A private fjord tour from Stavanger offers far more than a fixed route or checklist of stops.
Each tour is shaped by the weather, the season, and your interests, allowing us to slow down, explore quietly, and focus on learning, presence, and genuine connection with Norway’s coastal landscape.
Many of the experiences on our private fjord tours are well suited for families with children (marked 👶), and activities are always adapted to age, interests, and conditions.
This page gives an overview of the experiences that may be included on a private fjord tour in the Stavanger region.
What You Can Experience on a Private Fjord Tour in Stavanger
Available on all private fjord tours
Core Fjord Experience
● ● ● Core Fjord Experience ● ● ●
Scenic cruising through calm, sheltered coastal waters forms the foundation of every private fjord tour. We explore islands, skerries, and narrow channels just outside Stavanger at a relaxed pace, allowing time to observe details, shifting light, and the character of the coastal landscape.
The emphasis is always on quality of experience and presence on the water. Whether the route is shorter or extended, we travel at a calm pace and adjust the journey along the way to make the most of scenery, conditions, and moments worth slowing down for.
Scenic Cruising & Landscape
Throughout the tour, guiding and storytelling are naturally woven into the experience. As we move through the fjord landscape, we talk about how ice, water, and time have shaped the coastline, and how people have lived along the shore for generations.
Stories and explanations are always connected to what we see around us - the shape of the land, the islands, and the sheltered waters - offering a relaxed and accessible introduction to Norway’s coastal history and way of life.
Coastal History, Geology and Storytelling
The sheltered fjord environment offers good opportunities to observe seabirds and coastal wildlife. Depending on season and conditions, we may encounter seabirds, seals, or occasionally porpoises. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but we always move calmly and respectfully to increase the chances of natural encounters.
Encounters often happen quietly and unexpectedly - a bird lifting off from the shoreline, seals resting on skerries, or porpoises surfacing briefly nearby. Because the tour is private, we can slow down, adjust our position, and spend time observing without pressure or disturbance, creating space for more natural and respectful wildlife experiences.
Wildlife Observation and Seabirds 👶
Swimming in Calm Fjord Waters 👶
During warmer months and in calm conditions, guests may choose to swim in sheltered fjord waters. The water is cold, even in summer, and stepping into the Norwegian fjord is a refreshing challenge that many guests remember long after the tour.
Some choose a quick dip straight from the boat, while others prefer entering the water from shore or shallow areas during a short landing. Swimming is always optional and adapted to conditions, allowing guests to experience the fjord in a way that feels both safe and personal.
Exploring Small, Uninhabited Islets and Skerries 👶
Many parts of the fjord area around Stavanger are made up of small, uninhabited islets and skerries that are rarely visited by larger boats. These quiet places offer a strong sense of presence and a chance to experience the coastline up close.
Depending on the location and conditions, we may encounter small beaches, grazing animals such as goats, or other details of island life that are easy to miss when passing by at speed. The focus is on slow exploration and curiosity, rather than fixed activities or destinations.
● ● ● A Calm, Unhurried Pace ● ● ●
Available on all private fjord tours
A Calm, Unhurried Pace
Quiet Moments to Slow Down and Enjoy the Fjord
Time to slow down, sit back, and simply enjoy the scenery is always part of the experience. On a private fjord tour, there is no fixed schedule pushing the journey forward, allowing space for quiet moments, conversation, and presence on the water.
At the same time, the tour is actively shaped around your interests - whether you want to explore, learn, stop along the way, or simply enjoy the fjord at a calm pace. This balance between flexibility and intention is not possible on standard or shared fjord tours, where routes and timing are predefined.
Extended Scenic Cruising & Photography Stops
On longer private fjord tours, there is time to slow down at selected scenic locations for quiet observation, photography, or simply taking in the surroundings. We may pause near cliffs, islands, or open fjord stretches when light, weather, and conditions come together.
These stops are not planned in advance, but chosen in the moment, allowing the experience to adapt naturally to what feels most meaningful on the day - whether that is capturing a photograph or simply enjoying the stillness of the fjord.
Best suited for 5–7 hour tours
Shore-Based & Hands-On Experiences
● ● ● Shore-Based & Hands-On Experiences ● ● ●
When weather and conditions allow, we may go ashore on beaches, small islands, or quiet stretches of coastline. The time spent on land is adapted to your interests - whether you want a brief walk, time to explore, or simply to step ashore and experience the fjord landscape up close.
On some islands, this may include encountering grazing animals such as goats or sheep, offering a small but authentic glimpse into traditional island life shaped by simple use of the land.
Going ashore adds a different dimension to the fjord experience, combining time on the water with simple exploration on land. It allows guests to experience Norway’s coastal landscape from both perspectives - by boat and on foot - in a calm and unhurried way.
Short Shore Landings and Island Exploration 👶
A hands-on shoreline activity where guests - especially children - explore the shallow shoreline in search of small crabs and sea creatures hiding under stones and along the water’s edge. This is a playful and engaging way to discover marine life up close.
Children often enjoy collecting what they find in a bucket to create a small, temporary “aquarium,” observing the crabs, feeding them gently by hand, and learning through curiosity and interaction. The activity is relaxed, safe, and adapted to age, interests, and conditions.
Searching for crabs is not about catching as much as possible, but about discovery, attention, and simple moments that many children remember as a highlight of the tour.
Searching for Crabs Along the Shore 👶
On a small island along the fjord, it is possible to visit one of Northern Europe’s largest known concentrations of ancient rock carvings, created more than 2,000–3,000 years ago.
Along a short coastal stretch, hundreds of figures are carved directly into the rock - including ships, human figures, animals, footprints, sun symbols, and circular patterns. Many of the carvings are deeply etched, making them surprisingly easy to see even today.
Seeing these carvings in their original coastal setting, close to the water they once depended on, offers a rare and tangible connection between today’s fjord landscape and thousands of years of human history.
Discovering Ancient Rock Carvings
In calm, sheltered areas near shore - or from a small pier - guests can enjoy simple and playful fishing that is almost guaranteed to result in a catch. Fishing often takes place where it is possible to see the fish below the surface, watch them approach the bait, and observe the moment they bite.
We use small hooks baited with natural shoreline bait, keeping the activity hands-on and easy to understand. Children often enjoy observing their catch in a bucket before everything is released again.
This is a relaxed, safe, and highly engaging activity - especially popular with children, but also enjoyable for curious and playful adults.
Light Fishing Near Shore 👶
On longer tours, we may pull crab traps that have been placed earlier, offering a hands-on look at life on the seabed. The traps most often contain crabs, creating excitement as they are brought up and examined.
The focus is on discovery and learning - observing the crabs up close, talking about how they live, and then returning them safely to the sea. On selected tours, and only when it fits naturally, some crabs may be kept and later used as part of a simple shore-based cooking experience.
This is a calm, tactile activity that appeals to both children and curious adults.
Pulling Crab Traps and Discovering Marine Life 👶
Best suited for 5–7 hour tours
Signature Extended Experiences
● ● ● Signature Extended Experiences ● ● ●
On selected longer tours, it may be possible to visit a small island garden located right by the sea, with open views across the fjord. The garden reflects everyday island life, shaped by coastal conditions and seasons.
Depending on the time of year, guests may taste fresh berries or fruit, enjoy homemade juice, and experience a peaceful garden filled with flowers and small details that give a sense of life along the fjord. The setting is calm and informal, offering a gentle contrast to time spent on the water.
The garden is located close to ancient rock carvings on the same island, allowing natural connections between coastal nature, local life, and long human history.
Visiting an Island Garden 👶
On longer private fjord tours, guests can choose to extend the route into the Lysefjord and experience Norway’s most famous fjord landscape from the water - at a calm, unhurried pace.
Cruising beneath steep rock walls and dramatic cliffs offers a completely different perspective than hiking or fast-paced sightseeing. From the fjord, you can see iconic landmarks such as Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) rising high above the water, while learning about the geology, scale, and natural forces that shaped the Lysefjord.
Along the way, the route may also pass well-known Lysefjord highlights such as Fantahålå (the Vagabond’s Cave), Whiskey Falls, steep hanging valleys, and narrow fjord sections framed by towering cliffs - sights often visited on shared RIB tours, but here experienced privately, quietly, and with time to observe.
Entering the Lysefjord is a natural choice on many longer tours and is adjusted to weather, sea conditions, and your interests, ensuring a safe and meaningful experience without rushing.
Entering the Lysefjord and Viewing Pulpit Rock
On selected longer private fjord tours, guests can visit a small island with a seaside sauna and experience a very Norwegian way of enjoying nature - combining heat, cold water, and calm surroundings.
Here, guests can relax in the sauna and step directly into the fjord for refreshing cold-water swims, enjoying the contrast between warmth and cold at their own pace. The setting is quiet and scenic, with time to slow down and simply be present.
This experience is optional and unhurried, focusing on relaxation rather than performance. Use of the sauna depends on availability and conditions and is best suited for guests who enjoy slow, immersive experiences.
Island Sauna and Cold Water Swimming
On selected longer tours, it is possible to land on an island and take a short but steep hike to a viewpoint with wide views across large parts of the Ryfylke region.
The hike is brief but highly rewarding, offering expansive fjord views and a strong sense of scale in a compact amount of time. Along the way, it is common to encounter free-roaming cows and sheep, adding a natural and distinctly Norwegian character to the experience.
The focus is not on distance or performance, but on gaining perspective and enjoying the landscape from above. The hike is always adapted to the group’s fitness level, weather, and available time, and is only included when conditions are suitable.
Short Island Hike with Panoramic Views 👶
On selected longer tours, it may be possible to enjoy simple shore-based cooking or warm drinks in calm, scenic surroundings. Depending on conditions and preferences, this can take place on a small islet with an open fire, in an island garden with a grill, or in a small boathouse by the water.
The focus is on simplicity and atmosphere rather than a full meal - preparing food together over an open fire, grilling locally sourced ingredients, or boiling crabs when it fits naturally into the experience. Warm drinks are often enjoyed alongside the fire, adding comfort and a sense of pause.
This experience pairs especially well with hands-on activities such as searching for crabs or pulling crab traps, creating a natural flow from discovery to preparation and shared moments on shore.
Simple Shore Cooking or Warm Drinks 👶
On selected longer private fjord tours, guests with an interest in history can choose to visit Utstein Monastery, Norway’s only preserved medieval monastery, located on a small island just north of Stavanger.
Approaching the monastery from the water offers a calm and scenic perspective. When conditions and time allow, it is possible to go ashore and explore the monastery grounds.
Dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, Utstein was originally part of a royal estate before becoming a religious centre. Visiting the monastery provides insight into medieval coastal life and offers a quiet cultural contrast to the surrounding fjord landscape.
Visiting Utstein Monastery from the Fjord
In certain seasons, private fjord tours can be scheduled during the early morning or evening hours, allowing guests to experience the fjord in soft, low-angle light - whether in the calm of early morning or near sunset.
At these times of day, colours are warmer, the water is often calmer, and the fjord feels quieter and more intimate than during midday. This creates ideal conditions for photography, observation, and simply enjoying the scenery at a relaxed pace. Experiences like this are not possible on shared or fixed-schedule tours, and are one of the key advantages of travelling privately.
The exact timing and route are adapted to the season, weather, and your preferences, ensuring a calm and unhurried fjord experience without fixed departure times.
Morning & Evening Fjord Experience
Shorter private fjord tours focus on calm exploration, scenic cruising, and highlights.
Longer tours allow more flexibility, shore landings, hands-on activities, and deeper exploration.
All experiences are optional, flexible, and adjusted along the way. Nothing is fixed, and the focus is always on what feels right for the group on the day.
The experience is never rushed, and the route and pace are always adapted to weather, sea conditions, and your interests.