Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion, Bergen

4.6 (8 reviews)
Paddle through a sheltered archipelago waters to explore tiny islets and spot coastal wildlife.
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Lara
Lara N.
Aug 23, 2025
Our favorite experience, despite how cold and soaking wet we were when it was over. The guide provides a lot of additional rain and weather gear... Read more
Grace
Grace S.
Jun 04, 2025
We loved this tour. Johan was a fabulous tour guide. Definitely one of our favorite acitivities!
Joe
Joe O.
Jun 19, 2024
One of the best activities of our trip - Lena is the best guide ever.
Joshua
Joshua R.
May 22, 2024
Really appreciated the kayak trip. The scenery was great and the trip leaders were terrific!
Linda
Linda S.
Sep 08, 2023
Our guide picked us up in downtown Bergen. We were a group of 6. The location was spectacular and the equipment was clean and in excellent... Read more
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Overview

Discover the coastal wildlife and rocky islets of the Øygarden archipelago on this guided kayak excursion that sets off from Bergen. It begins with a convenient city pickup and a short transfer to the launch point, where you'll get familiar with your kayak and take to the water. Learn about the region's rich traditions and natural history from your engaging guide, and spot wildlife like white-tailed eagles and otters as you paddle between windswept skerries and heather-clad islands. With stable double kayaks, a leisurely pace, and a break for a traditional snack, this scenic experience is suitable for all experience levels.

Highlights

  • Discover local cultural and natural history from knowledgeable guides
  • Spot diverse coastal wildlife, including the chance to see white-tailed eagles
  • Paddle through serene waters in stable double kayaks suitable for beginners
  • Break for a traditional snack of flatbread and local apple juice

Know before you go

Duration
4h 30m
Recommended for
8 years old & up
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
Small snack of traditional Norwegian flatbread and local apple juice

What you'll do

You'll begin this adventure by meeting your guide outside the Bergen tourist information center at Strankaien 3 and taking a 25-minute scenic transfer to the launch point. After a brief orientation and safety instructions, take your time getting comfortable in your stable double kayaks before setting off for roughly three hours of paddling around the sheltered waters and tiny islets of the Øygarden archipelago. This string of over 550 heather-clad islands and rocky skerries lies just northwest of Bergen, dotted with traditional villages and filled with diverse wildlife and unspoiled nature.

As you explore, your guide will share fascinating stories about the local culture and natural history, and help you spot the archipelago's plentiful wildlife. This coastal region is considered one of the country's premier bird-watching destinations, and you'll have a good chance of spying soaring white-tailed eagles alongside over 200 other species of ducks, gulls, and other seabirds. If you're lucky, you might also catch harbour seals basking on the rocky skerries, or glimpse darting otters in the waters around your kayaks.

Midway through your excursion, you'll stop on a tiny island for a well-deserved break, including a small snack of traditional Norwegian lefse (flatbread) and apple juice from a nearby farm. The kayaking wraps up back at the launch point, where you'll be transported back to the Bergen tourist information center. 

Start times

  • Daily
    9:00 am, 1:30 pm

What's included

  • A qualified kayaking guide
  • Kayaking equipment
  • Small snack and a drink

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

8 total ratings, 8 with reviews
4.6
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Food
4.7
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.7
Transport
4.7
R
Ryan W.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2026
Our guides were great and the experience was worth it. There were a bunch of oil rigs in the area there for cleaning or repairs or something that distracted from the beauty a little bit. Our guides for this excursion, especially Simon, were particularly good. Read more

Our guides were great and the experience was worth it. There were a bunch of oil rigs in the area there for cleaning or repairs or something that distracted from the beauty a little bit. Our guides for this excursion, especially Simon, were particularly good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Anne
Anne H.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2025

it was a lovely day, but it was not a unique Norway experience.

Tips for future travelers

I would rather have kayak in Geiringer

Lara
Lara N.
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025
Our favorite experience, despite how cold and soaking wet we were when it was over. The guide provides a lot of additional rain and weather gear and we highly recommend taking them up on every single option they give you. YOU WILL BE WET. That being said, had so much fun spotting unique wildlife and the lunch (we had after, not during because of rain) was so delicious and felt like a genuine Norwegian experience. Read more

Our favorite experience, despite how cold and soaking wet we were when it was over. The guide provides a lot of additional rain and weather gear and we highly recommend taking them up on every single option they give you. YOU WILL BE WET. That being said, had so much fun spotting unique wildlife and the lunch (we had after, not during because of rain) was so delicious and felt like a genuine Norwegian experience.

Tips for future travelers

Accept the wet weather gear they provide AND wear whatever you brought. The more clothes. the less wet you may be.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Grace
Grace S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jun 04, 2025
We loved this tour. Johan was a fabulous tour guide. Definitely one of our favorite acitivities! Read more

We loved this tour. Johan was a fabulous tour guide. Definitely one of our favorite acitivities!

Quality of Experience
Great tour guide, descriptions of scenery, beautiful
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fabulous. Very knowledge and fun
Transport
Joe
Joe O.
Southport, NC | Reviewed on Jun 19, 2024
One of the best activities of our trip - Lena is the best guide ever. Read more

One of the best activities of our trip - Lena is the best guide ever.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Betty
Betty M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2024
Leisurely kayaking around low lying islands. Nothing strenuous.
Guide was friendly and informative. Lunch was very good. One of the local fisherman cooked up a fresh fish meal. Yum! Read more

Leisurely kayaking around low lying islands. Nothing strenuous.
Guide was friendly and informative. Lunch was very good. One of the local fisherman cooked up a fresh fish meal. Yum!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Joshua
Joshua R.
Petaluma, CA | Reviewed on May 22, 2024
Really appreciated the kayak trip. The scenery was great and the trip leaders were terrific! Read more

Really appreciated the kayak trip. The scenery was great and the trip leaders were terrific!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Linda
Linda S.
Greensboro, NC | Reviewed on Sep 08, 2023
Our guide picked us up in downtown Bergen. We were a group of 6. The location was spectacular and the equipment was clean and in excellent condition. We enjoyed a delicious and simple lunch on a tiny island and just had a great time exploring nature. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, nature, weather and more. Read more

Our guide picked us up in downtown Bergen. We were a group of 6. The location was spectacular and the equipment was clean and in excellent condition. We enjoyed a delicious and simple lunch on a tiny island and just had a great time exploring nature. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, nature, weather and more.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

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