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Sports and outdoors

Untamed nature and spectacular activities

Summer
Last updated: 06.06.2024
Topptur opp Langfoss
At the top of Langfoss, Åkrafjorden|© Magnus Roaldset Furset
At the top of Langfoss, Åkrafjorden|© Magnus Roaldset Furset

Nature and activities that take your breath away, and hidden gems you can enjoy (almost) all to yourself. For anyone wanting to experience the untamed nature of Fjord Norway, Haugesund and Ryfylke have an abundance of things to see and do!

The iconic Preikestolen and other must-do hikes this summer

Fill your holiday with spectacular nature experiences and soak up the fresh air and raw nature. Follow in Tom Cruise’s footsteps and visit the iconic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) this summer, or take some holiday snaps from Kjeragbolten boulder on the Lysefjord. These truly are bucket-list experiences for hiking enthusiasts – an absolute must!


Flere folk som er på platået til Preikestolen.

Hike to Preikestolen in the Lysefjorden

Preikestolen (the Pulpit Rock) rises 604 metres above the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, and is one of Norway's biggest attractions. The view at the top is stunning.

nature, mountain formations in norway, famous kjerag mountain and kjerag boulder

Hike to Kjerag in the Lysefjord

Kjerag is called the majesty of the Lysefjord, Ryfylke. Most people are content to enjoy the fjord view, but for many, Kjeragbolten is the highlight.

At the Åkrafjord, you can join local guides from Åkrafjorden Nature for a guided tour up Langfoss waterfall, to the giant's cauldrons at Rullestad or to other hidden places they will happily share with you. Let them know your wishes and they can tailor a hike that's right for you.


Dame på tur til Jettegrytene i Rullestad

Guided tour to the giant potholes at Rullestad

The giant potholes at Rullestad are a spectacular natural phenomenon that dates back more than 10,000 years. These naturally sculpted potholes in the rock have been shaped by water and ice across millennia. The area has recently been granted UNESCO status and is part of Geopark Sunnhordland.

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen

Akrafjorden Nature B&B AS

Åkrafjorden Nature offers cosy rooms with shared bathrooms and activities like Via Ferrata, hiking, and canyoning - a great base for an active holiday!

From Nedstrand, 50 minutes from Haugesund, you can hike to what is often referred to as ‘Trolltunga's little sister’: Himakånå. The hike to the top only takes an hour, so it doesn’t take long before you can enjoy the view. Don't forget to pack the obligatory Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bar in your backpack to enjoy at the summit! For Norwegians, it’s a must on every hike! The chocolate is a bit like KitKat, but is of course much better!

Find more hidden hiking destinations such as the mountains Hovlandsnuten and Skomakarnibbå in Ryfylke.

Himakånå

Hike to Himakånå in Nedstrand

Himakånå, often called Trolltunga’s little sister, is a great hike that suits most people. The hike to the summit takes around one hour.

Climb one of Norway's toughest Via Ferrata routes along the Åkrafjord

If there's one route you really should check off your bucket list this year, it's Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen in the Åkrafjord. This spectacular route leads you 550 metres up the steep mountainside, and the view just gets better and better the higher you climb. Local guides accompany you all the way to the top, and the route guarantees both high adrenaline and a great sense of mastery. If you would prefer to climb a slightly less demanding via ferrata, a good option is Via Ferrata Ingdalen on the Åkrafjord.

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen i Åkrafjorden.

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen is perhaps one of Norway's toughest? The route is about 900 metres long, and you'll be rewarded with beautiful views of the Åkrafjord on the climb.

Via Ferrata Ingadalen i Åkrafjorden - a family-friendly route

Via Ferrata Ingadalen i Åkrafjorden - a family-friendly route

Via Ferrata Ingadalen is a family-friendly route suitable for children from about 6 years of age. Åkrafjorden Nature offers several Via Ferrata routes of varying difficulty in Åkrafjorden.

Via Ferrata i Åkrafjorden
Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen|© Linn Totland

Climb the world's longest wooden stairway in Flørli

Flørli is a roadless village halfway along the Lysefjord that not only boasts a world record but also spectacular experiences. If you put on your hiking shoes and climb all 4,444 steps, you can boast of having climbed the world's longest wooden stairway. You can also go on a cliff walkin Flørli and take a picture from the highlight of the trip: Kallaliklumpen, a boulder jutting out high above the fjord. Flørli also has a number accommodation options, including apartments and a hostel, as well as a café situated at the old power station.


Hike to Flørlitrappene and Rallarstien in the Lysefjord

Hike to Flørlitrappene and Rallarstien in the Lysefjord

In Flørli in the Lysefjord, Ryfylke, you'll find the world's longest wooden staircase (Flørli Stairs) with 4,444 steps. A demanding but family-friendly hike.

En dame som står på Kallaliklumpen med Lysefjorden i bakgrunnen.

Flørli Cliffhike

Flørli Klippevandring is an unique hike on the cliffs between Flørli and Kallali in Lysefjorden. One of the highlights is Kallaliklumpen, a boulder high above the fjord.

Accommodations in Flørli

Accommodations in Flørli

Flørli 4444 has four rental apartments, Flørli Historic Hostel and Special Rooms with shared facilities. All houses and most rooms have a fjord view.

Vafler og kanelsnurrer på disken.

Café & kiosk in Flørli

Kraft Kafé & Kiosk in Flørli i Lysefjorden is an intimate and original café serving coffee, cakes, waffles, lunch and traditional Norwegian dinner.

© Flørli 4444

Canyoning – a combination of climbing, swimming and abseiling

Steep mountains, waterfalls and deep pools promise wonderful experiences for the adventurous. In the Åkrafjord, you can go canyoning with local guides, an activity that combines climbing, abseiling, swimming and clambering through the wild landscape. Have your very own James Bond moment as you feel the adrenaline rush of abseiling down waterfalls! You can then stay overnight at Åkrafjorden Nature B&B or Åkrafjorden Glamping.

Canyon in Åkrafjorden

Canyon in Åkrafjorden

Åkrafjorden Nature offers canyoning in beautiful Åkrafjorden. Canyoning is a combination of hiking, climbing, abseiling and wading - perfect for those who want to feel the adrenaline rush.

Stemningsfylt på glamping i Åkrafjorden.

Åkrafjorden Glamping

Åkrafjorden Glamping, a unique place to stay in the wild, beautiful and untouched nature of Western Norway. They have two domes.

Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen

Akrafjorden Nature B&B AS

Åkrafjorden Nature offers cosy rooms with shared bathrooms and activities like Via Ferrata, hiking, and canyoning - a great base for an active holiday!

Swim with wild salmon on a salmon safari in Suldal

Swim with salmon? That’s right – you can actually swim with salmon at Mo Laksegard! Wearing a dry suit and diving mask, you float down Suldalsågen river alongside wild salmon and trout. Swimming with the fish in the wild and studying them up close is an experience you'll never forget. You can look forward to telling friends and family (and Instagram) about an adventure that most people have never experienced.

Laksesafari.

Salmon Safari in Suldalslågen in Sand

On a salmon safari with Mo Laksegard in Sand, Ryfylke, you'll float down the Suldalslågen river in a dry suit while seeing wild salmon and sea trout up close underwater.

Stand-up paddleboarding and surfing at Raw Ocean Lodge

The eco-lodge Raw Ocean Lodge is situated at Sandve, on the southern tip of Karmøy island. It is run by a group of friends who are passionate about the ocean, a passion that’s reflected in the activities and accommodation they offer. Could this be the summer you learn to surf or finally master stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)?

Skaarnesheimen - Raw Ocean Lodge

Skaarnesheimen Raw Ocean Lodge

Raw Ocean Lodge is situated at Sandve and its nearest neighbour is the North Sea. Guests can stay overnight in a cabin or in their own private dome.

Skaarnesheimen - Raw Ocean Lodge

Rental of SUP (Stand Up Paddle) at Raw Ocean Lodge

Raw Ocean Lodge Skaarnesheimen in Sandve has 10 rental Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP) available.

Surf

Private surf lessons at Raw Ocean Lodge

Have you always dreamt of trying surfing? Raw Ocean Lodge’s instructors know the area very well and always know where to go for optimal conditions.

Kayaking in the majestic Lysefjord

There are few things better than the fresh sea breeze and the sound of the paddle hitting the water. Fjord Expedition offers guided kayak tours around Jørpeland, and kayak hire from Forsand and Jørpeland, where you can paddle a kayak in amazing surroundings. If you would like to hire a kayak and go kayaking without a guide, you need to have previous experience and be familiar with basic safety procedures. Nordic Padling offers guided tours of the Lysefjord, which is a wonderful way to experience the fjord and see the iconic Pulpit Rock from a whole new perspective.

Tuppen på en rød kajakk omgitt av blått hav i Lsefjorden. Med fjellsider til venstre i bildet.

Lysefjorden 6-hour kayak tour with Nordic Paddling

Paddle through Norway’s stunning Lysefjord on a guided kayak tour! A scenic adventure for beginners and nature lovers alike.

Guidet kajakktur Jørpeland

Guided kayak tour around Jørpeland

Join Fjord Expedition on a guided kayak tour in beautiful scenery and calm waters around Jørpeland. The tour suits everyone, no kayaking experience needed.

Kajakk i Lysefjorden
© Nordic Paddling

Lively seas and calm waters on a RIB boat

A RIB tour of Smedasundet (Haugesund)is a real adventure, with Viking Adventure’s local skippers promising high speed and action. The tour takes you out to the open sea, the straits and the narrow channels around nearby islands. If you’re lucky, you might even get to glimpse a majestic sea eagle on the tour, as one of the islands is a breeding ground.

RIB safari in Haugesund - Viking Adventure

RIB safari in Haugesund - Viking Adventure

Join a fun Rib tour in Haugesund with Viking Adventure. Experience Haugesund's beautiful coastline and discover hidden gems. Duration approx. 2 hours.

Fast-paced bike ride in Jørpeland

Experience speed and excitement from the saddle of a bike at Dalen Stisenter in Jørpeland. The 1.5 km round-trip trail is just as fun for experienced cyclists as it is for beginners. The bike trail is free, but you must bring your own bike and the necessary safety equipment, including a helmet.


OL-mester Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå tester ut løypa på Jørpeland.

Mountain bike at Dalen Stisenter at Jørpeland

Dalen Stisenter at Jørpeland in Ryfylke has a 1.5 kilometer long mountain biking path with many sharp turns.

Prepare for a new, action-packed day with a sauna

Active days can lead to aching muscles. The perfect antidote is to spend time in a sauna or floating sauna, followed by a refreshing dip. There are a number of saunas in Ryfylke and Haugesund that you can try during your holiday. Preikestolen Basecamp, Moskjelen in Sand, Ryfylke Fjordsauna, Heit Haugesund, Heit Åkrafjorden and Bade-Olena in Skudeneshavn are the perfect way to relieve aching muscles. They also guarantee a revitalising summer no matter the weather in Fjord Norway!

Badstubåt på Preikestolen BaseCamp

Floating Saunas at Preikestolen BaseCamp

Enjoy a perfect start to the morning, or unwind after a day in the mountains, aboard one of Preikestolen BaseCamp's floating saunas, close to the trail to Preikestolen.

The sauna Moskjelen in Suldal

The sauna Moskjelen in Suldal

Moskjelen Badstove by Suldalslågen river in Suldal is a unique combination of sauna and dining with a fantastic view of the famous salmon river.

Tre personer som sitter i badstuen.

Ryfylke Fjordsauna at Sand

Right at the mouth of the Suldalslågen in Sand, Ryfylke, you can find peace and quiet and loosen stiff muscles in the fjord sauna at Ryfylke Fjordhotell.

Utsikt fra innsiden av saunaen.

Heit Åkrafjorden Sauna

Sauna with spectacular fjord views, about 1.5 hours from Haugesund and 35 minutes from Odda (Hardanger). Can be combined with accommodation at Åkrafjorden Glamping.

Ett par tar badstu i Bade-Olena Skudeneshavn.

The bathing jetty “Bade Olena”

At the bathing jetty “Bade Olena” you can take sea-baths and sauna all year round.

Heit Haugesund

Heit Haugesund Sauna – Viking Adventure

Heit Haugesund Sauna is beautifully located by Smedasundet in the centre of Haugesund. Here you get a real wood-fired sauna, and the opportunity to jump into the sea every day of the week.

More inspiration from Haugesund
More inspiration from Ryfylke!

More travel inspiration

Experience Norways’ national treasures by car

Experience Norways’ national treasures by car

In Haugesund, Karmøy and Ryfylke, you can experience Viking heritage, be inspired by striking architecture and taste exquisite world-class beverages. We have put together an action-packed driving route that leads you through the cultural, historical, culinary and architectural treasures in Fjord Norway. We’ve chosen to start the driving route at Langfoss waterfall, but you can of course start your holiday wherever suits you best!

Explore exotic places that satisfy your adventurous spirit

Explore exotic places that satisfy your adventurous spirit

In Ryfylke and Haugesund, you can explore hidden gems along the deep fjords and rugged coastline, where you can try exciting activities that challenge both body and mind. We promise you holiday snaps brimming with moments you'll cherish forever!

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