From £1,119 per person (excluding flights)
This is based on two people sharing a room for 5 nights with breakfast, dinner and packed lunches, bus transfers from/to Oslo, luggage transfer, boat cruise, storytelling at Fondsbu and Gjendebu and a tour description with maps.
This roughly converts to 1,332 EUR | 1,444 USD
Departure days: This is a set 5-night tour, but has flexible arrival days from the end of June to end of August.
From Oslo bus station, take the NW161 (Valdresekspressen) at 08.30am to Bygdin, at the foot of the Jotunheimen mountain range (journey time approximately 4 hours 15 minutes).
From here you will join a boat cruise on the historical MB Bitihorn, taking you on a lovely trip across the lake to Eidsbugarden, where you alight and walk the short distance to the accommodation at Fondsbu DNT.
You will meet your host here for the night, who will take you to the historic site Vinjebue and give you an insight into how the famous Norwegian poet and author Aasmund Olavson Vinje ended up here, his fascinating life path and connection to the area.
Fondsbu DNT Cabin
Fondsbu Cabin is a true mountain hiker's highlight with a cosy and homely atmosphere. Situated at the end of Lake Bygdin, it is a great base to explore the region on good terrain and provides a warm welcome at the end of an active day. Enjoy warming up in front of the fireplace and the homely cooked meals. Accommodation is in bunk rooms with shared bathroom facilities.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast to get you ready for the day’s hike. From the breakfast table you can pack your own lunch items and fill your flasks with hot drinks. Today’s hike follows the northern part of Bygdin lake for most of the duration. The word Bygdin comes from the old Norwegian “bugr” which means a bend, as can be seen by the shape of the lake. Enjoy the lake views before negotiating an incline, then heading to Torfinnsbu, your destination for the night. The hiking distance today is 21km, taking 7-9 hours.
Torfinnsbu DNT - self-service cabinThis is a small self-service cabin with just 30 beds. The cabin is located at the entrance to Svartdalen “the black valley” and offers basic dorm style accommodation. These self-service cabins are equipped with everything needed for cooking and sleeping, including firewood, kitchen utensils, bunks with duvets and pillows, and are stocked with provisions for dinner, breakfast and packed lunches. In the high season, some cabins have wardens to assist hikers.
Get prepared for another epic day of hiking, this time you’ll wander through Svartdalen, quite often referred to as Jotunheimen’s most beautiful valley with high peaks and glaciers. Stop to breathe in the crisp mountain air and enjoy the spectacular views. This is a challenging hike since the trail is quite rocky in places. Towards the end, a steep downhill awaits, so please be careful in wet conditions. The hike takes you to Gjendebu DNT Cabin, the oldest tourist cabin in the area. The facilities are rustic but comfortable. Today’s distance is 14km, taking 5-6 hours.
Gjendebu DNT CabinLocated at the end of Lake Gjende in the southern area of Jotunheimen National Park, Gjendebu is the oldest of Norway’s Tourist cabins, dating back to 1871. Over the years it has been refurbished and extended to provide modern facilities for its guests. Rooms quite often have bunk beds which is common in these mountain cabins, and bathroom facilities are shared.
Today’s hike takes you along Gjende Lake before it leads you up to an exposed ridge with beautiful views over the mountains and lake, then down Bukkelaegret, with steep downhill sections towards Memurudalen, where you’ll find the next accommodation. In the past, farmers used the trails to move their cattle, sheep and goats over the mountains to grazing areas. The hiking distance today is 11km, taking 5 hours.
Memurubu Mountain LodgeWith a beautiful and sheltered location at the mouth of the river Muru, on Lake Gjende, Memurubu sits at the foot of the famous Besseggen and is a great base for hiking in the area. The Lodge has a cosy atmosphere and more like a hotel than some of the other DNT cabins. Accommodation here is based on private rooms with a bathroom. It has a restaurant serving three-course meals using local ingredients and a buffet breakfast so guests can make a packed lunch.
The last few days have been building you up for one of Norway’s most iconic hikes to Besseggen with an elevation of 1132 metres. From the narrow ridge at the top there is a fantastic view of the majestic Jotunheimen, with the green waters of Gjende lake 400 metres below on one side, and the deep blue Bessvatnet Lake on the other. After such a challenging hike, this is an experience you’ll never forget! The distance covers 14 km, taking 6-8 hours and ends at Gjendesheim for your last overnight stay.
Gjendesheim DNT CabinDating back to 1878, Gjendesheim has a long history offering accommodation to hikers and mountain folk. Situated next to lake Gjende, it has a total of 180 beds split between dorm style rooms and private rooms for 2-4 guests, and offers a welcome stay for hikers before and after facing Besseggen ridge and one of the most popular mountain lodges in the national park. The restaurant is open daily between 18.00-20.00 and serves meals based on local traditions using locally produced food.
The mountain adventure ends today with your final transportation by bus transfer back to Oslo centre, taking approximately 4 hours. It is also possible to travel to Bergen by bus transfer as an additional supplement. Please ask for details.
The accommodation will mainly be based in DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) Mountain Cabins which are very typical across Norway and offer a basic style of accommodation, some with shared bathroom facilities.
It is important to be prepared and dress appropriately for the mountain conditions. We recommend wearing suitable hiking boots, warm and waterproof clothing.Your luggage is transported between the different accommodations, so you will only need a daypack to use while hiking.
All meals are provided on the tour. It is common on these trips to make a packed lunch from the breakfast selection.The walking routes are well signposted, but you will receive maps and gpx files with detailed information.
