The best way is Norway!
Norway has been one of my favourite countries for a long time now. It holds a special place in my heart since my sister lives there as well.
This year, I had the privilege to visit Stavanger in Norway again and the purpose for the visit was to see my sister and hiking.
Stavanger is a lovely place with a lot of greenery and scenic beauty. What makes it even better is that it has so many amazing spots to hike. I have so far been on 3 different hikes and each one was better than the previous one.
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Manafossen falls
Manafossen Falls, Norway
This would qualify as one of the easiest hikes and works well for beginners. The hike is barely an hour with little effort. The view of the waterfall is worth the short trek. I did this hike on my first trip to Norway with no experience of what a hike was whatsoever.
Manafossen Falls, Norway
After the initial climb, there is a viewing point that offers stunning views of the waterfall. Continue for some more time and you arrive at a fairly even land and the water flowing at the level of the land. Dip your feet in the cold water or just explore the small cabin that outlines the facts and figures of the falls.
2. Preikestolen
Priekestolen, Norway
Preikestolen is a big jump from Manafossen. The hike is a 3.8 km’s (2.4 miles) one and it takes you around 1.5-2.5 hours one way (if not more). The initial 15-20 minutes are the toughest ones and if you get through that, the rest of the climb should be a breeze.
The hiking/trekking season in Norway usually starts around late June-July. If you are lucky enough, you won’t have to face a lot of rush. Preikestolen does offer some good views but the best ones are at the end. Once you make it to the famous cliff, the views are unbelievable. The cliff is at a height of 604 metres (1,982 ft.) above Lysefjorden.
Priekestolen, Norway
If you are adventurous enough, you would probably not stop at the cliff and keep climbing. However, the climb gets a bit more difficult as you go higher and higher
3. Kjerag
Kjereg, Norway
Kjerag is one of the best hiking spots in Norway. It is the place you want to visit if you are crazy about hikes and want to challenge yourself. The initial climb is a killer and takes a lot out of you. The intensity reduces as the hike progresses. However; it is not an easy hike and does require some amount of effort.
The hike can be started from Øygardsstølen, that is about 2 hours drive from Stavanger. The hike itself take 3 hours or more depending on expertise and fitness levels. If you go on a hike during early or mid-June, you will be able to see some snow on the way.
Kjereg, Norway
Once at the top, you have the chance to get a photo on top of the Kjeragbolten, a boulder that is suspended above 3,228 feet (984 metres) deep abyss. Craziness doesn’t even start defining what the experience of standing on top of the boulder feels like.
To-do List
There are a few more spots that are worth hiking and are already on my list. The first one being Trolltunga which translates to Troll’s Tongue in English. The hike is a long one with the starting point being hours away from any major city. The key attraction being the long tongue-shaped cliff that offers amazing views. The hike is easily 8 to 10 hours and requires some amount of fitness.
The final spot on the list might not exactly be a hiking spot but it is another one of those climbs that push you to the limits. Think about climbing up 4,444 wooden steps into the mountains; Flørli offers this opportunity. I can just imagine how beautiful the views from the top would be.
Hiking is always fun and it is even better in Norway. It might be challenging, especially if you are afraid of heights, but it’s all about taking that plunge and the rest takes care of itself.
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