Tour of Jotunheimen, Norwegian trekking holiday

Trek Norway's Jotunheimen National Park over 7 days, 5 on the trail, crossing the Besseggen ridge. Bus transfer from Oslo included.

Tour of Jotunheimen, Norwegian trekking holiday - guided hiking tour in norway-jotunheimennationalpark-besseggenridge

Tour Details

Description

A guided circuit of the Jotunheimen region, home to Norway's highest mountains, over 7 days with 5 days of trekking. Starting and finishing at Gjendesheim on Lake Gjende, the route climbs over high passes near Glittertind and Galdhøpiggen, follows remote valleys at Urdalen and Storådalen that see few other walkers, and traces the northern shore of Lake Gjende before finishing with the dramatic, narrow Besseggen ridge. Each evening you'll have time at the lodge to reflect on the day, sort photos, or just sit with the view before dinner. Nights are spent in mountain lodges with dormitory accommodation (private room upgrades available), with breakfasts, evening meals and self-assembled packed lunches included. The trip includes a bus transfer from Oslo to the Gjendesheim trailhead and back. Walking days run up to 9 hours, covering as much as 25km or 1100m of ascent (not both on the same day). Not suitable for children under 16, and 16-17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

Tour Highlights

Itinerary

  1. Arrival and Lake Shore Approach -

    On day 1, you'll need to get yourself to Oslo bus station by midday, so you can either take a flight landing in the morning, or spend the night before in Oslo. We provide a bus ticket from Oslo to Gjendesheim where the trip starts. You can stroll down to Lake Gjende before or after dinner, and enjoy the long northern evening before the trek starts in the morning.

  2. Mountain lakes -

    We climb north from Gjendesheim with views of lake Gjende, before rounding the spur of Veslfjellet to reach the shores of Bessvatnet. From here we descend a little to Russvatnet, the third lake of the day. We'll follow the remote shoreline for a while, before the climb to Hestlægerhøe pass and the final descent to Glitterheim lodge.

  3. The tallest mountains in Norway -

    Today we traverse below Glittertind, once the highest mountain in Norway until its melting summit glacier reduced its height. We'll go over the Veslglupen pass before dropping into the Visdalen valley and our accommodation at Spiterstulen. On the way down we'll get to see the current highest mountain in Norway, Galdhøpiggen, standing ahead of us across the valley.

  4. Remote Valley Walking -

    A long day traversing remote valleys brings us back to Lake Gjende, at the opposite end from our start point at Gjendesheim three days ago. We'll ascend through Visdalen and Urdalen before descending through Storådalen towards Gjendebu, the lodge at the far end of the lake reachable only by boat or on foot.

  5. Lake shores and ridges -

    Day 5 begins with a stroll along the lakeshore for the first few kilometres. The easy ground comes to an abrupt end with a steep climb to reach the Lågtunga plateau. We follow this, then a steep sided ridge, to drop to our lodge at Memurubu on the lakeshore.

  6. The Besseggen Ridge -

    The final day's trek tackles one of the most famous ridge hikes in Norway, the Besseggen ridge. We'll begin with a climb from Memurubu to reach stunning scenery before we even see Besseggen. After passing more mountain lakes, we arrive on the shore of Bessvatnet. This is the lake we passed at the start of the week, but now we're at the other end of it. From here we face the Besseggen itself, a steep, narrow slice of rock high above the lakes to either side. The view is known for the different colours of the two lakes, with blue Bessvatnet to the left and green Gjende to the right. From the top we pass the summit cairn of Veslfjellet before a still technical descent to Gjendesheim.

  7. Departure day -

    Departure day. After breakfast you'll hop on a bus for the four-and-a-half hour ride back to Oslo, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the last views of the Norwegian mountains and reflect on the heights of the last few days.

What's Included

Not Included

Next Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

How difficult is this trek?

This is rated challenging, covering 88 km over 5 trekking days with roughly 3,400 m of elevation gain. You'll need a solid fitness base and some comfort with exposure, since the route includes ridge walks and scrambling.

What kind of terrain should I expect?

The route moves through mountain passes, alpine ridges, and remote valleys, mixing rocky trails and singletrack with lake shores and valley floors. Some sections involve scrambling and scree, so sturdy footing and trekking poles are worth having.

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is Oslo bus terminal, from where the group travels to the Jotunheimen region to begin the trek.

Is prior scrambling experience required?

You don't need technical climbing skills, but the ridge walks and scrambling sections mean you should be comfortable moving over uneven, exposed rocky terrain without hesitation.

How long is each day on the trail?

Over the 5 days you'll cover an average of around 17-18 km daily, with the longest days nearing 25km. The last two days are shorter but more techincal, so you'll tend to move a bit slower.

Will the trail be crowded?

Besseggen itself draws day-hikers from Gjendesheim and Memurubu, so expect company on that final ridge. The rest of the route, including the Urdalen and Storådalen valleys, sees far fewer people, and most of the trip you'll only pass other members of the group.

Related

Why Book With Made to Hike

This tour is led by a certified mountain guide verified through Made to Hike. All guides on the platform hold recognised certifications such as IFMGA, IML, or equivalent local qualifications. Bookings include secure payment processing, a money-back guarantee, and direct communication with your guide before the trip.

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