10-Hour Glacier Lake, No Lunch

A roughly ten-hour day trip from Bergen to the glacier lake, without lunch in the ticket price, so pack food or plan a stop. The tour is rated 4.9 across 29 reviews and costs from $207.88 per person. Expect long stretches of mountain scenery in each direction, which is most of the appeal.

Overview

This day trip leaves Bergen at 09:00 and spends roughly ten hours working its way south to Folgefonna National Park, with the glacier lake Bondhusvatnet as the payoff at the far end. The route is built around stops rather than one long hike: Fossen Bratte waterfall first, then Steinsdalsfossen, where the path actually takes you behind the falling water. Between stops the bus threads along the Hardangerfjord, and the group crosses the fjord by ferry, which the operator presents as a slice of everyday Norwegian transport rather than a tourist ride.

The main walking comes late in the day, inside the national park. Reviewers repeatedly single out this lake as the best moment of the day. Around half the tour is spent on the bus, so it suits people who want to cover a lot of ground comfortably rather than those after a full hiking day. It also works well for families; children who joined reported enjoying the waterfall walk and the berries along the trail.

The group is capped at 45 travellers, and the tour starts and finishes at Strandkaien 1 by the Fish Market, where the guide in an orange jacket meets the group.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Strandkaien 1Meet the guide in front of the tourist office at the Fish Market in Bergen at 09:00. The guide wears an orange jacket.
2. Fossen Bratte waterfallFirst stop is Fossen Bratte, a roadside waterfall, for 30 minutes. Admission is free.
3. Steinsdalsfossen waterfallA 45-minute stop at Steinsdalsfossen, where the path lets you walk behind the waterfall itself. Admission is free.
4. Hardangerfjord crossingA 25-minute stretch along the Hardangerfjord, with fjord views from the road.
5. Ferry across the fjordA 30-minute ferry crossing of the Hardangerfjord. The fare is covered by the tour.
6. Folgefonna National ParkThe longest stop, 2 hours and 30 minutes, for the hike to the Bondhusvatnet glacier lake and time at the shore. Admission is free.
7. Return ferry crossingA second 30-minute ferry crossing of the Hardangerfjord on the way back, fare included.
8. Drive back to BergenAround 2 hours of driving through western Norway to return to the meeting point, where the tour ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, and most of them come up again and again in traveller reviews.

• Footwear. Several travellers advise comfortable hiking shoes for the lake walk. One described the trail as wide with a moderate grade, noting that boots were not necessary but proper shoes helped.
• Weather gear. Pack for all kinds of weather, as more than one reviewer put it.
• Fitness and pace. The hike to the lake is uphill in parts and one reviewer put it at around three kilometres. Reviewers with children managed it, and several described the day overall as relaxed and well paced rather than rushed.
• Food and drink. A packed lunch is included. Reviewers described it as a wrap, with vegan and vegetarian options offered, and several called it good. Bringing extra snacks and a drink is still sensible for a long day, and one traveller mentioned stocking up at a grocery stop while waiting for a ferry.
• Time on the bus. Roughly half the tour takes place on the bus. Travellers say the stops break up the driving well and the guides keep the commentary going, but anyone who dislikes long drives should factor this in.
• Group size. The tour runs with up to 45 travellers. Reviews describe it as a comfortable coach tour with a guide and driver, so expect a group feel rather than a small private outing.

Common issues. The hike to the lake requires a reasonable level of fitness and is not a flat stroll. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are and infant seats are available. Weather can turn wet in this part of Norway, and one reviewer noted the trip ran in rain, though they still enjoyed it. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the 09:00 start for a full refund.

Common Questions