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How to hike Preikestolen

Prepare for massive crowds

Hiking Preikestolen is not difficult or tiring at all, unlike hiking Trolltunga. On average it takes about 2 hours to get to Pulpit Rock, but we managed to do it in about 90 minutes (excluding 2 short breaks). Since it’s a very easy hike, you should be prepared for massive crowds up top. The whole hike you will be accompanied by hundreds of other people. It will be difficult to get the place to yourself.

Get there early

You might think you don’t have to arrive early when the ascent only takes 2 hours, but I would advise you to start the hike early. We left at 9 AM and had to share Pulpit Rock with about a hundred other people. We thought it was already getting quite crowded, but we didn’t realize that a lot of people started the hike right before or after lunch. While we were walking down, hundreds of people were still making their way up. At some point they even had to queue! So, if you don’t like hiking with tons of other people around, I would suggest you leave as early as possible.

How to hike Preikestolen

Easy and accessible hike

Just like Trolltunga, the start of the hike is quite steep. We noticed a lot of people almost running up the hill, only to have to stop to catch their breath a couple of minutes later. There is no rush, since you will reach Pulpit Rock in less than 2 hours from your departure. After the steepish start, the terrain flattens out, so you definitely have the opportunity to relax your muscles a little bit.

The terrain does get a bit steeper later on in the hike, but it never gets too difficult. I wouldn’t say you need to be in very good shape to hike Preikestolen. It’s perfectly accessible for kids and also older people.

Wear workout clothes

For this hike, you don’t have to stack up your backpack with tons of food and drinks, nor do you need to wear the newest gear. Just wear some good hiking boots, bring a fleece and a couple of snacks. Of course there were a lot of people wearing their Sunday clothes, we even saw one older guy hiking in his suede suit! I would, however, advise you to wear workout clothes and good shoes. The terrain is still quite hard and rocky, and I can’t imagine your newest Stan Smiths providing you enough support.

Unlike hiking Trolltunga, you won’t find that many rivers or waterfalls where you can fill up your bottle. So do make sure you bring enough water with you.

How to hike Preikestolen

Respect the queues

Once we arrived at Preikestolen, we had to share this amazing place with about a hundred other people. In order to get a cool shot of you standing or sitting at the end of the rock, you need to wait in line. Some people, however, didn’t respect the queue which led to some frustrations. So in case you would like to get a cool picture taken, check first if people are queuing. If so, please respect this and patiently wait in line. You will have plenty of time to get a once in a lifetime picture!

How to hike Preikestolen

Have you ever hiked Preikestolen? What was your experience like?

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How to hike Trolltunga? https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/08/20/hike-trolltunga/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/08/20/hike-trolltunga/#comments Sun, 20 Aug 2017 18:21:04 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=368 Ever since I had seen pictures of Trolltunga on Instagram I knew that one day I wanted to see it with my own eyes. And what better way to do that than to go there with your Norwegian boyfriend?

Trolltunga is a very long and strenuous hike. It takes in between 10 to 12 hours to hike there and back (breaks included), so we decided to wake up early and start our hike at 7:45 AM. We were staying at Trolltunga Hotel in Odda, which is the gateway to Trolltunga. From Odda it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive to the parking lot (parking costs about 300 NOK) from where you start the hike.

How to hike Trolltunga

Come prepared

First things first, before you start the hike you have to make sure you’re wearing the right clothes. We saw tons of people dressed like they were going for a Sunday walk, wearing jeans and shoes that are really not equipped for hiking for 22 km.

So put on your hiking boots and come prepared for all kinds of weather. We hiked Trolltunga on a relatively sunny day in July, but we still had to put on our fleeces, jackets and even beanies at some points. So make sure you bring some warmer clothes with you. Other than that I’d suggest bringing enough food since this hike is going to take you all day. You don’t have to stock up on tons of water since there are lots of waterfalls along the way where you can fill up your bottle.

You also don’t have to worry about getting lost on the way. Norwegians are known for their efficiency, and this becomes clear when hiking Trolltunga. The trail is clearly indicated with a red “T”, and every kilometer is indicated with a sign. This way you can always keep track of how much further you have to walk to reach the “Troll’s tongue”.

How to hike Trolltunga

Breathtaking nature

I will be honest with you, the hike isn’t easy. You will definitely notice this during the first 2 kilometres of the hike. It almost goes straight up through the forest, and you will feel like you’re climbing stairs. These first two kilometres are the hardest of the whole hike. We saw lots of people stopping to catch their breath or even turning back because of the intensity of the start of the hike. Luckily, after the 2nd kilometre mark the terrain flattens out and you will arrive at a valley. After that the hike gets steeper again, but luckily it never gets as steep as the first 2 kms. You will basically ascend and descend for a big part of the hike.

The landscape changes constantly and will absolutely amaze you. Once you leave the forest you will be treated to some amazing sights. One of my favorite parts was when we saw the fjord for the first time. The color of the water is amazing, photos really don’t do it justice! I found myself snapping pictures constantly, trying to soak in how beautiful nature can be.

How to hike Trolltunga

Take your time for pictures

After about 5.5 hours we finally arrived at our destination: Trolltunga! Or not? We could see tons of people gathering, but I couldn’t spot the Troll’s tongue. I remember thinking: this is not what I imagined it looked like? Turns out Trolltunga isn’t immediately visible when you arrive since you have to descend for a bit to get there. Bear in mind that you have to queue for a little while to get your picture taken. We spent about 1.5 hours at Trolltunga just because we had to stand in line for 45 minutes to get a picture! You might feel rushed because tons of other people are waiting, but don’t forget to take your time. You will most likely never come back here, so make sure you got a couple of nice photographs!

The descend back to the car might feel like an eternity. You have to hike those 11 km back and this time you won’t be rewarded with a breathtakingly beautiful view at the end. And as you could probably guess, the last 2 km of the hike are also the hardest. The steep trail through the forest will hurt your knees and toes. The last kilometre will feel endless (who knew 1 km could take that long?), but the hike is totally worth it. You won’t experience anything like this, so don’t let the intensity stop you from hiking Trolltunga!

I would recommend this hike to anyone who’s in good physical shape, since it is hands down one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done.

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