Booking choice: The guided Kjerag hike, from $214 per person. Check dates Tour details
Kjerag is a summer hike with a short season. The trailhead at Øygardstøl sits at about 640 m at the top of the Lysevegen hairpins, and that road is shut by snow for roughly half the year. When it opens, the chains go back on the trail, the shuttles start and the guided day tours from Stavanger fill their calendars.
None of the 2027 dates have been published yet. Operators and the road authority announce them in spring. What we can give you now are the 2026 dates, the pattern behind them and a booking plan that does not depend on guessing.
The quick answer
Expect the 2027 Kjerag season to run from late May to late September, with the safest window from mid June to mid September. In 2026 the Lysefjord car ferry sailed 15 May to 29 September, the Lysebotn shuttle ran 24 May to 30 September and the Kjerag Express Bus ran June to September. The 2027 dates are announced in spring, once the snow on Lysevegen is cleared.
When does the Kjerag season start in 2027?
When the Lysevegen road (Fv500) reopens, usually in late May. No 2027 date exists yet: it depends on how much snow the winter leaves.
Fjord Norway says the road "usually closes in November when the snow arrives" and "reopens in late May after the road has been cleared", and that the opening date "depends on snow and driving conditions". In a heavy winter it slips into June. Nobody can promise a day in advance, and you should be wary of any site that does.
The trail follows the road. The chains on the three steep climbs "are removed when the road is closed and reinstalled shortly after the road is opened", per the official Kjerag page. Early-season hikers also meet old snow on the plateau well into June. Guests on the guided Kjerag hike were already out in May 2026, and one reviewer that month summed it up: "Weather was not very good in the beginning, but it improved around 12h."
| What | 2026 season | What to expect in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Lysevegen road (Fv500) | Closed in winter, opens late May | Opening date set by the snow, announced in spring |
| Chains on the trail | Back on shortly after the road opened | Same pattern |
| Rødne car ferry, Lauvvik to Lysebotn | 15 May to 29 September | A similar window, confirmed by Rødne in spring |
| SBK BASE shuttle, Lysebotn to Øygardstøl | 24 May to 30 September | Starts once the road is open |
| Kjerag Express Bus from Stavanger | June to September, set days only | Dates published in spring |
| Kolumbus boats to Lysebotn | All year, booking needed | All year |
When does Lysevegen open and close?
It usually opens in late May and closes in November. The road is 27 hairpins and over 900 m of climb from Lysebotn to Øygardstøl, and it is the only road to the trailhead.
Lysevegen is part of county road Fv500, built for a hydropower project and joined to Sirdal in 1990. From Stavanger you drive about 180 km via Sirdal to reach it, which takes 2.5 to 3 hours. There is no winter route in, so when the road closes, so does the hike.
Check the road status on the day you travel, not the week before. The first weeks after opening can be cold, wet and slushy on top. If you are flexible, aim for mid June or later: the snow walls along the road are a sight, the snow on the trail is not.
When does the Kjerag Express Bus run in 2027?
In 2026 it ran June to September only: weekends in June and September, Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends in July and August. Expect the same shape in 2027, with dates announced in spring.
The bus is run by Go Fjords. It leaves Stavanger at 07:45, reaches Øygardstøl at about 10:15 and leaves the trailhead at 16:30, back in Stavanger at about 19:00 (Go Fjords). That gives you around six hours on the mountain, which is enough for most fit hikers and tight for slow ones.
The 2026 fare was NOK 995 return for adults and NOK 525 for children 0 to 17 (Fjord Norway). Tickets are sold online only, never on board, and summer weekends sell out. Our guide to Kjerag without a car compares the bus with the boat and a guided tour.
No bus timetable to chase: pickup at your Stavanger hotel at 7:00 and a guide on all three climbs.
Check dates for the guided Kjerag hikeWhen do the Lysefjord ferry and the Lysebotn shuttle run?
In 2026 the Rødne car ferry sailed 15 May to 29 September and the SBK BASE shuttle ran 24 May to 30 September. Kolumbus boats sail to Lysebotn all year.
The Rødne scenic car ferry takes 2.5 hours each way from Lauvvik to Lysebotn, with stops at Oanes, Songesand and Flørli. In the last week of its 2026 season it ran one return crossing a day and skipped 24 September. From Lysebotn, the SBK BASE shuttle climbs the hairpins to Øygardstøl for NOK 250 per person each way.
Kolumbus runs the local boats on the same fjord all year, with booking required. Out of season they reach Lysebotn, but with no shuttle and the road closed, they do not reach Kjerag. One more thing worth knowing: no boat shows you the boulder. Sightseeing cruises from Stavanger turn at the Hengjanefossen waterfall, and even the ferry to Lysebotn passes far below Kjeragbolten, out of sight.
What is the best time to hike Kjerag in 2027?
Mid June to mid September. July and August have the most light and the most people; September is quieter and the days are still long enough.
Stavanger gets over 18 hours of daylight in mid June and about 12 to 14 hours in September. Early June often has snow on the plateau. July and August mean queues at the boulder and a full car park by mid morning, so start early. September is our pick if you can live with shorter days and a higher chance of rain.
The official season on Fjord Norway is "May to October inclusive", but May and October depend on the year. If you are thinking about the far ends of the season, read our post on Kjerag in October first.
Fjord Hikes keeps groups to eight and pays the trailhead parking. Rated 5.0 by guests.
Explore the Fjord Hikes small group Tour detailsWhen should I book a guided Kjerag hike for 2027?
As soon as your travel dates are fixed. Day tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs nothing.
The guided day hikes from Stavanger are small. Lysefjorden Adventure and Fjord Hikes take eight hikers at most, Lysekammen up to 15. Summer weekends in July go first. Prices in 2026 started at $214, $236 and $244 per person.
Two exceptions to the 24-hour rule: the three-day Lysefjord hike cancels free only up to three days before, and the multi-day trips are small enough that one booking can fill a date. If you want Preikestolen and Kjerag on the same trip, the overnight trip with a night in Lysebotn is the easiest way to fit both.
Groups of eight at most and free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so you can lock a 2027 date early.
Check dates for the guided Kjerag hikeFrequently asked questions
When does Kjerag open in 2027?
When the Lysevegen road reopens after winter, usually in late May. The 2027 date depends on the snow and is announced in spring.
When does the Kjerag Express Bus start in 2027?
Its 2027 dates had not been published as of October 2026. In 2026 it ran from June to September, on weekends in June and September and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends in July and August.
Can I hike Kjerag in May?
Sometimes. The road may still be closed, and if it is open the plateau often has snow. Go with a guide in May, or wait until mid June.
Can I book a 2027 Kjerag tour now?
If the operator has loaded 2027 dates on its listing, yes. Day tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, so an early booking carries little risk.
Ready to book
Choose your Kjerag day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Guided Kjerag Hike from Stavanger
- Pickup at any Stavanger hotel or Airbnb, from 7:00
- Round trip by private vehicle, about 2.5 hours each way
- Local hiking guide on the whole trail
Small-Group Kjerag Hike with Transfers
- Pickup at your chosen point in Stavanger, 7:00
- Air-conditioned vehicle via Hunnedalen
- Licensed guide in English or Norwegian
Pulpit Rock & Kjerag Overnight Trip
Both famous hikes, a night in Lysebotn and meals included
