Other than the Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) hike, the Trolltunga(Troll’s tongue) is also one of Norway’s most famous hikes. It is more challenging and takes about 3 times more time to complete. However, the landscapes are so rewarding. It’s one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve done so far. Plus, because it is more challenging, the trail is less crowded and solitude can definitely be enjoyed.

I’ve always want to camp on a mountain so this was a dream come true too!

When to hike the Trolltunga

I did this hike in mid- July, which is supposedly summer in Norway. However, it is important to check the weather forecast until the morning of the hike because the weather change can be so quick! The weather in Norway is like New Zealand’s. It rains a lot here. My hike up was sunny and nice, but the weather on my way down the next morning was so rainy and wet. No matter what though, best to prepare for the worst weather – Good hiking shoes and enough warm and waterproof clothing!

Getting to Odda from Bergen and Accommodation at Odda Camping

We booked bus no. 930 from Bergen to Odda (3 hrs). The cost was NOK 324 (SGD 55). Upon arrival, we stored our excess luggage at the tourist information centre and walked about 40 mins to Odda Camping. We stayed there for 1 night before hiking up Trolltunga the next morning.

An alternative is also to stay at Tyssedal, which is nearer to the trail head. The Trolltunga shuttle also picks up from here. However, Odda is more convenient as there are supermarkets and shops available for stocking up on food and other supplies! Odda Camping is also really beautiful, especially if you can get a spot next to the lake.

Trolltunga Shuttle from Odda to trailhead (Skjeggedal)

The trolltunga shuttle costs NOK 48 (SGD 8) picked us up from Odda Camping, and also stopped at various areas including Tyssedal, before arriving at the start of the hike.

Hike Duration and Difficulty

The hike up starting from the carpark at Skjeggedal to the Trolltunga took us about 7 hours. Going down takes another 4-5 hours. The toughest section to me was actually the first 2 hours hike up on the boring road trail! Tough mentally also because the views were pretty boring and terrain was, well, a steep road going up. It is also possible to skip this section by taking another taxi up to the nearer trail head. But oh well, we only saw that option after hiking up, and plus, it’s good to save some money!

The entire trail was well marked, with several ‘variations’ presumably made by other hikers. As the weather had been rainy on previous days, there were some muddy sections. However, planks were available for easy crossing. There aren’t many steep sections or drops but when it’s rainy, the rocks can get slippery.  At the time when we were hiking, I also saw trail maintenance being carried out, and large rocks were being placed on trail to avoid slippery trails on wet days. So I think the situation will be improved soon!

Water on the Trolltunga

There are plenty of water sources on the trail, such as lakes and small waterfalls. So there isn’t really a need to bring an enormous supply. I only had with me a 600ml bottle and was able to refill frequently along the way.

Camping on the Trolltunga

I camped for a night near the Trolltunga (less exposed area) and had an amazing time. I also saw about 10 campers spread around the plateau area. However, I was so disappointed at the amount of toilet paper at one of the rocky areas. Given the number of  casual ‘tourist hikers’ Trolltunga receives, I am not surprised. But man, I was really disappointed and disgusted. I really hope people can be educated on the leave no trace principle! There are no trash cans, so bring a zip lock, and bag all trash out please. Otherwise, hold it in until you get down to the public toilets at the trailhead.

Here is my full hike report:

We started the hike by taking the 7.30am Trolltunga shuttle. The section after the road hike was so interesting and beautiful. Each section looks completely different from the previous and it’s really wild and stunning in every view.

Amazing to see houses being built on mountains. And there are so many of such instances in Norway. It’s amazing. I think Norwegians are one of the most nature- loving people in the world. And I always wonder how long they must have taken to build these here.

Trail marker – ‘T’

There are several lakes along the trail, large ones like below and smaller ones too. Great for a dip if the weather is hot! Too bad it was kinda cold on my day so no one was brave enough to try.

Beautiful, beautiful green and brown.

Caught sight of small lakes and a camper (green tent)!

Water re-fill! There are plenty of drinkable water sources along the way.

First time encountering a piece of glacier in summer!

A local once told us this is the ‘cousin’ of the cotton flower. They are really cute and beautiful especially in the breeze!

Soon after, we arrived at Trolltunga!

At first I thought the guy was doing Via ferrata but he was actually a photographer helping a group of tourists with their photos on the troll’s tongue! See the next photo.

Yes, there is a queue for the famous spot!

This was our camping spot! Amazing home for the night. Camping on top of a mountain was something I’d dreamt about doing for years. And I couldn’t do it on the TMB last year due to snow. So finally, I am here! 🙂

Outdoor cooking! So excited because it was my first time cooking in such a wild place.

I couldn’t resist packing marshmallows! They tasted so, so good in times like this.

And then it was time to get on the troll’s tongue for some photos! It does not look as scary  when walking on it, but when doing the jump shots, I got a little scared to be honest.

It was truly amazing to have mountains right in my backyard.

It was sunset and there were barely any people queuing for photos, so we decided to take a couple more shots!

It was time to head down the next morning at about 10am. It started raining at about 12pm, and the rocks got a little slippery. Other than that, the Trolltunga was an amazing hike. I would want to camp for more days if I could! 🙂

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