Kvam: Waterfall, Fjord Trips and Culture

In Kvam, experiences range from visiting a waterfall and going on fjord safaris to discovering art and local farm produce. When choosing your holiday apartment, it is worth first considering the excursions that interest you most: some start in Norheimsund or Øystese, while others take you to a waterfall, on a hike or to a viewpoint.

Waterfalls and views of the landscape

Steinsdalsfossen has a drop of 50 metres. A particularly striking feature is the opportunity to walk behind the waterfall without getting wet. There is a car park for cars, motorhomes and caravans at the waterfall. This means you can also plan a visit if you are travelling in one of these vehicles.

Kiellandbu offers a different perspective on the landscape: from there, the views stretch across fjords, mountains and glaciers, including the Hardangerfjord and Folgefonna. Kiellandbu is unlocked and accessible year-round. If you are interested in a stay with a view, you can include it as a dedicated excursion in your travel plans.

Breidablik is in the Kvammafjella, high above Fitjadalen. Good trails lead there from the fjord, from the mountains and from other cabins. Its location and the routes described make Breidablik another option for travellers who would like to combine their stay with trails through the mountain landscape.

Fjord safaris from Norheimsund and Øystese

Several RIB tours make the fjord itself a destination. The Hardangerfjord and Fyksesund Fjord Safari travels from Norheimsund to Fyksesund. It includes short stops for photographs and stories about nature, culture and life along the Hardangerfjord. The Norheimsund RIB Seafari crosses the Hardangerfjord and travels through the ten-kilometre-long Fyksesund to Botnen.

There is also a Fyksesund RIB Fjord Safari from Øystese. It travels into the only fjord arm in Hardanger without a continuous road all the way to its inner reaches. If you are weighing up Norheimsund and Øystese when looking for a holiday apartment, the departure points mentioned can be a practical guide: each trip starts in one of these places, without assuming any additional travel or journey times.

Hardanger Akvasenter in Øystese offers a different RIB experience. The tour begins with the interactive exhibition “Det er her vi bur” in the exhibition rooms. Afterwards, you travel by RIB to a working salmon farm in the fjord. This visit therefore combines an exhibition with a trip to a specific destination on the water.

Art, swimming and local produce

Kunsthuset Kabuso hosts changing exhibitions, concerts and events throughout the year. Øystese is also home to Hardanger Skyspace, a light installation by American artist James Turrell, right on the fjord shore. The Ingebrigt Vik Museum houses the collection of one of Norway’s most important sculptors. These places offer different ways to experience art: through changing exhibitions and events, a light installation or a collection.

Hardangerbadet has a 25-metre pool, a family pool and a therapy pool. It also offers indoor swimming facilities, a water park and a water slide. This makes it an alternative to excursions in the countryside when swimming and water activities are the focus of the day.

If you would also like to discover local produce, the farms offer a range of experiences. Spildegarden is a fourth-generation family farm that grows fruit and berries and produces apple juice and cider. Breievne Gard has a farm café and sells its own produce as well as processed specialities. It also offers glamping, product tastings, walks to cultural heritage sites and events with a local focus.

Hikes and convenient starting points

The hike to Krokavatnet is 2.3 kilometres long and takes about 1.5 hours each way. The route is considered easy to access and offers views of the Hardangerfjord. The distance and walking time in each direction can help you fit this excursion into your day’s plans. Hardangerfjord Adventure offers tailor-made guided hikes in the countryside around Norheimsund and Øystese.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kvam, it is best to choose a location based on the experiences that matter most to you on your trip. For a RIB trip, the departure points mentioned in Norheimsund or Øystese are relevant; for Steinsdalsfossen, the waterfall and its car park are useful landmarks. Art, farm experiences, swimming and hikes add further reasons to visit, without limiting you to just one kind of holiday.

Places within Kvam

For further orientation within Kvam: Strandebarm, Øystese, Tørvikbygd, Steinstø, Norheimsund and Omastrand.

For the broader travel overview: Hordaland.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Modalen, Samnanger.