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”.
Two years ago, on the Internet, I read an article: 10 places on planet Earth that every traveler should see. One of the photos was of a guy sitting on the edge of a cliff over a cliff about 500 meters away, his legs dangling. I got goosebumps all over my body.
And even then I told myself that I wanted to go there. And this journey took 2 years to mature, many reports were read, many opinions were heard and our own were formed.
So: this report is for those who want to visit Troll tongue(Trolltunga) and who don’t have a lot of time or money for it. Before this trip, I thought I belonged to the first category of people, I was wrong, the second group is also about me.
If you want to feel like a poor person, Norway is the right place for this. .
Nearest international airport: Bergen - 150km to Trolltongue (some fly to Oslo, but from Oslo 400km)
Compound: 4 people - Olya, Vika, Vanya, Danil.
Plan by day:
- Day 1 (Friday) - arrival in Bergen, rental car, travel to the start of trekking to Troll's Tongue, overnight in a tent on the shore of a mountain lake.
- Day 2 (Saturday) - start of trekking in the Troll's Tongue, reaching the goal, spending the night in the mountains in the language.
- Day 3 (Sunday) - early rise, a couple more amazing photos, the way back, driving to Bergen, checking into an apartment, walking around Bergen and buying a magnet
- Day 4 (Monday) – flight home.
Tickets were purchased 2 months before the trip through the excellent service aviasales, the cost for a couple round trip is 180 euros including luggage. Our plane landed at Bergen airport at 8:30 am. We worried about duty-free alcohol in advance (note: at Bergen airport, the arrivals and departures areas are the same place and upon arrival you immediately find yourself in duty-free).
Not only are the prices for alcohol in Norway inhumane, to say the least, but you can’t just buy this alcohol in a store; in the end, we never found it and drank beer for 10 euros per 0.4 liter in taverns.
How to travel around Norway is up to you. Renting a car means your mobility and the opportunity to stop near any waterfall or other beautiful place. Speed limit: 50 km/h in cities and 80 on the highway. We have never seen more than 80 km/h, and when we found out the size of the fines, we also didn’t want to exceed it.
In Norway, for exceeding +1 km/h the fine is about 60 euros. The roads are all narrow, there are toll roads and there are many tunnels and bridges; travel on some of them also requires a toll.
A bus for moving from one locality to another is probably a more acceptable option, but the cost of travel on a bus is comparable to the budget of a small independent African country, and our calculations showed that when traveling with four people, if at least one transfer is necessary, renting a car is comparable to the cost of tickets for bus.
Therefore, we chose a car, which everyone was happy with except the driver (more on that later). The car was rented from the rental company sixt. The cost of renting a Ford Focus for three days was 160 Euro. We chose this company because all the others also require mandatory insurance of about 100 Euros, but with sixt this is optional.
Also, due to the fact that in Norway almost all roads, bridges and tunnels are toll and funds are debited automatically from the on-board device on the car window, this company provides on-board service almost free of charge - 4 euros per day, unlike other companies where prices start from 9 euros.
And most importantly, in other companies the daily mileage is 100-150 km per day, but at sixt they gave us 500 km for 3 days without reference to the days. The car is given with a full tank, and returned with a full tank. This immediately saves you from the additional shock of refueling; we only refueled once before returning the car.
The counter is located right at the airport at the main entrance. And immediately the first problem was that we booked a car by mistake from Bergen, and not from the airport, but the English-speaking staff and my wife quickly resolved the situation and arranged a car for us in 15 minutes for the same money.
Total, looking ahead: about 160 euros for rental, about 60 euros for toll roads, which are debited from the deposit, a deposit of about 450 euros, which is debited from the card. Gasoline is 1.4 euros per liter, we paid 35 euros for the 390 km we drove. A more detailed report on how to rent a car in Norway is available at.
We loaded into the car, put a point in the navigator to the parking lot in front of the troll's tongue (150 km), and on the map the route from the Airport. The navigator said that the drive would take 4 hours, we didn’t believe it, but in vain, we drove for 7 hours. True, at first we stopped near every waterfall and every beautiful fjord, after two hours we realized that this beauty was on every corner and the trip went faster.
normal view from a car window 
Before leaving civilization, we needed a gas camping tank and some groceries from the store. Since we planned to spend two nights on the fjord in a tent, we brought the main products a la stew, sausage, nuts, chocolate and tea with us, and bought bread, butter and sausages in a local store for not at all expensive, about 20 euros per All.
A joint came out with a gas cylinder. You all know our Soviet gas cylinders Tourist, for gas camping stoves. It is prohibited to carry gas on an airplane, so we were sure that we would buy it on the spot, but no. All the cylinders here have their own standard and they do not fit our tiles.
While we were driving, we stopped at every gas station and every sports equipment store, fortunately there were a lot of one and two in Norway, but by the 7th gas station we realized that a hot dinner and tea in Troll Tongue were under threat, the girls were a little depressed, but I didn’t feel much worried.
Let me draw your attention to the fact that from the moment we arrived in Bergen, all day, all night, and the next day it rained non-stop. Our hopes of seeing the Troll's Tongue in clear weather were fading by the minute, but we (Vanya and I) did not lose heart. In general, our company was divided into two optimists and two pessimists, I won’t point a finger at who is who :).
Let's continue our journey. There is one ferry crossing along the route. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, pay a parking attendant who will come to you when the ferry arrives. They accept cards, by the way they accept cards everywhere, even in the forest. The cost for a car and four passengers was 203 NOK (~20 euros). The ferry sails for about 15 minutes. There are beautiful views and if there is no rain you can hang out on the deck and take a few photos for Instagram.
If you look at the map, just below Odda (red mark) there is an amazingly beautiful waterfall called latefossen. There is free parking nearby.
After the waterfall, we headed to the parking lot, where the hiking route to Troll’s Tongue started. 5-6 km from the parking lot (see map), you will see a private road sign and a bunch of prohibitory signs, and a very narrow road up the mountain. Don’t be scared, let’s go there, there’s a parking lot there, about 300 cars with a conditionally free shower and toilet. Why is it conditional, because parking in this godforsaken wilderness costs only 40 euros per day with a car. The parking meter accepts cards.
Parking before the trekking start 
Parking meter 
In the photo above, there is a parking plan and prices. A little life hack: we arrived on Friday at 6 pm and parked the car in the farthest section of the parking lot, marked with an arrow. Judging by the signs, it is prohibited to pitch tents anywhere within a three-kilometer radius. But there are enough people traveling with a tent and everyone is trying to move 200 meters from the parking lot and find a place for a tent.
We did the same, and 70 meters from the car we set up tents right on the shore of a mountain lake (a point is marked on the map). As you remember, we didn’t find a gas cylinder and while walking in the parking lot in the evening we saw a UAZ with Russian license plates, said hello, asked about the cylinders, received one as a gift - hello to Nizhny Novgorod!!!
If before this only Vanya and I were in a great mood, then after such a gift and the opportunity to drink hot tea, the girls were also in a great mood.
We spent the night safely, no one touched our tents. The car was also left without a fine. I read in one of the reports that there is free parking, but there isn’t.
We didn’t pay for parking either on Friday or Saturday, it was decided to go to Troll’s Tongue, and leave the car without paying for parking and then, upon returning, resolve the problems that came in, it was too much for 40 euros per day, we didn’t want to pay for the car and from the very morning in Saturday (at 10 o'clock), drank coffee in the parking lot for 30 NOK (3 euros) and were ready to start.
Draw your attention. That according to the map, the latest time to start tracking to Troll Tongue is 10 am. If you leave later, you won’t have time to return before dark; it’s extremely dangerous there in the dark.
Also in the photo above there is a warning: The entire route one way is 11 km, and if you find yourself at the 4 km mark at 13:00 or later, you are strongly recommended to turn back, otherwise you can spend the night on the fjord at the very top.
This poster shows the minimum required for going on the route: trekking waterproof shoes, thermal underwear, mittens, flashlight, hat, trekking poles. We had everything except trekking poles and gloves. If the first is optional, then gloves might not hurt us at some moments.
Let me draw your attention to the fact that when it was +15 degrees below at the start of the route, it was +5 at the top. A difference of 10 degrees is common there.
For tourists with tents, I will now describe two trekking options in Troll’s Language:
- Leave your backpacks and tents below and go to the Troll's Tongue lightly. Minuses: you need to return in a day, and this is twice the mileage, 99% of people go to the troll language without spending the night, which means queues for photography for an hour, two or even three, in the language itself you will spend only a few hours, and if you are unlucky with weather, then there will be no opportunity to see the true beauty of these places. Pros: Since the route is very difficult, you will be light and it will be much easier for you. Take with you only: an energy snack, a 0.5 bottle of water - you can drink water directly from the streams, of which there are a lot along the route.
- Overnight in Troll's Tongue. Minuses: it is necessary to drag a backpack with a tent, sleeping bags, dry clothes, etc. along the most difficult route; at night it is very cold in the language itself; on September 3 the temperature was about zero. Pros: You only need to walk 11 km, there is no need to stand in queues for photography, since with an overnight stay there are 10-15 tents left, there is a greater chance of catching good weather, watching the sunset and seeing the sunrise.
We chose the second option. Since we only had to go one way today, we were in no hurry. 99% of tourists have been on the route for a long time, but they still go back today.
So at 10 am we started our climb. If you’ve read other reports, you’ve probably seen that many people go up the non-working funicular - it’s easier, faster (the savings actually amount to more than an hour).
But the Norwegian authorities, for some reason, considered the funicular dangerous to life, or they just want to preserve the Troll's Tongue for our descendants, and in order to reduce the flow of tourists, they complicated the route by dismantling the funicular and making the starting climb up the mountainside, ankle-deep in mud . 
We were not prepared for such a difficult climb. The length of the climb is a kilometer, the elevation gain is 400 meters. It took us 2 hours and almost all our strength. I have always considered myself a person with above average physical fitness.
Perhaps old age is already making itself felt, or it’s the 20-kilogram backpack on our back that has exhausted our strength, or the incessant light rain that has been falling since the very moment we landed at Bergen airport. After resting for 20 minutes and drinking two sips of port for conquering the first climb, we gained strength and moved on. 
Having passed a small plateau, another climb awaited us, no easier than the first, which finally took all our strength, by that time we had walked only 3 kilometers out of 11 and trackers were already coming towards us back from the Troll's Tongue.
The iron willpower and optimism of two people did not allow us to turn back, because if there is an uphill, there will definitely be a downhill. With this thought in mind, we moved on. And then the sun began to come out and amazing views opened up, which allowed us to forget about fatigue at times.
At 16:15 we hobbled with all our strength and reached the Troll's Tongue. Total just over 6 hours. The feelings that we experienced cannot be expressed in words. The goal was achieved. The beauty that opened before my eyes will remain in my memory for the rest of my life.
Troll tongue at 16:15 
Troll tongue at 19:00 
Troll tongue at sunset at 20:15 
Troll tongue at dawn 
Troll tongue at 7:30 am I hope you understand everything from the photo.
Now a little about the overnight stay and a small life hack: At the top near the Troll's Tongue, there is a rocky and rocky area. Setting up a tent is quite difficult. Humidity tends to 100%. Therefore, tents are placed within a radius of 300-400 meters on any more or less suitable piece of land.
We knew that somewhere nearby there was a house where we could spend the night if it was not occupied by other travelers. We found him and miraculously he was free. I’ll give you a tip: if you look at the Troll’s Tongue, then to the left of it you will see a path up the hill; you need to follow it for 300 meters. And if you are lucky, like we were, it will be free. It’s dry there, there are even sleeping bags left by someone, and you can safely spend the night there.
In the house there is a stove, a saw, gasoline, matches, we left half a gas cylinder for our stoves, which I wrote about above. There is a problem with firewood, as you can see from the photo, there are not many trees in this area, I would say there are none at all, but we managed to collect some sticks, light the stove and dry our things overnight.
The next day surprised us with its weather. Perfect blue skies, which occur in this area no more than 20 days a year. We left at 8 am and the journey back took only 4 hours, bringing a lot of fun.
Having gone down to the parking lot, we found information under the windshield wipers of our car that the parking had not been paid for and that in order not to be fined we needed to contact the information center (Trolltungaactivity).
Our car sat for almost two days and we were mentally preparing to pay 40 euros for every day for parking and were counting on a fine of 200 euros. But everything turned out to be not so bad. At the information center they took out a piece of paper on which about 50 numbers were written down by hand. Found ours. They asked when we arrived, and of course we said that it was only yesterday afternoon. They charged us the cost of parking for 1 day, 40 euros, and crossed the number off this list.
There was no talk of any fine. The full deposit for the car was safely returned to the card three days after the trip. So the scheme has been tested and worked out.
At 12 o'clock we started for Bergen along the second route (on the map at the beginning of the article), taking a detour along the fjord, a road of amazing beauty, along the way we met only two toll tunnels for about 5 euros each.
I wrote about the speed limit above. And about fines too. Since I was the driver, 180 km of the road back I realized who people with a Nordic character were.
This is when a tractor drives along the road at a speed of 40 km/h, a line of cars drives behind it for an hour and a half, no one overtakes, no one honks, no blinking, no one presses forward. Everyone rides calmly and enjoys the trip. I’m definitely not a person of a Nordic character, after 15 minutes I wanted to kill, after 30 I was ready to commit suicide.
In Bergen, we pre-booked an apartment in the very center, 140 euros per night for four through the airbnb service. Here is a link to the apartment itself where we lived. 3 rooms, 2 of them bedrooms. Excellent kitchen and bathroom. Everything you need for life. And 5 minutes walk from the embankment.
The apartment is marked on the map, there is a huge underground parking nearby, the entrance to it is also marked on the map. Parking cost 200NOK (20 euros) per day. Pay at the parking meter at the entrance in front of the elevator on the first floor. Accepts cards. Payment upon departure.
Going out for a walk in the center, we drank beer for 10 euros in a pub on the embankment, squeezed 50 euros for a plate of food, bought 2 magnets and, of course, took the most important photo in Bergen.
The next morning, no matter how sad it was, we had to leave. We arrived at the airport and handed over the car keys. The reception was very quick and pleasant, there were no questions about the car. The rest of the deposit was returned three days later.
We brought home (you can buy it at the deutsche before departure):
- Norwegian brown cheese - Brunost. Look for it in any hypermarket, it is the color of boiled condensed milk.
- And local strong alcoholic drink. Potato vodka with caraway seeds. Linie - this vodka is bottled in oak barrels, loaded onto a ship and floats on this ship for half a year. On the back of each bottle's label, you will find a map of the ship's movements, its name, the date of voyage, and how many times the bottle crossed the equator. The drink from my bottle crossed the equator twice on the Tamerlan ship from July to December 2015. A bottle of 0.5 costs about 17 euros.
What to say in conclusion: Dreams should come true even after two years, there is a reason to renew the dream.
Some links. If you use them, you will save money, and I will be pleased.
The most convenient hotel search engine is a very high-quality and convenient hotel search engine. Compares prices from a bunch of sites, including booking, and shows the best prices.
Aviasales.ru is an excellent search engine for air tickets around the world for all airlines at once.
Airbnb.ru - if you prefer an apartment to a hotel, then I highly recommend this site. A discount on the first booking is 16 euros, which is very nice.
And finally, if you need advice on where it’s cheaper to book a hotel or find a cheap flight, don’t hesitate to write, I can help with advice free of charge.
After the ferry we jumped into the car and drove along the shore of Sørfjord. On the other side you can clearly see the beautiful Ednafossen waterfall.
At first it flows in one stream, then on the bare rock it divides into several branches - and again gathers before entering the fjord.
Quite quickly we reached Tyssedal, then along a narrow mountain serpentine road we climbed to the village of Skjeggeddal - and here the road ended. Further only on foot. The clouds still cling to the mountains, but behind them the bluish whiteness of the glaciers is already visible.
To reach the Troll's Tongue - our goal today - it's a five-hour walk through the mountains. And this is only in one direction. Moreover, the most difficult part of the journey is at the beginning. The first 950 meters are a steep climb up the mountain. People also live at the top, and from the village there is a funicular, which, by the way, is one of the oldest in Europe. However, this building is private property, and it has not been turned on for tourists for a long time, only for locals and then very rarely and out of great need. Therefore, there are two options - walk along the stairs next to the funicular or climb the mountain along a path winding through the forest. According to experienced people, the first is much more difficult, since the muscles quickly become clogged from repeating the same movements. So we decided to follow the trail.
It was not an easy path. The path climbed upward, we were sweating and looked with envy at a local girl walking her dog - she and her Dalmatian easily overtook us and rushed up. The ascent was also complicated by the fact that a huge number of streams flow from the mountain, turning the soil underfoot into mud.
However, after about an hour and a half, we, not believing ourselves, found ourselves at the top, on a rocky mountain surface covered with moss. Then the road became easier - but it was still more than three hours to get to Language.
There is no path as such there - you can’t really trample anything in the bare stone. We determined the path by the red letters "T" written directly on the stones. You reach another such letter and turn your head, trying to find the next one. On the way there we hardly lost our way, but on the way back we got a little lost.
Despite the height, the sun was hot. We drank all the water we took with us on the first climb, but I knew that along the way we would meet many more streams and lakes with clean melt water. Therefore, thirst has passed us by.
The vegetation in those places is sparse. Although flowers also grow on stones.
And this photo puts some people in a stupor. :-) No, it's not snow. It’s just that from time to time along the way you come across huge blocks of marble overgrown with lichen.
Due to the difficult climb, not many tourists get here - it is unlikely that Tongue will be included in any tour of Norway. The landscape is completely deserted and deserted - you feel lost at the end of the world. But you shouldn’t yawn - you constantly have to go around the crevasses that go down into deep abysses.
It is better not to approach the edge - it is dangerous.
But from some points you can still see what’s below. In a mountain basin lies a beautiful lake with the unpronounceable name Ringedalsvatnet.
The Troll's tongue is not far away - people are starting to come across who left before us and are already wandering back. Everyone greets each other - it seems wonderful to see a person in this mountain desert. :-) And here is a real pointer - so that you don’t get lost before the decisive leap.
And finally, the Language itself. This is a huge piece of rock that broke off from Mount Skjeggedal and froze in a horizontal position above the lake. The spectacle is mesmerizing, we immediately forget about fatigue after a 5-hour climb.
Of course, we posed a lot in the Language itself - it was not for nothing that it took us so long to get to it. :-)
The place is amazing in its energy. I wanted to stay there longer, but the Hardangerfjord area is far from the Arctic, it gets dark here quite on time, and walking along mountain paths in the dark is not a very safe activity. Therefore, after having a small picnic and having a good time climbing around the Troll’s Tongue, we headed back.
On the way back, oddly enough, we met people still going to the Language. Almost all of them had huge backpacks, looked exhausted (oh, how sorry they were!) and clearly intended to spend the night in the mountains. However, one of the couples walked lightly. I commented out loud in surprise: “But for some reason these guys don’t have a tent!”, and they turned out to be Russians and answered: “Yes, we are without a tent. How long do we still have to go?” We told them that they had to walk for another three hours, and they would have time to get up before dark, but they would have to go down in pitch darkness, so it was better not to risk it. “We left the dog downstairs in the car, so we need to come back today,” they said, and I mentally twirled my finger at my temple.
The return was much easier for me personally than the ascent, but Anya, despite all her physical fitness and yoga classes, had the most difficult time. She endured the very last descent especially poorly - the ligaments in her knees could not withstand the load, and already in the car she began to feel sick. Based on the results, she concluded for herself that such mountain walks were not for her, but Natasha, Sigurd and I were completely delighted with the climb.
By the way, without trekking shoes to support your feet, such hikes are really difficult. All four of us were quite equipped in this sense, but not all travelers that day were ready. Already below, at the information board, we discovered a mini-cemetery of shoes that did not survive this 10-hour mountain walk. :-)
- a country whose vast territory is located in mountainous areas. One of them is a rocky outcrop called Troll's Tongue, or Trolltunga.
general information
Troll's Tongue (Trolltunga) is a very beautiful and at the same time dangerous place in the mountains of Norway. Troltunga is a ledge in the Skjeggedal rock, rising 700 m above Lake Ringedalsvatn. This place became widely known after the publication of a photo and an article in a tourism magazine in 2009. Since then, travelers from different countries of the world come here to test their strength on the way to this amazing place.
Legend of origin
If you believe the local legend, the Troll's Tongue rock in Norway was formed as a result of the tricks of this particular fairy-tale character. The troll loved to dive into the waters of the local lake and jump from ledges over huge chasms during the dark or rainy days. On one of the sunny days that the Troll was so afraid of, he decided to check whether he could indulge in his favorite pranks, and stuck his tongue out of the cave in which he found shelter. The Troll's tongue turned into a rock and became one of the main mustsees of the country.
Route description
The path leading to the rock is not at all easy and requires at least minimal physical training. The Troll's Tongue cliff is located at an altitude of 1100 m above sea level, the hike to it involves ascents and descents 12 km long. The average duration of the hike is 5-6 hours one way. For traveling, it is better to choose comfortable shoes (special trekking sneakers are the best option). When going on a hike, you need to take enough water (although there are streams along the way, the water in which is suitable for drinking), and study the weather forecast.
The journey starts from the village of Tyssedal, where on the map you can see the route to Trolltongue in Norway near the old cable car. Previously, part of the route could be covered on this same funicular, but after 2010 it stopped functioning. The bypass tracks are located slightly away from the rails, however, there are brave souls who, despite the ban, overcome the path directly along the cable car.
By the way, safety rules should be followed, because in Norway there have been many accidents related to the Troll Tongue, including fatal ones. The exhausting road and the difficulties that arise are more than compensated by the opening view of the Troll's Tongue cliff and the opportunity to take photos in the most beautiful place in Norway. But be prepared for the fact that there may be a queue of people wanting to take photos at the approach to the Troll’s Tongue cliff.
How to get there and when to visit?
Let's figure out where Troll Tongue is located in Norway and the most convenient way to get to it from Oslo:
- You need to get to the town of Odda, the most convenient way to do this is as part of tourist groups (excursions to the Troll Tongue are organized), but you can do it yourself, for example.
- From Odda you need to get to the village of Tyssedal, from where you can get to the starting point by bus, taxi or car to Troll Tongue at coordinates 60.130931, 6.754399.
- Further travel is only possible on foot.
The best time to visit the attraction is from June to September (it is possible to climb on your own). In winter, for safety reasons, tours to the Troll Tongue are prohibited. Many tourists plan a trip to the Troll Tongue in the spring (for example, in May, considering it quite warm) or in the fall before the onset of cold weather. Of course, this can be done, but only accompanied by a guide.
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: