Lysefjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike (& How to Do It in One Day)
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Visiting Stavanger in Norway and wondering how to do a Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in one day? This article is for you!
Most people come to Stavanger for two reasons – to see the famous Lysefjord and to do one of the most iconic hikes of Norway – Preikestolen, or the Pulpit Rock.
When I first started planning our 2-week Norway trip, however, I thought that you need two days in order to do both – the Lysefjord cruise and the Pulpit Rock hike.
Every guidebook, every website seemed to suggest that Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock require two separate trips on two separate days. Luckily, we found a combination tour of the Lysefjord Cruise and Pulpit Rock hike that allowed us to do both in one day.
TIP: If you have no time to read about our experience, you can find more information and book this day trip on Viator or directly with Rodne Fjord Cruise.
If you have more time in Stavanger, you can, of course, make these two trips separately. However, there is so much more to see and do in this beautiful region.
If you can save some time (and money) by combining these two trips in one day, it leaves you more time to explore the amazing museums in Stavanger (the Norwegian Canning Museum is a must!) or do some more hiking in the area (we highly recommend Florli 4444).
Stavanger is a perfect base for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, so if you love nature, plan at least 3-4 nights in town. Here you can find some more ideas for the best things to do in Stavanger.
Lysefjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike
Traveling around the Stavanger region might seem a bit overwhelming at first. But you don’t have to worry about any practicalities if you book this combination trip (Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike), because everything is extremely well organized and explained.
Below you can read about our experience with doing the Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in one day, as a day trip from Stavanger. Find out!
Lysefjord Cruise
At 10 AM we took a boat from Skagenkaien – it’s located at the main harbor in Stavanger city center. We spent a bit more than two hours on the water sailing deep into the Lysefjord, passing some beautiful islands and idyllically located colorful houses that are so typical for Norway.
The boat is big and comfortable, it has all the facilities and a beautiful indoor setting area with huge windows on all sides, or you can choose to stand on one of the decks outside.
On the morning we visited, we had the worst weather: it was cold, it was raining, and the wind was literally blowing you off the deck, so it was difficult to stay outside all the time.
Luckily, the fjord was incredibly beautiful even in the rain. We spent as much time as we could outside. And yes, we needed really warm and waterproof clothing to actually be able to enjoy it.
What makes this Lysefjord cruise trip great is that the boat slows down at the most beautiful places and gives you lots of explanation about everything you see along the way. The commentary is available in several languages.
There were lots of people on board on the day of our visit, but it never felt crowded.
Transfer to the Pulpit Rock Trailhead
After a 2-hr Lysefjord cruise, around noon, our boat made a short stop in the tiny harbor of Oanes to drop off the passengers with the combination ticket for the hike.
Only a handful of people left the boat together with us. There was a bus waiting for us at the harbor, and 20 minutes later we were at the Pulpit Rock trailhead.
Good to know: Please note that at the moment, the boat stops at Forsand and not in Oanes as it did in the past. But the rest is the same – you take the bus from there to the Pulpit Rock trailhead. The company has a bus waiting for you when the boat arrives – it’s all very well organized.
As I said, it was raining in the morning, but the weather forecast for Preikestolen showed dry weather in the afternoon. So instead of continuing straight to the Pulpit Rock, we decided to have a relaxing lunch first and wait for the rain to stop. And it did!
There is a lodge with a restaurant at the Pulpit Rock trailhead. You can get a snack or a warm meal here, use a bathroom, refill your water bottles, or just warm up on a rainy day.
Note that food is very expensive here. So if you want to save time and money, you better pack a picnic and some snacks. The prices in Norway are very high, especially in the rural areas.
Pulpit Rock Hike
The hike to Pulpit Rock is about 4km and 2 hours each way (so 8km, 3-4 hours in total). Some experienced hikers will say it’s an easy hike, but for us regular folks it definitely isn’t.
It’s a moderate hike with several steep climbs along the way, and you definitely need proper hiking shoes for Preikestolen. In dry weather, you might be ok in sneakers, but when it’s wet (and it usually is), you will need sturdy walking shoes with a good grip. The reviews from other travelers show that most people underestimate this hike.
The Pulpit Rock hike is not just about the Preikestolen itself. The scenery along the way is beautiful. And once you get to the top you will be rewarded by the most spectacular view over Lysefjord! We were extremely lucky that it stopped raining and there was no mist, so we could enjoy the view to the fullest.
After a bit less than 2 hours we reached the Pulpit Rock. It was just as spectacular as I had imagined!
Also, it was a bit intimidating! The sheer drop of this 604-meter rock is dizzying to say the least. You better don’t look straight down when you stand on the edge. And please don’t do any stupid things and stay safe!
The hike back down took us about 1h30.
You can find more detailed information about this hike in our guide via the link below.
LEARN MORE: Pulpit Rock Hike
Bus from Pulpit Rock to Stavanger
When we visited, the trip back to Stavanger involved a bus followed by a ferry. However, after the opening of the new sub-sea tunnel, the trip back to Stavanger can now be done with a direct bus.
When we traveled, the ticket price for the bus was included in the Rodne Pulpit Rock cruise & hike combination ticket. From what I see, it’s the case now as well.
The bus picks you up after the hike, at around 6 PM, and you’re back in Stavanger at around 7 PM. That’s at least an hour faster than the bus + ferry combo in the past.
Practical Information for Lysefjord Cruise and Pulpit Rock Hike
- There are daily departures with Rodne boats from Stavanger, from May till September, at 10 AM. In July and August, they sometimes offer additional trips as well.
- Plan the whole day for the Lysefjord cruise and the Preikestolen hike. In summer (May – September), you’ll leave Stavanger at around 10 AM and be back at around 7 PM. In winter, you should do the hike with a guide!
- Lysefjord cruise can be done by anyone, but the Pulpit Rock hike requires good physical condition. That being said, our kids of 6-8 years old could easily do the hike.
- Dress in layers and carry a rain jacket. Wear good hiking shoes. Pack a picnic and carry plenty of drinking water. You can refill your bottles at Preikestolen Base Camp.
- For more practical information about the exact trip, please check the Rodne Fjord Cruise website.
More tips for your trip to Norway:
- Stavanger:
- Itineraries:
- Norway Itinerary (2 weeks in the southwest)
- Northern Noway Itinerary (2 weeks in Lofoten – Vesteralen – Senja – Tromso)
- Packing:
- Budget: How Expensive is Norway
- More destinations: For more travel tips and other popular destinations, please check our Norway travel guide.
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Hi, we are going to Stavenger October 13. Can we still hiking to pulpit rock. the tour “pulpit rock and hike in style” date stop on September 30th. Rodne fjord cruise still available in October
Hi Andreas, from what I see, the cruise & hike combo is indeed only available until September. So you’d have to do the two separately. I guess it could be due to the fact that the days are much shorter, so maybe there’s not enough daylight for both on the same day. I’m not sure though. It’s possible that there is simply less demand and it makes no sense for them to have the bus running.
@Jurga, Thank you. I think it is make senses that the day become shorter and we cannot do 2 in 1 anymore.
hi, this is amazing. can the cruise be booked one way so that i do pulpit rock hike and head back on my own?
Hi, unless you book some guided tour and simply go with a cruise+ hike option, the hike is always unguided. So you hike on your own.
First, you do the cruise. Then they drop you off at the bus that takes you to the trailhead, and from there on, you are alone. I think that nowadays they have a bus to take you back to Stavanger, but I’m not sure if it’s just one bus at a specific time (I doubt it), or they have a few buses that you can take depending on when you get back down from the mountain (I think it’s the case indeed). In any case, if you stay much longer or decide to camp or whatever, nobody will be expecting you back. So you’ll have to get back to Stavanger on your own (be sure to research how you’ll do it and how late buses run).
This is just what I was looking for, thanks so much.
Glad to help. Have a great time in Stavanger!
Your website has been so helpful in planning our trip! Do you think the cruise is worth the money if we are already going to see Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord? Thanks!
Hi Rosemary, we did all three of these fjords and enjoyed them all. While each is somewhat different, of course, it’s also a rather similar experience. So you don’t absolutely have to see each of them.
We did the Lysefjord cruise in combination with the Pulpit Rock hike and then the other day – on our way to Florli4444 hike. So for us, it was just part of the day that included other great attractions/ hikes as well. In both cases, we found it totally worth it.
If you are only in Stavanger for one day, you can easily fill the day just visiting the city (but visiting all the museums, etc. won’t be cheap either – but really interesting too) – see our guide to the best things to do in Stavanger. But if you have more than a day in the city and the weather is nice, I’d definitely do it (potentially in combination with one of the hikes, as we did).
Have a great trip!
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences, I’ve enjoyed following along! I’m heading to Stavanger next week and would love to fit in both the Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in the same day also. I can’t seem to locate the combination tour, did you book the morning hike to the Pulpit Rock and then the cruise separately? I’m wondering if I’ll have enough time to do the 5am hike and be back to make the 10am cruise? Thank you again for your recommendations!!
Hi Jennifer, all the info is in our article, but indeed some tours are now unavailable so I updated those links. Anyway, I was able to find this tour on Viator that is exactly what we did – the cruise and then hike (on our own). Or you can also book it on Rodne website as explained in the article.
You don’t have to return to the city. After visiting the fjord, the cruise drops you off where there’s a bus waiting to bring you to Preikestolen. After the hike, you have to return to the city on your own, which is really easy to do too.
If you absolutely want to have a guide for your hike, then you’ll have to do these two trips separately (see tours here), but if you don’t mind hiking on your own, these are really the best options.
And no, even if you take a 5am trip, you won’t be back in the city at 10am. Most Preikestolen hike tours from Stavanger and back take about 9 hours.
Have a wonderful trip!
@Jurga,
Thank you soooo much for the quick responses and additional information!! I’m really looking forward to the trip and wish I had more time to explore. Many thanks, again!
Your blog is so inspiring, this is what I am looking for a common people traveling to Stavanger like me. Definitely I will use it as a guide when I am ready to go on summer.
Thank you.
Glad to help, Yani. Good luck with the planning and enjoy your trip!
Thanks for the advice. We’ll be on a cruise ship that will doc at 7.00 and leave at 18.00, do you think we’ll manage it? How long does the bus and boat trip take? We’ll be 4 adults and 2 children aged 10 & 7. Thanks Maria
Hi Maria, I think it’s a bit too stretched and you risk missing the ship in the evening.
The problem is that if you want to do both – the fjord and the Preikestolen hike, you can only start at 10AM as that’s when the boat leaves from Stavanger – please check the website of the company that runs these Lysefjord/ Pulpit Rock combination tours for more info.
After the fjord cruise, they drop you off in Oanes, from where there is a bus to the trailhead of the Pulpit Rock hike. Then it all really depends on how fast you hike, when you can get the bus back to the boat in Tau, and at what time there is a boat from Tau to Stavanger. I just checked, we took the 10AM cruise and were back in Stavanger at around 8PM. So even if you hike fast and even if you get an earlier bus and an earlier boat, it will be very stressful.
I think that you should look if the cruise company maybe has a similar tour that leaves immediately after the ship docks in town – then it would certainly be possible. Alternatively, I suggest you either do the Lysefjord cruise in combination with visiting the highlights of Stavanger town OR you do just the Pulpit Rock hike (so go there by ferry+bus first thing in the morning and don’t wait for the fjord cruise).
If you don’t know where to start and don’t want to worry about the practical aspects of planning the hike, you can also book a guided Pulpit Rock hike. From what I see, it starts at around 7.15AM and lasts about 9 hours, so it would be just about right for you. I know the guy who runs this tour (we did the Florli4444 hike with him) and he’s great and very flexible.
Hope this helps.
Beautiful! Would it be safe to do the hike if alone? I wonder if there would be other hikers around if I needed help. Thanks!
Hi Flor, yes, absolutely, you can hike to the Pulpit Rock on your own. If you travel in high season, there are always people around. If you travel in winter, early spring or late autumn, however, then no, I wouldn’t advice to attempt this on your own. In that case, better hire a local guide.
What a spectacular place! I think even 3 metres from the edge might be a bit close for me, but I hear what you say about the safety – it’s just my fear of heights talking. Great advice from you too about maximising your time there. I like that the boat slowed down to give you a good look around.
That’s indeed the idea behind this post, Bernadette – to give people an idea on how to get the most of their time in Stavanger. Thank you for stopping by.
Wow, what a views and what an adventure! It is amazing you can take your 3 little boy across the globe!
Thanks a lot, Lien.
Wow! off to Norway in November. Wish I had more time to visit some of these places. Thanks.
I think that you can still do both – Lysefjord cruise and the hike (weather permitting) in November too, Tamsin. But not on the same day. UPDATE 28/8/17: see below – apparently it’s possible to do the combination trip in winter months as well – see below.
Still possible in one day. November is normally no problem if well dressed.
You are right! Just checked it again and the combination trips indeed run on certain days in winter too. If I see it right, from Wednesday to Sunday leaving Stavanger at 11AM (November to March). Thanks for sharing this, somehow I thought that combination trips didn’t go in winter. Just wonder how many hours of daylight do you have to finish the hike before it gets dark…
Just an update (Aug 2018), I see that the situation has changed again and while Lysefjord cruise runs the whole year round, cruise&hike option is now only available from the 1st of May till the 30th of September.
Hi Jurga,
Lovely post and very helpful to us as we are planning to visit Norway this July. I was wondering if it’s possible to stay overnight in Stryn and the next day go hike up to see the glacier. Would you recommend this? Or is it better to stay in Geiranger. It’s just that the drive from Sogndal to Geiranger is a bit long in one day so we are thinking of breaking it up to two days with an overnight in Stryn.
Appreciated if you could share insights.
Thank you so much in advance.
Hi Nana, you got me confused asking about this in a post about completely another area of Norway :).
Anyway, there are some camping accommodations close to the Briksdal glacier, if I recall well, and there is a lodge there but I have no idea what kind of lodging it has. But if you want to stay at a hotel, it’s best to stay in Loen. Hotel Alexandra is probably the nicest hotel in that area (not to say the only hotel).
Alternatively, there are some apartments and holiday homes in Olden.
Stryn is a bit further away, but it has a bit more going on in terms of accommodation and restaurants.
It’s about 2-2,5hrs drive from Geiranger to the Briksdal glacier one way. Doable as a day trip, but if you want to spend more time, you may want to stay nearby. It’s really up to you. In our Norway itinerary you can find info on how we did it.
Whatever you decide, book quickly because there are just very few accommodation options close to that glacier. Same counts for Geiranger, which is extremely popular.
Preikestolen was a major highlight when we went to Norway – I was far too terrified of the drop to stand as close to the edge as you did!!
It really looks worse than it is, Suzie! We were at least 2-3 meters from all sides. That being said, yes, it’s a place where you have to be really careful. No picture is worth the risks of jumping for joy next to the edge or hanging with your feet down…
Seriously Jurga I cannot believe the views you experienced, and I would totally do this cruise – I’m definitely bookmarking it and checking them out. You photo alone of the pulpit makes me feel nauseous!
Haha, Alex, I am sure you are not the only one! It’s really a surreal feeling standing there and looking down. You would love this area for sure! Nature is spectacular and with the cruise it is also extremely accessible to everyone. But if you hike a bit, I would really recommend the Pulpit Rock hike – it’s simply stunning! Just try to imagine how the views would be when it’s sunny!