Mountains of Vestland - Bergen

Mountains of Vestland - Bergen

Vestland in Norway is mostly known for it's fjords, guarded with steep high rock walls. But did you know that it's also home to many glaciers? Fjords, glaciers, steep hills, mountains, waterfalls and also beautiful colorfull houses. This trip will provide all of that, and even more. It is the best from my Erasmus days i Bergen.

Beginning

What better way to kick off the trip than riding one of the most beautiful railway in Norway. We will start our journey in Oslo, taking the scenic train to Voss. Voss is quite modern city, providing the ski-resorts for the norwegian people in winter. In summer it is place where you start your trips, heading to the mountains all around. We will not stay here for very long time, taking the bus to Fresvik, where our real Journey begin.

Day 01

Sognefjord is the name of the longest fjord in Europe and the second longest in the world. And it is also the fjord that Fresvik is located by. The first day will provide breathtaking views of it. But all beuty has it's price for us it is the inclimb we need to make.

Walking about:

• 17 km
• 1 433 m up
• 450 m down

Our camp for the night will be in the mountains with the views.

Day 02

Day 2 starts with bad news, down climb. We have to go down about the 1/3 we climbed the day before, but dont worry it is not for nothing, another climb up awaits us. This time maybe with the most spectacular fjord view I've ever seen. Bakkanosi is the name of it, and when the timing is righ, and sky clears you can see all the way to Jotunheimen NP, with it's white shiny tops.

Walking about:

• 18 km
• 1 539 m up
• 1000 m down

Spending the night with this awesome views.

Day 03

I would like to tell you that this day shall be the easy one, traveling by bus but it probably wont .D We need to get down to the nearest bus stop. The way down will takes us about 6 h, and it will be mostly downhill. We will cross one of the local villages that lay guarded by mountains from all sides. Nowaday the tunel connect it to outer world, but in past there was no way out other than crossing the mountains. Wide waleys and flowing will guide us. Taking the way which the dead people were carried out of the village.

After this short bus drive back to Voss, and from here we takes another ~1 h drive to the city called Kinsarvik. From here its only a short hike to the Waterfalls. Where we will stay over night.

Walking about:

• 26 km
• 600 m up
• 1400 m down

day 04

Day 3 was the day to refill our food. Now only the mountains awaits us. Hardangervidda NP is the biggest highlands in the Europe, and also the place we will spend the next 3 days at. Walking to the Søtefossen while passing Tveitafossen, the waterfall image from my home page. Once we are at the top, it's almost like going over the flat grounds. Altho, there is still quite plenty of sturdy rocks to be stunned about. But maybe the most important thing, this deep in mountains it's only us and the sheep, no much turist around. So quite the place to enjoy the quietness, and phone dissconnection (yea no cell phone connection there .D).

Walking about:

• 25 km
• 1000 m up
• 300 m down

Day 05

Now you can start wondering, if there is anything interesting other than rocs and sheep. And I can asure you, the place we are going to, is all worth it, altho the crowds are maybe not that much. Trolltunga is for sure one of those places instagram users just scream about when the real pops up, and so many unexperienced people want to see. It is also the place we are camping today, taking the advantage of late/early hours so we can also take a picture for our instagram story :D. But the real reason I am taking you there is the Ringedal. Azure blue lake located just below the Trolltunga. It is maybe even more stunning than the favorite picture spot.

Walking about:

• 26 km
• 600 m up
• 400 m down

Day 06 & Day 07

Now we again dissapear into the quite mountains. Walking in the direction of Odda, towards our icy blue friend.

Walking about:

• 20 km
• 600 m up
• 600 m down

The next day we need to get down and up again.

Walking about:

• 22 km
• 1400 m up
• 1000 m down

Day 08

Today is the day, you stand on the glacier. You can litteraly do that .D if you want. We are going in the direction of Buarbreen, glacier waterfall of Folgefonna glaciew. Place very close to me, because it was the first time I get to see the blue ice from very close. It is the third biggest glacier in Norway, and the biggest one located so low in Europe. The views are truly like from diferent world, but still real.

We shall take our time by it, and than go down to Odda, where another short bus ride awaits us.

Walking about:

• 18 km
• 800 m up
• 1600 m down

Day 09

This day is together with day 10 our safe buffer. We will get to the other side of the Folgefonna, admiring the beauty and potecialy spending the last time in the mountains before going home. And then taking the 3-4 h drive to Bergen.

Day 10

This day I is the day you get to experience the Bergen. 2nd biggest city in Norway that is also the rainiest one in the whole Norway. Taking you throught the Bergen's "old town", the public beaches, scenic views and places you would probably did not know exists there. If the conditions are right also taking you to one of the most famous spots for sunset.

It should be a rest goodbye day, before disapearing back to our daily lifes.