Haugesund – Stavanger and the Pulpit Rock - Røldal
FROM VIKINGS TO AN OIL NATION
Pulpit Rock couple ©Terje Rakke, Nordic Life, Region Stavanger
Åkrasanden beach © Magnus J. Fjell
Viking settlement © Ørjan B Iversen
Days: 4+1
Suitable for: individuals and groups
Distance: approx. 418 km.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Experience the history of Norway, starting in the Homeland of the Viking Kings, the
birthplace of Norway. Learn how people lived by the coast during 3500 years, starting
your round trip at Avaldsnes. Here the Viking Kings and princes had a strategic
position by the strait Karmsundet - the "North Way" - the shipping lane that has given
name to Norway.
Haugesund
Avaldsnes – Viking village
Stavanger and Pulpit Rock
Røldal Stave Church
Åkrafjorden fjord
(Steinsfjellet panoramic view)
CONTACT INFORMATION:
www.visithaugesund.no /
+47 52 01 08 30
www.regionstavanger.com
( www.ryfylke.no)
www.roldal-reiseliv.no
St. Olavs Church © Ørjan B. Iversen
DAY 1 HAUGESUND – AVALDSNES - STAVANGER
Experience the history of Norway, starting in the Homeland of the Viking Kings, the birthplace of Norway. Learn how
people lived by the coast during 3500 years, starting your round trip at Avaldsnes. Here the Viking Kings and princes had a
strategic position by the strait Karmsundet - the "North Way" - the shipping lane that has given name to Norway.
Follow the footsteps of the Vikings, going on route E39 towards Stavanger. A stop at Utstein Kloster Monastery from 1265,
will give you a glimpse of medieval ages, before you continue to modern times at the Petroleum Museum in Stavanger.
Here they will present the interesting adventure of how oil became one of Norway’s main resources.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Avaldsnes, including Nordvegen History Centre, St.Olavs Church, and the Viking settlement
Sørbø Church at Rennesøy, from year 1130
Utstein Monastery on Mosterøy
Gamle Stavanger, the old part of Stavanger city
Overnight stay in Stavanger
Directions: Start on a tour to Avaldsnes on route 47. Back in Haugesund, follow route E39 all the way to Stavanger. Cross
the Bokna fjord by ferry between Arsvågen and Mortavika. (25 minutes crossing).
DAY 2 HIKE OR FJORD CRUISE TO THE PULPIT ROCK AND LYSEFJORDEN (STAVANGER), SAND
Fjord sightseeing: from Stavanger harbour there are departures all year to Lysefjorden and the Pulpit Rock. To companies
(rodne.no and tide.no) will bring you on a 3,5 hour trip to the majestic Lysefjord where you’ll see the Vagabunds Cave, goats,
waterfalls, breathtaking scenery and lots more. After the cruise, take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau (route 13)
Hike: From Stavanger Harbour (Fiskepirterminalen) enjoy a 45 minutes tour on the ferry bringing you to Tau. Follow route 13
and continue to the new Pulpit Rock cabin. Length of hike: 4 hours retour, including the panoramic view of Lysefjorden from the
famous rock.
HIGHLIGHTS:
•
The Pulpit Rock
•
Lysefjorden
Recommended: a stop at the Petroleum Museum in Stavanger
Directions: Stavanger – Tau by ferry, continue on route Ryfylkeveien (route 13) towards Sand and Ryfylke Fjordhotel
DAY 3 SAND – SULDAL - RØLDAL
Suldalsvatnet lake is the deepest lake in Rogaland county, and is worth a stop. Arriving at Røldal, visit the tave church from
the 1200s, one of the oldest in Norway. Røldal Stave Church is perhaps most widely known as a pilgrim church, and was the
second most important pilgrim destination in Norway after Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim during the middle ages.
HIGHLIGHTS:
•
Suldalsvatnet lake
•
Røldal Stave Church
•
Overnight stay in Røldal
Directions: follow route Rv 13 from Sand to Røldal
Langfoss waterfall © Espen Mills
DAY 4 RØLDAL – ÅKRAFJORDEN - HAUGESUND
At Åkrafjordtunet you might try or buy some local farm products. This is also the
starting point of a variety of tours and activities. The contrasts in Åkrafjorden are huge:
bare mountain sides, luscious pastures, still-reflecting fjords and tumbling glacial
waters. Join a fjord cruise to get the best view of the 612-metre cascading Langfoss
Waterfall.
Driving by Ølen, stop at Unni Marie Rosemaling.com to see the rose painting workshop
with an exhibition and a shop.
HIGHLIGHTS:
•
Åkrafjorden and Langfoss waterfall (fjord cruise or visit a mountain farm)
Directions: Follow Haukeliveien route (Rv 134) towards Åkrafjorden and Haugesund.
Steinsfjellet Mountain © Tove V. Braathen
DAY 5 RECOMMENDED ATTRACTIONS IN THE HAUGESUND AREA
Information and directions can be found at visithaugesund.no
•
Steinsfjellet mountain – panoramic view 227 meters above sea level
•
Skudeneshavn – old sailing ship town (a walk in the city and a visit at
Mælandsgården museum)
•
Ola Flytt Boats – Haugesund Harbour by unique wooden boats.
•
Inner Quay (Smedasundet Sound)
RECOMMENDED DETOUR FROM STAVANGER:
Take the ferry from Stavanger all the way through the Lysefjord to Lysebotn, and drive
the hairpin bends up to Øygardsstøl. Here you’ll find a café with a wonderful view of
the deep fjord and steep mountains. Follow road 45 via Sirdal on your way back to
Stavanger. You will then pass Byrkjedalstunet, the region's most visited restaurant and
factory outlet.