Explore the Lysefjord by express boat or ferry

There are many ways to explore the majestic Lysefjord, which holds the Sustainable Destination label.

Kolumbus's express boat and car ferry run regular routes on the 42-kilometre-long fjord all year round. The speedboat, which only has room for passengers, calls at the quays at Lauvvik, Forsand, Bratteli, Bakken, Songesand, Kallali, Flørli, Håheller and Lysebotn. The boat departs every day, with the exception of Saturday. The car ferry can accommodate both passengers and vehicles. The ferry calls at Lauvvik, Forsand, Songesand, Flørli and Lysebotn. It departs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

If you have limited time, Rødnes fjordcruise's year-round fjord cruise with highlights such as Preikestolen, Hengjanefossen and Fantahålå or the day trip cruise to Flørli, which only runs during the summer season, may be an alternative.

Time travel and horse riding at Forsand

If you start at Lauvvik, the first stop is Forsand quay on the south side of the Lysefjord.

Not far from the quay is Fossanmoen Icelandic Horse Centre, which offers accommodation, a climbing wall and horse riding trips to Uburen.

Nearby is the ancient village of Landa, with a 2000-year history. Based on the findings, three buildings have been reconstructed, representing the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Migration Period. Here you can rent a cabin or stay in a tent, caravan or camper van.

You can also travel back in time at Haukali 333. The cosy farmhouse is idyllically situated overlooking Haukalivatnet lake. Here you can live the old-fashioned way, and if you wish, you can bake bread and dress as they did in the 1850s.

At Gøysa Gard you can stay in cosy farmhouses or mini-cabins with large gardens and fjord views. They also offer guided tours to Preikestolen.

Want to stay so close to the Lysefjord that you can dip your toes in the water? Then Lysefjorden Marina is the best option.

If you drive over the Lysefjord Bridge, you can enjoy a good meal at the Lysefjordsenteret. The restaurant is located right by the fjord and is shaped like the world-famous Pulpit Rock.

If you have a car, you should stop at the viewpoint at Høllesli, which is located along Fv. 520 and offers fantastic views of the Lysefjord.

A little further up the hill you'll find the architect-designed The Bolder. Several of the cabins are designed by the renowned Snøhetta. The cabins are designed to minimise their impact on nature and have large windows that provide panoramic views of the fjord.

You can also drive on to Preikestolen car park, where the hike to Preikestolen starts. The trip to one of Norway's biggest tourist attractions takes around 4 hours round trip. From the iconic mountain plateau, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Lysefjord

See Preikestolen from the fjord

The boat continues into the Lysefjord. The first attraction is Fantahålå, and not long after you can study the highlight of the trip, Preikestolen, towering 604 metres above you. Both CNN Go and Lonely Planet have named the iconic mountain plateau one of the world's most spectacular viewpoints.

The next attraction is Hengjanefossen waterfall, which roars down the high mountainside. The journey continues through wild and beautiful scenery with exciting rock formations on both sides. You can see goats grazing and curious cobras poking their heads above the surface of the water.

Climb the world's longest wooden staircase

Make a stop at Songesand, located on the north side of the fjord. There are several great hiking opportunities in the area, and with the cabins Bakken Gard and Songedalen, the small village is part of the Stavanger Tourist Association's SignaTUR - Lysefjorden Rundt.

If you want a unique driving or cycling tour, the varied nature across Lyngsheia to Årdal and Rv 13 (Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke) is an exciting experience.

The roadless village of Flørli, located on the south side of the Lysefjord, is the next stop on the tour. The powerhouse village is best known for the world's longest wooden staircase with 4444 steps from the fjord up to the fantastic view at the top of the mountain. Flørli Klippevandring, with the spectacular Kallaliklumpen, is another hike worth doing.

There is an art exhibition and café in the old power station and a hot tub on the quay. Flørli 4444 offers several different accommodation options, and you can stay in the Stavanger Trekking Association's cabin or in your own boat on the guest jetty.

Kjerag is a must

As the boat approaches Geitaneset, it's time to look up. You'll soon be able to glimpse Kjeragbolten, the rock wedged between two mountainsides some 1,000 metres above you. If you're lucky, you'll see base jumpers plummeting down the steep mountainsides and landing on the small headland in the fjord.

At the very centre of the fjord is Lysebotn. The powerhouse village, which has less than ten inhabitants, comes to life in spring and summer. Most visitors aim to experience Kjerag, which at 1084 metres above sea level is the highest mountain in the Lysefjord. It's a demanding hike, but the stunning fjord views are worth the effort.

Base jumpers from all over the world also gather here to feel the adrenaline rush as they hurl themselves off the high mountains.

Experience idyllic Lysebotn

To get to Øygardstølen, where the trail to Kjerag starts, you turn uphill through 27 hairpin bends. The drive is an experience in itself.

The activity centre SBK Base offers transport to Øygardstølen and rents out equipment for activities both on land and in the water.

After the trip to Kjerag, you can return to Lysebotn. Here you can spend the night at Lysefjorden Tourist Cabin. The serviced tourist cabin is covered in colourful street art and is an attraction in itself. Here you can both stay overnight and enjoy good food and drink.

You can also take the boat back or drive on over the mountain towards Sirdal. The road is closed in winter.

Do you love hiking in the mountains? It is possible to hike around the entire Lysefjord. The Stavanger Trekking Association's signaTUR - Lysefjorden Rundt consists of eight stages, all with accommodation at DNT cabins.