Trolltunga(literal translation from Norwegian “Troll Tongue”) is a rocky horizontal ledge on the Skjeggedal rock, which rises above Lake Ringedalsvatn at an altitude of 350 meters. Thanks to this, the Troll's Tongue rock is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and dangerous places in all of Norway.
2009 was a turning point in the fate of Troltunga. An article in a well-known travel magazine allowed a local legend to come to light. After this, the number of people wishing to see the miracle of nature increased several times, and in order to visit the very edge of the Troll’s Tongue and take unique photos, you even have to stand in line.
Troll language - how to get to the starting point
The town of Odda is located 135 kilometers southeast of Bergen. From Bergen bus station (located next to the railway) buses depart 3 times a day to Odda: 8:20, 11:50 and 20:55.
After a three-hour trip, transferring to a ferry and again to a bus, we disembark at the bus station of the tourist town of Odda. But the travel doesn't end there. You need to travel another 6 kilometers by local bus or taxi towards the north to the village of Tyssedal. Here is the final stop of the regular bus and there is another 7 kilometers ahead along the asphalt to the funicular. If you take a taxi, you can drive right to the start of the walking part of the hike to the Troll Tongue - Skjeggedal.
Trip to Troll's Tongue
The troll's tongue is located at an altitude of about 1100 m above sea level, and we are only at 300-400. For the sake of treasured photos and unique sensations, we need to gain 700 m and walk 12 km along a mountain trail. It's not that simple. The entire hike to Troll's Tongue will take about 5 hours one way.
The first thing that catches your eye at the beginning of the trail is a pile of worn-out shoes under a stand with a map of the area. The “remnants” of past tourists eloquently show us that it is better not to go upstairs in sandals and light sneakers. Trekking shoes are the classic and best option.
Behind the stand you can see an old wooden funicular with rusty rails going up. Unfortunately, after 2010 it stopped functioning, so you need to climb along a forest path along it. This part of the climb is the steepest and most difficult. Gather your will into a fist and believe that the rise will end someday.
At the top of the funicular you can see a road that leads tourists further along the plateau, along high-voltage lines and wooden houses. After some time the road begins to rise. Water supplies are easily replenished in cool streams along the way.
Very soon a house will appear near a small lake with one modest room. It serves as a tourist shelter and anyone can stay here overnight. There are 6 kilometers left from the house to the finish.
After another half hour of hiking to Troll's Tongue, a dizzying view of Lake Ringedalsvatn opens up. The treasured Troll's Tongue can already be seen, but there is still 4.5 kilometers to go. A couple of ups and downs, the last push before the finish... here it is! Photographs, descriptions and eyewitness accounts pale in comparison to seeing this miracle with your own eyes. Now you can be proud of yourself. Now you myself you stand on the Troll's Tongue and absorb the pristine landscapes along with local legends...
Stand in line, take a couple of photos, a minute or two - and down, because you need to go down to the highway before dark. This is what 97% of tourists do, but not us. We stay overnight near Troll's Tongue and return to it at sunset - when the landscapes around are illuminated by the gentle orange rays of the setting sun and not a soul is left around. Trolltunga is at our disposal until dark and then at dawn. Our hike to Troll's Tongue continues around Lake Ringedalsvatn, but that's another story and the route is described in detail in another article.
Trip to Troll's Tongue - upcoming dates
| Start | Finish | Route | Price | Days |
| 17.06.2019 | 22.06.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 24.06.2019 | 29.06.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 13.07.2019 | 18.07.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 22.07.2019 | 27.07.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 11.08.2019 | 16.08.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 18.08.2019 | 23.08.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 24.08.2019 | 29.08.2019 | 320 € | 6 days | |
| 31.08.2019 | 05.09.2019 | 320 € | 6 days |
The Legend of the Troll's Tongue
Norwegians are a people with a rich imagination and Trolltunga could not ignore Scandinavian beliefs. One of them says that the huge Troll was childishly kind and playful - he could not sit in one place: he dived into deep and dangerous waters, jumped over abysses or tried to catch a rainbow over a cliff. And on sunny days that were dangerous for his life, he holed up in a cave until dark. And then, one day, he wanted to check: could he do what he loved in broad daylight? What will happen if he challenges the Sun itself? And the Troll stuck his tongue out of the cave...
So the Tongue of the playful troll still hangs over the lake in the form of a petrified ledge. And he reminds all tourists of one thing: you should always challenge even your greatest fears. You should at least try. But the degree of danger should also be assessed objectively, otherwise there is a chance to turn into a tourist attraction...
Have a great hike everyone and stay safe!
Photo of Troll's tongue in Norway (Troltunga)
Troll's Tongue is one of the most beautiful and dangerous places in Norway. Once you see this rocky outcrop above Lake Ringedalsvatnet, you will definitely want to take a photo on it. It is located at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level.
2009 was a turning point for this place: a review article was published in a famous travel magazine, which attracted crowds of curious tourists from all over the world. “Skjeggedal” is the original name of the rock, but locals are accustomed to calling it “Troll’s Tongue”, since the rock is very reminiscent of the elongated tongue of this mythical creature. 
The Legend of the Troll's Tongue
Why do Norwegians associate the rock with the troll? It all comes down to the old Scandinavian belief, which Norway is so rich in. In time immemorial, there lived a huge troll, whose size was commensurate only with his own stupidity. He took risks all the time, testing his luck: he jumped over steep chasms, dived into deep waters and tried to reach the moon from a cliff. 
The troll is a creature of the twilight world, and he did not come into the light during the day because there were rumors that it might kill him. But he decided to take another risk, and with the first rays of the sun he stuck his tongue out of the cave. As soon as the sun touched his tongue, the troll was completely petrified. 
Since then, the unusually shaped rock above Lake Ringedalsvatnet has been attracting travelers from all over the world like a magnet. For the sake of a successful shot, they, like the legendary troll, risk their lives. 
How to get to the iconic place?
Odda is the nearest town on the way to the ascent. It is located in a picturesque area between two bays and is a fjord with beautiful colorful houses in the middle of pristine nature. The easiest way to get here is from Bergen, which has an airport. 
Buses run regularly. Traveling 150 kilometers through the Hordallan region, you will be able to admire the Norwegian forests and many waterfalls located here. Due to the popularity of the mountain, Odda is not a cheap place to stay, and a free room is very difficult to find. You have to book your accommodation at least three months in advance! 
The further path to the Troll Tongue will have to be covered on foot; it takes 11 kilometers. It is best to come here from June to October, as this time is the warmest and driest of the year. You will have to walk along narrow paths and slopes, but the amazing surrounding landscapes and clean mountain air will quietly brighten up your time. In general, the hike takes about 9-10 hours, so you need to take care of heat-protective clothing, comfortable shoes, a thermos with warm tea and a snack. 
The road is marked with various signs and is laid along the old funicular rails that once ran here. The rails have long been rotten, so walking on them is strictly prohibited. A twenty-minute queue at the top of the mountain, and you can add a breathtaking photo to your collection against the backdrop of an abyss, snowy peaks and a blue lake. 
Caution doesn't hurt
The ledge rising hundreds of meters above sea level is very dangerous, which brave travelers sometimes forget about. In our age of social networks, thoughts are more occupied with how to publish a spectacular shot than with our own safety. 
The first and so far only negative case occurred in 2015. An Australian tourist was trying to take a nice photo when she came too close to a cliff. Having lost her balance, she fell into the abyss. The Norwegian travel portal immediately removed many extreme photos from its website so as not to tempt new tourists into risky behavior. Physical fitness, proper footwear, slowness and caution - these are the main rules for a successful ascent to the legendary “Troll’s Tongue”.
Yes, yes, I know. You have seen this rock a hundred million times already and know everything about it. But I can’t help it, I wanted to take a closer look at it and leave a note on my blog. Moreover, we have already looked at Norway. Let's look again at this creation of nature :-)
The landscapes of Scandinavia always make you hold your breath and endlessly admire their majestic beauty. And the unusual reliefs and stone formations of the Scandinavian mountains enchant and beckon.
One of these creations of Scandinavian nature is Trolltunga, better known under the name “Troll Tongue”. In Scandinavian mythology, great attention is paid to Trolls. These mythical creatures occupy an important place in the culture and history of this country.
Trolltunga is a stone protrusion shaped very much like a sharp tongue. Once upon a time, this stone creation deviated from the base of the rock, and, breaking away, stopped motionless at an altitude of 800 meters above the lake.
"Troll's Tongue" is located on Mount Skjeggedal, near a small town called Oddo. The Troll's Tongue offers breathtaking views of the lakes and valleys of Norway. Although Trolltunga is considered one of the most dangerous attractions in Norway, it attracts thousands of tourists every year who, risking their lives, try to get as close as possible to the edge of the cliff in order to capture the best photos.
Undoubtedly, the view from the Troll's Tongue is incredibly beautiful and majestic! Mighty mountains, like giant sentries - giants, stand guard over the Scandinavian lands and Ringedalsvannet, the lake over which the Troll's Tongue hangs. It stretches at the bottom of a deep valley and attracts the gaze of tourists.
But it’s not so easy to climb the “Troll’s Tongue”! Although, many tourists have already passed through this interesting and picturesque path, paving the way for new pioneers, the road to Trolltunga is, in a way, a small test. To begin with, you have to overcome obstacles in the form of fast mountain rivers, cope with the walls of waterfalls, cross rows of clear lakes, a strip of mighty forest and massifs of harsh mountain snow. But it's worth it!
On the way to the Troll's Tongue there is a 950-meter long staircase that helps you along the way. There is also a funicular, but, unfortunately, it does not always function. The route is not that difficult, especially since the places are very picturesque and the time on the way will fly by.
After visiting the Troll's Tongue rock, you will visit this unusual place more than once. After all, only here, standing high above sea level, can you feel the feeling of flight and freedom. There is a desire to become a bird so that you can soar over these untamed expanses of the mountains and feel the coolness of the purest lakes...
Some brave souls climb Troll tongue and even reach its end, without fear that it will collapse. This is a challenge to fate, or maybe it’s just the luck of the next person who steps on the rock that it won’t collapse right now! But someday it will collapse!
From the place where you can park your car (parking is paid: daily parking is 100 NOK, daily parking is 200 NOK), getting to the language on foot will take about 5 hours, most of which will have to be uphill. Until 2008, the first part of the route (one of the most difficult) could be taken by cable car (:en:Mågelibanen). The funicular is currently closed and there is not enough money for repairs.
Start of the route up the mountain
Maybe it's already been repaired? Who knows?
Clickable
Where did Trolls even come from?
When the climate warmed and the glacier crawled north, people came from the south. They settled here and named the country Norway, which means "Road to the North."
They called themselves "nurmenn" - northern men. They saw how beautiful this country was and thought that they were its first inhabitants, but soon people discovered that the whole country was already inhabited by many amazing creatures living in the most incredible places.
In the mountains - and there were many of them - trolls lived.
The most powerful among them was Dovregübben.
Some of them were giants, with trees and mosses growing on their heads and noses. Others were small.
They could only be seen at night or at dusk, since these creatures did not tolerate daylight. Trolls looked like people, but they all had long noses (old women often used their noses to stir porridge in cauldrons). All trolls had hooked tails.
They were scary in appearance but simple-minded and trusting. And it often happened that they were fooled by peasant boys.
Among the many supernatural abilities of trolls was that they could transform into anything.
The troll could, for example, turn into an incredibly beautiful girl. They were called Holdre - witch. They lured hunters and blue-eyed guys into the mountains. Therefore, you always had to look at them from behind - they could not hide their tail.
Even today, when walking through the forest or near lakes and waterfalls, be aware of trolls. They are usually not evil, but still be careful. As dusk falls, you are no longer alone. It was not for nothing that on Christmas Eve the peasant put out a full bowl of porridge outside the threshold, which always ended up being eaten.
TROLLS - in old German and Baltic myths, strong and ugly giants who live and store their treasures in the mountains. According to legend, trolls were sometimes even extremely hostile towards people and their potential enemies, the Jotuns, however, people are saved only by what many claim: trolls are extremely stupid.
Virtual tour. Click on the picture below:
Fabulous Norway never ceases to attract travelers with its picturesque nature, unearthly beauty of the fjords, fresh air and crystal clear lakes. And since Troll's Tongue first appeared on the cover of a travel magazine, the flow of tourists to Norway has increased significantly.
Everyone wants to step onto this unique, and even dangerous ledge, and take in all the beauty of the opening view with their own eyes. And, of course, delightful, original photographs in the famous Troll Language - the dream of any avid traveler.
Description
Troll's Tongue is a rocky outcrop hanging over Lake Ringedalsvannet at an altitude of several hundred meters.
This is a piece of rock that once broke off from the Skjeggedal mountain massif, but did not fall down, but froze above the abyss in a horizontal position. And since its shape resembles a large tongue, the Norwegians quickly came up with a suitable name for it.
It should be noted that Lake Ringedalsvannet is not of natural origin, but was formed as a result of the damming of a river. Quite wide at the base, the Troll's Tongue gradually tapers to a few centimeters. And its length is about 10 m. It is believed that being on its edge is dangerous, since it is unknown at what moment the block may fall down.
Where is it located?
Trolltunga, as it is called in the local dialect, refers to the Hardangerfjorden, the second longest in Norway and the third longest in the world. It is located 10 km from the small town of Odda in the Hordaland region of Western Norway.
How to get there?
It is most convenient to start the route to Trolltung from the capital of Hordaland county - the city of Bergen. Conventionally, the entire path can be divided into two parts, the intermediate point of which is the town of Odda. To get to Mount Skjeggedal you need to get to the small village of Tyssedal, which lies 6 km north of Odda in a valley between the fjord and the mountains. 
After arriving at the place, the walking route begins. Previously, the first thousand meters of the ascent could be done by cable car, but now it does not work.
The ascent is carried out along the pedestrian path, which is located to the right of the funicular and is marked with a red letter “T”. Many tourists prefer to climb directly along the cable car's sleepers, despite the fact that this is prohibited.
The rest of the route passes through rough terrain with alternating climbs and plateaus. The total length of the route one way is about 12 km and takes on average 5 hours.
It is impossible to get lost, since along the entire route there are kilometer markers indicating how much is left to the Language.
Order an inexpensive transfer - taxi in Norway
You can get from Bergen to Odda either by car or by bus. The latter's travel time is about 4 hours.
The best way to get to your destination from Odda is by car. First to the village of Tyssedal along highway 13, and then following the signs for Sjöggedal. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.
There are free and paid parking lots at the foot of the mountain. A tourist bus also departs regularly from Odda, taking everyone to Mount Skjeggedal.
Renting a car in Norway
What to take with you?
You should not take too many things with you, the climb will already be exhausting, only the essentials.
Where to stay?
- After a difficult climb, make a long return trip highly undesirable. Therefore, for those traveling by car, the best option would be to stay in Tyssedal or a little further away - in Odde. The same advice can be given for those arriving by bus.
- To make it before dark, the climb to the Troll's Tongue should begin early in the morning. For this reason, some tourists prefer to spend the night right on the spot. Nearby there is a beautiful lake with crystal clear water where you can pitch a tent. There are also places for tents in the parking lot.
- It will be useful to know that in the middle of the route and at the observation deck There are special houses where you can wait out bad weather or spend the night if there is a chance you won’t be able to return before dark.
- When to go? The best time to visit Troll's Tongue is from June to October, when the weather is sunny and clear. During rainy periods, climbing the mountain can become dangerous, and the surface of the ledge itself will be wet and slippery. In winter, visiting Trolltung is also undesirable due to the deep snow.
- Exercise caution. Attention will be required not only on the ledge itself, but also on the way to it. You should also be especially careful when climbing the steps of the funicular if preference is given to this method of overcoming the first part of the route.
- Who is not recommended: Due to the difficulty, it is not recommended to climb for people with poor physical fitness. You should also not take small children on the route.
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Trolltongue Mountain in Norway is one of the most legendary places on the planet. Even the photos of Troll Tongue are impressive - when you look at this natural beauty, it’s simply breathtaking! What can we say about live impressions - those who visited Trolltunga will never forget this climb, it evokes so many emotions!
Troll's Tongue Rock is a real miracle of nature. It is a large stone ledge above the lake, its shape actually somewhat reminiscent of a tongue - hence the strange name. This huge block of stone, which broke off from Mount Skjeggedal, was not heavy enough to fall down, and “hovered” over the surface of Lake Ringedalsvatn. This horizontal ledge is 10 meters long, but not everyone dares to approach its edge. This is indeed very dangerous, and accidents in the Troll Tongue, although not often, still happen. The account of Trolltung's fatal victims was opened by a 24-year-old student from Australia, who, making her way through the crowd to her friends, lost her balance and fell off the edge of the cliff. The height of the Troll's Tongue is 950 m above sea level, so the girl had no chance to survive. She flew about 200 meters, after which she crashed on the rocks. There had also been incidents before this, but the tourists were closer to the mountain and ended up with varying degrees of bruises.
Local residents said that this was quite natural. They warned that it was only a matter of time before someone fell down. After all, a huge number of tourists climb the mountain, who do not even observe basic safety measures, climb the “language” in crowds, often in a state of intoxication, and perform various tricks for selfies. Meanwhile, the rock becomes more dangerous every year due to thinning, and the risk of a repetition of the tragedy increases.
Legend of the Troll
The Troll's Tongue is associated with a beautiful legend about a huge Troll who lived here in time immemorial. But his stupidity was as great as his size: The Troll took unnecessary risks all the time: he jumped over large gorges, dived deep under water, tried to reach the Moon while standing on the edge of a cliff... But he could only frolic at night, because he heard that sunlight could kill him. And the Troll decided to check whether this is really so. Early in the morning, when the first rays of the sun had just risen, he stuck out his tongue from the cave where he had been hiding during the day. And at that very moment he became completely petrified.
How to get to Troll Tongue from Oslo?
There are several ways to get to Trolltongue from the capital of Norway. This is a bus, taxi, rented car. But I warn you that if you don’t know how to get to Troll Tongue by car, or prefer public transport in principle, the road will be no less difficult than the ascent itself. Therefore, I recommend looking at where Troll Tongue is located on the map, renting a car and going on a trip on your own.
By public transport from Oslo, you first need to get to the city of Odda (there are regular express trains, but you can get by train to Voss, and from there by bus to Odda. You can also get here by bus from Bergen (flight 930) and Skjeggedal (express “The Trolltunga-Preikestolen” "). For those who do not have experience of independent travel, it is preferable to purchase a tour. If you take into account the total costs, including payment for parking, it turns out to be not much more expensive, but much calmer. If you still use a rented car, then keep in mind that renting a place parking will cost 66 Euros for one day, or 33 Euros if you leave the car during the day for no more than 16 hours.
Regarding planning the time for the trip, many advise setting aside two days. I am also inclined towards this, since it is quite difficult (especially without good physical preparation) to overcome the path to the beginning of the ascent, spend energy on the ascent and descent, and immediately set off back on the road. Therefore, it is convenient to book a place to stay for the night near the Troll Tongue, fortunately, there is a fairly large selection of accommodation in a wide price range. But keep in mind that permission to climb is limited in time - from mid-June to mid-September. At other times, due to unfavorable weather conditions, it will not be possible to conquer the Troll's Tongue.
Trekking length is 12 km one way. The hike takes from 6 to 8 hours in good weather, and can last up to 10-12 hours if weather conditions leave much to be desired. Be sure to bring some food with you (sandwiches, cookies). Hot tea in a thermos will also come in handy. Even if you go to Troll Tongue when it is very hot outside, take warm clothes and waterproof clothing. These simple measures will help make your trip to the Troll Tongue not only impressive, but also comfortable.