Are you looking to travel to Norway for a 6-day vacation in April, May, or June, focusing mainly on hikes? Well, that was exactly my plan too! April, May, or June are great months, as it’s spring—very doable! In April, you might still encounter plenty of snow, but these months are ideal for exploring Norway during a 6-day hiking adventure. Nature is at its most beautiful, with fresh green landscapes and comfortable temperatures. And not unimportantly: there are still few tourists around. Here’s my itinerary for 6 days in Norway in May. Of course, feel free to expand or shorten this trip to your own wishes.
Since I live in the Netherlands, my trip started from Amsterdam.
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Day 1: Amsterdam (or any airport) –> Stavanger –> Preikestolen
Our journey began with a short morning flight to Stavanger. After picking up our rental car (check the extensive range at Discover Cars, we chose a Suzuki Swift) and stocking up on groceries, we immediately drove on to our first hike: the Månafossen waterfall. This waterfall, at 90 meters high, is the largest in the Rogaland region. The fun part is that you can reach it within fifteen minutes. You do need to climb a bit and sometimes hold on to chains, but that’s what makes it so exciting!
After Månafossen, we continued onto Sollifjellet. This hike of almost 6 kilometers offers a beautiful view of the famous Preikestolen and the Lysefjord. The path is well-marked with red dots, but sometimes you’ll need to look closely to find the next one. We only encountered a handful of other hikers here—a big difference compared to the crowds we would experience the next day!
We ended the day at the Preikestolen Basecamp, a good hotel close to the start of the famous Preikestolen hike. Convenient for an early start the next day!
- 08:15 AM: Flight from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Stavanger Airport Sola (SVG) via KLM. Flight time is 1 hour and 25 minutes.
- 10:00 AM: Arrival in Stavanger and pick up rental car at the airport.
- Groceries: Handy to do groceries on the first day! Think about your list while on the plane.
- Hike 1: Månafossen (2.9 km): Waterfall hike. Takes about 1.5 hours on average. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qP7yNi1SGmhZSeHMA
- Hike 2: Sollifjellet (5.6 km): From the top, you have a view over Preikestolen. Round trip takes about 2 hours. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jeYx1Dn6MRwCRfVd8
- Overnight: Preikestolen Basecamp. Breakfast included. Check-in: 16:00 – 00:00. Check-out: 06:00 – 10:30.
By staying overnight at Preikestolen, you can start the hike early the next morning. Preikestolen is one of the most famous hikes in Norway, so it’s best to get an early start!
Day 2: Preikestolen –> Odda
The second day was all about Norway’s most famous hike: the Preikestolen (also known as Pulpit Rock). We left at eight in the morning, which turned out to be a smart choice. The hike is 8 kilometers and takes about 3 hours. The trail climbs steeply over rocky terrain—definitely not a neatly paved path! Make sure to wear sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support.
At the top, a breathtaking view over the Lysefjord, 604 meters below, awaited us. Preikestolen is a flat rock protruding above the fjord. Here’s a tip not many know: walk a bit further past Preikestolen. From a higher point, you’ll get the best photos of this famous rock!
After the hike, our journey continued to Odda, a four and a half hour drive through stunning landscapes. Along the way, we took a ferry and enjoyed great sights. In Odda, we stayed in a cute cabin via Airbnb, amidst the fruit orchards.
- Breakfast: Breakfast at Preikestolen Basecamp.
- Hike 1: Preikestolen (8 km): The hike takes about 3 hours and is 8 km long. Starting point: from the hotel.
- Travel day – 4.5 hours to Odda: Enjoy the scenery along the way. There are a few highlights along the road, including a ferry crossing. Tip: shop for groceries in Odda or somewhere en route.
- Overnight: Stay near Odda. We stayed in Ullensvang (via Airbnb).
We chose not to go further than Odda, as especially in April and May there’s still a good chance of snow in these areas. You’ll always find snow in the mountains, but most hikes are doable from May onwards!
Days 3 & 4: Odda & surroundings
The next two days we explored the surroundings of Odda. This town is perfectly located between two national parks: Folgefonna and Hardangervidda. Here you’ll find everything that makes Norway so special: mighty waterfalls, sparkling glaciers, and impressive mountains.
Hiking Day 1: Northern area
- Husedalen (waterfalls): 11.6 km route with 4 waterfalls. Norway has many beautiful walks, but this hike in the Husedalen valley past 4 waterfalls is truly special.
- Vøringsfossen: Short hike of 1.8 km to a waterfall. Extra travel time of 2 hours return. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yw8RHwDiYcuespQ39 (paid parking possible).
A highlight was the Husedalen walk. On this almost 12 km route, you encounter no fewer than four stunning waterfalls! The last, Søtefossen, was still partially snow-covered in May. This made the walk extra adventurous.
From Husedalen we drove on to Vøringsfossen: Norway’s most famous waterfall. This was the furthest point of our 6-day trip in Norway, because in May you still have too much chance of snow from here on. That didn’t fit our hiking plans.
Hiking Day 2: West of Odda
- Bondhusvatnet: 10.5 km hike along a lake with glacier views. Quite challenging and takes about 3.5 hours. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ULduohUbG2jj7NaU7
- Nedre (lower) Buarbreen: Demanding 5.5 km route to the Buarbreen glacier. This hike is for enthusiasts—you’ll need to climb sections with ropes and chains. Still, Buarbreen was one of the best hikes for a one-week holiday in Norway in May!
We started this morning with a relatively easy hike by Norwegian standards: the hike to the glacier lake Bondhusvatnet. You can take great photos here and the path is fairly flat. That’s pleasant, especially since the tough hike to Buarbreen was on the agenda for the afternoon.
What made our journey to the Buarbreen glacier so special: it’s a tough hike, you’ll have to pull yourself up with ropes and chains. The view of the blue glacier makes everything worthwhile. Unfortunately, in May we couldn’t complete this hike. There was too much snow near the glacier to safely continue. Especially because underneath the ice, the ground was melting. If you go in late May or June, you’ll probably reach the end of the trail!
Day 5: Odda –> Tysvær
On day five we drove towards Tysvær. Along the way, we made a wonderful hike to Himakånå, a popular route of 6 km with beautiful views over the fjords. The last day was mainly a travel day, with the return flight to Amsterdam the next day.
- Departure from Odda: Check out from the Airbnb cabin by 12:00 noon.
- Travel day: A substantial travel day with an optional hike.
- Hike 1: Stølanuten from Gurigjerde: 5.3 km route, about 2 hours and 12 minutes. Expect few other hikers. Open all year. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SmJxtg6Y5FHvwd458
- Hike 2: Himakånå: 6.0 km route, about 2 hours and 21 minutes. Popular area, so expect other hikers. Open all year. Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6sHxw4rm4ePpb3yz8 (in the village, near the supermarket)
- Overnight: Tysvær. Feel free to choose another hotel or Airbnb in this region.
Day 6: Tysvær –> Stavanger –> Amsterdam (or your home)
- Check out at Tysvær: Check out by 11:00 a.m.
- Travel day: We drive 2 hours to Stavanger Airport Sola (SVG).
- Flight: Fly back in the afternoon from Stavanger Airport Sola (SVG) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). Flight time is 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Useful tips for southern Norway in the spring
- May is an ideal travel month: pleasant temperatures and still very quiet
- Pack layers of clothing; the weather can change quickly and you’ll warm up fast while hiking
- Start popular hikes early (before 8 a.m.)
- Download hiking trails in the AllTrails app to never get lost!
- Shop for groceries in larger towns. Note that most stores are closed on Sundays
- Be aware of paid parking at popular hiking spots
Are you also planning to hike 6 days in Norway in May this spring? I hope the above itinerary has given you some nice tips to plan your journey. This blog is full of links to articles about different hikes. Make use of them!
This 6-day trip introduces you to the most beautiful that Southern Norway has to offer: deep fjords, majestic waterfalls, and impressive mountains. Perfect for those who love hiking and natural beauty!
