Hike Oygardstol to Langavatn via Kjerag

Start: The hike starts at oygardsstol Kjerag Panoramic Restaurant which is located on top of the hairpin bends up from Lysebotn. There is a separate fee paying carpark and toilets designed for hikers. Description: The route starts at Kjerag Panoramic Restaurant/oygardstol. You have to scale three mountain summits before you reach Kjerag, the day's first milestone. The trip starts with a steep 30 minute climb on bare rock upto a summit of 825 metres. from the summit follow mountain ridge some distance heading down to a small valley stream at an altitude of approx 750 meters. Here begins the second climb to Kjerag, which takes you up to about 870 meters above sea level. This climb is slightly more demanding than the firs and you must allow 30 minutes for the climb to the summit. Head down the mountain and cross another stream valley. Now, the last and longest ascent up to Kjerag awauts!!!! The path is on bare rock but there are chain fences along the edge of the mountain. The higher you climb the better the view so allow a goof half an hour on this ascent. The terrain flattens out on the summit and it is an easy walk across the 1.5 km plateau. At the end of the plateau cross the crevice before you reach the cairn at the Nesatindane which shows the way to Kjeragbolten. From here it takes approx 3 minutes to walk to Kjeragbolten sitting wedged between two approximately 1000 metre high mountains straight up from the Lysefjord. If you are feeling brave, take a step out on to the stone. kjerag has for a long time been a major attraction for both climbers and base jumpers. If you are really lucky you may even see a base jump being made from one of the jump points near the Kjeragbolt, and if you haven't already had goosebumps on the walk, you're guaranteed to get them now!! The second part of the walk is from Mount Kjerag to Langavatn lake. Walk back to the cairn at Nesatindane and follow the signs to Langavatn. The path runs south-easterly up the mountain, parallel to the gorge down to Kjeragbolten. You come to a peak of 1075 meters before turning down to the lush valley stream - the same one that you crossed earlier in the day to get to Kjeragbolten. When you have descended the mountain, you come to a path intersection by a stream follow the left side of the stream and head up to the top of the U-valley. Here you come to another waymarked path intersection. You must turn 90 degrees to the left and climb up a steep slope. Allow 10 minutes for this ascent. At the top you have a nice view over the rugged mountains. The route continues over the summit at 1143 metres to the south-east. Head for the prominent cairn on the summit. It may be a good idea to set your compass to find your way from the cairn on top as everything looks very alike here. Allow a good hour over the mountain plateau then begin your descent to Langavatn Turishytte. For a detailed description including maps and information etc buy the guidebook 'Hiking in Sirdal' which includes Kjerag and Sirdals Seven Summits