Surrounded by majestic mountains, gushing rivers, and varied fjord landscapes. The adventure town of Voss is the perfect base for your hiking holiday in the fjords.
Voss is a small mountain town with a big soul at the heart of the fjord region.
In this article we walk you through why Voss is the perfect base for a hiking holiday in the fjord region. We will help you plan your ideal several day hiking itinerary, propose alternative activities for your days off as well as acomodation and logistical tips. Do you need a guide and help planing your holiday? Discover why in Wild Voss we are experts in providing active all inclusive, tailored holidays in the region. Do not hesitate in contacting us to post@wildvoss.no to make your dream holiday in Norway.
Voss has a rich history as a medieval farming and trading hub. The mountain farming culture is vibrant and makes Voss arguably one of the best places to hike and visit those “who would have thought that one could live there” places. Over thousand meters above the fjords, in the mountain plateaux of Voss, there are remains of hunting structures from the post ice age period that withness “industrial” hunting, processing and trading.
On the later years Voss has become a cultural hub, integrating both tradition and modern adventure sports culture. Sky diving, paragliding, river kayaking and freeride skiing make Voss the adventure capital of Norway. Vossa Jazz and the Ekstremsportsvekko are two dates to not miss! Read more about Voss.
In the following video, our manager Øystein Ormåsen describes how he found in Voss his perfect idyll for living, growing a family and accesing wild nature.
Easy to Access Hot Spot
Located only a few hours travel away from most of Europe, you can literally pack your bags in London in the morning, and go for a hike in Voss in the afternoon.
From Voss you can access both the Hardangerfjord, Nærøyfjord and Sognefjord in under an hour drive. You can easily reach Voss through flying to Flesland, Bergen’s international airport. From Bergen you can take a direct train to Voss in just over an hour.
It is popular to add Voss into a longer intinerary including Oslo either before or after Voss. You can fly into Oslo and take the Bergen train to Voss (under 5.5 hours), through a varied landscape of idyllic farms in hidden valleys and rugged high alpine terrain.
Another option is to jump off the Bergen train in Myrdal and connect with the Flåm train. From Flåm you can take a scenic fjord cruise to Gudvangen through the Nærøyfjord. From the Nærøyfjord there are buses to Voss (around 1 hour). This circuit is generally known as the Norway in a Nutshell.
Been the main crossroad of the Fjord region, Voss makes an ideal base for discovering the region while elimination a lot of the hustle related with transportation during your holiday. If you want to spend most of your time hiking and relaxing rather than linking buses and spending hours behing the weel, Voss may be a great place to start!
Central Location for Scenic Hikes
From Voss you have arguably some of the most diverse hiking terrain in the fjord region. You can access family hikes to traditional mountain farms, discover steep hikes above fjords and waterfalls, follow turquoise rivers in unspoiled mountain valleys and wander vast mountain plateaux from cabin to cabin. From Voss you can even access glacier walking in the Hardangerjøkul, with only an hour train ride.
For more detailed information, we have sorted most of our hikes in the following articles.
Top 5 Hikes in the Nærøyfjord.
The Nærøyfjord, also known as The Narrow fjord, is an absolutely breathtaking wonder in western Norway. The snow-capped mountains tower majestically over the stunningly beautiful green blue waters, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight. The meltwater cascading down the sheer cliffs is a sight to behold, leaving you feeling utterly enchanted. The Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO world heritage site and an amazing base for adventures. Here we have some of our most popular hikes, such as Rimstigen and Stalheim – Nåli, as well as some big challenges such as Breiskrednosi or the Nærøyfjord Haute route. Read more.
Top 5 Fjord hikes in Norway
Hardanger and the mountains of Voss are generally less travelled than the Nærøyfjord. If you want a good challenge, the Oksen hike, or its smaller brother, Ingebjørgfjellet, could be up your alley. Oksen has a spectacular view of Hardanger, where four arms of the fjord meet. You will also witness the glaciers of Hardangerjøkulen and Folgefonna on a clear day.
A less strenuous hike is the Kiellandbu hike. Kiellandbu is a picturesque mountain cabin at the edge of a fjord. We access kiellandbu through a mountain plateau instead of from the fjord side. That means significantly less elevation gain, and a more diverse alpine landscape than some of our other fjord hikes. We follow a peaceful valley with pristine rivers and lakes, before reaching the much photographed Kiellandbu cabin. This old hunting cabin stands proud at the top of a dramatic cliffs descending into a narrow fjord arm of the Hardangerfjord with the Folgefonna glacier in the background. You just cannot get a more Norwegian panoramic. Kiellandbu is also a great option in the fall or on days with variable weather, since we can shelter inside the cabin, change to dry clothes, make some coffee and heat us before heading back down.
For those wanting to venture off the beaten path and do a bit of exciting bushwhacking, Sverrestigen is a real blast! Not only do you get to learn about the Viking King Sverre, who’s men carved out the start of the hike, but you also get to enjoy stunning views of the Voss mountains, as well as perhaps spotting some wildlife.
If you want to enjoy some gentler hikes, or perhaps have an active “rest day” in between your big adventures, we can take you to nearby Bordalsgjelet. Experience a fascinating hidden gorge within walking disctance from town.
If you would like a hike closer to the fjord, our special boat & hike adventure from Bakka in Gudvangen to the secluded Royal Post Road on the other side of the fiord, might be your thing. This is a charming and awsome experience to the heart of the Nærøyfjord. The combination of boat + hiking is something very special. At the same time this hike discovers a part of the Nærøyfjord where no roads reach, you are in a remote area, but the hike itself follows relatively flat and non technical terrain. This makes a perfect family hike or for people that are less in shape, since generally hiking in the Nærøyfjord means hiking rather STEEP!
A hiking holiday with Wild Voss
Our typical all inclusive-itinerary includes:
- Your own competent and certified private hiking guide for as many days as you like.
- Accommodation, including breakfasts and dinners when booking a cabin to cabin trip.
- Assistance on booking accomodation when booking a hotel stay.
- Local lunch provided on hikes.
- All transportation needed after arriving Voss to the hiking activities and back.
- Rental hiking rain jacket and pants, solid boots, poles, backpack and equipment.
- Pre-trip information and planning.
- Coverage of all our guides’ costs during your stay.
- Car seats for kids and hiking carriers for kids upon request.
About our guides:
Our hiking guides are certified tour leaders and have recurring courses in wilderness first aid. Most of our core team members are ski touring guides, avalache instructors, glacier instructors and/or high mountain climbing instructors. We have large experience planing and executing trips in high mountain terrain. We work as a team making complex planning and upgrading our safety protocols. Read more about our team.
Our expertise, your success.
Been profesional mountain guides and having deep local knowledge, means that we are experts in trip planning, specially when it comes to interpreting the weather forecast. We get sharp at this skill, specially in winter, when finding the best possible snow and the right visibility is such a key factor for success in our ski touring trips. The fjord region has a lot of weather, and coming up with the best timing for the weather window is not obvious. We often get feedback from our guests of how much of a great day we achieved to make for them, even on days that they did not had a lot of hope based on the forecast.
In our private trips we provide such technical advise. We have an agreed main plan in beforehand, with a specific hike and a specific timing. At the same time when we have an updated forecast, your guide may recommend you an alternative hike or an alternative starting time for having the greatest chances of success.
Services not included in our itineraries:
- Add-on products, activities or services delivered by other providers than our partners.
- Airline tickets, transfers and train tickets.
- Travel insurance and medical insurance.
Sample itinerary: Long weekend in Voss (Wed- Sun)
This is the ultimate «best of Voss»-itinerary. Get a full taste of what Voss has to offer!
Wednesday
Independent travel to Voss via Bergen Airport Flesland. Transfer to Bergen train station by either the airport shuttle bus or by the light rail. Catch a train from Bergen to Voss, where you get picked up by hosts from your hotel. If you prefer getting picked up at the airport, we are happy to organise it. We have an electric SUV with 5+2 seats and an 8 seatter van 4×4. Our cars have spike tires on winter and are guaranteed to take you to the trail start, even through some challenging tractor roads. Driving in Voss, specially in winter can be an issue. At the same time, rental cars are expensive in Norway, and are not always equiped for mountain use. We have car seats for babies and toddlers as well as carrying hiking backpacks for kids. Buying an all inclusive package may save you quite some headackes and even some money.
Thursday
We start the day by meeting in our office downton, taking our time for introductions and ensuring you are well equiped for hiking. The goal for the day is hiking to the Kiellandbu cabin only half an hour drive away. Your guide will drop you off at your hotel after the trip.
Friday
Your guide picks you up at your hotel in the morning. Today we are adventuring towards the UNESCO protected Nærøyfjord region. After a 45 min drive we arrive at Stalheim hotel where our walk to the historic homestead Nåli begins. Your guide will drop you off at your hotel after the trip.
Saturday
Time for the grand finale! We drive further into the Nærøyfjord, past Gudvangen and finally to Bakka, a tiny village located by the end of the road. We climb up Rimstigen and enjoy breathtaking views along the way.
Sunday
Travel day – return to Bergen Airport Flesland and then back home. If you plan your return flight well, you could still have time for a couple of hours of adventuring before catching your train from Voss.
Join your guide for a short walk from town to mesmerizing Bordalsgjelet gorge.
Your hotel will be happy to provide transportation to the train station. We could also organise transportation by car directly from Voss to the airport.
Other itineraries
The above itinerary provides an example of what we could organise for you. We are happy to suggest both longer and shorter itineraries. For the adventurers, we can organise a several day hike from cabin to cabin.
Feeling adventurous?
What about an immersive hike and boat multi-day experience in the heart of the Nærøyfjord? Or perhaps you want to try out rock climbing or mountaineering? Check out our guided rock climbing tours here. Wild Voss can arrange glacier walking on demand.
Needing a rest day?
You can profit of the state of the art tourist infrastructure of the region. You can enjoy the Norway in a Nutshell, including the electric cruise down the Nærøyfjørds and the Flåmsbana mountain train on an eight hour round trip from Voss.
Voss is a destination with special offers hard to get in other places. Voss has arguably the best rafting in Europe, kayaking in the fjords, a wind tunnel and skydiving. Try as well the outdoor swiming pool and sauna in Vossabadet or bowling, laser tag and playing ground in Voss bowling.
Accommodation partners
Voss has a wide offer of hotel and acomodations. Here you can find the whole spectrum, from budget charming campings with family cabins, to boutique hotels. Voss hostel is a charming low budget option, specially for youth and solo travellers. Store RIngheim is worth a mention for those seeking, peace, tradition, good food and an elegant twist. Elva Hotel is a newly built design hotel at a lovely riverside location, a couple of kilometres outside of Voss town centre. Elva offers high-standard rooms and meals with a modern scandinavian touch. Enjoy their outdoor sauna and jacuzzi or jump in their family rafting or climbing park as an afternoon activity.
Interested in an offer?
Feel free to send us an email or call Øystein on +47 93484041. We are happy to start a conversation about Voss and the hiking opportunities here. For more inspiration and information about hiking and outdoor recreation near Voss, please have a look at our Instagram account or visit our Facebook-page.
