From There to Here: Driving the Lysebotn Road

Friday, 6 September 2013

After an absolutely breathtaking cruise down the Lysefjord, we disembarked the car ferry at the tiny village of Lysebotn which is visited by thousands of people each year as they prepare to hike to Kjerag. (Joe has been nagging me to do this hike but it's apparently twice as long and twice as difficult as Preikestolen and I've been stalling. The photos of the top are pretty famous - check one out here.) While the area is mostly famous for the incredible hiking, it's also well known for the Lysebotn road.

One starts at sea-level and then climbs the wall of the fjord some 3057 feet by snaking back and forth through 27 hairpin turns. I know, I feel a little nauseous just thinking about it.

Known to get carsick, I started taking ginger pills first thing in the morning but I was really more concerned about my Mom, who is terrified of heights. Mountain roads in Norway are narrow, busy and rarely include guardrails and the idea of climbing to such a height had me worried that we might give my poor Mother a heart attack but her luck prevailed. Heavy fog enveloped the fjord as we started the drive up allowing us to see far enough to drive safely but not enough to see over the edge of the cliffs. In fact, as we arrived at the Kjerag cafe, a restaurant & parking lot that serve as the base for the hike, we were in such thick fog we had a hard time manoeuvring through the parking lot.

It should have looked more like this.

We pulled in for lunch and had hopes that the fog would clear enough for us to take in the views from the dining room and it's balcony that skirts the building but alas, the only thing we saw was white. My Mom's relief was evident, as was our disappointment. Next time.

11 comments:

danielle abroad6 September 2013 at 15:03
How lucky to have a next time :)
Jenna6 September 2013 at 15:36
Wow! That drive looks awesome... if you aren't terrified of heights that is. My mom would have also been gripping the edge of the seat if the day had been clear. Hopefully you and Joe can do it again soon... maybe when you do the hike to Kjerag ;) It will be interesting to see how it compares to Chapmans Peak when the sun is out xxx
carriedavis816 September 2013 at 18:31
Tha'ts gorgeous (well, the links...but the fog pictures are nice too :) Do ginger pills really work? I'm not terribly prone to car sickness, but it got me on a road that looks a lot like this one in Arkansas, and I'd like to be prepared if we have to go back that same way...
Alex, Speaking Denglish6 September 2013 at 20:12
Gahhh that road has to be hell on the breaks ;)

And I've so seen that picture on pinterest. I would so want one but I'd be terrified beyond belief standing on that rock. No ways.
Fran7 September 2013 at 20:54
Oh wow, that drive looks terrifying and awesome all at once!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures8 September 2013 at 06:28
I agree with Fran!
Melanie Fontaine8 September 2013 at 15:00
Weather in Norway is definitely a bit like gambling - sometimes you will be grazed with the most beautiful sunshine and the next day big fog will envelop the mountains. Well, living in Bergen the latter is more probable! ;) I love mountain roads with tons of hairpins, because it's so adventurous, but I probably wouldn't be so impressed if I had to drive myself or were afraid of heights!
Not Just A Pretty Dress8 September 2013 at 22:00
Like your mom, I'm terrified of heights, but it was a pity you didn't have the chance to see the view...till next time! BTW, your pictures of the fjord cruise were amazing! Take care, Caterina
Anonymous27 September 2013 at 22:33
I don't mind heights, but I get badly travel-sick and I am not a big fan of driving on cliff roads. However, for the (clear day) views, I would consider it. Providing someone else navigates the hairpin bends!