Experience the most famous parts of the Kingsroad across Filefjell in three days! Stay in small wooden houses at Lærdalsøyri in the evening and walk in historical footsteps during the day. We will drive you to the famous Kingsroad sections.
ARRIVAL:
You have driven to Lærdalsøyri with a car and can check in for a nice afternoon and evening. You can also take a direct bus from Bergen (NX450 Sognebussen) and from Oslo (VY170 Sogn and Fjordane Ekspressen) to Lærdal several times daily.
DAY 1:
This day you will experience the famous Galdane as part of the Galdane-Seltunåsen round-trip. After breakfast you go to the bus stop at Lærdal Town Hall where the Kingsroad bus departs at 8:30 a.m. (the bus tour is included in the price). The Kingsroad bus drives you to Sjurhaugen (arrival approx. 08.48 am). You cross the Lærdal river and take a left onto the section Galdane. The Kingsroad through Galdane is full of myths and stories that have inspired many national hymns and themes. You walk in historical footsteps through a rich cultural and natural landscape. To get the best out of the hike, read about the section Galdane here.
Take the lunch break at the homestead «Galdane». The place was cleared in the 17th century and has buildings from the 19th century and a great view to the Lærdal River and «Den Bergenske Hovedvej» (the Bergen main road which replaced the Kingsroad), where you will walk later. Infopoints on every house and you find two outhouses above the houses.
After the break you continue along the Lærdal river to Seltun bridge. From the bridge you follow the footpath along the E16 eastwards to the area «Koren» (approx. 1.3 km). Here you go up to the right on «Den Bergenske Hovedvej» from the 1840s (the signs differ from the signs on the Kingsroad). To get the best possible experience with «Den Bergenske Hovedvej» read more about Seltunåsen here.
After Seltunåsen you come down to the old E16 (historical route) Here you can see the ruins of the Steine bridge which was part of the «Den Bergenske Hovedvej». Follow the old E16 towards Sjurhaugen (5-600 meters eastwards). At Sjurhaugen the tour is over. The whole trip can take between 3.5 and 4.5 hours. From the bus stop at E16, take a public bus back to Lærdalsøyri (the bus is not included in the price). See timetables and routes below.
DAY 2:
This day you will experience the famous Vindhellavegen as part of the Vindhella-Sverrestigen round-trip, and the national icon Borgund Stave Church. After breakfast you go to the bus stop at Lærdal Town Hall where the Kingsroad bus departs at 8:30 a.m. (included in the price).
The bus takes you to Borgund Stave Church (arrival around 08.55 am). Walk the Sverrestigen first. The path starts behind the red Borgund church just next to the stave church. Follow the signs.
History tells that the norse King Sverre in October 1177 took this path to bypass the farmers who were ready to throw stones and logs on his soldiers, the socalled Birkebeinerne. To get the most out of the hike read about Sverrestigen here.
You go through a very rich landscape. At the bench where the path divides into three, take a left and go towards the valley floor. Here you meet the old E16 and you go to Vindhellavegen (100 meters) at Rimskjold for a lunch break. At Rimskjold there is a nice piknik area and a toilet. After the break you continue up the famous bends of Vindhellaskaret. To get the most out of the walk, read the history of the Vindhellavegen here.
At the top you have to turn around and see this masterpiece of old days road construction. 150 meters further ahead you have two choices; Either the short version with the gate to the right and the path down to Borgund stave church. Or you can enjoy more of the Kingsroad by going straight ahead until it meets old E16, 300 meters east of the stave church. Then follow the old E16 back to the visitor center at the stave church.
The entire walk can take 2 to 3 hours.
You must buy a ticket in the visitor center to gain access to Borgund Stave Church, the museum, café and toilet. From the visitor center you take public bus back to Lærdalsøyri (public bus not included in the price). See timetables and routes below.
DAY 3:
After breakfast and check-out you will walk around in Old Lærdalsøyri, one of Norways best preserved wooden house towns which miraculously escaped the great fire in January 2014.
The main street Øyragata is the same as the Kingsroad, and one of the oldest shopping streets in Western Norway. For example, the old Lærdal market was held here already in the 16th century. The Kingsroad ends at the old harbor. Here you'll find small shops, like Smak av Sogn/Farmers market, and small cafés. You can join activities as painting courses at Gallery Bryggja or guided old town walks.
PRICE PER PERSON (from 2 pax): 👍 NOK 3 990,-
INCLUDED IN THE OFFER:
3 nights in a traditional hotel, guesthouse or historical apartments from the 1800ies
3 breakfast
2 packed lunch you make during the breakfast
Transport with the Kingsroad bus to the round-trips
WIFI
Free parking
EXTRA OFFER, NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Dinner/supper
Public transport (bus) back after the tround-trips
Guiding day 3/last day
BUS:
Transport to the round-trips:
Every day 08:30 a.m. the King's Road Bus departs from the bus stop at Lærdal Town Hall (included in the price)
Return day 1:
Public bus to Lærdalsøyri from E16 bus stop at Sjurhaugen:
- 2.18 p.m. (NW 162 Monday-Saturday) to Håbakken 2.28 pm. Further with VY450 at 3.05 p.m. or VY170 at 3.10 to Lærdalsøyri. You got 5 hours available for the walk. Dogs not allowed.
- Aprox. at 2:52 p.m. (VY170 Sogn og Fjordane-ekspressen daily). You have 5,5 hours available for the round-trip.
- Aprox 6:23 p.m. (route 138 Fagernes-Lærdal daily but not Saturdays). You have 9,5 hours available for the round-trip.
- 8.17 p.m. (VY170, daily)
(subject to route changes)
Return day 2:
Public bus back to Lærdalsøyri from Borgund Stave Church visitors centre:
- Aprox. at 2.07 p.m. (NW162 Øst/Vest-Xpressen daily minus Sundays) to Håbakken. The bus corresponds with VY450 or VY170 which takes you to Lærdalsøyri. You have aprox. 5 hours for the round-trip with breaks and a visit to the stave church/visitor centre. Sunday departure from station «Lo aust» aprox. 1 kilometer walk eastwards along old E16, at 5.48 pm. Dogs not allowed.
(subject to route changes). - Aprox. at 2.48 p.m. (VY170 daily). You have aprox. 5,5 hours for the round-trip with breaks and a visit to the stave church/visitor centre. NB: Departure from station «Lo aust» aprox. 1 kilometer walk eastwards along old E16. Dogs not allowed.
(subject to route changes) - Aprox. at 6.18 p.m. (Route 138 daily minus Saturday). NB: Departure from station «Lo aust» aprox. 1 kilometer walk eastwards along old E16. Dogs allowed.
(subject to route changes).
Alternative: Solheim Taxi.
DINING:
Strandsitjaren restaurant at Lærdal Ferie- og Fritidspark
The café in Lærdalsøren Hotel
Buffét at Lindstrøm Hotel
Kort & Godt café
RECOMMENDED ADD-ONS:
Townwalk in Old Town of Lærdalsøyri
Motorikpark at Lærdal Ferie- og Fritidspark
Visit the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre, Sogn Art Museum, Post- og Telemuseum
A LONGER STAY IN LÆRDAL?
Lærdal is located in the middle of one of Norways most popular tourist regions. If you stay in Lærdal you will be able to reach all the attractions in the Sognefjord area in a short time (the Flåm Railway, the Nærøyfjord, The Aurland valley, Rallarvegen, Jostedal Glacier, Utladalen, and all the stave churches; Urnes, Kaupanger, Undredal and of course the most autentic one, the Borgund Stave Church). Try Merchant Henry's Yellow Store, Sanden Pensjonat, Lærdal Holiday and Leisure Park, Lærdalsøren Hotel, Lindstrøm Hotel or Old Lærdalsøyri apartments for more accommodation.
