Are you looking for a beautiful hike in Norway that isn’t too difficult? Then you should definitely do the walk to Bondhusvatnet. This stunning glacier lake lies in Folgefonna National Park, not far from the city of Bergen and the well-known hiking town of Odda. In this blog I’ll tell you everything about this beautiful walk!
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The route to the starting point
The starting point of the hike is located in the small village of Sundal. It’s easy to reach by car and your navigation will usually guide you there without any issues. Follow the road through a small residential area until you reach a gravel parking lot. This is where you can park your car. The trail is clearly visible from there, so you can’t take a wrong turn. The parking lot is fairly spacious and paid parking is required. But everything is well arranged!
An easy hike with lots of variety
The hike to Bondhusvatnet is about 10.5 kilometers long and takes around 3.5 hours, but you definitely don’t have to complete the entire trail. The path is well maintained and relatively flat by Norwegian standards. We walked to the far end of the Bondhusvatnet glacier lake, covering 7.7 km in just under 2 hours. After only 2.5 km you’ll already be standing at the edge of the glacier lake, where you can take the cool photo you saw above. This makes the hike suitable for most walkers, even if you’re hiking with children.
Along the way you walk through the beautiful green valley. Here you immediately see how stunning Norway’s nature is. The trail runs through a forested area filled with many different trees and plants.
You’ll often hear the sound of flowing water along the way. Small streams cross the path and make the walk even more special. You can choose whether you want a relaxing Bondhusvatnet walk (very suitable for children as well) or a more challenging Bondhusvatnet hike through the stunning Folgefonna National Park. The view of the Bondhusvatnet lake and the wooden pier floating on the water makes it a truly photogenic spot.
The highlight: the glacier lake
After about 2.5 km of walking you reach the true highlight: Bondhusvatnet lake. The water has a special light-blue color that you only see in glacier lakes. This is due to the meltwater from the Bondhusbreen glacier, which you can see lying at the end of the lake. I have to be honest: unfortunately, there isn’t much of the glacier left.
Bondhusvatnet lake is one of the most beautiful glacier lakes in Norway and is known for its wooden pier and its clear blue water. This creates stunning photo opportunities, especially when the sun shines and the water sparkles. The lake is surrounded by high mountains, completing the picture perfectly. I don’t know why the boat was there, but it certainly makes for beautiful photos and is at the same time the most famous highlight of the Bondhusvatnet walk, thanks to the lake and the Bondhusbreen glacier in the background.
Continue walking along waterfalls
If you want to go a step further than the lake itself, you can continue your hike to the right. From here the path is no longer a well-maintained gravel track, but a route over rocks and stones. The hike becomes much more challenging. At the end of this walk you’ll find the beautiful Bondhus lake waterfall!
We turned around here ourselves, because we were planning to do the Buarbreen hike later that same day. It is also possible to continue walking further up through the forest towards the glacier. The advantage of turning back: you keep a beautiful view over Bondhusvatnet lake. For the Bondhusbreen glacier, however, you’ll need to turn your neck now.
Where to stay near Bondhusvatnet
Of course, you can also stay overnight near Bondhusvatnet. I’ve listed several options for you.
Hotels nearby
- Budget: Sundal Camping (Sunndal)
From €60 – Cozy cabins, camping spots and views of the glacier.
🛏️ simple facilities – 🚶♂️ walking distance - Mid-range: Hotel Sundal (Sunndal)
From €130 – Small-scale hotel with local breakfast and atmospheric rooms.
🛏️ 8.7/10 – 🚶♂️ walking distance - Luxury: Rosendal Fjordhotel (Rosendal)
From €170 – Historic hotel with stylish rooms and a restaurant serving local cuisine.
🛏️ 9.0/10 – 🚗 approx. 45 minutes’ drive - Holiday homes: Beautiful holiday home (7 people) near the lake or beautiful holiday home for 5 people nearby
Campsites nearby
- Sundal Camping (Sunndal)
From €25 – Cozy campground with cabins, camper spots and tent sites, located on the Maurangerfjord with views of the Bondhusbreen.
🛏️ basic facilities – 🚶♂️ walking distance to Bondhusvatnet - Bondhusdalen Parking (Sunndal)
From €9 – Simple parking area suitable for campervans, with sanitary facilities and beautiful views of the glacier.
🛏️ limited facilities – 🚶♂️ approx. 30 minutes’ walk to Bondhusvatnet
Activities nearby
Do you want to plan more fun activities near Odda? In the area you can also go rock climbing for a day or take a cruise on the Hardangerfjord!
Tip: We stayed near Odda ourselves. From there it’s also very easy to reach Bondhusvatnet.
I did the Bondhusvatnet hike during my 6-day trip through Norway. You can find my trip from Stavanger here.
