6 DAYS TREK IN NORWAY ON THE NORWAY TRAIL

Michaël, a professional photographer and nature and hiking enthusiast, takes us to the heart of Norway for 6 days of walking on a breathtaking route.

“A few weeks ago, I fulfilled a childhood dream: to go on a trek for 1 week, in a country offering the most beautiful landscapes on the planet: Norway. A discovery both of hiking and also of this part of the globe. Here I am on the Norway Trail!

The beginning of the adventure!

After a takeoff from Lyon, a stopover in Munich, it is time for me to land in the magnificent city of Bergen to start this adventure. I had the chance to arrive a day early and thus spend Saturday evening downtown and enjoy a local restaurant, visit the streets and neighborhoods, but above all discover the area a bit.

After a magnificent evening under extraordinary weather (which is very rare
for the region as the locals explained to me), I join, at the local station, the group of adventurers for a 3-hour bus ride to reach our campsite for Sunday evening. The idea is to get closer to Odda and the starting point of the hike.

The bus takes routes through the fjords which already gives me a glimpse of the incredible landscapes that will accompany me during this stay. Arrival at the campsite is in good spirits.

This is the chance to meet 3 of the 4 guides who will accompany us on this trek! Also the opportunity to collect the necessary equipment according to needs: stove, sleeping bag, tent, backpack, pole but especially the meals: the freeze-dried foods…

After a night rocked by a gentle rain setting the tone for this trip, and while the departure was initially scheduled for 8:30 am, we learn upon waking that it has been delayed and the route has changed. Severe storms are finally announced, and the guides have decided to do the route in reverse to be in more sheltered places in case of a storm. Using a guide can prove very useful to have a good trekking experience without taking more risks than necessary. 

We take a shuttle to Odda, then reach the plateau which we explore for 6 days. The day's program includes a small climb of 3 km with 1000m of elevation gain, enough to get the legs going, especially with a bit more than 20 kilos on the back.

The small group is on the way. One guide leads the way, two split in the middle of the group, and one brings up the rear. Everyone can therefore move at their own pace, without getting lost. As a precaution, the guides provided each participant with GPS tracks to guide us if intersections
may seem difficult.

After a good hour of climbing this vertical kilometer, the plateau opens before our eyes, but above all an incredible view of the Hardanger Fjord from which we started! It’s mealtime and everyone gathers. This is where we set up camp because rain is forecast for the afternoon.

After a few rain showers, sheltered under our tents, the guides
offer motivated people to go “light” mode to discover a nearby summit (which clearly deserves the effort).

From there we discover the first viewpoints over the fjord but also
the expanse of the plateau: it’s simply impressive. The feeling of being on another planet. At only 1500 m altitude, in the middle of August, snow is still present! On the plateaus near glaciers with eternal snow dominating the fjord! It’s a majestic landscape!

After about an hour navigating the ridges, it’s time for the motivated group to descend to eat and especially to spend the first night in the middle of nowhere. 

Summary of this first day: 11 km and 1480 m of elevation gain.

The alarm rings earlier than expected, a storm is forecast for early afternoon. The stage is then shortened to have time to set up camp. We set off for 8 km and 600 m of elevation gain at a steady pace. On the horizon, large black clouds are approaching.

After crossing several snowfields, two or three scree slopes, we reach the
Summit of the day. A chance to take some photos to enjoy the view, but we don’t linger in the end, as the temperature drops rapidly. We quickly arrive at the lake next to which the camp is planned. One of the guides then explains that this spot is an escape route (and the only one of the trip) and that if the weather doesn’t improve, there is a risk that we will have to descend and abandon tomorrow…

Meal finished, tent set up, the rain doesn’t take long to arrive. But luck seems to smile on us, with breaks in the rain by mid-afternoon. It’s also the chance to head to a nearby summit to enjoy, for the first time, a view of Ringedalsvatnet lake.

After a night under the storm and a somewhat wet wake-up, the forecasted weather is simply perfect!

The hike of the day is sensational: the route takes the whole small group through lakes with majestic colors. We discover snowfields, small glaciers, waterfalls, and viewpoints all more beautiful than the last before reaching the dam where the camp is planned for the night.

It’s also the first day when it’s possible to see a real blue sky. The day ends with a simply spectacular sunset.

After 3 days, the backpack starts to lighten with each meal ;). Important point, which I haven’t mentioned yet, on this trek, there’s no problem getting water. It was one of my big worries because the backpack was already quite heavy!! On this journey, water is everywhere. Streams, waterfalls, lakes… In most cases, you can fill up without a second thought, but just in case, I brought my filter pump. You never know! I was far from the drought hitting France!

This 4th stage, quite short in the end, aims for the camp at
TrollTunga! A world-renowned place! But also one of the most
expected of the trip.

You can feel it, as the deserted paths of the first days start to
populated by hikers as we get closer to the goal!

On the way, the guides suggest a small detour to enjoy an absolutely incredible viewpoint. For me, it was truly my favorite spot! A magical setting, no one around, incredible weather to capture it all! Something to feast your eyes on!

We take advantage of the mild weather to quickly take photos on this
famous rock before heading off to set up camp at Trolltunga.

It’s the last day of the trek proper. And what better than to
Start with the famous TrollTunga rock! Indeed, a shuttle is waiting for the whole group in the valley to take us to the Kinsarvik campsite for this Friday evening. 

That day, 350m of positive elevation gain on the program but 1000m of descent in 3 km. Enough to really work the legs and knees, especially in such weather.
catastrophic weather mixing rain and wind. Finally, it’s the first time on this trek that rain pants are necessary and especially very appreciated.

Despite the weather, the scenery remains spectacular, and every break is welcome to feast your eyes!

After 4 hours of walking, it’s time to return to civilization and especially enjoy a good beer!

It’s already Saturday!
Last day of hiking, but this time just for the day. We all leave together from the campsite for a beautiful 17km hike to conquer 4 magnificent waterfalls!

Personally, these are the biggest waterfalls I have ever discovered. Each more spectacular than the last! A true
a display of the power of nature in a setting worthy of dinosaur movies!
dinosaurs!

An incredible last day, with good weather, but above all with a group that learned to know each other by living together for 6 days an incredible adventure.

The last evening of this trek alone illustrates its atmosphere,
self-surpassing shown by some participants, the discovery of this kind of experience as in my case, but above all a human encounter. Six days ago, no one knew each other, and this evening closed moments of doubt, mutual aid, laughter…

A real little family.

It is the best experience I have ever had. People
of horizons and completely different countries, who push themselves and live the same
adventure, all in an incredible spirit of cohesion and atmosphere!

I want to thank everyone I shared this adventure with, and above all, see you next year on another destination!!

You can find all of Michaël's adventures and his photos on his website.