Lysebotn Transportation

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The best and safest way to get to Lysebotn is by boat. You can take a speedy passenger boat from Stavanger all the year round apparently, but not every day it seems as it did not come there that Saturday. We wouldn't have taken it anyway, having the car with us and wanting to enjoy the fjord and not just speed through it. We took a car ferry instead but, not too keen on visiting Stavanger (we had made no reservations and it was a Saturday night), got off at Forsand and took road 13 up north. Forsand is also the place you should get off at if you want to go hiking on Preikestolen. Tell the men selling tickets you want to get off there and they will put your car at the front of the car deck. The boat trip is extremely expensive - 505 NOK one way for two people + car to Forsand, that is, only part of the way.
It was funny to be told we should look forward to a most enjoyable trip as there were celebrities on board. We did not need celebrities to enjoy it, the scenery was more than enough. In case you are curious who they were, I must disappoint you. I wouldn't have known even if they were there. I met a young English family instead and had a nice talk with the girl but she said they were not celebrities.
BTW, booking in advance was not necessary, whatever the notices say. Perhaps in the high season but not in the second fortnight of August. The car ferry leaves Lysebotn at 3 pm., but be at the port before 2 pm, when it arrives. The service runs only in the summer.

One of the two ways of reaching Lysebotn is driving to the valley of Sirdal and taking the exit at Adneram. However, it is important to know in advance what you are letting yourself in for if that is your plan. The distance is 34 km, down down down a serpentine road on the verge of a precipice most of the time. The road is extremely narrow - one lane only but it is not a one-way road. The cars use every little space they can find when they pass each other. There is not much traffic but not enough space for lorries or caravans. I wonder how buses manage to negotiate it, Norwegian bus drivers are unbelievably skilful but I am glad we did not meet a bus on our way. Stop at the Kjerag to admire the scenery of the fjord from the height of 1000 m. The last part of the journey is particularly stressful - the road drops over 800 m within just a few kilometres. The views are great all the time but just looking down requires considerable courage. Finally, the road spirals 360 degrees in a tunnel inside the mountain to emerge into daylight at the bottom of the valley. Now is the time to get on the ferry or find somewhere to spend the night - the very thought of going back the same way, and there is no other, can make your hair stand on end.
BTW, the road is closed for the winter, starting with October.

In the summer you can take an organised tour Stavanger - Lysebotn - Stavanger. The ferry takes you for the scenic trip along the Lysefjord and then a coach awaits you at Lysebotn to take you back to Stavanger. You must remember, however, that the drive up the Lysebotn road - the famous Lysebotnvegen - is not for the faint-hearted or those who are afraid of heights. The bus goes up a narrow steep winding road with precipices on both sides at places and hardly any barriers.