Pulpit Rock Cruise

Thank goodness I was feeling better because I was so looking forward to our excursion this afternoon. Tim and I had booked a cruise to Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, one of Norway’s iconic destinations.

We boarded our sightseeing boat and set off into the Stavanger archipelago. As we left the archipelago, we entered Lysefjord. Its name (“light fjord”) comes from the lightly colored granite rock rising from the water. The fjord was gorgeous, and we enjoyed gazing at the idyllic islands, old farms, and local wildlife. The scenery was simply stunning.

Our Sightseeing Boat

Beautiful Already

Breathtaking Scenery

Pretty Cabins

The Scenery Just Keeps Getting Better

Getting Ready to Cruise Under the Lysefjord Bridge

A Fjord Formed by Glaciers

Steep Granite Mountains

After disembarking at Helleren for waffles with cream and sweet jam, we reboarded our boat to head farther into the fjord. We soon edged close to land where we were able to observe a family of goats. Apparently, the goats are quite familiar with the boats and come down to greet each one. Why, you might ask? It’s simple – passengers are encouraged to throw food to them. I’m not sure that’s the greatest idea, but the goats were certainly cute!

Yum!

Goats!

It Was Chilly on the Water

We soon came within sight of Pulpit Rock, an incredible rock formation that juts out above the fjord. Pulpit Rock, towering nearly 2,000 feet above the water, is a popular destination for hikers. Although the rock is impressive, what we were able to see from our boat was certainly different from the iconic view on every brochure!

Can You Find Pulpit Rock in the Center Photograph?

The Iconic View of Pulpit Rock on Every Brochure (Photo Courtesy of Fjord,com)

One of the fun parts of our cruise occurred when we sailed directly underneath one of the area’s towering waterfalls. The crew handed out cups so passengers could catch a drink of ice cold, glacier water.  People went out on deck to try their luck and returned inside wet, but laughing!  Even Tim participated in the fun and was successful.

Let's Get a Drink and Get Wet!