Hut-to-Hut Hike in Heart of Norway
Aurlands Valley and Jotunheimen National Park
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: Central Norway
- Length: 13 days
- Grade: Strenuous with some strenuous plus
- Accommodations: Mountain huts and hotels
- Group size: 5 – 12
- Dates: July 11– 23, 2010
- Land Cost (US$): $3,150
Hiking Trip Summary
Equal parts stunning seascapes and wild landscapes, Norway has given rise to a country of seafarers and land lovers. Nowhere does the love of the outdoors and a passion for hiking thrive more than here. Hiking along classic routes through celebrated hiking areas, we hope to capture as much of the essence of Norway as possible in this 13 day trip.
From Oslo, we will travel west by railway to the highest stop on the Oslo–Bergen line, Finse. Descending at this isolated outpost, we will begin our hike through the Aurlandsdalen. Almost certainly used by the Vikings and later by medieval cattle and horse drovers, this 3 day route follows an ancient east-west thoroughfare to the shores of the Aurlandsfjord. Until 1970, it was only possible to travel down this valley on foot. The valley still retains a wild feel, and the route ranks as one of Norway’s most beautiful and classic hikes. Arriving in the village of Aurland, we’ll then transfer by ferry and bus to the very eastern end of the Sognefjord, to begin our hike through the Jotunheimen Nasjonalpark (“Home of Giants”).
The Jotunheimen encompasses an amazing concentration of high peaks for the 3900 square kilometers that it covers. Within its boundaries lie Norway and Northern Europe’s two highest peaks, Galdhopiggen (8,148′) and Glittertind (8,131′). This is a landscape of sharp summits and heaving glaciers towering high above river valleys and lake-studded plateaus. There are no public roads into the interior area of the park and it is only accessible to visitors on skis or on foot. Our route across the southern section of the park will be highlighted by a two day traverse along the famously beautiful Lake Gjende, considered by UNESCO to be one of the worlds most important lakes.
We will end our trip in the vibrant city of Oslo.
Itinerary
Day 1: Independent travel to the hotel in Lillehammer. Orientation and welcome dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Finse arriving in the late afternoon.
Day 3: Hike from Finse to Geiterygghytta. Today we begin our 3 day hike through the narrow and wild valley of Aurlandsdal following the final miles of an ancient thoroughfare that connected western and eastern Norway.
Day 4: Our route begins with a climb up the slope of the Sundhellerskarvet, passing below its imposing peak. Scrambling over rocky outcroppings and wandering through birch groves, we’ll have views of the waterfall from the River Grona before arriving at Osterbo and our hut.
Day 5: We leave the hut following the river downstream. Views across to the opposite bank reveal plunging streams and towering cliffs. Further down the trail a short detour will bring us to Vetlahelvete (Little Hell Cave), a domed water-filled cave lit through a narrow opening at its top. As we descend to the river, huge rock walls will tower above us as the river rushes wildly below us.
Day 6: Ferry from Aurland to Skjolden. Bus to Sognefjellshytta. We’ll have the morning free to relax or explore the village. Aurland is the site of Vangen Church, a medieval stone church built in 1202.
We will travel along the shores of the Lustrafjord on Highway 55, Norway’s highest mountain road, which twists its way up to a high mountain plateau offering stunning views of the Jotunheimen’s icy peaks to the east. We should arrive at Sognefjellshytta in the early evening.
Day 7: From Sognefjellshytta, we follow the valley of Helgedalen along the river up to the Skautehaugane. Crossing between the lakes of Skautevatnet and Illvatnet we will make our way to Keiserpasset. We’ll have fine views of the glacier Gjertvassbreen and the peaks of Styggedalstindane and Gjertvasstind as we descend through the lovely valley of Gjertvassdalen along its raging river.
Day 8: Hike to Olavsbu. Leaving Skogadalsboen, we’ll retrace our steps down through the birch woods. Following along the Storutla River, we will hike up the valley until our route diverges to east and we enter the valley of Raudalen. With the peak of Raudalstindane coming into view, we will follow a chain of small lakes until we reach the larger lake of Raudalsvatnet. After hiking along the shore, we continue up stream to Olavsbu where we will spend the night.
Day 9: Leaving Olavsbu we will continue to make our way through the quiet lake-laced valley of Raudalen, dominated to north by Raudalsegga and to the south by Sjogholstind. As we turn northeast and descend through the valley of Vesleadalen we’ll have fine views of Lake Gjende below us. Eighteen kilometers long, this glacial fed lake is wonderfully green in color.
Day 10: Gjendebu to Memurubu. This is one of the finest hikes in the Jotunheimen. Along with fine views of the lake, we should see many of the glaciers and peaks of the Jotunheimen. A 30 minute hike along the lakeshore brings us to the start of our ascent. This is a steep, rocky section of trail with “rope and fences at more exposed places”, but once the top of the climb is reached the views are expansive. To the east, we’ll see tomorrow’s route over the Besseggen Ridge. We pass several mountain lakes along the Lagtunga ridge, before descending to our lakeside hut.
Day 11: Hike to Gjendesheim. The last hike of our journey across the southern Jotunheimen is one of Norway’s most well known walks made famous with the help of Henrik Ibsen’s poem, Peer Gynt. In the poem, Peer Gynt rides wildly across the Besseggen Ridge on the back of a reindeer before tumbling into the lake. (Optional activity.)
The views on this route are “staggering” as it traverses 400 meters (1,320′) above Lake Gjende. There is a shorter route from Memurubu to Gjendesheim and a ferry as well.
Day 12: Transfer to Lillehammer. We will depart Gjendesheim in the morning by private bus to Oslo. We will arrive in Lillehammer early evening. Farewell dinner followed by a spelling bee of Norwegian place names.
Day 13: Depart Oslo. The tour will end with breakfast at the hotel.
Additional Information
Included
All accommodations, all breakfasts, all lunches except two, all dinners, all group transportation as described in the itinerary, guides, great hiking and wonderful memories!
Not Included
Airfare, optional/individual transfers or excursions, two lunches, items not on set dinner menu, beverages, personal items, tips to guides.
Luggage
This hike is not vehicle supported. You will need to carry a moderate sized pack with only the clothing and accessories you will need for the duration of hike. (See our sample packing list.) With advances in synthetic clothing and other travel gear, it’s possible to keep your pack weight to 20 lbs. or less, including lunch and water. Any extra luggage or belongings not needed on the hike will be in Oslo when we arrive.
Accommodations and Facilities
Hotels: In Oslo, we will be staying at a wonderful 3 star hotel, located within easy walking distance to the town center. Breakfast is served at the hotel. We will eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Rooms are double occupancy with private baths. Humble though comfortable accommodations.
Huts: We will be staying privately run huts, as well as huts owned and operated by the DNT (the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association). The huts typically have a common dining area and sleeping accommodations are dormitory style, generally with 4 to 6 persons to a room. Each hut has a drying room. The facilities in the huts are shared. There are washing areas as well as hot showers. The huts are roomy and comfortable.
Breakfasts and dinners are served at the hotels or refuges and lunches are picnic style along the trail.
Travel
It is easiest to fly to and from Oslo, Gardermoen.
Meeting point
The hotel in Lillehammer.
Ending Point
The hotel in Lillehammer.
For a more detailed itinerary that includes elevation gain, loss and distance, or to register please call.
