Pulpit Rock tour or hike on your own?
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) can be hiked without a guide. The trailhead is a drive from Stavanger, and the walk is about 8 km there and back with roughly 500 metres of climbing (2026). A guided Pulpit Rock tour adds the transport, the parking and someone who knows the route and the weather.
A guide is recommended especially if you have little hiking experience or go in winter. That is advice, not a rule: nothing requires a guide on the summer path. The sections below show which tour type fits which trip. The full walk is described in the Pulpit Rock hike guide.
Our picks: guided Preikestolen tours
All three have a guide and transport from Stavanger. The first includes the parking fee, the second stresses pace and a safety briefing, and the third travels by air-conditioned minivan with hotel pick-up.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Preikestolen hike with hotel pick-up
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Air-conditioned minivan
A guided day trip to Preikestolen with the transport from Stavanger arranged for you.
Check availability →
Guided Preikestolen hike with pick-up
- Pick-up at central hotels or ports
- Parking fee at the trailhead
- Hiking snack
A guided day hike where the driver is also the guide, so parking at the trailhead is taken care of.
Check availability →Preikestolen hike with an expert guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Norwegian hiking snack
- Safety briefing before the hike
The pace is adapted to the group, and the guide helps with photos along the way.
Check availability →Pulpit Rock tours from Stavanger
Guided hikes, bus tours and fjord combinations, with live prices and availability.
Pulpit Rock tour types compared
What each tour type includes in 2026. Check the booking page for your date.
| Tour type | Start | Length | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided hike with pick-up | Central hotels or ports in Stavanger | 7 hours | Guide, driver, hiking snack, parking fee at the trailhead |
| Guided hike with bus | Cruise terminal, Stavanger | 6 hours | Bus, local guide, snack |
| RIB safari and hike | Central Stavanger harbour | 7 hours | RIB ride, minibus to the trailhead, guided hike, snack, minibus back |
| Private guided hike | Hotel pick-up | About 9 hours | Private tour, local guide, transport |
| Sunrise hike | Hotel or port pick-up | About 10 hours | Guide, round-trip transfer |
| Fjord cruise and winter hike | Strandkaien, Stavanger | 9 hours | Cruise, guide, snow spikes, poles, head lamp, packed lunch |
For most visitors without a car, the guided hike with pick-up is the simplest choice. If you arrive on a cruise ship, the bus tour that starts at the cruise terminal avoids the transfer to a meeting point. If you want the water and the summit in one day, take the RIB and hike combination.
Which Pulpit Rock tour fits you
Start point, transport and extras decide more than the price.
Hotel pick-up tours
The 7-hour guided hike collects guests at central hotels or ports in Stavanger after booking. Pick-up outside the city or at Stavanger Airport costs extra. A guide who also drives, a typical Norwegian hiking snack and the parking fee at the trailhead are included. Food and drinks beyond that are not.
Tours from the cruise terminal
One 6-hour tour starts at the cruise terminal in Stavanger with bus transport, a local guide and a snack. Getting to the meeting point, water and lunch are not included. Cruise passengers should plan the return to the ship with a margin, because nothing guarantees a time back on board.
RIB and hike combination
This 7-hour tour starts with a high-speed RIB ride into the Lysefjord, passes waterfalls and caves and shows Pulpit Rock from below. You then continue by minibus to the trailhead for a guided hike to the top and return by minibus to Stavanger. Safety gear for the boat is included, hiking clothes are not. More on the boat part is on the RIB safari page.
Private and sunrise tours
Private hikes with hotel pick-up suit families and small groups who want their own pace. Sunrise hikes leave very early and run about 10 hours with a round-trip transfer. Both depend on weather and light.
Winter departures
The winter tour combines a 2-hour fjord cruise with a guided hike and supplies snow spikes, poles and a head lamp. See Preikestolen in winter for conditions.
What to bring and expect
The same basics apply on every tour.
- Hiking shoes, a rain jacket and layers. Weather on the plateau changes quickly.
- Water and your own lunch, unless the tour lists a lunch.
- Daylight in mind: in the dark months the day is short, and the hike takes about 4 hours.
- Time for the return, so you are not racing the light on the way down.
A boat trip does not reach the viewpoint on top. From the water you see Pulpit Rock from below, which is a different view from the walk. The Preikestolen overview compares the three ways to see it, and the Lysefjord cruise page covers the boats.
Traveling on to the other big hike in the fjord? Read about Kjerag. For the bigger fjord picture across Norway, see the Norwegian fjords guide.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tour fits in.
Pulpit Rock tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide for Pulpit Rock?
No law requires one for the summer trail. A guide is recommended for people with little experience and for winter. A guide mainly helps with route, weather and transport.
How long does a guided Pulpit Rock tour take?
The tours above run from 6 to about 10 hours including transport. The walk itself is about 4 hours for 8 km there and back.
Is the parking fee included?
On the 7-hour guided hike with pick-up, yes. If you drive yourself, parking for a car over 2 hours is NOK 275 (2026).
Can I do a Pulpit Rock tour from a cruise ship?
Yes, one 6-hour tour starts at the cruise terminal in Stavanger. Transport to the meeting point is not included, and no tour guarantees a time back on board, so leave a buffer.
Does the tour include lunch?
Most include a hiking snack, not a meal. The winter tour includes a packed lunch. Bring your own food and water otherwise.
Can I see Pulpit Rock without hiking?
Yes, from a fjord cruise or RIB boat you see the rock from below. You do not stand on the viewpoint.