Enter exhilarating Odda, a region at the tip of the majestic Sørfjorden. This 620-square-mile (1,600-square-kilometre) municipality features pretty mountain towns perched among sheer cliffs, grand glaciers and lush valleys. Bring your hiking, kayaking or rock-climbing gear to experience this great Norwegian wild.
Make a base in one of a handful of charming towns in the district. The region’s capital, also named Odda, offers cosy restaurants and easy access to the area’s best natural attractions. Alternatively, stay in waterfront Tyssedal and visit the Norwegian Museum of Hydro Power and Industry. Be sure to pass through Røldal to see the 13th-century Røldal Stave Church.
Odda is famed for its scenic hiking and spectacular viewpoints over the Hardangerfjord. Trek along the Hardangervidda plateau in the Hardangervidda National Park, which has overnight cabins for multi-day hikes. Alternatively, take the challenging 12-hour round-trip trail to the Trolltunga or “Troll’s Tongue.” This breathtaking lookout overhangs a 2,300-feet (700-metre) drop to Lake Ringedalsvatnet below.
Get close to the colossal architects of the fjord landscape on a glacier hike. Strap on gripped shoes and trek atop the Buer Glacier, which features stunning blue ice caves. Ascend the mighty Folgefonna Glacier with an 82-square-mile (213-square-kilometre) ice mass, it’s Norway’s third largest. Try summer skiing at the Fonna Glacier Ski Resort.
Experience the ephemeral beauty of cascading water in the Valley of Waterfalls, a 6-mile (10-kilometre) gorge connecting Hardangervidda and Folgefonna. Stop at the Låtefoss Waterfall, a famous twin cascade, for a gorgeous photo opportunity.
For a thrilling experience in Odda, take the Via Ferrata rock-climbing path, which has fixed bolts and clamps to make it as easy as climbing a ladder. Alternatively, take an exhilarating zip-line tour or cruise through the fjord on a kayaking excursion.
Access Odda easily from Bergen or Voss by bus or ferry. Alternatively, drive from Bergen in about 3 hours. Visit in the warmer months between April and September for ideal adventuring weather.
