Bergen: Hardangerfjord, Voss Gondola & 3 Great Waterfalls

Waterfalls make Norway’s fjords unforgettable. This 9-hour trip from Bergen packs the Hardangerfjord region into one well-planned day, with three waterfalls, a ride on the Voss Gondola, a stop in Eidfjord, and views of the Hardanger Bridge. I especially like the small group of up to 15 people and the chance to go behind Steinsdalsfossen without getting soaked.

The other big plus is the guide. John receives repeated praise for his friendly manner, careful driving, detailed explanations, and willingness to take photos. The main drawback is the long day: you spend many hours in a minibus, and the one-hour break in Eidfjord may feel short if you want lunch, shopping, and a larger attraction.

Key points to know before booking

• Three waterfalls in one day: See Skjervsfossen, Vøringsfossen, and Steinsdalsfossen, each with a different setting and character.
• Voss Gondola included: Ride from Voss town center to Mount Hanguren, reaching 820 meters above sea level.
• Vøringsfossen is the headline stop: The waterfall drops 182 meters in total, including a 145-meter free fall.
• Steinsdalsfossen offers a rare angle: A path lets you walk behind the falling water while staying safe and dry.
• Eidfjord gives you one hour: Use it for lunch, the fjord promenade, shops, cafés, or the Hardangervidda Nature Centre.
• Good value for a packed day: At $313 per person, the tour costs more than a basic bus ride, but includes guiding and the Voss Gondola.

Leaving Bergen for the Hardangerfjord

You meet the guide at the Guided Fjord Tours office at Strandkaien 16 in central Bergen. The location is convenient if you are staying in the city center, and the day begins in a modern minibus rather than a large coach.

That smaller vehicle matters. With a maximum of 15 people, the group can feel more personal, and the guide has a better chance to answer questions or stop for a photo request. The minibus also makes the long road sections more manageable, though you should still expect a full day on the move.

The first drive takes about 1.5 hours. As you leave Bergen, your guide explains the fjord country, local villages, and the history of the area. The route follows the Hardangerfjord, which stretches for 179 kilometers and is Norway’s second-longest fjord.

You pass places such as Norheimsund, Øystese, and Eidfjord. These communities are linked with fruit farming, local handicrafts, and water views. The tour is not built around long village walks, so you see much of the region from the road. Still, the route gives you a useful sense of how people live along the fjord rather than showing only the famous viewpoints.

I would choose a window seat if you can. The views are a large part of the experience, and some of the most rewarding moments happen between scheduled stops.

Voss Gondola and Mount Hanguren at 820 meters

The Voss Gondola is one of the day’s most distinctive features. From Voss town center, the cable car rises to Mount Hanguren at 820 meters above sea level. The ride itself takes about nine minutes, although the schedule allows roughly an hour for the full stop.

That extra time lets you enjoy the top station instead of simply stepping off the gondola, taking one photograph, and rushing back down. Information boards explain the nearby mountains, hiking routes, and Voss’s role as a center for outdoor sports.

The gondola changes the pace of the day. Until this point, you have been watching Norway through the minibus windows. Here, you move above the town and gain a higher view of the mountains around Voss. It is a quick ride, but it adds variety to a day otherwise shaped by roads, viewpoints, and waterfalls.

The main limitation is weather. The provided information does not promise clear views, and mountain conditions can change. Even so, the gondola remains a valuable inclusion because it is already covered in the $313 price. You do not need to arrange a separate ticket or work out the local transport yourself.

Skjervsfossen, a waterfall with a quieter feel

After Voss, the bus continues for about 20 minutes to Skjervsfossen. You have around 20 minutes at the waterfall, enough for photographs and a short look around.

Skjervsfossen is part of the tour’s three-waterfall design, but it is not presented as the main spectacle. That is useful because the stops do not all compete for the same role. Skjervsfossen gives you an early nature break, while Vøringsfossen provides the grand view and Steinsdalsfossen offers the unusual walk behind the water.

Your guide can explain the waterfall’s flow, seasonal changes, and physical setting. Waterfalls can look very different depending on weather and the time of year, so do not expect every stop to have identical force or volume.

Twenty minutes is a sensible amount of time for a photo stop, but it is not enough for a long walk or careful exploration. Keep your visit focused, and be ready to return to the minibus when called.

Crossing the Hardanger Bridge

The road section after Skjervsfossen lasts about 100 minutes, followed by a pass over the Hardanger Bridge. The bridge is not a separate walking stop, but crossing it adds a memorable piece of modern engineering to the route.

This is also one of the longer stretches of the day. The benefit is that you cover a large portion of the Hardanger region without changing buses or dealing with navigation. The tradeoff is simple: if you prefer active excursions with constant walking, this tour may feel road-heavy.

Your guide’s role becomes especially important here. John is praised for explaining Norway, telling stories, answering questions, and keeping the drive comfortable. Strong guiding can turn a long transfer into part of the trip rather than dead time.

Vøringsfossen at the Fossli viewpoint

The main waterfall stop comes at the Fossli viewpoint near the top of Måbødalen. From here, you look toward Vøringsfossen, one of Norway’s best-known waterfalls.

The figures help explain its scale. Vøringsfossen drops 182 meters in total, with a free fall of 145 meters. The water plunges into the valley below, making this a broad, high-impact view rather than a close-up waterfall encounter.

The guide explains how the valley formed and discusses the engineering behind the modern viewing platforms. That context adds value. You are not simply stopping at a scenic overlook, you are learning why the valley looks the way it does and how people have made the viewpoint safer and easier to use.

You get about 30 minutes here. That should give you time for photographs and a good look from the viewing area. It is not a hiking visit, so do not book this day expecting a long trail through Måbødalen.

Vøringsfossen is likely to be the tour’s most dramatic moment. It is also the stop where weather and visibility matter most. Mist, rain, or low cloud can soften the view, but the waterfall’s height still makes it an important reason to choose this excursion.

One hour in Eidfjord

After Vøringsfossen, the bus reaches Eidfjord in about 15 minutes. You have one hour for lunch, shopping, cafés, sightseeing, or a walk along the fjord promenade.

This break is welcome after the morning’s road time. Eidfjord gives you a chance to move at your own pace, stretch your legs, and choose what matters most to you. If you want a proper meal, make that your first priority because the hour passes quickly.

You can also visit the Hardangervidda Nature Centre, although the tour does not include admission. That option may suit you if you want more background on the surrounding mountain region. If you would rather keep things simple, the promenade and local shops provide an easier break.

The one-hour limit requires a choice. You probably cannot fit lunch, the nature center, shopping, and a relaxed walk into the same stop. I would decide before arrival so you do not spend half the break figuring out what to do.

Food and drinks are not included, so budget separately for lunch. This is a small but important point when considering the total cost.

Steinsdalsfossen and the walk behind the water

The final waterfall is Steinsdalsfossen, reached after about an hour on the road from Eidfjord. You have around 30 minutes here, and this stop offers the most unusual experience of the three.

A path leads behind the falling water, allowing you to see the waterfall from the back while staying safe and dry. That angle makes Steinsdalsfossen more than another viewpoint. You get a closer sense of the spray, rock, and moving water without needing specialist gear.

It is also one of Norway’s most popular waterfalls, so this can be a busier-feeling stop than a quiet roadside viewpoint. The short visit is enough for the walk and photographs, but not for a long hike in the surrounding area.

I like the way this stop rounds out the day. Skjervsfossen gives you a straightforward waterfall view, Vøringsfossen supplies height and drama, and Steinsdalsfossen lets you experience water from an unusual position.

The return to Bergen and the day’s rhythm

From Steinsdalsfossen, the minibus takes about an hour to return to Strandkaien 16. By then, you will have spent roughly nine hours on the excursion, with a mixture of driving, short sightseeing stops, one cable-car ride, and an hour in Eidfjord.

The schedule is full but logical. The route does not waste time sending you back and forth between distant locations, and the different stops prevent the day from becoming a string of identical viewpoints.

Still, you should be honest about your energy level. This is not a slow fjord retreat. It is a road-based sightseeing day designed to show you as much of Hardanger as possible from Bergen. The minibus is comfortable, according to the available feedback, and the driving is praised, but you will spend substantial time seated.

John is specifically praised for being attentive, friendly, and willing to take photographs. Those details matter on a group tour. A guide who stays engaged through the long drives can make the difference between a tiring transfer and an informative part of the day.

Is $313 a fair price?

At $313 per person, this is a significant purchase. You are paying for a nine-hour guided day, a small group, transport from central Bergen, and the Voss Gondola. Food, drinks, and admission to the Hardangervidda Nature Centre are extra.

The value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange. You would have to coordinate transport to Voss, the gondola, the waterfalls, the bridge crossing, Eidfjord, and the return to Bergen. The tour handles the route and provides an English-speaking guide, which is useful when the stops are spread across a large area.

The price makes the most sense if you have only one day for Hardanger and want a broad sample of the region. It makes less sense if you prefer to stay in one place, travel independently, or spend several hours hiking at a single waterfall.

The gondola inclusion helps. Since the ride is part of the package, you receive more than a basic scenic drive. The small-group format also adds value compared with a large coach, especially when you want to ask questions or get help with photographs.

Who should book this Hardangerfjord day trip?

I would recommend this tour if you want a guided overview of the Hardanger region without renting a car or planning several separate trips. It suits first-time visitors to Bergen, photographers who want several major viewpoints, and anyone who wants both natural sights and a little local context.

It is also a good fit if you value convenience. The guide handles the route, the driving, and the timing. The English-language commentary helps connect the villages, mountains, waterfalls, and engineering works into one coherent day.

You may want another option if you use a wheelchair, since the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. You should also think twice if long drives are difficult for you or if you want extended time at Vøringsfossen or Eidfjord.

The tour has a 4.8 rating from 29 reviews, with especially strong praise for the guides, comfortable minibus, driving, waterfalls, and Voss cable car. John receives repeated personal praise, including comments about his detailed explanations, friendly approach, and willingness to take photos. Those are practical strengths, not just pleasant extras.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see three very different waterfalls, ride the Voss Gondola, and reach Hardangerfjord sights in one organized day from Bergen. The route is packed, but it covers a lot of ground without making you manage the logistics.

Skip it if you want a quiet, flexible day or a serious hiking experience. For most visitors with limited time in Bergen, though, the combination of Vøringsfossen, Eidfjord, Mount Hanguren, and the walk behind Steinsdalsfossen makes the price easier to justify.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That gives you some flexibility while deciding how the tour fits your Bergen plans.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is the Guided Fjord Tours company office at Strandkaien 16 in central Bergen.

How long does the excursion last?

The tour lasts nine hours and returns to Strandkaien 16.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 15 participants.

Is the Voss Gondola included?

Yes. The Voss Gondola ride is included in the tour price.

How long is the gondola ride?

The cable-car journey from Voss town center to Mount Hanguren takes about nine minutes. The scheduled stop allows about an hour for the gondola experience.

Which waterfalls does the tour visit?

The tour visits Skjervsfossen, Vøringsfossen, and Steinsdalsfossen.

How much time is provided at Vøringsfossen?

You have about 30 minutes at the Vøringsfossen viewpoint.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You have one hour in Eidfjord to arrange lunch or choose another activity.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I pay later?

Yes. You can reserve your place and pay later.