Worth remembering
- A shared electric cruise to Pulpit Rock is from US$75, and the low-emission cruise to the same sights is from US$76.[1][2]
- RIB trips to the fjord are from US$126 and take 2 hours, with groups limited to 12 participants.[3][4]
- Guided hikes to Preikestolen are from US$147 in winter and from US$168 with a local guide.[5][6]
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and reserve now and pay later, on the main boats.[1][2]
- The electric cruise lasts 3.5 hours and the low-emission cruise 2.5 hours, both reaching Pulpit Rock.[1][2]
| From the water | Water and trail | On the trail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | from US$75[1] | from US$282[7] | from US$147[5] |
| Typical length | 3.5 hours[1] | 7 hours[7] | 9 hours[5] |
| Rated | 4.62 from 9,730 reviews[1] | 4.84 from 23 reviews[7] | 4.26 from 4 reviews[5] |
| Cancellation | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[1] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[7] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[5] |
| Payment | Reserve now and pay later[1] | Reserve now and pay later[7] | Reserve now and pay later[5] |
| Good to know | Wheelchair accessible, audio guide[1] | RIB safari, then by car to the trail[7] | Limited to 8 participants[5] |
Experience our architecturally unique cabins in Lysefjorden, Norway, designed to minimize environmental impact.
Is a Lysefjord cruise worth the money?
Pre-booking checklist
- Compare the from-price on each boat
- Check the duration on the listing
- Look for reserve now and pay later
- Read the cancellation window first
On the day
- Walk down to Vågen, the inner harbour
- Take sunglasses for glare off the water
- Pack a warm layer for the open deck
- Ask about wheelchair access on board
What a Lysefjord cruise costs
The boat you pick sets the price more than anything else on the water. A seat on the electric fjord cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen starts from US$75, and the low-emission cruise to the same sights starts from US$76.[1][2] The hybrid ship cruise is listed from US$83, and the guided Lysefjord cruise to Pulpit Rock from US$168.[8][9] All of them reach the Lysefjord. The choice comes down to the boat, the departure point and how many people you want around you.
RIB trips sit higher up the range and cover the water faster. A RIB tour to Lysefjord and Preikestolen is from US$126, a RIB cruise from Stavanger with a full refund for cruise ship delays from US$141, a RIB safari from Stavanger from US$144 and a Lysefjorden and Pulpit Rock RIB boat tour from US$147.[3][4][10][11] A boat safari to Lysefjord and Preikestolen is listed from US$156.[12]
Guided hikes to Pulpit Rock cost about the same as a RIB ride. A local guide hike is from US$168, a guided hike with pickup from US$168, a hidden nature hike from US$177 and a winter hike from US$147.[5][6][13][14] Trips that pair the water with the walk start from US$269 for the winter cruise and hike and from US$282 for the RIB and hike combo.[7][15]
Cheap seats and private boats
A shared seat on a big boat keeps the cost down. The electric cruise is listed from US$75 and the hybrid ship from US$83, both working the same stretch of fjord.[1][8] Step up to a smaller, faster boat and the fare rises: RIB listings run from US$126 to US$156.[3][12] What you buy with the difference is speed, spray and a lower line along the cliff.
Small-group trips sit in the middle. The RIB tour to Lysefjord and Preikestolen takes 2 hours, and the Lysefjorden and Pulpit Rock RIB boat tour is limited to 12 participants.[3][4] Guided hikes cap numbers too: the winter hike and the hidden nature hike are limited to 8 participants each, and the local guided hike to Preikestolen to 10.[5][14][16]
Private and multi-day options are priced separately and climb quickly. A private guided hike to Preikestolen is from US$470 and a two-day Preikestolen and Kjerag adventure from US$1047.[17][18] Further out, a seven-day Bergen and Stavanger trip with a Pulpit Rock cruise is from US$2192 and a private Pulpit Rock day off the beaten path from US$3168.[19][20]
The fjord narrows below Preikestolen, where the cliff drops straight into deep, green water.
Pulpit Rock from the water or on foot
Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, rises 604 metres above the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, and the cruise route runs beneath it.[21] On the electric cruise the stops are Fantahala, Pulpit Rock and Hengjanefossen waterfall, and the low-emission cruise calls at the same three places.[1][2] Hengjanefossen is reported at around 400 meters.[22] Keep an eye out as you pass.
The walk to the cliff is less than 10km (6.2 miles) long, with an elevation gain of just over 600m, and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete.[23] Guided versions start at from US$147 for the winter hike, from US$158 for a local guided hike and from US$168 for the six-hour hike with a local guide.[5][6][16]
The trail to Preikestolen is open year-round, including during the winter off-season. A boat trip and a walk can be put together outside the warm months.[24] A sunrise hike with buffet breakfast is from US$271, and a RIB safari and hike combo is from US$282.[7][25] Either way, the view is the same rock: one from below, one from the top.
Lysefjord cruise booking: terms to check
Booking is flexible on most of these tours. The electric cruise, the RIB tour and the guided hike all list reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1][3][6] The winter cruise and hike differs on timing, with free cancellation up to 2 days in advance for a full refund.[15]
Two listings go further. A RIB cruise from Stavanger offers a full refund for cruise ship delays or cancellations, and a RIB safari and hike combo also lists a full refund.[7][10] Compare the from-price on each listing and read the policy on the boat you favour before you pay.
Extras vary and they shape the value. The RIB cruise from Stavanger includes an audio guide in German, English, Italian and French, and the electric cruise carries an audio guide in English and Norwegian.[1][10] The low-emission cruise offers audio in English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian and Spanish.[2] Check what is on board before you choose your boat.
from US$75
The electric fjord cruise runs 3.5 hours, is wheelchair accessible and carries an audio guide in English and Norwegian.[1]
Getting to the water in Stavanger
Cruise ships berth at Skagenkaien, Strandkaien or Skansekaien directly in Vågen, Stavanger's city-centre inner harbour.[26] That puts the old town, the cathedral and the main shopping streets close to the quay. A fjord trip fits neatly around a port day.
By road the Lysefjord is 41 miles (66 km) from Stavanger, and the drive takes around an hour and a half.[27] From Oslo the Vy-operated Sørlandsbanen train takes around seven to eight hours, a full day of travel with the fjord waiting at the end.[28]
A year-round local ferry serves the fjord, with calls at Lysebotn and other small stops along the way.[29] If you are staying in the city centre, the boat leaves from the quays and does the rest.
What you see from the deck
The Lysefjord is approximately 40 kilometres long and up to 422 metres deep, though it shallows to only 13 metres near Oanes and Forsand.[30] It was formed during the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, when colossal glaciers carved deep valleys into the landscape.[31]
From the water, Preikestolen shows as 604 metres of rock rising straight out of the fjord, and Hengjanefossen as a waterfall reported at around 400 meters.[21][22] Higher up, Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged 1,000 meters above Lysefjord, reached by a strenuous 12 km trail.[32]
Other landmarks read well from the deck. Lysevegen, the road that winds from Lysebotn, has 27 hairpin bends, and the Flørli stairs consist of 4444 steps.[33][34] The cliffs change colour through the day and the water turns a deep green in the narrowest sections. Keep a camera within reach.
When to go and what to bring
The fjord works all year. The hiking trail to Preikestolen is open year-round, including during the winter off-season, and the local ferry service on the Lysefjord to Lysebotn runs year-round.[24][29] Winter versions of the tours are listed too: a winter hike from US$147 and a cruise and hike day from US$269.[5][15]
On the water the weather decides the day. Pack for wind and spray. A waterproof outer layer, a warm mid-layer and shoes with grip are the sensible basics, and sunglasses help when light bounces off the fjord. In winter, add gloves and a hat for the open deck.
The from-prices of the shared cruises sit close together. Three boats cover the same water at from US$75 for 3.5 hours, from US$76 for 2.5 hours and from US$83 for 3.5 hours.[1][2][8] Some listings offer pickup, so check the departure point against where you are staying.[9] Pick the boat that matches how much time you have.
How long Lysefjord cruises last
Durations as listed for the electric fjord cruise[1], the low-emission cruise[2] and the RIB tour to Lysefjord[3].
From-prices for Lysefjord tours
US dollar from-prices listed for the electric cruise[1], the RIB tour[3], the low-emission cruise[2] and the guided hike[6].
When to book a Lysefjord cruise
Pick your Lysefjord cruise
Set your budget
Shared cruises are the cheap end; private departures and multi-day trips cost far more. Decide which side of that line you are on.
Choose water or trail
A cruise sees Pulpit Rock from below and fits into a few hours. A guided hike takes longer and puts you on the plateau itself.
Check where it starts
Check whether your tour leaves from the Stavanger quays or offers pickup. Match the departure point with where you are staying.
Read the cancellation terms
Cancellation windows differ between tours. Check the small print before you commit to a date.
Book and pay later
Reserve now and pay later appears on many listings, which lets you hold a seat while your plans settle.
Compare from-prices and choose your Lysefjord cruise
from US$76Reserve now & pay later
