergen (approx. 1 hour drive).