Worth remembering
- From Stavanger: RIB Tour to Lysefjord & Preikestolen, from US$126, rated 4.92 from 1,526 reviews, with 2 hours on the water.[1]
- Preikestolen rises 604 metres above the fjord, and the run also passes Hengjanefossen, a waterfall reported at around 400 metres.[2][3]
- The RIB trip is listed at 2 hours, and the walk up to Preikestolen takes about 3 to 4 hours if you add the hike.[1][4]
- Layers, a windproof shell, gloves and sunglasses: open boats feel cold at speed and the water throws spray over the tubes on the fast stretches.
- Reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund on the RIB tour.[1]
- Top choice Lysefjord RIB Tour from US$126 Duration2 hours[1]Traveller score4.92 from 1,526 reviews[1]HighlightsPulpit Rock and the waterfall[1]Good to knowSkip the ticket line[1]Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before[1] Check availability
- Electric Fjord Cruise from US$75 Duration3.5 hours[5]Traveller score4.62 from 9,730 reviews[5]HighlightsPulpit Rock and the waterfall[5]Good to knowWheelchair accessible[5]Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before[5] See this tour
- Low-Emission Cruise from US$76 Duration2.5 hours[6]Traveller score4.81 from 2,256 reviews[6]HighlightsPulpit Rock and the waterfall[6]Good to knowSkip the ticket line[6]Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before[6] See this tour
A two-hour boat trip on the Lysefjord. You’ll see Preikestolen from the water, stop at the Whisky Waterfall, and go into Vagabond’s Cave.
The RIB is the fast, close-up way to see Lysefjord
Pre-booking checklist
- Book online in advance: RIB boats carry a fixed number of passengers
- Prices shown here are from-prices per person, so check the date you want
- Look for reserve now and pay later, and check the cancellation terms
- Book as one group if you want to share a boat with friends or family
On the water
- Warm layers and a windproof outer jacket: open boats feel cold at speed
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare bouncing off the water and rock
- Listen to the safety briefing and keep hold of the rail when the boat moves
- Arrive at the meeting point with time to spare before departure
What a Lysefjord RIB Safari from Stavanger Really Is
A RIB is a rigid inflatable boat: a fast, open craft with a deep V hull, inflatable tubes down the sides and outboard engines at the back. On the Lysefjord the format is simple. You meet in Stavanger, listen to the safety briefing, settle onto a saddle seat, and the skipper opens the throttle. Within minutes the harbour is behind you and the fjord walls start to rise. It is the quickest way to see the fjord from the water, and it stays close to the cliffs instead of cruising past them at a distance.
The fjord itself was formed during the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, when colossal glaciers carved deep valleys into the landscape.[7] Today the Lysefjord is approximately 40 kilometres long and up to 422 metres deep, though it shallows to only 13 metres near Oanes and Forsand.[8] From a fast boat you feel those proportions: the water turns from green to black under the bow, the walls lean over you, and the engine noise bounces back off the rock. A RIB safari is a short, sharp introduction to the whole valley.
RIB Boat Lysefjord: What You See from the Water
The classic route heads east from Stavanger, past the mouth of the fjord and under the Lysefjord bridge, then deep into the narrow part of the valley. The landmarks are easy to name. Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, is a flat-topped cliff that rises 604 metres above the Lysefjord in Ryfylke.[2] From the water you see the sheer face and the plateau, and hikers up there look like specks against the sky. Hengjanefossen is a waterfall reported at around 400 metres in height, dropping into the fjord in a long white thread.[3]
Boats also nose into Fantahala, the narrow slot between the cliffs where the water turns dark, and slow down for photos along the rock faces. A two-hour boat trip on the Lysefjord takes in Preikestolen from the water, a stop at the Whisky Waterfall and a look into Vagabond's Cave, as the operator Fjordevent describes its own safari.[9] Skippers time the run to the light and the ferry traffic, so the order of the stops can vary. Either way you are back on the quay in Stavanger with the rest of the day still ahead of you.
Hengjanefossen drops into the fjord beside the boat
How to Choose a Stavanger Lysefjord RIB Tour
Several operators run the same stretch of water, and the differences sit in the details. Prices start at different points, so compare what you actually get: the length of the run, whether the boat has a covered cabin or open seats, and how many passengers are aboard. From Stavanger: RIB Tour to Lysefjord & Preikestolen is listed from US$126 and runs for 2 hours, with a live guide in Norwegian and English, audio guides in German, Italian, French, Spanish and English, and skip the ticket line at the meeting point.[1] It is rated 4.92 from 1,526 reviews.[1]
Not every RIB trip is the same product. Some spend longer on the water; others start from Sandnes or Forsand rather than Stavanger city centre, which changes how much of the trip you spend moving. If you are travelling with someone who cannot sit on a bouncing seat for long, look at the slower boats instead: the electric fjord cruise and the low-emission cruise are both wheelchair accessible and give you a warm cabin.[5][6]
RIB or Slow Cruise? Two Ways to See Preikestolen
The fjord offers two very different speeds. A RIB covers the distance quickly and gets close to the rock, which makes it the better choice for photographers and for anyone with only half a day. A cabin cruise is gentler: you sit indoors, listen to commentary, and watch the valley slide past. Brim Explorer's electric Lysefjord cruise is a 3.5-hour silent, hybrid-electric fjord cruise from Stavanger to see Preikestolen from the water.[10] The Rødne Lysefjord cruise from Stavanger lasts 3-3.5 hours.[11]
Cruises are easier for families with small children, for anyone who feels the cold, and for travellers who would rather not hold on for the whole run. The RIB is more exposed, so you will want waterproofs and a warm hat even when the harbour looks calm. Whichever you pick, book early in the high season, because the popular departure times go first and the water is busiest when the weather is kind.
from US$126
The RIB tour to Lysefjord and Preikestolen leaves from Stavanger, lasts 2 hours and can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure.[1]
What to Wear on a Lysefjord RIB Safari
You do not need special kit, but you do need layers. Fjord air feels cold at speed even when Stavanger is warm, and spray comes over the tubes on the faster stretches. A windproof and waterproof outer layer, a fleece or wool jumper, gloves, a hat and sunglasses cover most conditions. Trainers or hiking shoes with grip beat sandals. If you are offered a flotation suit for the ride, wear something thin underneath rather than a bulky coat.
Take a small dry bag or use a zipped pocket for your phone and camera, and keep the strap around your neck when you stand up for a photo. If you are prone to seasickness, sit towards the back of the boat, look at the horizon and skip a heavy breakfast. Sunscreen matters more than people expect, because light bounces off the water and off the pale rock walls. Above all, keep one hand free: on a RIB you will be holding a rail or a seat most of the way.
Getting to Stavanger and to the Boat
Most fjord trips leave from Stavanger city centre, within walking distance of the harbour and the old town. If you arrive by cruise ship, you often step ashore in the middle of things: cruise ships dock at Skagenkaien, Strandkaien or Skansekaien in Vågen, Stavanger's city-centre inner harbour.[12] That makes a RIB safari an easy port-day outing, as long as you check your departure time against your ship's schedule.
Coming overland, Stavanger is the hub. The Lysefjord is 41 miles (66 km) from Stavanger, and the drive takes around an hour and a half.[13] From Oslo you can travel by train on the Vy-operated Sørlandsbanen, which takes around seven to eight hours.[14] Local transport keeps running through the year too, with a year-round ferry service on the Lysefjord to Lysebotn.[15]
Making a Day of It: Hikes and Other Fjord Trips
The obvious pairing with a boat trip is the walk up to the cliff. The Preikestolen hike 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.[4] The trail is open year-round, including during the winter off-season, though winter conditions call for proper gear and a guide.[16] Guided hikes leave from Stavanger and Jørpeland, and some include a transfer and a viewpoint stop before the plateau.
Further afield, Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged 1,000 meters above Lysefjord, reached by a strenuous 12 km trail.[17] Drivers can take the Lysevegen road from Lysebotn, which has 27 hairpin bends,[18] while the ambitious head for the Flørli stairs and their 4444 steps.[19] On the water, kayaking is another way to see the walls: Nordic Paddling organises private guided kayak tours on the Lysefjord for groups of up to 12 people.[20] Whichever you choose, the fjord rewards an early start and a flexible plan.
Time on the water: fjord trips from Stavanger
What fjord trips from Stavanger cost
US dollar from-prices per person as listed on GetYourGuide.[1][5][21][22] No separate child price is shown.
When to ride a Lysefjord RIB safari
How the day runs
Book your seat
Choose a departure that fits your day in Stavanger and note the meeting point on your confirmation.
Meet at the harbour
Arrive with time to spare, meet the crew and listen to the safety briefing before you step aboard.
Run out to the fjord
The boat picks up speed, the city slips away and the rock walls close in on both sides.
Look up at Preikestolen
You drift below the flat cliff top, then turn into the narrow slot of Fantahala and the spray of the waterfall.
Back in Stavanger
You are on the quay again with the rest of the day free for the old town, the harbour and dinner.
Ready to see Preikestolen from the water?
from US$126
