Stavanger Fjord Tour: Pulpit Rock & Lysefjord by Boat

See Pulpit Rock from the water instead of the hiking trail

A boat tour of Stavanger's Lysefjord that cruises past Pulpit Rock, Vagabond's Cave, and Hengjane Falls, with a live English-speaking guide and a guaranteed return to your cruise ship. The boat has a sundeck and a kiosk. You meet your guide five minutes' walk from the cruise pier. Book early, as the tour fills quickly when ships are in port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of Stavanger fjords

• Meet guide near cruise pier
• Walk to boat and board
• Cruise to Vagabond's Cave
• View aqua-marine pool and cliffs
• Cruise to Pulpit Rock
• See steep cliff and flat top
• Visit goats at summer pasture
• Taste water from Hengjane falls
• Return to ship on time

The experience

Three and a half hours on the water shows you the Lysefjord without the five-hour hike to Pulpit Rock's summit. The boat passes the 1,981-foot cliff face directly, so you see the rock formation and the Kjerag plateau across the fjord in a single afternoon. The route also reaches Vagabond's Cave, a cove ringed by dramatic cliffs where the water runs aqua-marine. Legend says vagabonds sheltered there for months to escape police. You'll pass waterfalls, small islands, and goats at summer pasture on the mountainside.

The boat leaves from a meeting point five minutes' walk from the cruise pier, so you don't need a car or transport beyond the ship. A sundeck lets you stay outside in the open air, and a kiosk on board sells drinks and snacks. Your guide speaks English and travels with the group throughout. At Hengjane Falls, you can taste fresh mountain water straight from the source. The operator guarantees you'll return to the ship in time for re-boarding, which matters when you're porting for a single day.

Bring a camera. The light on the fjord and the scale of the cliffs reward it. Infants can ride in a stroller, and service animals are welcome on board. The tour runs whenever a cruise ship is in port, and it books up quickly, so reserve as soon as your sailing is confirmed.

What’s included

• A live English-speaking guide.
• a boat with a sundeck and kiosk.
• audio guide.
• guaranteed return to your ship in time for re-boarding.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (4 to 95 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 28 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by My Holidays Online

Is this one for you?The five-minute walk from the cruise pier means you don't need a car or separate transport to reach the boat, and the guaranteed return time lets you explore the fjord and Pulpit Rock without worrying about missing your ship's departure.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

How do I get from my cruise ship to the boat tour?

You meet your guide with an easy five-minute walk from the cruise pier, so no separate transport is needed. The meeting point is clearly marked in your confirmation details.

What is Pulpit Rock and why see it from the boat?

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) is a natural rock formation rising 1,981 feet above Lysefjorden with an almost flat top. Hiking to the summit takes about five hours round trip. The boat tour passes directly below it, so you see the cliff face and the Kjerag plateau across the fjord in a single afternoon instead.

Will I have time to get back to the ship before it sails?

Yes. The operator guarantees your return to the ship in time for re-boarding, which is why this tour is popular with cruise passengers porting in Stavanger for a single day.

What is Vagabond's Cave?

Vagabond's Cave is a cove on the fjord surrounded by dramatic cliffs with an aqua-marine pool. According to local legend, a group of vagabonds hid in the shelter for months to escape police, and the cave is named after them. The boat stops here so you can see the formation up close.