Hike, Kayak and Wild Camp the Norwegian Fjords

Our top wish-listed weekend. Paddle, trek and sleep in scenery you can't afjord to miss

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Trip Ref #8226

Hike, Kayak and Wild Camp the Norwegian Fjords

Our top wish-listed weekend. Paddle, trek and sleep in scenery you can't afjord to miss

DURATION

3 nights

LOCATION

Norway

ANNUAL LEAVE

2 days off work

SEASON

Apr—Sep

GROUP SIZE

Up to 10 people

MEETING POINT

Bergen Airport, Bergen

ACCOMMODATION

Classic

Hostel · Wild camping

OVERALL RATING

4.8

Based on 604 reviews
DIFFICULTY

Moderate

The hike is long and often steep, which some may find a challenge.

Kayak through the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, the wildest and most stunning arm of the beautiful Sognefjord 

Paddle past sheer cliff faces, snow-dipped mountains, majestic waterfalls, rustic farms, and the occasional nosy seal

Wild camp under the stars on the waters edge and feast on supper prepared by your guide over the campfire

Day 1

Meet your crew

Wave goodbye to the office and head to Bergen where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation in Voss. After settling into your hostel, head out to grab dinner locally. If you're feeling brave, you could try a quick dip in the Vangsvatnet lake before settling in for good night’s sleep before hitting the road, and hitting the water tomorrow.

Day 2

Kayaking the Nærøyfjord

Kayaking

4-5 hours · 12km

Grab breakfast at your hostel and then head to the put-in point at Gudvangen. When you arrive, your guide will get you set up with your wetsuit, kayaking boots, dry bag and waterproof camera/phone box and all of your paddle gear. You'll have a safety briefing and an introduction to sea kayaking before heading out for your first days unforgettable kayaking down the beautiful Nærøyfjord. You'll stop off along the way for breaks and to admire the scenery before arriving at the campsite in late afternoon. Enjoy a well-deserved break and the stunning scenery before tucking into a hot dinner and make merry around the campfire. If you're feeling up to it, there is the option of going for a short walk to get a better view of the fjord from above.

Day 3

Hike to the highlands 1000m above the fjord

Hiking

10-11hrs · 20.7km · 1530m up · 1530m down

Wake up in a Norwegian paradise and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before packing your bag, ready for the day's hike. Your aim is to reach the Breiskrednosi summit 1189m above the Nærøyfjord and get a spectacular view of the fjord from above. Drink in the views over the fjord from the top with your group. Head back down to your campsite and enjoy dinner round the campfire before another night under the stars.

Day 4

Kayak past cliff faces and waterfalls before heading home

Kayaking

4 - 5 hours · 12km

Continue kayaking north along the Nærøyfjord, exploring magnificent cliffs and remote waterfalls, keeping your eye out for seals along the way. Arrive mid-afternoon at the remote village of Undredal, before heading to the airport in time for your flight home.

Included

Guides

Expert, friendly, English-speaking guides

Accommodation

1 night in a hostel and 2 nights camping at the fjord edge

Meals

Breakfast and dinner cooked over the campfire with sandwiches for lunch

Transfers

You'll be transferred from and to Bergen Airport

Equipment

Everything you need for kayaking and camping is provided

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Some meals as described

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

Visas where required

Day 1

Hostel · Same sex dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Wild camping · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

The portions are more than generous, all the food is fresh and any dietary requirements can be met - just tell us your preferences when you book. Dinner and breakfast is prepared by your guide over a campfire, the menu will vary but you can expect things like rice and pasta with fresh vegetables, egg, bacon and sausages. There is also bread and sandwich filler for lunch breaks. Water, tea and coffee are also readily available as well as beer for the evenings.

What is the accommodation like?

Voss

On your first night, you'll be staying in same-sex dorms in a simple, clean hostel in Voss.

Fjord Edge

On the second and third night, you'll paddle to a beach and sleep in a tent under the stars. Sleeping mats and sleeping bags are provided, but you can bring your own if you prefer. There is no shower, and toilets are basic to say the least - it is wild camping after all.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Bergen Airport (BGO)

Day 1: 14:30 as standard [13:00 for trips between 22 June - 18 August inclusive]

Ends

Bergen Airport (BGO)

17:00 on Day 4

Transfers

On Day 1, your driver will be there to meet you and transfer you to your accommodation in Voss.

PLEASE NOTE

  • For departures between 14 April - 19 June, and 24 August - 29 September 2023, the transfer to Voss will depart Bergen Airport at 14:30. Any flight which arrives by 14:00 will be fine.
  • For departures between 22 June - 18 August 2023 inclusive, the transfer to Voss will depart Bergen Airport at 13:00. Any flight which arrives by 12:30 will be fine.

If you are unable to arrive in Bergen at this time you can still get to Voss via the train - see FAQs for details.

On Day 4, you'll be dropped back at Bergen airport ready to catch any flight that leaves from 18:30 onwards. Please do not book a flight departing before 18:30.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Bergen from major airports in the UK and Europe - either direct or via Oslo. If you cannot meet the transfer, it is very quick and easy to get the train from Bergen to Voss, or get a train all the way from Oslo. See FAQs for more details.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

All kayaking equipment:

  • Sea kayak, paddle and spray deck
  • Paddle jacket with hood and reflective strips
  • Life jacket
  • Sleeveless longjohn neoprene wetsuit and neoprene booties
  • Waterproof case for your camera/phone (various sizes available)
  • 22-litre drybag plus plastic bags for extra items if needed

All camping equipment:

  • Tent, cooking gear and crockery
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat (foam)

(if you prefer to bring your own sleeping bag or mat please let the host know in advance)

What do I need to bring?

  • Rucksack for hiking (20-25 litres, without a frame so it can be packed into the kayak)
  • Waterproof jacket with hood for hiking
  • Warm clothes for evenings at the campsite: long trousers, fleece, warm jacket
  • Base layers
  • Worn in waterproof hiking boots or hiking shoes (ideally with ankle support)
  • Hiking socks (wool/merino is best, plus some extra socks)
  • Swimwear and/or rash vest (something to wear under the wetsuit)
  • Flip flops/sandals or light trainers for camp
  • Thin gloves (for early/late season departures)
  • Beanie
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses (ideally with a retainer strap)
  • Sunscreen
  • Small travel towel
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medication if needed
  • Antihistamines/bite relief if you are allergic
  • Head torch
  • Personal snacks

OPTIONAL

  • Sleeping bag liner (recommended)
  • Gaiters
  • Waterproof trousers for hiking (recommended for early/late season departures)
  • Walking poles (optional, lightweight and collapsible)

Private triple room in Voss hostel

Payable Before Departure

Private triple room in Voss hostel

Private twin room at Voss Hostel

Payable Before Departure

Private twin room at Voss Hostel

Private single room at Voss Hostel

Payable Before Departure

Private single room at Voss Hostel

Optional Solo Tent Upgrade (where available)

Payable Before Departure

Optional Solo Tent Upgrade (where available)

- India(September 2022)

Trip was awesome! Sandra was an amazing guide, we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. The group was awesome, everyone was likeminded and got on really well. The food was just excellent! So good and loads of it. The views were absolutely stunning. Couldn’t recommend enough! v

- David(September 2022)

Fantastic trip, Devin our guide was very knowledgeable and a great guy. The scenery was fantastic and the hike was hard but very very worth the effort.

- Dominika(September 2022)

What an adventure! Peaceful kayaking, challenging hike and drinking from glacier streams. Great guide - thanks Henry, superb food and an amazing challenge. Reset for the soul. 5 stars

- Laura(September 2022)

Honestly unbelievable. We got every single weather but it couldn't have been more perfect. Henry was an excellent guide, the food was exceptional (even for me as a vegan) and the views/scenery are bucket list goals! Absolutely loved every single second. Hard work but 100% worth it.

- Laura(September 2022)

An absolutely unforgettable experience... My only negative is that I didn't book a longer trip because I miss it already. The fjords and the mountains were incredible and I've never seen a more beautiful place. Our guide Henry was also spot on with everything - he kept everything in good time without anyone feeling rushed or pressured, and made the whole trip enjoyable even with some rainy weather. He was knowledgeable about the area and its history, he helped the group to bond and all feel involved and most importantly, the food he made was excellent. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

- Kyle(September 2022)

The trip was amazing! Honestly the hike views were more incredible than I imagined and the kayaking was equally great. Book this!

- Joanna(September 2022)

Great trip ! Nice mix of kayaking and hiking in very beautiful scenery. Very well organised and great food for wild camping ! Paddling by dolphins and seals and the tasty wild raspberries made it extra special . Thank you to our brilliant guide- Tash :)

- Matthew(September 2022)

If your thinking about this trip, just go for it. No regrets. Such a close country from the UK. Views, camping, kayaking and hiking were all brilliant. Doing everything as a group is fantastic. Our guide Sandra, was perfect in every way, she went all out to make the best experience possible for us. Was a physical challenge but so worth it. Way better than a beach holiday. Definitely looking at more adventures like these.

- Hannah(September 2022)

Brilliant trip out to the Norwegian Fjords. Jan, our guide, was very professional and every little thing about the trip had been thought through. The food was superb, scenery stunning and activities good fun. Highly recommended.

- Nydia(September 2022)

Hands down one of my favorite trips. Jan our guide was amazing and cooked wonderful meals. He never let us go hungry and was so knowledgeable on the hike. Very professional and very fun!

We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 47kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

You really do not need any kayaking experience. Your guide will give you full instructions and a safety briefing at the start. You’ll just need reasonable levels of fitness to handle approx 25km of relaxed paddling over two days, a day of hiking and be up for camping out overnight.

The hike is not for beginners and is very challenging, particularly if it is or has been wet. Early or late in the season, there can be snow on the ground too. We would only recommend this hike if you are an active person with hiking experience. It just takes a bit of time getting up the steep section but don’t worry, it’s no race to the top.

The route is about 10km each way, making a total hike of 20.7km. The elevation is sea level to 1,189m and quite steep in places. The hike is about 8 to 11 hours return, with an awesome view from the ridge at the top to the fjord below.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The weather in summer is very comfortable for kayaking and camping, with temperatures at 15-20 degrees Celsius, sometimes more. It can get chilly at night so a warm jumper and some thermals are vital. This time of year daylight in Norway is constant with only 2–3 hours of darkness in the evenings.

We recommend joining this trip in July and August for the warmest temperatures, but it’s great all summer.

One of the most beautiful places in the world. A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated part of the sea, that stretches inland for miles, winding around mountains, valleys, and steep cliffs. The fjords were formed by the giant glacier tongues and shaped over several ice ages.

There are a plenty of kayaks available for you to use with a mix of single and doubles available depending on your preference.

You're free to bring any luggage or suitcase you wish with you to Voss. On day 2, you'll check out of your accommodation with all of your luggage and transfer by bus to the host's kayaking base in Gudvangen. Here, you'll be given a 22-litre dry bag to pack everything into for your kayaking, camping and hiking adventure (excluding your sleeping bag and sleeping mat, unless you bring your own). You will be given a hard waterproof case for your camera/phone too, and you'll want to keep certain things handy such as your water bottle, cap, sunscreen and snacks. You'll need to pack light as your dry bag has to fit into the hatched compartments (bulkheads) of the kayak, along with the group's food and equipment which will be shared among the kayaks. The remainder of your luggage that you don't need on the adventure can be left behind at the kayaking base in Gudvangen, where it will be safely stored until your return.

Don't stress, your host will explain all during the briefing.

Absolutely. The train is 45 minutes faster than the included transfer and is one of the most spectacular journeys you can take by rail. Here’s how:

From the airport, get the Flybussen airport shuttle to Bergen bus station, or the Bybanen (city light rail - cheaper but slower). Buses to/from the airport run every 10-15 minutes, and cost roughly 90NOK (£9) each way. The Bybanen is approx 40NOK (£4).

From the bus station it’s a few minutes walk to the train station. A taxi from the airport to train station can be booked for between 350-550NOK (£35-£55), depending on traffic.

Trains run regularly throughout the day and don’t need to be booked in advance, with a single ticket to Voss costing roughly 200NOK (£20). Trains to Oslo stop at Voss.

You can buy tickets at the ticket office up until 5.30 pm, or from ticket machines. If you want to check the timetable or book online head here.

Voss Hostel is a 12 minute walk from the station. Head out of the main station and turn right on the road. Follow the road until just before the roundabout (about 750m) then take the left turning, following the road for 200m more - straight to the hostel.

For the return, make your life easy by jumping on the already included transfers to Bergen Airport.

There should be no problem with staying back at camp during the hiking day for someone not wanting to hike. It may also be possible to just come along for the first part of the hike and then return to the camp, this does depend on where the group is actually camped as this may affect options. Alternatively, you could consider booking the Kayak and Wildcamp Norwegian Fjords trip instead.

We can recommend the following from budget to high price. There are many other hotels however these are selected for their convenience and / or from experience:

Accommodation in Voss

Accommodation in Bergen

Here’s what your local guide has to say on Drones:

We do not really encourage bringing drones on this trip for several reasons:

  • There are limited times where there would be possibilities for flying the drone.
  • We need to keep the campsites free of drone traffic in agreement with the landowners.
  • There is often livestock animals in some areas that may get affected and we need to keep a good relationship with the farmers.
  • We have seen some people being frustrated by drone traffic and can understand this.

Having said this we do not prohibit drone use as it is out of our legislation - as long as it does not interfere with the issues mentioned above and you can fit the drone in the kayak it will be OK to bring it along. Just please do discuss the use with other group members sometime after meeting up with them the first morning to settle this.

The best way to meet your host is to take the train from Oslo centre to Voss (not Bergen), and then head to Voss Hostel. See the FAQ how to get to Voss hostel from the airport and just follow the directions from Voss station to the hostel. The train journey takes about 6.5 hours and goes through some amazing scenery.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.

Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.

Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.

Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.

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