There are plenty of wonderful hikes in the area — long and short, well-known and hidden gems — and we’re happy to share everything you need to know once you arrive. Just ask at check-in, and we’ll recommend a route tailored to the weather, wind, and snow conditions in the mountains.
But before you plan too much, we encourage you to leave room to simply park the car and be. Make time to sip a glass of Hardanger cider in front of the greenhouse stove, watch the shifting colors of the fjord, lounge in the garden bed with one of our many books, and listen to the birds and insects. Take a dip in the fjord, warm up in the sauna, or row our old wooden boat.
We recommend traveling slowly while you’re here.
① Historic Hiking Route across Folgefonna
The tourist trail across Folgefonna has impressed visitors for hundreds of years and begins right outside our doorstep. Walk along a path built by hand to carry tourists across the glacier and enjoy lush forest and stunning views. Hike to the idyllic summer farms at Gardshammer with wide vistas over the valley, continue to Breidablikk, to the glacier edge at Fonnabu, or cross the glacier with guides from the Folgefonni Glacier Guiding Team. This is the national park at its finest.
A popular travel destination since the early 1800s. Follow the old ice road along the river up to the glacier lake, which is usually a vivid green during the summer months, or take the trail to the sandy beach at the far end of the lake. The hike is beautiful, easy, and begins right at the hotel.
② Bondhusvatnet
Fonna is a ski resort on the Folgefonna glacier. Enjoy spring and summer down by the fjord, and freshly groomed cross-country trails, park, and piste skiing with stunning views at 1,200 meters above sea level. Drive to Jondal and follow the classic western Norway road that winds its way up toward the glacier through beautiful scenery. A new restaurant opened in 2022.
③ Folgefonna ski senter
④ Agatunet
Agatunet is one of the few preserved Norwegian clustered farmyards and the largest farming village in Norway. Here, 45 protected buildings stand closely together, the oldest dating back to the Middle Ages. Experience a truly authentic farmyard with a café open in the summer—perfect to combine with a visit to one of the cider producers along Sørfjorden.
⑤ Melderskin
A beautiful hike in the Rosendal Alps. The trail begins above the village of Rosendal and takes you through varied landscapes—from juniper forests and Sherpa-built stone steps in steep terrain to plateaus with stunning views. The summit is truly breathtaking.
⑥ Buer
A hike that takes you quickly and steeply up to Buarbreen, a glacier arm of Folgefonna. The National Park Farm at the bottom of the valley recently opened a restaurant—treat yourself to a pastry along the way or order an à la carte lunch from 1 PM to 4 PM.
⑦ Ænessætra
An easy hike to Ænessætra takes a couple of hours. The trail begins at the church in Ænesdalen, a valley home to one of the largest deer populations in the country, along with rich bird and wildlife. Find a quiet spot by the river and listen to the peaceful sounds of the forest.
⑧ Paddle on ice-blue glacier water
Book a kayak tour on the vivid green glacier water with Folgefonni Glacier Guides. They can pick you up here at the hotel and take you to this stunning location. The paddle tour typically lasts 6 hours and is available for booking in July, August, and September.
⑨ he Norwegian Museum of Hydropower and Industry
The Kraftmuseet in Tyssedal, almost like a cathedral along the Sørfjorden, tells the story of hydropower, industrial development, and the surrounding community. There’s a café serving local food during the summer months. Be sure to check out the hike to Lilletopp, which includes a guided tour inside the mountain.
①⓪ Cider tasting
It is said that fruit cultivation and cider production date all the way back to the Viking Age. Here, the traditions run deep and the stories are fascinating. We guide you through this year’s favorites and share the story behind both the product and the producer (minimum 6 people).
Book upon arrival
①① Rowing trip on the fjord
Rent our old wooden boat and take a rowing trip on the fjord. The fjord was always the main road—there wasn’t even a proper road here by the hotel until the 1970s. Hardanger also has a long tradition of boatbuilding. Travel the old-fashioned way, and feel free to ask us if we can pack a picnic basket for you.
Book upon arrival
①② Visit a farm bakery
The farm bakery Brødskreppa is run by Lena. She gets up in the middle of the night, fires up the old wood-fired oven, and bakes buns and bread using organic flour. It's usually open on Saturdays during the summer, but be sure to double-check the opening hours before you go.
Hardanger is home to a large number of fruit and cider producers. Travel from farm to farm, chat with the farmers, and taste the flavors of Hardanger. Book cider tastings and lunch at selected farms, or enjoy lunch at Siderhuset Ola K. The cider farms closest to us are Alde, Edel, Aga, Kvestad, Store Naa, and Harding Sideri.
①③ Visit a cider farm
①④ The Reuse Barn at Bøen
Are you like us and love reuse and antiques? Drive to Jondal and check out the Reuse Barn at Bøen. Check their Facebook page for opening hours.
Other secondhand shops in the region of the good old-fashioned kind include Plant eit Tre in Kvam and Retro Brukthandel in Husnes.
①⑤ Glacier hike on Folgefonna
Folgefonna is Norway's third-largest glacier, approximately 5,000 years old. Explore the glacier with local guides who are passionate about its history. The hotel and the village have a long-standing connection to glacier hiking, so your journey here is a trip through time in more ways than one. They offer a variety of tours, both in groups and with private guides.
①⑥ The Barony in Rosendal
In the neighboring village of Rosendal, you’ll find Norway’s only barony, complete with a rose garden, greenhouse café, and the barony itself—a castle dating back to 1665. Stroll through 300 years of garden history and check the cultural program for any exciting concerts.
①⑦ Hardanger Maritime Preservation Center
Take the ferry across the fjord and explore a historic setting at the Maritime Preservation Center in Norheimsund. Here, you'll see ongoing boat projects, with the scent of tar, fresh materials, rope, and glowing wrought iron in the air, and the gleam of varnished restored wooden boats.
The center is renowned far beyond Norway’s borders for the expertise it holds—this is a true deep dive into Norway’s heritage as a boatbuilding nation and a museum experience that's anything but ordinary.
①⑧ The Cultural Trail in Herand
The Cultural Trail in Herand is marked by Norwegian Cultural Heritage and offers a walk through a unique landscape. People have walked here for thousands of years, and the cultural landscape tells the story of how generations have used nature to survive. End your hike with a pizza at Meieriet in Herand.
①⑨ GallerY G. Guddal
Gøril Guddal founded Galleri G Guddal in 1993. She has transformed the old barn in the farmyard into a modern gallery, and in recent years has hosted exhibitions featuring some of the finest in Norwegian contemporary art. It’s always a pleasure to visit, and even more so if you take the old trail from Rosendal and arrive at this beautiful farmyard on foot. There’s also a farm café open in the summer.
It’s a great idea to combine your visit with stops at the Barony and Brødskreppa.
②⓪ Samlen
We often recommend the hike to Samlen to guests looking for something a bit different. The trail is steep and scenic, and the perfect way to end the hike is with a swim at the beach followed by a pizza at Meieriet in Herand.
②① Lei sykkel av oss
Fulldemper eller landevei - du kan leie sykler av oss.
Bestill ved ankomst
②② Jonstein
Nydelig tur som starter ved stølene ved Botsvatn. Kjør til Jondal og følg veien mot Folgefonna, ta av mot botnen og følg merket sti og sherpatrapper mot toppen.
②③ Trolltunga
Trolltunga er et bergutspring som "henger" ca. 700 meter over Ringedalsvatnet. Utsikten er fantastisk, men vit at du ofte deler den med mange andre. Turen starter i Skjeggedal og tar ca. 8-10 timer. Sjekk værmeldingen og husk å bestille parkering i forkant.
②④ Trolltunga Via Ferrata
Kom deg til Trolltunga utenfor allfarvei. Sykle inn dalen og klatre opp fjellet sammen med guide. Dette er en krevende men givende tur på 8-12 timer.
②⑤ Olaløo
I samme bygd som oss ligger Olaløo. En gammel løe transformert til en restaurant av Kjersti drives nå av andre generasjon, Inger Lise. Inger Lise er en rå dame som serverer tradisjonsmat som komle og gryteretter med hjemmelaget flatbrød men også kaffe og noe attåt. Stikk innom på turen opp eller ned fra Bondhusvatnet, og hils så mye fra oss.
Kontakt oss dersom du ønsker å booke hele hotellet.