Norway · STAVANGER TOURS
Stavanger is the door to the Lysefjord, and the cliff above it is the reason most people come. These 15 compare the boat under Preikestolen with the walk on top of it, priced, timed and honest about the season each one needs.
Set out from Strandkaien in Stavanger on a 3.5-hour electric catamaran cruise to Lysefjord. Hear English or Norwegian commentary, pause at Fantahålå and Preikestolen, and feel the spray from Hengjanefossen. The boat has panoramic windows, sun decks, Wi-Fi, a kiosk, and wheelchair access.
“The boat was spacious. They stopped and slowed down for us to take pictures.”
Cruise from Stavanger’s Strandkaien into Lysefjord aboard a comfortable Helgøy boat. You’ll see Preikestolen from below, Fantahålå, Ådnøy, and Hengjanefossen, also called the Whiskey Waterfall. Guides and audio commentary are available in six languages, with outdoor viewing and indoor seating.
“Our guide for the day was a delight. She was informative and chatty without being distracting. She took pictures when requested and overall did a great job. The bus was clean and we had a good view from the windows. The Voringfossen Waterfall was beautiful. So many different vantage points to see it. Some of the hiking was a little steep/uneven but with the right shoeware, there was no problem. After sufficient time to walk to all the viewpoints and a quick bathroom stop it was back on the bus. We then drove to see the dam. Big beautiful and glacier views. However, it was extremely cold there with lots…”
From Stavanger, FjordEvents takes you by fast RIB into Lysefjord, beneath Preikestolen and close to Hengjanefossen waterfall. English-speaking skippers such as Simon, Eirik, Alex, and Gian combine safety, local stories, music, and quick photo stops. Warm suits, gloves, goggles, and lifejackets are provided.
“Axel was amazing!! Such a fantastic experience. Had the time of our lives”
Join Stavanger RIB at the harbor for a two-hour English or Norwegian tour into Lysefjord. Your captain takes you beneath 600-meter Pulpit Rock, past Vagabond Cave and Whisky Falls, with warm gear, photo stops, local stories, and a fast ride home.
“Great fun and you are provided with thick waterproofs, googles and gloves. The captain was friendly and knowledgeable. The only drawback for us was the weather. It was pouring with rain and cloudy so very bumpy and we didn't see pulpit rock. However that's no one's fault. On a sunny day I can imagine it's amazing.”
Race from Stavanger into Lysefjord on a small RIB boat with an English-speaking captain. You’ll pass islands and fish farms, see Pulpit Rock from below, visit Fantahålå, and get close to Hengjanefossen waterfall. Thermal dry suits and dry bags are supplied, and groups are limited to 12.
“The boat was very clean and in great condition. The dry suits kept us comfortable. Ola, our captain, was attentive and accommodated all guest requests.”
Meet your guide beside Haugesund’s cruise dock for a 5 to 6-hour trip to 612-meter Langfoss, Åkrafjorden, Haraldshaugen, and a fjord-view café stop. Guides such as Aline, Lily, Jamie, and Christina add history, humor, music, and local detail along the way.
“The instructions and ease of finding from our ship was exemplar. Our guide was super informative and engaging. It was quite a long way to get to the falls but at least we got to see some of Norway that we had not seen on shorter tours. Our guide Alina was charming and told us lots of information. The tour was also cheaper than identical ship tour”
Start early from Stavanger with a small group of up to eight, cross the fjord, and hike with a local guide to Preikestolen above Lysefjorden. Guides such as Erle, Ola, Marius, and Toa are praised for patient pacing, safety, stories, and photos. Hotel pickup and return transport are included.
“What an incredible experience. We were picked up from our accommodation in Stavanger by our guide (the wonderful Toa) and driven up to the base of the hike to Pulpit Rock. He chatted comfortably in the way and pointed out areas of interest without being at all intrusive. On arrival he made sure we were prepared (water, waterproofs etc) and then explained the hike, including where the sections of the greatest ascent were. Throughout the hike he was careful to speak to us all and make us feel incredibly safe but excited and motivated. He was very happy for us to take lots of photos and showed us where the…”
From Stavanger’s central harbor, you’ll ride a high-end RIB boat into Lysefjord at speeds up to 35 knots. Your captain leads a small group of no more than 12 to Fantahålå, Pulpit Rock, and Hengjanefossen waterfall. Float suits, goggles, gloves, and a safety briefing are included.
“Very fun! Our cruise itinerary wasn’t very scenic. This tour sure was! Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun and scenic adventure!”
Join Get Guided Norway for a seven-hour hike from Stavanger to Preikestolen. Guides such as Ivan, Rasmus, Theo, and Alexander lead small groups of up to eight, often using a quieter old trail. Pickup, transport, a Norwegian snack, and hotel return are included.
“Sadly we had terrible weather - though a hot day would have been worse All delighted to make it to the top, just disappointed to have no view! Guides were kind, supportive and provided interesting information along the way”
Join local guides such as Tore, Mats, Stein, or Matt for a six-hour Preikestolen hike from Stavanger. Ride by bus through the world’s deepest subsea tunnel, walk roughly four hours over rocky, steep ground, and return to the cruise terminal with snacks and support along the way.
“Absolutely fantastic day out with the best guide! Stein was a fantastic guy who made the experience flawless from start to finish. Highly recommended.”
Meet Nordic Paddling 40 minutes from Stavanger for a three-hour guided kayak trip on Lysefjord. Learn basic paddling, pass granite gorges and Refsa waterfall, and look for seals near Vagabonds Cave. Guides such as Sini, Sandra, Camilla, and Jonas help beginners feel safe.
“Amazing experience and amazing photos. Thanks to our amazing guide. Highly recommend!!”
Hike Preikestolen from Stavanger with a guide and a group of no more than eight. After a 40-minute drive, you climb for about 2.5 hours, use a quieter side trail when conditions allow, and enjoy Lysefjorden from the 604-meter-high cliff. Guides may include Allan, Erlend, Stephan, or Cristian.
“Absolutely amazing experience. Guide Alan and his companion Baba were absolutely fantastic”
Use Stavanger’s open-top double-decker to get your bearings, then hop off for the cathedral, Old Town, Petroleum Museum, art museum, and Ledaal Royal Residence. The 50-minute loop runs every 30 minutes, with audio in eight languages and free WiFi. It operates mainly for cruise passengers from June through September.
“The Hop On Hop Off bus was excellent. The only feedback is that we were in Stavanger for the day on a cruise ship with 3500 passengers and the buses weren’t frequent enough. We prepaid our tickets with the expectation not to have to join a queue behind people paying on the day and had to wait 1/2 hour for next bus to depart. Maybe frequency should have been every 15 minutes”
Start with 7:00 am pickup in Stavanger and travel by private vehicle through valleys and mountains to the Kjerag trailhead. A guide leads a small group of up to eight hikers across steep rock, chains, and exposed sections to Kjeragbolten. Guides such as Teo, Sean, Helga, and Kenth are praised for pacing, photos, and trail support.
“My trip to Kjerag exceeded all my expectations! This hike is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. We were fortunate to have clear blue skies, which made the trek easier, though there were still some noticeable steep segments. If you anticipate wet conditions, I highly recommend bringing gloves to protect your hands when using the chains to help climb up (though we didn’t need them since the trail was dry). Our guide, Sean, was fantastic! He was friendly, provided us with plenty of information, and he is really passionate about hiking. I highly recommend this tour!”
Use Stavanger’s double-decker bus as a simple city sampler. Board at Strandkaien or any listed stop, hear commentary in seven languages, and hop off for Old Stavanger, museums, the cathedral, Ledaal, Sverd i fjell, and more. The $44 pass is best when you plan several stops.
“Ok but not that much to see the harbour is the best bit”
Pick a fjord, a sky or a sled.
