Bergen: Hardangerfjord, Voss Gondola & 3 Great Waterfalls

Waterfalls and fjords make a fine day out. This 9-hour Hardangerfjord tour packs three major waterfalls, the Voss Gondola, village scenery, and a fjord-side stop into one well-run route from Bergen. I especially like the comfortable small-group minibus and the chance to ride from Voss town up Mount Hanguren without arranging separate transport. The main drawback is the long day on the road, with several stops kept fairly short.

The tour also gets high marks for its personal guiding. John is praised for careful driving, clear stories about Norway, and helping with photos, which matters when the schedule moves quickly. At $313 per person, this is not a cheap outing, but the price includes the guide, transport, and Voss Gondola, making it useful for visitors who want broad coverage without piecing together several bookings.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different waterfalls: See Skjervsfossen, Vøringsfossen, and Steinsdalsfossen, each with its own setting and viewing style.
• Voss Gondola included: Ride nine minutes from central Voss to Mount Hanguren, 820 meters above sea level.
• A scenic Hardangerfjord route: Pass through Norheimsund, Øystese, and Eidfjord, with fruit farming and traditional village scenery along the way.
• A rare behind-the-waterfall walk: At Steinsdalsfossen, you can walk behind the falling water while staying on a safe, dry path.
• One hour in Eidfjord: Use the break for lunch, cafés, shops, the fjord promenade, or the Hardangervidda Nature Centre.
• Small group, English guide: The minibus holds no more than 15 people, making the day more personal than a large coach excursion.

From Bergen to the Hardangerfjord

Meet at the Guided Fjord Tours office at Strandkaien 16 in central Bergen. The day begins with about 90 minutes in a modern minibus, giving you time to settle in before the first major stop.

The route follows Hardangerfjord, Norway’s second-longest fjord at 179 kilometers. The fjord itself is not simply a backdrop. It shapes the villages, roads, farms, and ferry routes you pass, and the guide fills in the links between the scenery and daily life.

Norheimsund, Øystese, and Eidfjord appear along the route. These communities are associated with fruit farming, local handicrafts, and coastal scenery. You will not have long independent visits in each village, so think of this part as a moving introduction rather than a town tour.

That is one reason the small-group format matters. A guide can point out details from the minibus and answer questions without the impersonal feel of a full-size coach. John, named in several highly positive comments, is praised for explaining Bergen and Norway clearly, staying attentive, and offering to take photographs.

The road time is also the first practical consideration. Nine hours is a full day, and the route covers a lot of ground. If you want long hikes, quiet time at each waterfall, or extended meals, this schedule may feel brisk. If you want to see several headline sights in one day, the driving is a fair trade.

The nine-minute ride up Mount Hanguren

The Voss Gondola is the first main attraction after the opening drive. The cable car leaves from Voss town center and reaches Mount Hanguren at 820 meters above sea level in about nine minutes.

The ride gives you a fast change of perspective. You begin in town and soon look out over the surrounding mountains and valleys. At the upper station, information boards describe nearby peaks, hiking routes, and Voss as an outdoor sports center.

The gondola is included in the tour price, which adds real value. You do not need to arrange a separate ticket or work out how to connect from the road to the cable car. The ride itself is short, but the upper station gives the visit more substance than a quick transport stop.

Allow for changing weather at the mountain station. The provided details do not promise a particular view or hiking time, so you should treat the gondola as a scenic ride and viewpoint rather than a full mountain excursion. The stop is listed as one hour, but that time also includes getting on and off and following the group schedule.

The cable car is one of the tour’s most distinctive elements. Many fjord outings focus only on roads and viewpoints. Here, you get a brief mountain experience as well as the waterfall route, which helps justify the higher price.

Skjervsfossen and the first waterfall stop

After Voss, the minibus continues for about 20 minutes to Skjervsfossen. You have roughly 20 minutes here for photographs and a look at the falls.

This is a compact stop, so prepare to enjoy the sight rather than wander far. The guide explains the waterfall’s character, water flow, and seasonal changes, giving the stop more meaning than a simple pull-over for a picture.

A short stop can be a benefit on a day this full. You see another waterfall without using up the time needed for Vøringsfossen and Eidfjord. Still, photographers who need time for tripods, changing lenses, or repeated viewpoints may find the visit too brief.

The waterfall sequence works well because each stop offers something different. Skjervsfossen gives you an early nature break after the drive from Bergen, while the later falls provide larger scale and a more unusual walking experience.

Across the Hardanger Bridge toward Vøringsfossen

The route continues for about 100 minutes and passes by the Hardanger Bridge. There is no separate bridge stop listed, so you should see it as part of the road journey rather than a place for a long walk or photo session.

The bridge helps mark the change toward Eidfjord and the upper reaches of the fjord route. Along the way, your guide discusses the fjord’s formation, the villages, and the area’s natural features. The value here lies in connecting the individual sights into one story.

After another 20 minutes by minibus, you reach the Vøringsfossen area. This is the tour’s headline waterfall and the place where the schedule gives you a stronger viewing experience.

Vøringsfossen from the Fossli viewpoint

At the Fossli viewpoint near the top of Måbødalen, you see Vøringsfossen, one of Norway’s most famous waterfalls. It drops 182 meters in total, including a free fall of 145 meters.

The scale is the point. Vøringsfossen is not a small roadside cascade. From the viewpoint, you look into the valley and see the water dropping through the dramatic terrain. The guide explains how the valley formed and discusses the engineering behind the modern viewing platforms.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for the main views and photographs, though not for a long walk around the area. Stay alert to the time, especially if you stop at more than one viewing point.

This is probably the strongest natural sight on the tour, but the Voss Gondola may be the most memorable activity. Together, they give the day two different kinds of scenery: one from a mountain cable car and one from a high waterfall viewpoint.

One useful hour in Eidfjord

The tour then spends one hour in Eidfjord for lunch, shopping, sightseeing, or a short walk. This break is important because most of the day follows a fixed route, while Eidfjord gives you a little control over your time.

You can choose a café or local shop, walk along the fjord promenade, or visit the Hardangervidda Nature Centre. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to buy lunch during this stop.

The one-hour limit keeps the day moving, but it also means you should choose one main plan before arriving. A full meal, shopping, a museum visit, and a long promenade walk will not all fit comfortably.

I like this pause because it breaks up the waterfall sequence. It also gives you time to experience a settled fjord community instead of viewing everything from the minibus. If you want a slow lunch, though, the schedule may feel tight.

Walking behind Steinsdalsfossen

The final major sight is Steinsdalsfossen, reached after about an hour on the road from Eidfjord. You get around 30 minutes for the stop.

Steinsdalsfossen is famous for its path behind the falling water. The route lets you stand behind the cascade while remaining on a safe, dry walkway. That unusual viewpoint gives this waterfall a different appeal from Vøringsfossen, which is mainly appreciated from above and across the valley.

The stop is especially good for photographs because you can capture the water from an angle that is not available at a standard lookout. You may still encounter spray or wet conditions around a waterfall, so sensible footwear is helpful, although the supplied information specifically describes the path as safe and dry.

This is a smart final attraction. After a day of viewpoints and road scenery, you get a short walk and a more active way to experience the water. The 30-minute visit should be enough for the path and photos, but it is not intended as a long nature walk.

What the minibus and schedule mean for you

The tour lasts nine hours and uses a modern, comfortable minibus with a maximum group size of 15. That is a good middle ground: more personal than a large coach, but less expensive and complicated than arranging a private day.

The driver and guide are central to the experience. John receives particular praise for good driving, friendly attention, detailed explanations, and helping with photos. Another comment simply says everything went well, while other high ratings describe the scenery and guiding as excellent.

You should still expect a fairly active road day. The listed driving sections add up to many hours, and the tour covers Bergen, Voss, Skjervsfossen, the Hardanger Bridge, Vøringsfossen, Eidfjord, and Steinsdalsfossen before returning to Bergen.

That makes this trip best for first-time visitors with limited time. You get the fjord, a mountain lift, three waterfalls, and a village stop in one outing. It is less suited to someone who wants to choose their own pace or spend half a day at one waterfall.

The tour is conducted in English. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, so check that point carefully before booking. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option helps if your Bergen plans are still shifting.

Is $313 a fair price?

At $313 per person, this is a premium day trip. The price includes the guided transport and Voss Gondola, but not food or drinks.

The value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange. You would need transport from Bergen, a route through several fjord communities, access to the waterfall viewpoints, and a separate gondola ticket if planning the same sights independently. The guide also handles the road connections and gives context along the way.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a relaxed fjord cruise or one nearby waterfall. This is a broad sightseeing day, not a slow, inexpensive local outing.

For many visitors, the strongest value comes from the combination of three waterfalls plus the gondola. The attractions are spread across the Hardanger region, and the small group keeps the day more intimate than a standard coach trip. If the cost fits your budget, the range of sights makes it a practical one-day splurge.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Bergen and want to see a large portion of the Hardanger region without renting a car. It suits people who enjoy scenic drives, short walks, viewpoints, cable cars, and guided explanation.

It also works well for photographers who want variety. You get fjord views, villages, a mountain panorama, a huge valley waterfall, and the unusual behind-the-waterfall angle at Steinsdalsfossen.

You should think twice if you dislike sitting in a vehicle for long stretches. The day is packed, and the stops are measured in minutes rather than hours. It is also not the right choice if you require wheelchair access.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-filled overview of Hardangerfjord and prefer a guide to manage the roads, timing, and attraction tickets. The strongest reasons are the small minibus, the included Voss Gondola, the three contrasting waterfalls, and the attentive guiding associated with John.

Skip it if your priority is an unhurried day, extended hiking, or a lower price. For everyone else, the $313 cost buys a lot of scenery in nine hours, with enough variety to make the long route worthwhile.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet at the Guided Fjord Tours company office at Strandkaien 16 in central Bergen.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts nine hours, including transport from Bergen and the return journey.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 15 participants and uses a small-group minibus.

Is the Voss Gondola included?

Yes. A Voss Gondola ride is included in the tour.

How long is the gondola ride?

The cable car journey from Voss town center to Mount Hanguren takes about nine minutes.

Which waterfalls does the tour visit?

The route visits Skjervsfossen, Vøringsfossen, and Steinsdalsfossen.

How much time is available in Eidfjord?

The tour includes one hour in Eidfjord for lunch, shopping, sightseeing, or independent exploring.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so you should plan to buy lunch during the Eidfjord stop.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.