Over Norwegian mountains- Geilo-Hardangervidda-Eidsfjod-Odda

This is quite the route but it is possible to do it in one day. As usual  we start from Oslo and I suggest you start early specially in the fall because the day is too short to see anything in the evening.  one stop you should make on your way to Geilo as we did is the Torpo stave church. This church is constructed as far as 1160. The church is very small and that is way there is a newer , bigger church built right next to it, leaving this as a tourist attraction. It is only opened in summer but church is pretty impressive all throughout the year. The best part about it for me  is the portal - the carvings are just magnificent. Hard to believe but in fact  this use to be the religious center of the region including the much bigger Ål town. This is only stavechurch that is preserved from middle ages in this region so it is most definitely worth stopping,
Next stop is just above Geilo, the Hallingskarvet mountain. Here is one of the best hiking places I have come across in Norway. There a 2000 steps built to the top of a 1600 m tall mountain where you can choose how you come down from it or whether you want to continue to a bit higher mountain. The rock steps where built by sherpas from Nepal and the hike is actually really easy and doable within 2 hours (round trip). What should be taken into consideration is that the steps can get very icy so you should have the right kind of shoes  to climb this. In a clear sunny day you are able to see Hardangervidda from the top of it.

From here we decided to go further from Geilo to Hardangervidda tourist route. As I have written about it before (check here) I won`t  focus on it here. 

Crossing Hardangervidda we come to Eidsfjord and this is one of the branches of Hardanger. Hardanger is also known as the fruit basket of Norway as most of the fruits are grown here. That is something you will see quite a lot here , people having fruitgardens. Of course that is when you will not be looking around at the breathtaking views. The tall walls of Hardanger , the blue waters of fjord are just gorgeous .  

Continuing on the road 7 we come to town Odda where the Trolltunga is located. If you have a second day to see it , do it but be sure to not do it in winter if you are not experienced enough and do take in consideration that the hike in total may take 8 hours so  if the day is shorter than that I do not recommend it. For full hike click here. 

If you do the one day trip you and the daylight is still there you can check the other Hardanger tourist route and see the waterfalls near Odda on your way to Oslo. If you don't turn back and do a round trip via Drammen you can check out the Heddal stavechurch- the biggest in Norway, which is lid up so it is possible to see it in winter as well.  Also take into consideration, the temperatures in the mountains are much lower and wintertires may be needed in the beginning of October.

The full route you will find here.