A Day at Trolltunga
If you’re considering hiking the famous Trolltunga in Norway, there is a lot that goes into planning a trip to see this picturesque part of the country. Below are some of our personal tips for planning a trip to the Trolltunga.
Before You Go
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice is to physically prepare in advance for this hike. Many do not do this and think it’s just a simple hike that is an instagram hotspot for photos, but it’s so much more than that. Several people in our group did not prepare for how strenuous the hike would be and therefore ended up holding others up during the hike or injuring themselves. It is not a hike for the faint of heart. It’s not a difficult hike (in our opinion); however, it is listed as an ADVANCED level because of the length of its hike, NOT by how difficult it is. It is about 17 miles roundtrip with a 800 metre ascent. It takes most people between 9-12 hours to complete. Start working on a stair climber and practice your endurance in order to do the hike well.
Getting There
The Trolltunga is in the Vestland county of Norway and is just outside the town of Odda. We recommend staying a couple of nights in Odda if you’re hiking the Trolltunga. We personally chose The Trolltunga Hotel in Odda and had a good experience with them. They offered bus route information (bus stop outside the hotel) as well as an evening meeting with expectations of the hike and a paid lunch to take with you. There are some other towns you could stay, such as Tyssedal and Eitrheim, but Odda is the most popular choice as it has more hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. To get to Odda, the best way is to take the bus from Voss. Voss seems to be the point where buses continue onto this part of Norway. There are no trains and very few taxis. You can rent a car, but be prepared for very winding roads. A one-way bus ticket cost about $6 per person. Even though it takes about 2 hours on the bus, it’s worth it to save a bit of money.
What to Pack
You will want to pack quite a few items for your hike. Firstly, pack LOTS OF FOOD. Seriously, you will burn 1,000’s of calories on your hike and you will need to fuel your body with nutrients. To avoid cramping, drink lots of water, pack several protein snacks/bars, sandwiches, and, of course, the Norwegian classic - Kvikk lunsj. Bring more food than you think you’ll need. As for water, you can fill it up in the streams from the glaciers around the hike.
Bring multiple layers of clothing (around 3-4 layers), beanies, gloves, thick hiking socks, and good quality hiking boots. All of these should be wind resistant and waterproof. You’ll also want to pack hiking sticks, sunscreen, sunglasses, a torch (flashlight), toilet paper, some rubbish bags, hand sanitiser, a small first aid kit, portable charger, and any other necessities.
What to Expect
As I stated earlier, it’ll take about 9-12 hours on average to complete the hike. There are some options for how you could do the hike, such as going solo, hiking with a group, or camping out overnight at the site. Whatever you decide, expect it to feel long.
No matter what time you decide to hike, there will be snow. You will be at a higher altitude, so there will be snow up top all year long. If you have never hiked uphill on snow, you will want to learn how to do that properly in advance. It is quite different from traditional hiking and requires a bit more work.
You will be hiking on uneven rocks, slippery streams, snow, bridges, and eventually the troll’s tongue. When you arrive at the Troll’s tongue, there will most likely be a line of people waiting to take their photos. You’ll have to walk down a small metal ladder to get down to the troll’s tongue and wait your turn. Please be careful and watch where you’re going once you’re on the tongue, as there have been some unfortunate accidents of people fatally falling to their deaths by slipping or getting too close to the edge.
The weather can be unpredictable. Sometimes it can be quite cloudy and overcast, and in the next hour it can be beautiful with full sunshine. Whatever weather it is, it will still be a phenomenal experience nonetheless.
Different Experiences
Although you can hike solo, it’s not usually recommended. The markers are pretty good for getting you around, but it’s typically only for the experienced hikers to be expected to go solo. If you haven’t done larger hikes like this, we suggest you hike with a group. We went with a group and loved getting to know them along the way. It didn’t hurt that our guides were encouraging us along the way and informing us how much longer we had. We also took mandatory breaks to replenish ourselves and chances to catch our breath. It also gave us the chance to have photos taken during the hike that we didn’t have to do ourselves. The cost of taking the hike with a group cost an average of $160 per person.
You can also have other experiences, such as camping overnight ($370 per person), via ferrata ($175 per person), glacier climbing ($104 per person), and many more experiences.
The After Effects
Once you’ve finished the hike, you’ll have a rush of relief and pride! It’ll be a tough yet rewarding experience. Again, the hike itself is not difficult - it’s how long it takes that can sometimes require some mental toughness and resilience. When you are finished and can finally rest, you’ll probably notice that you’re cramping a lot more than you thought. Be sure to get a nice protein-packed meal as soon as you’re done. Once you get back to your hotel, showered, and had a nice dinner, the muscle fatigue will begin to settle in, so be sure to have some ibuprofen handy before hopping into bed. It’ll be the best sleep of your life!
If you’re in Norway, you really don’t want to pass up this amazing opportunity to see some of what makes Norway one of the best countries to visit! It’ll be an experience you will be talking about for many years to come!
