Introduction
The Hardangerfjord is a wide fjord to the southeast of Bergen, dotted with old farmsteads and stretching for 100 kilometres from the sea to the lunar-like Hardangervidda plateau, Europe's largest mountain plateau.
The Hardangerfjord is surrounded by orchards of plum, cherry and apple trees, which blossom in April and May, filling the landscape with a burst of spring colours. As a result, spring is one of the most popular times of year to visit, although summer and autumn travellers are able to taste the freshest fruit, ciders and juices when the crops are gathered in.
Cruises on the fjord and its subsidiaries and hiking amid the glaciers, mountains and waterfalls are other holiday pleasures to be enjoyed in the Hardangerfjord area. The Steindalsfossen waterfall is a much-visited attraction, where it's possible to walk behind the rumbling falls. Also nearby is the 182-metre-tall Vøringsfossen waterfall, which can be viewed from top to bottom via a scenic walking and nature trail.
