From the head of the Lysefjord, Lysevegen climbs through 27 numbered hairpin bends up to the plateau overlooking the fjord, one of the most vertiginous ascents in Norway.
A spectacular climb of switchbacks
From Lysebotn, it’s 8.9 km for roughly 930 m of elevation gain, at a sustained average of 10%. The road negotiates 27 hairpin bends, the last of them 6.8 km from the start, near the Øygardstøl restaurant.
A hairpin tunnel not to be underestimated
Around the second kilometre, a roughly 1 km tunnel has a hairpin bend of its own in the middle: lighting inside is dim, the surface uneven, and dampness common, calling for caution and proper lighting.
Getting the ride right
Built in the 1980s as a service road for the Tjodan hydroelectric plant, the road stays narrow and winding throughout: it’s best climbed early in the morning to avoid summer tourist traffic.
When to go
May to October: the seasonal road closes in winter, and access each year depends on residual snow on the plateau.
Good to know
Lysebotn, at the head of the fjord, is reached by boat or by a mountain road from Sirdal; the Kjerag restaurant at the top of Lysevegen offers a sweeping view over the Lysefjord.
