FULL GUIDE TO HIKING TROLLTUNGA

Hiking Trolltunga is an absolute must on a trip in Norway! Trolltunga is situated on the southwest part of Norway and has the most unbelievable views of the Fjords. It’s roughly a three hour trip from Bergen and six hours from Oslo.

Where: Plan on staying in Odda the night before and after hiking Trolltunga. Odda is roughly 30 minutes from Trolltunga making it the perfect spot to stay.

Our Stay: We stayed at Trolltunga studios, which is a backpackers hostel. The night before hiking Trolltunga, we arrived around midnight and they could not have been nicer. Not only did they wait up for us, but they also carried all of our luggage (and trust me we are not light packers) up a few floors to our room. After all this, they stayed up to give us tips for hiking Trolltunga in the morning. While I would definitely recommend Trolltunga studios, it is most definitely a backpackers hostel and is not anything fancy.

Learn from our mistake: Plan on staying in Odda for TWO nights! We only planned to stay in Odda the night before hiking Trolltunga. After hiking, we planned on heading to Bergen which was a big mistake! We wound up missing the last bus to Bergen (by about 15 minutes, ugh!!) and had to stay an additional night in Odda.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it, Trolltunga is not the easiest place to travel to via public transportation. With that being said, it is totally doable. You can travel by train from either Oslo (5.5 hours) or Bergen (1.5 hours) to Voss. While 5.5 hours on a train sounds like quite a trek, it is the most stunning train ride. It is honestly just breathtaking so while it sounds long, it will fly by! From Voss you will take a bus to Odda (less than 2 hours).

The base of Trolltunga (Skjeggedal) is approximately 30 minutes from Odda. You can take a taxi or a bus to the base. There are a few ways to get there but give yourself plenty of time in the morning.

Trolltunga is a long hike and takes most people anywhere from 8-12 hours to complete. The duration of the hike tends to be pretty weather dependent. If it’s raining, it will probably take more time since it will be slick. Because of this, be sure to start hiking early so you don’t have to worry about it getting dark.

Be sure to head to the souvenir shop before you start hiking for last minute snacks, clothing, and advice. They will be able to give you tips for the hike as well as have the most accurate weather conditions for the day. Trolltunga is extremely weather dependent and too much rain can make the hike dangerous.

The first few kilometers will be the most difficult, as it’s straight incline. It will be pretty disappointing to see the kilometer markers as you will feel like you’ve hiked much further! There are a few areas throughout this incline that are pretty steep. There is a rope off to the side to help you up – it will probably be very dirty but it comes in handy!

After the incline, it mellows out a bit and you will hike through some incredible landscape! While the incline mellows out, it will still be a challenge. There are rolling hills throughout and waterfalls, fjords, and greenery will be prevalent along the path.

The hike is a challenge, however, the path is clearly marked with a red “T” on the rocks leading to Trolltunga. Remember to always follow the “T” and you will be set! Don’t be discouraged if it takes you awhile to get to Trolltunga as the hike to the top tends to take much longer than the way back.

Arriving to Trolltunga will leave you truly amazed and accomplished! It is a sight to be seen and it is incredible how many people make the trek. It will be about an hour wait to get your picture taken on Trolltunga.

Side note: I was terrified to walk onto Trolltunga! I honestly didn’t think I would be able to do it but it ended up not being bad at all. Once you’re on the rock, you’ll see how wide it is and it will (slightly) ease your worries. Be careful though!

We hiked Trolltunga in the beginning of September and were absolutely freezing while we waited in line to get our picture taken! Layers and hand warmers saved us so be sure to pack accordingly. Make sure to take your time soaking in the view before heading back to the base.

As I mentioned earlier, luckily, the way back is much quicker! With that being said, it will still take four hours give or take to get to the base of the hike. If it has been raining throughout the day, be prepared to get a little muddy! Since you go down the same way you came up, the last few kilometers will be very steep. These last few kilometers can be very slick if it has been raining throughout the day. Go slow and take your time down. It is much easier to trip or fall when you’re tired and it’s slick.

Since you are moving so much, you will stay relatively warm throughout the hike. It rained on and off throughout our day which is pretty common there. Be sure to pack a poncho, a coat, as well as many layers!

There are a few waterfalls along the trail that are safe to drink from. They will be clearly marked and you will see others drinking from them. For this reason, there is no need to carry around a huge water bottle all day. Bring a small one that can be refilled and you will be set.

One of the biggest tips for hiking Trolltunga is to make sure you eat enough along the way. We learned this the hard way! We both started getting super hungry and light headed when we had about three kilometers left. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks and bring more food than you think you will need!

One of the most important things to bring is a poncho! I know they look completely ridiculous however, our ponchos kept us totally dry throughout the beginning of the hike. We wound up taking them off once the rain stopped. I definitely recommend bringing layers since the weather tends to vary throughout the day. Bring a light back pack and be sure to fill it with the basics: hat, scarf, and gloves as well as extra socks and jackets. I also recommend filling your back pack with sunscreen, a water bottle (to refill along the trail), hand/foot warmers, a map, first aid kit, and a flashlight (in case it gets dark on your way down). Of course a camera and snacks are a must! I also really recommend hiking shoes since it can be pretty slick, the extra grip will be needed!

Trolltunga was one of my favorite experiences in Norway! While it is quite the trek, it is well worth it. Not only is the scenery along the way incredible, but Trolltunga is breathtaking! Make the trip and soak in the beauty of Trolltunga and the Fjords!

If you’re headed to Norway, don’t miss my quick guide for traveling from Oslo to Trolltunga and Bergen.

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

And don’t forget to pin this for later!