Trolltunga Via Ferrata: A Thrilling Adventure in Norway!

Don’t have time to read it now? Save it for later!

Trolltunga had been on my bucket list for years. I can remember the first time I saw a photo of it online, and IMMEDIATELY I knew I had to make it there.

One day, I dreamed, I would hike to the top of Trolltunga and take a photo out there on the edge of the world. Maybe…I would even get proposed to there (did not happen- but how EPIC would that be?!)

When I finally got the chance to visit Trolltunga on my trip to Norway this last Summer I was ecstatic. When I learned we would be climbing the Trolltunga Via Ferrata and staying in Arctic Domes at the top- well I was basically the happiest girl in the world.

This was a trip of a lifetime and I am SO stoked to be sharing how you too, can stand on the edge of the world- or as the Norwegians like to call it, a troll’s tongue!

Table Of Contents:

1. Trolltunga Norway Introduction

2. How To Get To Trolltunga

3. When To Go To Trolltunga

4. Where To Stay For Trolltunga

5. Trolltunga Norway Hike

6. Trolltunga Via Ferrata

7. Trolltunga Glamping

8. What To Bring To Trolltunga

Disclaimer: This blog post features affiliate links. This means I get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you :)) !

Trolltunga Norway Introduction

What Is The Trolltunga in Norway?

Trolltunga Norway is one of Norway’s crown jewels and part of the “Triple Crown” of Norway- AKA the three most well known, and beautiful hikes in Norway.

The triple crown consists of Trolltunga, Pulpit Rock (also known as Priekestolen) and Kjeragbolten. In this blog post though, we will be talking about Trolltunga.

Trolltunga is by far the most popular and well known hike in Norway, and for good reason! This insane rock juts out over Ringedalsvatn Lake’s deep blue water and a beautiful fjord. It makes for crazy cool pictures and a beautiful hike.

Trolltunga Meaning

Like most things in Norway, there is a beautiful story of folklore that surrounds this hike. “The Legend of Trolltunga” goes a little something like this…

“The huge Troll was childish and playful – he couldn’t sit still in one place: he would dive into deep and dangerous waters, jump over chasms or try to catch a rainbow over a cliff. And on sunny days, dangerous for his life, he would hole up in a cave until dark.

One day he wanted to see if he could do what he loved in broad daylight. What would happen if he challenged the sun itself? So the Troll stuck his tongue out of the cave…

So the Playful Troll’s tongue still hangs over the lake as a petrified protrusion. And it reminds all tourists of one thing: you must always challenge even the greatest fears.

One must at least try. But you must assess the degree of danger objectively, otherwise you have a chance to turn into a tourist attraction…”

From: https://kuluarpohod.com/en/articles/norway/troll-language-in-norway/

Watch My Youtube Channel!

Trolltunga Norway Facts

The cliff of Trolltunga extends about 2,300 ft above Ringedalsvatn Lake below (!!!)
The mountains surrounding Trolltunga get up to 4,920 ft and are a part of the Hardanger region.
More than 80,000 people hike Trolltunga a year!
The cliff is part of the Precambrian bedrock and was formed during the Ice Age, approximately 10,000 years ago, when the edges of the glacier reached the cliff.
Not only can you hike Trolltunga but you can also backpack it, stay in an arctic dome at the top or climb a via ferrata to the top!

Is Trolltunga Hike Worth It?

Now let’s address the question on everyone’s minds- is Trolltunga worth it? The hike is indeed long and the viewpoint can be quite crowded due to how popular this hike is.

If you are someone who wants to get out into nature unbothered then I would say you should either plan on taking the via ferrata, staying overnight in a tent or arctic dome or just avoiding this hike all together.

There are plenty of hikes in Norway that will get you far away from society. This is not one of them.

In saying that, this really is a one of a kind adventure. The view will take your breath away and there is truly nothing like standing out on a cliff 2,300 ft above ground.

It is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life and definitely worth the hype it receives.

Trolltunga Norway Map

How To Get To Trolltunga

Where is Trolltunga In Norway?

Trolltunga, Norway is located in the south of Norway near the town of Odda and about a 5 hour and 20 minute drive from Oslo and a 3hr 20 minute drive from Bergen.

To get to Trolltunga you will need to fly into Oslo, Norway or Bergen, Norway and rent a car.

How to get to Trolltunga From Oslo

To get to Trolltunga from Oslo you can drive the 5 hour and 20 minute drive to the beautiful little town of Odda which sits on a gorgeous fjord.

If you do not have access to a car you can also take a bus or train and bus from Oslo to Odda.

Check out Rome to Rio for full transport information.

Getting To The Start Of Trolltunga

To get to the start of the Trolltunga hike you will need to drive 30 minutes up the hill from the town of Odda to a parking lot.

To get to this parking lot you will follow route RV13 to Tyssedal, 6km from Odda. Following the signs to Trolltunga you will take a right towards Skeggedal.

Trolltunga Norway Parking

There are 3 parking lots for Trolltunga hikers.

A toll road takes you from the lower parking lot (P1 Tyssedal) up to P2- Skeggedal and P3 Magelitopp.

If you choose to park in P1 you will pay a parking fee (around $46 USD) at the parking machine, otherwise at P2 and P3 you will pay both the parking and road fee.

Beware the parking at P3 has to be booked beforehand as it is very limited- but it is the closest to the top and shaves off a couple of difficult miles and around an hour- 2 hours of hiking.

Parking in P1 and P2 you can take a shuttle bus to P3 or hike your way up. You can buy tickets for these on the buses with cash or credit card.

The final thing to keep in mind is that buses, camper vans and mini vans cannot go past P1 as the road is too narrow– you will have to park at P1 and walk or shuttle bus your way to the top.

Check the official Trolltunga website for more information: https://trolltunga.com/parking-and-transportation/parking/

READ MORE: Explore This Arctic Paradise In Lyngenfjord Norway

When To Go To Trolltunga

What Month Is Trolltunga Best: When To Hike Trolltunga

The best months to hike Trolltunga are in the Summer months of June through September.

During this time the trail should be almost completely clear of snow and well marked. There will also be a good amount of other people hiking the trail so you won’t be alone.

You can hike in the Winter season but you will want to hire a guide as it can be dark, dangerous and you will be traversing ice and snow.

Where To Stay For Trolltunga

The best areas to stay when hiking the Trolltunga are going to be in the town of Tyssedal and Odda, you can also stay a bit farther away in Skare.

I have linked a couple options below for a variety of budgets- just be aware prices can fluctuate due to capacity and popularity but I am adding them below so you get an idea of what it will cost.

Trolltunga Guesthouse– Hostel like accommodation- from $46 USD a night for a bunk bed in a dormitory or $296 a night for a room that sleeps 5 people.

Trolltunga Camping: Located just 5 minutes from Odda on Sandvinvatnet Lake. You can choose from a Cottage with 1 bunk bed and sofa bed sleeping 4 for $159 a night or a two or three bedroom cottage!

Trolltunga Hotel: Located on Sandvinvatnet Lake in the village of Odda your room will either overlook a glacier or fjord! For a twin room fit for two people you can expect to pay $166 with breakfast included.

Trolltunga Panorama: Full apartment situated in Tyssedal with 4 bedrooms and can sleep 8 people for $269 a night.

Tyssedal Hotel: Beautiful hotel in Tyssedal. For a room with three twin beds you can expect to pay $268.

READ MORE: 15 Unreal Places To Stay In Norway

Trolltunga Norway Hike

Statistics

Trolltunga Hike Length: 17 miles round trip

Trolltunga Hike Elevation Gain: 2,600 ft of ascent

Trolltunga Elevation: 3,609 feet

Trolltunga Hike Difficulty Level: Challenging

Trolltunga Hike Time: 10-12 hours

Trail Markers: There are distance markers and cairns on the mountain occasionally with red “T”s spray painted onto them. The trail is quite clear but could easily be lost in bad weather conditions or if you aren’t paying attention.

Check Out The Best Northern Norway Hikes

Trolltunga Hiking Options

There are a couple of ways you can go about hiking the Trolltunga. You can join a guided group, hike or backpack it on your own or climb the via ferrata to the top!

Trolltunga Guided Hike

There are a variety of groups you can join for a hike to Trolltunga.

Each group will provide a different experience but you can expect the majority of them to offer hiking poles, information about the area and background of the hike, first aid assistance, photography assistance and shuttle bus tickets.

If you are wanting to hike Trolltunga in the Winter this is a great way to go, otherwise if you have limited hiking experience this can ease any of your concerns.

Trolltunga Self-Guided Hike

If you have some hiking experience and are hiking during the Summer months I see no reason why you should not be able to do the hike on your own!

Make sure to follow all of the best practices- leave no trace, bring the 10 essentials, download the trail map and bring lot’s of food and water!

Trolltunga Backpacking

If you are interested in seeing Trolltunga all to yourself you can turn this long hike into a backpacking trip! You are allowed to “wild camp” anywhere along the route so you can get quite close to the rock and wake up for sunrise to see it without all the people!

Trolltunga Via- Ferrata and Hike

If you are not as big of a fan of hiking, you can turn this hike into a climb! Scale the mountain walls on a guided Via Ferrata tour and skip the majority of the hike up.

I found the Via Ferrata to be a really amazing way to experience getting to Trolltunga- and you still get to experience the hike on the way down!

Trolltunga Via Ferrata

What is a Via Ferrata?

If you have never done a via ferrata (this was my first time!) then you are in for a real treat.

A via ferrata means “iron path” in Italian and is a climb made up of metal “steps” or rungs, cables and ladders that have been drilled into the side of the mountain.

It essentially makes up a little ladder that allows you to climb up the side of a mountain where normally only rock climbers would be able to go.

You wear a climbing helmet and harness with two slings and locking carabiners attached to you that you clip onto a cable that runs alongside the via ferrata for safety.

How Hard Is Trolltunga Via Ferrata?

Via Ferrata can vary greatly in difficulty levels. The Trolltunga Via Ferrata is not super technical or difficult via ferrata and is graded at a level B/C.

If you have never done a Via Ferrata before you will want to make sure you are in good shape and ready for a bit of a mental challenge.

I would highly recommend taking a guided tour as they will take care of all the equipment needed and guide you up the path of the via ferrata so you feel safe and in control.

Can You Do Trolltunga Via Ferrata Unguided?

If you are experienced with climbing Via Ferratas and have your own equipment (or are willing to rent your equipment) then yes you can climb the Trolltunga Via Ferrata without a guide.

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Review

I absolutely loved doing the Trolltunga Via Ferrata- I thought it was a beautiful and adventurous alternative to hiking up the main route.

If you like heights (or even if you don’t!) and want to try something new- this would be a wonderful adventure for you!

We did the route with Trolltunga Active and it was a wonderful experience- the guides were great and very knowledgeable and I had a ton of fun on the route with them.

READ MORE: The Best Things To Do In Lofoten Islands Norway

Trolltunga Via Ferrata- Stats

TrolltungaVia Ferrata Length: 800 ft of climbing

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Elevation Gain: 2,624 ft including the hiking portion

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Difficulty Level: Moderate

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Time: 2 hours of climbing

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Guided Cost: $167.22 per person

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Map

Trolltunga Via Ferrata Trail Description

To get to the Via Ferrata you will start at P2 and take a 3.7 mile trail via bike or hiking to the start of the Via Ferrata. The trail starts as an asphalt road off to the left of the parking lot and follows along the lake.

At around 3.7 miles or 6KM you will find a wooden bridge, just a bit past that is a sign for the Via Ferrata explaining the route and all the ground rules. From here you head up 1km or a bit over half a mile on a steep climbers trail to the start of the Via Ferrata.

You will begin your climb here- taking on the over 800 ft of vertical climbing! The views are stunning!

The via ferrata here is mostly just made up of steel rungs, so it feels a bit like climbing a very long ladder. There are a couple of sections where you will need to move horizontally but there aren’t too many “technical spots”

After you finish the Via Ferrata you will pop out on the top- now only a 1.8 mile hike to the famous rock of Trolltunga!

To get back down to the parking lot you will follow the same trail everyone took on the way up- although this time you get to take it the easy way!

Check Out My Norway Wall Art!

Why Do The Trolltunga Via Ferrata?

An Adventure Of A Lifetime

In my opinion this is the very best way to experience Trolltunga. The memories from this climb will stick with you for a lifetime!

There really is nothing like climbing a granite wall over a fjord while heading to one of the most famous landmarks in all of Norway. You can’t beat it!

Avoid The Crowds

If you want your experience to be farther away from the 80,000 people per year who hike the Trolltunga then the Via Ferrata may be your ticket out of that. This route will allow you to be in a smaller group setting that feels closer to nature in a way.

Photography

If you are looking to find a way to shoot your adventure to Trolltunga that is different from the main shots everyone gets I cannot recommend this enough.

There are a couple locations on the climb that are absolutely perfect for photography and make some amazing adventure shots like you have never seen before!

how long does it take to hike trolltunga

Trolltunga Glamping

If you want to take your adventure to the next level you can add in a glamping experience in Arctic Domes on the top of the mountain of Trolltunga!

This unique and beautiful experience allows you to see the Trolltunga at sunset or sunrise without having to hike in the dark.

You also get to experience a lovely dinner and hot drinks (cocoa & tea!) at the top of the hike in a beautiful Norwegian setting.

We booked our tour through Trolltunga Active for $427 per person (via ferrata, trolltunga, dome and food included) and it was well worth it!