Experience Kongevegen

Experience the world's most beautiful hike on Norway’s first highway for horses and cart

Kongevegen (the King’s Road) is perhaps the world's most beautiful hike, awarded with «Europa Nostra» and «Europa Nostra Grand Prix» as the only one of its kind in Europe, and with the "Beautiful Roads Award"

Kongevegen over Filefjell (the King’s Road across Filefjell) winds from the inland valley of Valdres, over mountain Filefjell and down trough the dramatic Lærdal valley before it ends at the Old Town of Lærdalsøyri by the Sognefjord. The walk takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway.

Kongevegen was the first road for horse and cart between East Norway and West Norway, built from 1789 onwards.

The trail is divided into 13 subsections which each have their own entrances, exits and parking for cars which opens up for both single day walks and multiday walks.

Along the way there are places to stay, places to eat and a long range of attractions and activities such as several stave churches, museums, various cultural landscapes, homesteads, old farms, burial grounds from the Viking age etc. In many ways, you walk through Norwegian history in this landscape. More than half of the 100 km. follows the authentic road from the 1790s or the successor from the 1840s.

You can experience Kongevegen in 2, 3 and 5-day tour packages all year round. Read about the tour packages here. The packages includes everything from accommodation to packed lunch and daily luggage transport. You just go and enjoy.

FAQ Kongevegen (the King’s Road):

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• How long is Kongevegen over Filefjell? It’s 100 km. long and divided into 13 sections of different lengths
• How long does it take to walk the whole way from Vang in Valdres to Lærdalsøyri? You will use from 3 to 6 days, depending on your pace and how much you want to experience along the way. You can easily walk parts of the road in fewer days or do day walks.
• How long are the subsections? They range from 1,7 km. to 12 km.
• Can we walk whole year? Kongevegen is accessible on foot all year round in Lærdal. In Valdres during spring, summer and autumn. And between approximately 10 June and 1 October on mountain Filefjell. In winter, the Filefjell sections are accessible by skiing and snowshoeing
• Can we cycle Kongevegen? The recommended cycle route follows a different route than the original Kongevegen in order to take care of the vulnerable cultural heritage. The road changes in recent years makes the old Highway 16 a very nice cycle route.
• What is the best way to experience Kongevegen? Visit Kongevegen has tour packages that are adapted to reasonable daily walking distances with good places to stay and eat and that give you the best experience. The packages incl. luggage transport, packed lunch and other things for the best experience. Both summer and winter packages are offered. Read more here.