Eidfjord between the mountain plateau and the fjord

In Eidfjord, the high-mountain landscape of Hardangervidda, Måbødalen and the fjord landscape meet. Waterfalls, trails with very different distance details and traces of the village’s history give your stay a variety of possible focuses. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may therefore be important whether you mainly want to experience the landscape, go hiking or explore cultural sites.

From the mountain plateau through Måbødalen to the fjord

The Hardangervidda National Tourist Route runs from the mountain plateau through Måbødalen to the fjord landscape of Eidfjord. In the valley, Vøringsfossen plunges 182 metres down from the mountain plateau. At the waterfall site, there are more than one kilometre of well-secured paths. The visit is also subject to seasonal considerations: parts of the site are closed in winter.

Hardangervidda National Park also shapes Eidfjord: it encompasses the municipality and protects mountain landscapes, plant and animal life, natural and cultural monuments, as well as cultural landscapes. It also enables outdoor recreation that is considerate of nature. The protected watercourses Veig and Erdalsvassdraget extend from mountain and plateau landscapes to fjord and valley landscapes in the lowlands. Valurfossen is part of the Veig watercourse and plunges 300 metres over a sheer rock face.

Choose waterfalls and trails thoughtfully

For hikes, different distances and time estimates are the main considerations. The Kjeåsen Trail is an approximately 2-kilometre round trip with a walking time of 2.5 hours. Its elevation ranges from 0 to 550 metres. Kjeåsen itself consists of two farms located 600 metres above the fjord. These details can help you factor the route into your travel plans based on its length, walking time and elevation.

Another option is the Hæreid Trail: this 5.5-kilometre hiking trail starts right in the centre of the village. The Hereidsvegen–Hereid–Hodna–Eidfjordvatnet loop also combines exercise with history. Near Hereid, it passes ancient finds and Viking graves; information boards are located along the trail. If you would like to explore these trails, you can consider Eidfjord as your destination when searching for a holiday apartment.

The Måbø museum–Måbøberget–Fossatromma route takes three hours for the round trip and includes around 1,300 steps. The described hikes therefore differ in their specific route details: for one, the length, walking time and elevation are provided; for the other, the number of steps and the time for the round trip are given.

Village history and discoveries nearby

The Lægreid Trail runs from the centre of Eidfjord along the fjord and offers a view of the old church dating from 1309. For seven centuries, it was the village’s largest and most important cultural institution. Together with the finds and graves at Hereid, it offers a different focus from the waterfalls and mountain landscapes: you can discover history along the way at specific sites.

Nearby is the Norwegian Nature Center – Hardanger, the official visitor centre for Hardangervidda National Park. Visitors can explore interactive stations, rocks, minerals, fossils, models, aquariums, themed videos and illustrations. This adds an exhibition with a variety of topics and presentation formats to the landscape experiences.

For further orientation in the area, the pages for Eidfjord, Vøringsfoss and Øvre Eidfjord point to other destinations within the destination. Other destinations you can include in your search are Bømlo, Kvam, Tysnes, Samnanger and Osterøy.

There is also an important route detail for cyclists: because of several tunnels, they cannot cycle down the Hardangervidda National Tourist Route through Måbødalen. The official recommendation is to take a bus to Eidfjord if necessary, and continue from there. If you are planning to travel by bicycle, take this advice into account when choosing your route and place to stay.

For the broader travel overview: Hordaland.