Booking choice: The guided Kjerag day. Check dates Tour details
Without a car, Kjerag is a logistics puzzle. There is one direct bus, a ferry that takes most of a morning, and a small shuttle that climbs the hairpins from Lysebotn. None of them runs year round to the trailhead, because the road itself is closed in winter.
The 2027 timetables were not out as of 19 October 2026. What follows is the 2026 pattern, which is the best guide to next year, plus the things that will not change.
The quick answer
In 2026 the Go Fjords Kjerag Express left Stavanger bus terminal at 07:45 and came back from Kjerag at 16:30, on weekends in June and September and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in July and August. Tickets are sold online only. 2027 dates are not published yet. The alternative is the Kolumbus ferry to Lysebotn plus a local shuttle, which is slower and needs careful timing.
What was the Kjerag Express bus timetable in 2026?
07:45 from Stavanger bus terminal, 16:30 back from Øygardstøl, about 19:00 into Stavanger. It ran on weekends in June and September, and four days a week in July and August.
The Go Fjords Kjerag Express is the only direct public bus between Stavanger and the trailhead. The drive takes about three hours, so you reach Øygardstøl around 10:15 and have roughly six hours for the hike before the 16:30 departure. Go Fjords says to be at the terminal 15 minutes early. The bus is electric.
Six hours sounds generous. It isn't, quite. The official estimate for the hike is about six hours, and queues for the boulder photo can add an hour on a sunny day. Walk steadily, skip the long lunch, and decide early whether you are waiting in line for the boulder.
| Month (2026 pattern) | Days | Out from Stavanger | Back from Kjerag |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | Saturday, Sunday | 07:45 | 16:30 |
| July | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | 07:45 | 16:30 |
| August | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | 07:45 | 16:30 |
| September | Saturday, Sunday | 07:45 | 16:30 |
| May, October | No bus listed | - | - |
How do I buy Kjerag Express tickets?
Online, in advance, from Go Fjords. Tickets are not sold on the bus.
Go Fjords is clear on this: buy before you board and keep the digital ticket on your phone. One-way and return tickets are sold separately, and seats are limited, so weekend departures in July fill first. If you travel with small children, contact Go Fjords ahead about child seats. We are not quoting a fare here because 2027 prices are not out. Check the current fare on Go Fjords when you book.
Book the bus before you book anything else that depends on it. Missing the 16:30 means a very long, expensive taxi ride, and there is no later departure.
Can I get to Kjerag by ferry and shuttle instead?
Yes, in season: Kolumbus boats run from Lauvvik to Lysebotn, and a local shuttle drives up the hairpins to the trailhead. It takes longer and the shuttle is seasonal.
Fjord Norway lists the Kolumbus route from Lauvvik to Lysebotn all year: the fast passenger boat takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, the car ferry about 2 hours 30 minutes. Timetables and tickets are on Kolumbus, and advance booking is required to guarantee boarding. Lauvvik is a ferry quay on the south side of the fjord, in Sandnes municipality, so you need a way to get there first. Rødne also lists a weekend passenger boat between Stavanger and Lysebotn.
From the quay in Lysebotn you still have 27 hairpins and 900 vertical metres to the trailhead. DNT Stavanger names SBK Base as the operator of the shuttle between Lysebotn and Øygardstøl. SBK Base says it is closed for 2026 and will run from May to October 2027. It does not list times or fares yet.
Our view: the ferry route works best as an overnight trip. Sleep in Lysebotn, ride up in the morning, and you avoid the clock that governs the day bus. That is exactly what the two-day trip does, with Preikestolen thrown in.
| Kjerag Express bus | Ferry + shuttle via Lysebotn | Guided day tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Stavanger bus terminal | Lauvvik (or Stavanger on Rødne days) | Stavanger or Sandnes pickup |
| Season | June to September (2026) | Boat all year; shuttle May to Oct 2027 | Check dates on the listing |
| Time on the trail | About 6 hours | Depends on boat and shuttle times | About 5.5 hours, guided |
| Book through | Go Fjords, online only | Kolumbus and SBK Base, separately | GetYourGuide |
| Best for | Fit, confident hikers | An overnight in Lysebotn | First-timers, weekdays |
When will the 2027 Kjerag Express timetable be published?
Not yet. As of 19 October 2026 Go Fjords had no 2027 dates online. Expect a June to September season again, but wait for the official page.
We could not find a publication date for the 2027 timetable on Go Fjords, Fjord Norway or Visit Norway. The bus only runs while Lysevegen is open, and the road usually reopens in mid to late May, so a June start is likely. Likely is not confirmed. Do not book flights around a Tuesday bus in July until the 2027 calendar is live.
Bookmark the Go Fjords route page and check it from early spring. Our road closing post explains why nothing runs before the road is cleared.
Is the bus or a guided tour better for Kjerag?
The bus is cheaper if you are fit, confident on exposed rock and travelling on a bus day. A guided day costs more and buys flexibility, pickup and a guide on the slabs.
The bus runs on four days a week at best. If your Stavanger dates fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, it is not an option at all. The guided Kjerag day picks up in Stavanger or Sandnes, keeps the group to eight, and the guide sets the pace on the chains. For a private car and guide at your speed, there is the private Kjerag hike.
On the bus you are on your own between 10:15 and 16:30, with a fixed deadline. If you have never hiked on steep, wet granite, that is a lot to manage. Our tour comparison lays out the three guided options.
Pickup in Stavanger or Sandnes, up to eight in the group, and no bus to catch at 16:30.
Explore the guided Kjerag day Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Does the Kjerag Express run every day?
No. In 2026 it ran on Saturdays and Sundays in June and September, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in July and August.
Can I buy Kjerag bus tickets on board?
No. Go Fjords sells tickets online only, in advance. Keep the digital ticket on your phone.
Are the 2027 Kjerag bus dates out?
Not as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 pattern is the best guide, and the road usually reopens in mid to late May, so check the Go Fjords page from spring.
How long do you get at Kjerag on the bus?
About six hours. The bus arrives around 10:15 and leaves Øygardstøl at 16:30, which is roughly the official hiking time with little margin.
Ready to book
Choose your way up
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Check live availability for your date on each listing.
Kjerag Hike with Guide and Transport
- Guide on the trail, max 8 hikers
- Van pickup in Stavanger or Sandnes and back
- Safety briefing before the first climb
Private Kjeragbolten Hike with a Local Guide
- Private guide who also drives
- Pickup and drop-off at your Stavanger accommodation
- Parking and entry fees
Preikestolen and Kjerag in Two Days
- Guided hikes to Preikestolen and Kjerag
- Lysefjord sightseeing cruise
- Night in Lysebotn with a two-course dinner and breakfast
