Bondhusvatnet walk: our rainy-day visit from Odda
Bondhusvatnet was one of those places where the grey weather somehow made it even prettier. We walked through the valley with the mountains disappearing into the cloud, then reached the lake and just wanted to stay there. You don't need a huge mountain hike for a beautiful stop here, but I'd still give it more time than a quick photo.
Bondhusvatnet was one of my favourite wet-weather stops on the route. The cloud sat around the mountains and the lake still looked beautiful. It gave us a lovely walk without committing to one of Norway's long summit hikes.
A beautiful walk without a summit climb
That doesn't mean rushing in for a photograph. Leave time for the path, the lake and a slower return if the ground is wet. We combined it with the Hardanger part of our trip, then stayed at Sundal Camping beside Maurangerfjord.
Drive to the parking area, then walk
Use Bondhusdalen's parking area as your driving destination, rather than navigating the campervan to the lake pin. The official Bondhusvatnet visitor page describes approximately 2.5 kilometres each way and around 45–60 minutes to reach the lake. That is the useful planning reference; our own pace isn't a promise for yours.
Our September 2026 parking record was 125 NOK for the vehicle. Treat that as what we paid, not a current tariff, and check the sign and payment instructions when you arrive.
The valley was part of the visit
I loved the approach as well as the lake. Walking through the valley with the mountains disappearing into cloud made the whole place feel very different from a sunny postcard. Our photos beside the water and stream are some of my favourites from this part of Norway.
Take shoes you are happy to walk in on wet ground, a waterproof layer and something warm for when you stop. A shorter walk still becomes much less enjoyable if you are cold and damp before you get there.
At the lake
This is somewhere I'd give myself time to sit and look around. The water, the little boat in our photographs and the mountains behind it were enough. You don't need to turn the visit into a much bigger hike to make it worthwhile.
The visitor guidance identifies the lake as drinking water, so this is not a swimming recommendation. Keep to the signed access, take rubbish back out and leave the place as you found it. Check the official guidance for any changes before your visit.
Food and the next overnight stop
Vik Bakeri in Eidfjord was a pastry-and-coffee stop on the Hardanger part of our drive. It belongs in the broader route, rather than being presented as a café at the Bondhusvatnet trailhead. Plan food before you park so you can enjoy the walk without needing to hurry back hungry.
After the walk, we stayed at Sundal Camping in Sunndal, beside Maurangerfjord. We visited Låtefossen and Café Rose in Odda the next day before continuing towards Undredal. Our full campsite article lists every overnight stop, and the itinerary puts this walk into the wider loop.
Plan the rest of your Norway trip
Get our Norway Fjords guide for the web guide, downloadable PDF, place map and editable itinerary. Read these next:
Watch our Norway road trip
Watch our Norway road trip on YouTube, 68m46s. It is also our latest public full-length upload at publication. Visit Ellen’s YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Bondhusvatnet walk?
The official visitor page describes about 2.5 kilometres each way and 45–60 minutes to reach the lake.
Can you swim in Bondhusvatnet?
No. The official visitor guidance says the lake is used as drinking water and swimming is not permitted.
