Norway’s great cliff walks — Preikestolen and Kjerag above a fjord that runs 42 kilometres inland.
The Lysefjord cuts inland from Stavanger between walls that rise more than a thousand metres from the water. Preikestolen — the Pulpit Rock — is the best known of the walks above it, a flat shelf 604 metres over the fjord reached in about two hours from the trailhead.
Kjerag is longer and harder, with the Kjeragbolten boulder wedged in a crevasse. Both are popular enough that timing matters: we start early, or use the boat approach and the Flørli stairway, which sees a fraction of the traffic.
Design hotels in Stavanger and a small number of properties at the fjord head for early trailhead access.
Guided ascents of Preikestolen and Kjerag, private fjord boats, and the 4,444-step Flørli stairway.
Stavanger has a serious food scene for its size, built on North Sea seafood and Rogaland farming.
Direct European flights into Stavanger, then a short transfer and ferry to the fjord trailheads.
Waterfalls at full volume and long light. Kjerag can still hold snow into June.
Warmest and driest, with every route open — also the busiest, which shapes our start times.
Colour through the valleys and empty trails, with the weather turning more Atlantic.
May — June: Snowmelt. Waterfalls at full volume and long light. Kjerag can still hold snow into June. July — August: High Summer. Warmest and driest, with every route open — also the busiest, which shapes our start times. September — October: Autumn. Colour through the valleys and empty trails, with the weather turning more Atlantic.
We suggest 3 nights. 3 nights: Stavanger based, with a guided Preikestolen day and a private fjord boat to the Flørli stairway. 7 nights: The Lysefjord cliffs continued north into Hardanger and the Bergen fjord country.
Stavanger (SVG). Direct European flights into Stavanger, then a short transfer and ferry to the fjord trailheads.
Hiking · Cliffs · Fjord boats. Norway’s great cliff walks — Preikestolen and Kjerag above a fjord that runs 42 kilometres inland.