Lysefjord and Preikestolen RIB Boat Tour Stavanger

The RIB boat and the departure in Stavanger

A RIB is a rigid inflatable boat, and this one is a premium high-speed model designed for fjord conditions. The tour starts at a departure point about a five-minute walk from the Stavanger Cruise Terminal, where you get a safety briefing of around 15 minutes and put on a floating suit, life jacket, goggles and gloves. Equipment is provided in all sizes, and it also keeps you warm and dry in wet weather.

Departures are at midday and in the afternoon, which suits visitors arriving by cruise ship and travellers who prefer a late start. If you are searching for a RIB boat tour in Stavanger, this one lasts two hours in total, with roughly half an hour each way at speed and the rest spent cruising slowly and stopping for photos.

The Lysefjord at speed

The Lysefjord is about 42 kilometres long and famous for steep granite walls that rise close to a thousand metres above the water. From a RIB, you sit low and feel the wind as the boat runs between the cliffs, so the sense of scale is greater than from a large vessel. The skipper slows down at key sights to explain the geology, the last Ice Age that shaped the fjord and the wildlife.

Keep an eye out for seals, porpoises and sea eagles, which sometimes appear along the shoreline. Anyone asking about Lysefjord tours from Stavanger will find that this one is the most adventurous, and that it gets you into the middle of the fjord in less time than a large boat.

Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, from below

Preikestolen is a flat cliff top standing about 600 metres above the Lysefjord, and it is one of the best-known sights in Norway. From the RIB you see the full height of the rock face and the small figures of hikers standing on the edge. The skipper stops so that you can take photos from the water.

Preikestolen from the boat is a very different experience from the hike: you see the whole cliff instead of standing on top of it, and you do not need to climb anything. A Preikestolen boat tour is also popular on days when the trail is wet or crowded, and it fits easily into a cruise-ship day.

Waterfalls, caves and other stops in the fjord

Along the way, the skipper points out Hengjanefossen, a tall waterfall that drops from the cliff into the fjord, and stops for a short photo break. He also tells the story of the Vagabond Cave, known locally as Fantahålå, where outcasts and travellers once found shelter in the cliffs.

These stops last only a few minutes, so keep your camera secured and your gloves on. Personal items such as phones and hats should be fastened, since the boat runs at speed. If you are wondering whether the Lysefjord RIB tour is worth it, the combination of speed and scenery makes it one of the most memorable things to do near Stavanger.