Hardangerfjord and Trolltunga

Gavin’s love of fjords is one of the main reasons why we’re here. So naturally our first priority upon arrival was to go hiking in some fjords. The Hardangerfjord is in southern Norway and is home to the Trolltunga (troll tongue), one of the most popular hikes in Norway, a 9-10 hour trek up to a rock formation that juts out over the fjord. The hike itself is fairly challenging (14.2 miles, with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain), and the Norwegian Red Cross has called for security patrols to prohibit hikers in short shorts or tennis shoes.

We did the hike on the second day of the season, which meant it was still pretty snowy. It did not disappoint.

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The town of Lofthus served as our basecamp.

Despite a population of around 500 people, visitors are treated to the highest-quality amenities, such as turf-insulated bus stops.

Here are some pictures from the hike.

Also, Gavin thought you might like this picture of a slug.