Norway Fjord Trekking — Self-Launched
7 days · Norwegian Fjords (Bergen & Odda/Hardangerfjord)
G Adventures charges £2,450
No-markup version: ~£960 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 7-day Norway Fjord Trekking tour: the same Bergen start, the same Hardangerfjord base in Odda, and the same three headline hikes — Buerdalen valley, the Folgefonna glacier, and Trolltunga. Instead of a guided group with private transfers, you'll book your own hostel/guesthouse beds, ride the public bus from Bergen to Odda, and book the glacier and Trolltunga guided days directly with local operators in Odda (guided glacier walking is non-negotiable for safety). Norway is expensive, but self-launching still cuts the price dramatically — the tour starts at US$3,199pp (≈£2,450). Costs below are approximate backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bergen — fjord-side wander
Bergen
Fly into Bergen (Ryanair/Norwegian/SAS from UK airports; book months ahead for fares under £100 return). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the city centre — Marken Gjestehus, Bergen Hostel Montana or the City Box are solid, walkable mid-budget picks. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided potter around Bryggen's wooden wharf, the fish market (Fisketorget) and the Fløyen funicular for a city-and-fjord panorama. Buy groceries for the coming hiking days and pick up any gear you still need at the Amfi/outdoor shops. Eat cheap: supermarket salads, or a fish cake from the market.
🚌Airport bus (Flybussen) to city centre ~£12; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel/guesthouse dorm or private single in central Bergen (~£55)
- →Bryggen wharf walk
- →Fløyen funicular viewpoint (~£12)
- →Fish market browse
- →Supermarket grocery stock-up
Public bus to Odda — first taste of the Hardangerfjord
Bergen → Odda
Take the public bus from Bergen to Odda (Norway's express bus / Skyss connection via Norheimsund or the Hardanger route — book on the Vy or Skyss app). The journey crosses the Hardangerfjord and is a sight in itself, so sit on the left. Arrive in Odda and check into a hostel or the budget rooms at Trolltunga Hotel / Odda Camping. In the afternoon, do the easy introductory leg of the Buerdalen valley or a short lakeside leg-stretcher along Sandvinsvatnet to loosen up. Optional extras if you have energy: kayak on Lake Sandvin (from a local rental outfitter) or a RIB fjord cruise — both bookable locally.
🚌Public express bus Bergen–Odda ~£25–30 (3.5–4 hrs)
🛏Hostel/camping cabin or budget room in Odda (~£55)
- →Hardangerfjord crossing by bus
- →Optional kayak on Lake Sandvin (~£80)
- →Optional RIB fjord cruise (~£80)
- →Short valley walk / leg stretch
Buerdalen full-day hike (self-navigated)
Odda / Buerdalen
The Buerdalen valley hike (10–12 km, ~850–950 m ascent, 7–9 hrs) is doable independently — the trail is well marked from the Skjeggedal side. Start early, take the local shuttle (seasonal P3/shuttle from Odda to Skjeggedal, ~£8–10 each way) or a taxi share. Climb steep and rocky past the Strandsfossen waterfall, then the trail flattens through lakes, sheep and horse country with views onto the Buer Glacier. Carry lunch, 2L of water and a waterproof shell — Norwegian weather turns fast.
🚌Local shuttle or taxi share Odda–Skjeggedal trailhead ~£15 return
🛏Hostel/camping cabin or budget room in Odda (~£55)
- →Buerdalen valley hike (10–12 km)
- →Strandsfossen waterfall viewpoint
- →Buer Glacier viewpoints
Folgefonna glacier walk with a local guide
Odda / Folgefonna
Glacier travel needs a certified guide — book directly with a local outfit such as Trolltunga Active, Explore Hardanger or Folgefonni Breførarlag; the half-day Juklavass glacier walk (approx. 5–6 hrs, 6 km) includes boots, crampons, ice axe, harness and helmet. Group departures usually run from the Odda/ Jondal side in season and can be booked via GetYourGuide or the operator's site a few days ahead. You'll walk flat blue ice, learn crevasse safety, and eat lunch looking out toward the Rosendal Alps. Afternoon free to rest legs and dry gear.
🚌Local transfer/shuttle to glacier trailhead, often bundled with the tour ~£20
🛏Hostel/camping cabin or budget room in Odda (~£55)
- →Folgefonna glacier hike with crampons and ice axe (~£110 incl. gear)
- →Local guide crevasse-safety briefing
Rest day — Ringedalsvatnet, kayaks and recovery
Odda
Use the day to recover and choose your own adventure. Walk the shoreline of Lake Ringedalsvatnet for an easy flat leg-stretch, book a kayak on Sandvinsvatnet or the Hardangerfjord (local outfitters rent from ~£75–£150), or take a RIB fjord cruise. Alternatively, do a shorter Tyssedal/Kraftmuseet industrial-history walk. Pre-book your Trolltunga shuttle for tomorrow morning and prep your pack: layers, 3L water, food, headtorch, poles.
🚌On foot / local bus around Tyssedal-Odda ~£5
🛏Hostel/camping cabin or budget room in Odda (~£55)
- →Ringedalsvatnet lakeshore walk
- →Optional kayak rental (~£80)
- →Optional RIB fjord cruise (~£80)
- →Pack prep and Trolltunga shuttle booking
Trolltunga — the big one
Odda / Trolltunga
The 20 km, ~1,000 m ascent Trolltunga hike (10–12 hrs) is the centrepiece. Take the official early-morning shuttle from Odda to Skjeggedal/Magelitopp (book online in advance — ~£25–30 return; parking is limited and paid). Navigate yourself on the well-marked trail past Tyssebotn and along cliff-edge ridgelines above Ringedalsvatnet to the Troll's Tongue viewpoint. If you want the Via Ferrata climb, book it as an add-on with a licensed local operator in advance (extra ~£100–130) and expect a longer day. Start before 7am, carry plenty of food and water, and don't queue-jump on the ledge.
🚌Official Trolltunga shuttle Odda–Skjeggedal ~£28 return
🛏Hostel/camping cabin or budget room in Odda (~£55)
- →Trolltunga hike (20 km, self-navigated)
- →Optional Trolltunga Via Ferrata climb with local operator (~£110)
- →Ringedalsvatnet cliff viewpoints
Bus back to Bergen — depart
Odda → Bergen
Take the morning express bus back to Bergen (book the Vy/Skyss app the night before). If your flight is late, drop your bag at the station lockers and do one last Bryggen coffee or a stroll around the harbour. Fly home — or, if you're stretching the trip, continue onward to Voss or the Flåm railway from Bergen the next day.
🚌Public express bus Odda–Bergen ~£25–30; airport bus ~£12
🛏None (departure day)
- →Return bus through the Hardangerfjord
- →Optional Bryggen coffee stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£960 | £2,450 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,490 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£960
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Norway Fjord Trekking — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £960 per person for 7 days in Norwegian Fjords (Bergen & Odda/Hardangerfjord). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £960 — a saving of roughly £1,490 (61%) per person.
How long is the Norwegian Fjords (Bergen & Odda/Hardangerfjord) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Norwegian Fjords (Bergen & Odda/Hardangerfjord).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Norwegian Fjords (Bergen & Odda/Hardangerfjord), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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