AMAZING HARDANGER: Private round trip with Fjord Cruise – from Bergen, 11 hours

Our tour starts in the city of Bergen - the Gateway to the Fjords. The city was founded in 1070 and contains many historical and cultural landmarks. We will pass some of them on our way from the city and also on our return to Bergen. We drive straight to the Vøringsfossen waterfall – the farthest attraction from Bergen on this tour. This is done so you can take the fjord cruise on the passenger ferry in the afternoon. There is only one departure from Eidfjord.

Sørfjorden or the South fjord is part of the Osterfjord which is a peculiar natural phenomenon: an salt water inlet that surrounds the largest inland island in Northern Europe - Osterøy Island - enclosed by contitental land. We drive along the South fjord until we come the the crossroads in Trengereid. (Usually we do not stop here.)

If there is not lot of traffic and we are making good time on our way from Bergen to the Hardangerfjord, we can take a short detour on an alternate road and make a stop at Skjervsfossen waterfall, with its twin falls plunging out from a height of 150 metres.

After a while we come to the Hardangerfjord. It is one of its narrower places, which we will cross the fjord on the Hardanger bridge – a suspension bridge from 2013 with a main span of 1310 metres (4300 ft). This magnificent structure is preceded by an 8 km (5 miles) long tunnel. Another tunnel awaits on the other side. We stop at the viewpoint overlooking the fjord and the bridge on the other side.

We continue our drive along the Hardangerfjord, pass the village of Eidfjord and start gradually ascending to the Hardangervidda plateau, past Øvre Eidfjord and trough elaborate tunnels in the mountainside of Måbødalen valley. Our next stop, and the main destination of the journey, is Vøringsfossen waterfall, 182 metres (597 ft) tall, located at the very end of Måbødalen valley where the Hardangervidda begins. Expected time of arrival is 12:00. The viewpoint consists of several secure platforms overhanging the waterfall and the canyon. The view is mesmerizing: raging waters falling to the bottom of the canyon, the rugged valley with a stream meandering below surrounded by lush yet fragile tundra landscape.

After visiting Vøringsfossen we return to Øvre Eidfjord, where we visit the "Norwegian Nature Center – Hardanger", a museum and visitor center of the Hardangervidda National Park, dedicated to flora, fauna, geology and history of the region. There you may also watch a new panoramic film "Norway my country - fjords, mountains, waterfalls and Hardangervidda" a spectacular journey through fjords and mountain landscapes and mighty waterfalls. It is a beautiful film on panoramic screen about the magnificent sights on Hardangervidda plateau. After the museum, there will be time for lunch at a cozy yet spacious café. The museum and cafe open only during the season from April 1 to October 31. Out of season we can have lunch in a cafe in Eidfjord.

Our next stop is the village of Eidfjord, a popular cruise ship destination, and also the departure point of your fjord cruise.

Your fjord cruise starts from Eidfjord at 2:40pm. Passenger catamaran ferry will take you on a beautiful journey on the main Hardangerfjord, as well as some narrower fjords that branch off the main waterway. The ferry will make stops in quaint and secluded villages along the way. Your stop is the last one, do not worry to miss it. These are the stops:

1. Ulvik – at the very end on the narrow Ulvikfjord.
2. Kinsarvik – you will first pass under the Hardanger Bridge before entering the Sørfjord, where Kinsarvik lies.
3. Lofthus – a little bit farther into the Sørfjord.
4. Utne - a small village that lies on the northernmost part of Folgefonna peninsula.
5. Herand – next to the last stop.
6. Norheimsund – where the cruise ends at 5:30pm.

Your driver-guide will not be accompanying you on the fjord cruise. The guide and the car are meeting you in Norheimsund, from where you continue your journey to Bergen.

Your driver-guide meets you in Norheimsund and the car trip continues on the Hardangervegen or the Hardanger Road / Norwegian Route #7. This road is a tourist attraction in itself. We will see beautiful sights along the way: mountains, lakes and waterfalls. On the way from the Hardangerfjord we will make two photo stops at 2 waterfalls: Steinsdalsfossen and Fossen Bratte.

Just a couple of minutes outside Norheimsund there lies Steinsdalsfossen – 164 feet (50 meters) tall waterfall – our next stop. You can actually walk behind the falling water without getting wet. A walk behind the waterfall to the viewpoint is highly recommended.

We make a stop at Fossen Bratte waterfall – 259 feet (79 meters) tall. The view is great and you can take some memorable pictures here. A short walking tour to the bottom of the waterfall is highly recommended – you simply must feel the roaring freshness and gentle and pure water drops on your face.

This is the last stop before Bergen. From here, we continue to the Osterfjord and return to Bergen. Approximate arrival to Bergen is at 07:30pm.