guided adventures

Explore the iconic natural wonders of Norway together with a local and experienced guide! We offer guided hikes to Preikestolen, Kjerag and other mountain tops

BROWSE ALL OUR GUIDED HIKES TO PREIKESTOLEN

Choose one of several amazing and unique tours, and visit the most iconic formation in Norway! Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, is an impressive cliff looming 604 meters (1981ft) above Lysefjorden. Hundreds of thousands visit every year, but we know how to avoid them, at any season of the year!

BROWSE ALL OUR GUIDED HIKES TO KJERAG

The mountain massif Kjerag is wild and stunning, and reachable most of the year! Kjeragbolten (The Kjerag Bolt) sits wedged in a crack 984m (3228ft) above Lysefjorden. We can show you how to safely stand on the boulder, and where the best lunch spot is, away from the crowds!

BROWSE ALL OUR OTHER GREAT HIKES

Our experienced guides have guided thousands of tourists to the breathtaking mountain tops of Lysefjorden. We have a selection of hikes to do, at almost any level of skill and endurance. In addition, you can book a private tour for your colleagues, family or group of friends which can be tailored to your desires!

MEET THE GUIDE: ERLEND

Born just outside of Stavanger on the island of Hundvåg, Erlend is a true native to our beautiful region. Since he was a little boy, he has been fascinated by anything that moves and grows in nature. “As a child I was happy if you gave me a bucket at the beach and let me be off on my own to explore.”

Erlend’s fascination with living things grew with time, and eventually lead him to study the natural world at university, after serving his obligatory year in the military. Between 2006 and 2011, he attended NTNU – The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in ethology, which is the study of behavior from an evolutionary perspective.  

After graduating, Erlend worked as a substitute teacher for a few years before becoming a photographer at Jotunheimen national park, north-east of the city of Bergen. “This galvanised my desire for a job where I could be out in nature.” Late in 2015, Erlend joined a small guiding company, taking people into the mountains. This was a job that would allow him to actively work with both of his passions: photography and the natural world.  Though that small company would close business after SARS-Cov2 impacted the world, Erlend could not see himself doing anything else for a living. He joined us at Explore Lysefjorden in late 2021, bringing years of experience and know-how with him. So, even though we are recent arrivals on the guiding stage of fjord-Norway, you will be in good hands if you book a hike with us!

Today, besides guiding guests from all over the world, Erlend’s main areas of responsibility are back-office functionality, photo editing and booking management. The hike Erlend arguably most enjoys to guide on is Preikestolen at sunrise. “Hiking in the quiet of night is magic. Twilight gives way to dawn as you arrive at Preikestolen, and you’re left standing there: at the edge of a new day, and at the edge of the world.” 

Erlend also has a lovely border collie named Balder, and the two are almost unseparable. You will often see this handsome dog on our Instagram feed!

MEET THE GUIDE PUP: BALDER

Balder is Erlend’s trusty companion. Born on a farm in Vikeså, he descends from a proud family of prize winning sheepdogs. Although his siblings quickly discovered the instinct to herd (something farmers refer to as “waking up”), little Balder didn’t seem all that excited to live the life of a sheepdog. Balder just wanted to play and cuddle. He was thus the last pup to be sold, despite his robust frame when young.

Erlend bought Balder the same day he found the advertisement about pups for sale, and the two have been inseperable since. The cuddly border collie is a testament to his species: playful and sweet; silly yet brilliant. And, of course, more giving of love than any person deserves. If any dog has ever earned the title “Man’s Best Friend”, it is Balder.

Erlend sometimes brings Balder for guided hikes (if every guest gives the okay), and if you want, he can perhaps join yours! Ask us about him, if you want to meet him!

4.9
Based on 60 reviews
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Cia
14:50 28 Oct 24
We had originally booked to hike Mount Kjerag but it was canceled due to weather conditions.We were offered a refund or another hike the same day to see Månafossen waterfall, which we chose.A very beautiful discovery of the Månafossen waterfall, the valley and the Mån river.Our guide, Stefan, was very friendly and attentive to our pace. He shared various historical and personal anecdotes with us throughout the hike and bus ride.We loved this experience!Tak for turen 🙂 👩🏻👨🏼🐺
Matt Davis
21:02 19 Aug 24
We went on an 8 hour hidden trail hike with Erlend and Balder to Preikestolen and it was incredible. We did not see a single soul other than our group except for at the very top and the very bottom. Erlend was very knowledgeable and it was fun getting to know him a bit. Balder was a super dog and a great guide for our adventure. The views along the way and at the top were breathtaking and we avoided all the major crowds. Highly recommend doing this tour.
René Wilke
19:12 15 Aug 24
We had a wonderful trip to Preikestolen with the tour guide Benedikte, which we will never forget for the rest of our lives. It was really great. Benedikte put a lot of effort into making the hike an unforgettable experience for us. We would like to thank you very much for this! I wouldn't recommend climbing alone. Although crowds hike uphill in dry weather, it is much more relaxed if you have an experienced companion who knows every stone. I can therefore only recommend Explore Lysefjorden!
Richele Lieboff
18:37 13 Aug 24
10 stars! We can't say enough about how wonderful our experience with Erlend (and his amazing pup Balder) was. We did back to back hikes. Kjeragbolten one day and Preikestolen the next. I won't spoil the secret, but Erlend has a way to hike and miss 99% of the crowds, which made for a really special experience. Erlend was recommended by a friend who hiked with him last summer, and we were fortunate to be able to book him for our group of 4. If you really want a peaceful hike, this is the way yo go!! Thank you again Erlend, Balder and Explorer Lysefjorden!
Stella Pissa
20:19 15 Jul 24
It was an amazing experience and I want to share it with all the people that are thinking to do this hike.Please do not hesitate to book the Preikestolen hike with Explore Lysefjorden!!!We were a small group of people that wanted to do the sunrise hike.They came to pick us up exactly on time ,we had a car ride for about 40 minutes and our guide Erlend was extremely friendly and made us all feel comfortable.He has an amazing dog that followed as through the hike and we all loved him!His nickname is Baba.The sunrise hike is amazing because it feels more mysterious and calm at the same time and the scenery changes hour by hour.We had head lamps that helped us during the first hour of hiking but to be honest after that we didn’t use them at all.As you go through the colours of the scenery around you are amazing and Erlend took some beautiful photos for us.Finally when we reached the Preikestolen it was the time that the sun was rising so we saw all this beauty from the beginning and Erlend gave us snacks and hot berry juice that we really enjoyed!We took breath taking pictures ,we saw a marriage proposal ,enjoy the morning sun with the few people that were there at that time (that’s another privilege of the sunrise hike )and started to go back.We enjoy the nature with the morning light and we had a delicious breakfast provided with the hike at the Preikestolen base Camp with an amazing view at the fjord!It was an experience that I will always remember and I thank Erlend ,Baba and Explore Lysefjorden for that.It was my second hike (first was reinebringen but I find Preikestolen more easy and interesting )SUNRISE HIKE IS THE BEST!Weather makes a big impact to the hike as well!We were extremely lucky with that!So check the weather forecast and if you have time and days to spend choose the best weather option .Enjoy hiking in Norway because is the best!
Cherrie Leung
18:27 12 Dec 23
Great experience hiking in the snow at Preikestolen with our lovely and helpful guide Erlend and Ivan, and Erlend’s dog Balder!! The guides was sharing lot of interesting information along the hike and the drive, so we get to know the country a lot more 🙂 thank you all for having us and we are looking forward to explore more hikes at Norway in the future! This was definitely a memorable experience.
STELLA MYLONA
08:11 10 May 22
We did the Preikenstolen sunrise hike last April’22 and it was FANTASTIC thanks to our guide Erlend and his adorable dog Balder! Erlend is very accommodating, informative and friendly. Also he is a great photographer, thank you for the amazing photos! We had an amazing time with you guys 😊 Hope to see you again soon and hike with you again. Keep up the great job! You can tell when someone is caring for his job, then the result is happy people 😊 I highly recommend booking with Explore Lysefjorden.
Inès Carussi
07:52 18 Apr 22
I did the Preikestolen hike on april 2022 and it was great! The guide and his dog were nice and I was glad to learn about plants and animals living in the area as well as to see the incredible landscapes of course.
Devon Lucier
15:42 12 Apr 22
The most spectacular guided hike I've ever been on! Our guide was accommodating, informative and beyond friendly. We were able to see many areas outside the marked trial only because of his experience and professionalism!
Thibault Deridder
15:19 12 Apr 22
The authentic and humoristic guide made us feel safe and secure. Thanks to hes experience we got to see beautiful places. I recommend it!
Cassy L
16:22 23 Mar 22
What a fantastic hike. With the best guide and his companion, Balder. We had the best time, making jokes and having a nice talk while hiking. We took some different kind of roads to see different look outs. I recommend this guided hike as we experienced this hike in a unique way.
莊睿哲
23:40 02 Jan 22
Hikers from Taiwan! Highly recommended! The guide is awesome and nice. Really professional and the experience to hike with a cute dog is just unforgettable!
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WELCOME TO LYSEFJORDEN!

Norway is a land of fjords! Valleys were carved by glaciers long ago and are now flooded by the ocean. Lysefjorden is one of the most beautiful fjords, and is located less than an hour’s drive from Stavanger in Norway.

We offer different guided hikes with an experienced, friendly, and local nature guide. Depending on your time and budget, your experience can be custom tailored to your desires. The tours are designed with safety in mind, and with the goal of connecting people to the culture, nature, and history, of this mountain wilderness.

We take care of the transportation and logistics, offer clothes and equipment to rent, and provide the option of purchasing high-quality photos taken on the hike.

NEED ACCOMMODATIONS?

If you want to avoid the hectic city life and get a good night’s sleep surrounded by nature and stunning scenery, we recommend the following accommodations:
Gøysa Gard – An authentic farm in a small village, with a stunning view of Lysefjorden. The history of this place is rich and deep, going back as far as early Bronze age settlements. There have been people living on this location for thousands of years, and when you get here, you will understand why.
Preikestolen BasecampTheir Mountain Lodge offers hotel standard rooms, while Preikestolhytta offers guests rustic cabin charm. There’s also Hikers’ Camp, their glamping alternative. That’s an exciting alternative for children of all ages. You can also sleep under the stars at the lakeside WaterCamp.

 

Gøysa Gard

Live on a traditional norwegian farm with panorama view over Lysefjorden, and close to Preikestolen, Kjerag and Flørli. At Gøysa Gard we can accommodate 21 persons divided into 3 comfortable and well equipped apartments. This is the perfect place to stay to explore Lysefjorden and the Stavanger region  

OTHER ACTIVITIES

KAYAKING & SUP

Explore various adventures with kayaks and SUP in and around Lysefjorden. Choose from several different excursions and trips to suit your needs.
Daily tours at 11:00 & 14:00

FJORD SAFARI

Are you looking for a spectacular fjord experience? Check out the excursions with RIB boats to Lysefjorden and Preikestolen.
Daily departure from Stavanger.

SIGHTSEEING / CRUISE & HIKE

Experience the famous Pulpit Rock from the fjord! Discover the “mysterious” Vagabonds’ Cave, the goats, and get a taste of the fresh mountain water.

PRIVATE CRUISES

Stavanger’s leading high-end luxury private cruise & charter company. They provide cruises to families and small groups aboard our luxurious boats.

TOURIST FERRY

Enjoy a fjord cruise on the amazing Lysefjorden with spectacular natural phenomena such as the Pulpit Rock and Kjerag mountain.

HIKING ON YOUR OWN

If you want to explore the wild and beautiful areas around Lysefjorden without a guide, here are some tips for hikes and safety information.

WHEN IN STAVANGER

Stavanger is normally a place where you end up before, after or during your visit in Lysefjorden. Here is some exciting activities for you there.

DO YOU WANT SOMETHING UNIQUE?

Not found what you were looking for in yet?
Feel free to contact us to create your own tailormade trip or adventure.

Pictures from our guests’ experiences, inspiring views of our stunning nature, and other fun stuff!

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