Mountains to Fjords Hut to Hut
Hut to Hut Trekking Tours
8 Days, 7 Nights 37MI / 59KM
Trip Highlights
Our Mountains to Fjords Hut to Hut Trek is an incredible way to explore Norway’s best landscapes and most famous National Park, Jotunheimen. This Park boasts the highest mountains not only in Norway, but all of Northern Europe; the name Jotunheimen translates to “home of the giants.”
Utilizing Norway’s fantastic hut system, we intimately enjoy the Park and all of its spectacular, yet challenging, trails and jaw dropping vistas. After soaking up panoramic mountain views for days, we take you on a visit to one of Norway’s other famous natural features, the Nærøyfjord. This spot is so amazing and unique it is featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and we are proud to enjoy it via a sustainable, zero emissions cruise.
Also, this trip starts in the capital city of Oslo and ends in the charming town of Bergen, so we have the opportunity to see a large swath of Norway and learn about its many traditions and rich cultural history in one spectacular hiking-centered itinerary. Come explore the land of the Vikings with us on foot!
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Jotunheimen National Park
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Diversity of Stunning Scenery
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Famous Hikes
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Mountains, Valleys, Lakes & Fjords
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Exquisite regional cuisine
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Explore with Light Packs
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Hike the Famous Besseggen Ridge
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Hut to Hut Trekking Tours -
Trip Length
8 Days, 7 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 10 mi -
Group Size
4-12 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip has long, strenuous days of hiking (up to 10 miles) with significant elevation gain (up to 3,350 feet) on Norway’s difficult terrain and trail conditions, along with significant heights exposure, which is why this trip is given a Level 4 difficulty rating. The trails are quite rugged — scrambling, and loose rock is very common on these trails.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Driving Time: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Gjendesheim
This Norway trek begins with rendezvous at the Thon Opera Hotel in Oslo for an orientation meeting with your guides and group. We’ll walk to the bus station to catch a comfortable coach to our lodging in Jotunheimen National Park. The drive takes 4-5 hours and includes a bathroom/snack break near the half-way point. The bus has deluxe seating and Wi-Fi available during the trip. Once we arrive at our destination, we’ll settle into our accommodations and enjoy a short walk to stretch our legs before sitting down for a 3-course dinner. Our mountain hut for this evening (and most other nights) is basic, but cozy and warm with bunkbeds and shared bathrooms. Tomorrow our Jotunheimen hiking adventure begins!
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 8.4 miles (13.5 km)
Elevation Gain: 3346 feet (1020 m)
Elevation Loss: 3346 feet (1020 m)
Accommodation: Hut in Memurubu
After enjoying breakfast and preparing lunch matpakke style, the traditional Norwegian way of making lunch, we’ll pack our bags and ferry them down to the dock to be transferred to our next night’s lodging via boat. Our hike today is possibly the most famous route in Norway and a rite of passage for any Norwegian hiking enthusiast. Besseggen Ridge is a challenging hike — yet rewarding and allows for amazing views of towering coastal mountains and sprawling lakes. Bessvatnet and Gjende Lakes make up the majority of the day’s scenery with their spectacular contrasting colors. This trail requires a bit of scrambling as we make our way down the steep, rocky sections. We’ll also have the use of chains for more stability. Once we arrive at tonight’s hut, we’ll rendezvous with our baggage at the dock and transport it up to our rooms. Tonight’s dinner is well-deserved after our fantastic day trekking across Norway’s most famous ridge!
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 6.2 miles (10 km)
Elevation Gain: 2494 feet (760 m)
Elevation Loss: 2494 feet (760 m)
Accommodation: Hute in Gjendebu
Our hike today is another fulfilling one and chocked full of more amazing scenery to reward our efforts. After dropping our luggage at the docks, our deeper exploration of Jotunheimen National Park continues by hiking up to the high mountain plateau above us. From the plateau the views are expansive with many small mountain lakes to enjoy, as well as possible wildlife sightings such as the vast herds of reindeer that live in the National Park. We’ll stop for lunch at one of these lakes before descending off the plateau to our next night’s lodging again on the shores of Gjende Lake. The way down is steep and has chains to assist, but the comfort of Gjendebu hut, a hot shower, and another traditional Norwegian dinner will soothe our bodies after the day’s efforts and well-earned memories.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 10 miles (16 km)
Elevation Gain: 1640 feet (500 m)
Elevation Loss: 1640 feet (500 m)
Accommodation: Hut in Fondsbu
A breakfast buffet starts off our day before we carry our bags to the dock to be ferried yet again to our next hut. Today our bags travel a bit farther then we do, and we may actually beat them to our next hut. The hike is more relaxing today than our past two hikes, but the views remain absolutely outstanding. Our trail takes us up out of the Gjende Lake Valley and over a mountain pass. Once over the pass, we’ll start to see more lakes and rolling mountains as we descend down into another large lake valley. Bygdin Lake makes up the large body of water here and is a stunning backdrop for our last night’s lodging in the park. Tonight, we stay in a legendary mountain hut full of tradition. The host of this hut is famous in Norway for her kindness, initiative, and voice. If we are lucky maybe we can hear a Norwegian mountain song before dinner!
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles (13 km)
Elevation Gain: 1640 feet (500 m)
Elevation Loss: 1640 feet (500 m)
Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Aurland
Today is our final day of hiking in Jotunheimen National Park. This time we climb up between two of Norway’s most famous mountains, Uranostind and Falketind. As we pass under these giants, we’ll hike by many alpine lakes. One of the larger scenic lakes will be our goal for a picnic lunch before descending down to our awaiting vehicle and driver. As stunning as the views from our hike are today, the views from our drive are equally amazing. Our accommodations for the next 2 nights are in the small town of Aurland. Dinner tonight will be right on the water’s edge overlooking the fjord, a truly unique Norwegian experience.
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 3.7 miles (6 km)
Elevation Gain: 1896 feet (578 m)
Elevation Loss: 1896 feet (578 m)
Driving Time: 1 hour
Accommodation: Hotel in Aurland
After a full breakfast we’ll shuttle to today’s trailhead. En route we will stop by one of Norway’s National Heritage sites, Borgund Stave Church. This fabulously unique building is 800+ years old, and is a wonderful place to stop, stretch our legs and appreciate the history of Norway. Our drive continues to take us out of the mountains to the fjords. And what an amazing transition it is! Fjords are long, narrow strips of ocean tucked between towering cliffs. Often these natural features are created by the geologic submergence of glaciated valleys. Our hike today is up to the summit of Prest Mountain for stunning views down into the fjords and Aurland. We’ll enjoy another comfortable night and delicious dinner in this beautiful place by the fjord.
Day 7
Boat Ride Time: 2.5 hours
Train Time: 3 hours
Drive Time: 15 minutes
Accommodation: Hotel in Bergen
Our last day of exploration takes us to one of Norway’s most famous fjords, Nærøyfjord. Here we’ll enjoy a 2.5 hour ecologically friendly boat cruise down the narrow sea inlets of this breathtaking channel. High towering cliffs will frame every magical shot along the way. After our dazzling boat ride, we’ll head to Flåm for a relaxing lunch before continuing on by train to Myrdal. In Myrdal we will catch our last leg of transportation of the day on a relaxing train ride to our final lodging of the trip in the charming coastal town of Bergen. Tonight, we have plenty to celebrate and will celebrate with a final farewell dinner out in Bergen’s popular neighborhood, Bryggen.
Day 8
Shuttle to Airport: 20 minutes
Today we enjoy one last breakfast together. Afterward we’ll have a shuttle planned for those who need a ride to the airport for morning flights. What an exciting, fun, and challenging 8 days it’s been! Many guests choose to spend an extra day/night in Bergen to see more of the city and it’s beautiful surroundings before traveling on.
Trip Dates
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What's Included
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Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 with a bus transfer to Jotunheimen National Park and ending Day 8 with the morning airport shuttle.
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Lodging for the duration of the tour
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All meals from Lunch day 1 to breakfast on day 8
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Experienced, professional Wildland Trekking certified guides
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Transportation to Oslo, Norway and from Bergen, Norway -
All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
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Backpack and Trekking Poles
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Bar bills, drink bills, extra snacks, telephone bills, Wi-Fi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/laundry/spa or sauna)
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Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles
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Guide gratuities are at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 10% of the total trip cost. You may tip in either USD or local currency.
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Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $200,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (required)
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Clothes, rain gear, and footwear – footwear should have good ankle support as terrain can be uneven
Accommodations
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
MOUNTAIN HUTS
4 NIGHTS
The mountain huts we stay in are basic, but warm and cozy, accommodations in stunning locations. They feature double or communal rooms most often with bunkbeds and shared bathrooms. They have hot water with showers, flush toilets, bedding, and some have Wi-Fi. Single rooms are not available in the huts.
VANGSGAARDEN LODGE
2 NIGHTs
Surrounded by towering mountains and deep fjords, this lodge has been operated by one family since the 18th century. This is where the salmon-fishing British gentry came to fish throughout the nineteenth century. The historic buildings have been updated to modern, wonderful accommodations.
Klosterhagen Hotell
1 NIGHT
This small family owned hotel is perfectly situated in a quiet pocket of the Nordnes neighborhood in the city Center of Bergen and has wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. The converted 19th century building is now a modern, comfortable hotel that is part of a social program that provides work training, enabling people to return to work after struggling with physical, mental and/or social issues.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group in Oslo, Norway on the first day of the trip. The meeting time will vary the morning of day 1 of the itinerary. It is dependent on the bus schedule for that day (approximately 8am-1pm bus departures are common). Typically, we will meet 1.5 hours before the bus is scheduled to leave for an orientation meeting and to get to know each other before walking to the bus station together. We recommend guests arrive in Oslo the day before and stay the night in a city central hotel.
Our pre-trip communication team will be in contact approximately 45 days before your trip to coordinate and confirm your rendezvous and answer any last-minute questions you have.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Oslo / from Bergen
For this Norway trek you will need to fly into Oslo, Norway and out of Bergen, Norway. We recommend guests travel into Oslo a day before their trip begins and spend a night in Oslo near the city center. We recommend the Thon Hotel Opera for convenience. This hotel is a 1-minute walk from the central train station, where you can get off the airport train and into the city. It is central, right next to the Opera House, National Gallery and Peace Center. You will meet the group and guide(s) on the morning of Day 1 for an orientation meeting.
On the last day of the trip, guests are together for breakfast and will have a scheduled transfer to the Bergen Airport at 9am-10am. This is included in the price of the trip. Departing flights should be planned after 12pm to utilize our provided airport transportation this day. Any airport transportation needs outside of this will be at the guest’s expense.
Flights to Oslo Airport and from the Bergen airport are the guest’s responsibility.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 7 and older to join scheduled and private tours
Trip Insurance Requirements
Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is required on this trip as a condition of partnership terms with our European vendors (field evacuation and repatriation minimum coverage is a combined $200,000 USD).
We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance and policies meet all requirements.
For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.
If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.
Reviews
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Elise C
1 year agoThe trip to Norway was fantastic.
WLT guides do an exceptional job at making the best trip experience whether it is the intended route or some detour to ensure safety. Magda and Oda were attentive to the potential weather threats to the hiking terrain and made decisions as the professionals as well as considering the travelers experience. They presented the hikes with full transparency on the difficulty and the challenges that would be confronted. Both guides had energy and enthusiasm that fed and complimented one another. The group all engaged in getting to know them and wanted to hear the knowledge they were sharing about the culture and society in Norway. They surprised us with an afternoon at the floating sauna after our hike needed to be modified because of wind and rain. Everyone participated and soaked up the heat in order to live like a Norwegian and jump into the fjord!
Kate C.
1 year agoGREAT TRIP
This is an ideal trip for the adventure enthusiast who wants a trek (vs. day hikes from a base camp), some thrilling technical climbs, a seamless itinerary with good variety, and immersion in the gorgeous Norwegian landscape and hiking culture. Just reviewing that list makes me want to pinch myself; this was truly an amazing trip and maybe the trip of a lifetime. Wildland staff were very helpful during the training and preparation. Magda, our guide, was excellent: she made each of us feel at home, made expert decisions in the face of tricky weather (snow, wind, driving rain), and led us safely and confidently through a number of momentous climbs--Besseggen Ridge and Mount Prest being our favorites. She handled the many logistics with ease. Apart from the climbs, I loved the Aurland sauna with cold plunges into the fjord, and the quiet ferry through the intimate UNESCO-protected Naeroyfjord. This was my first Wildland trip, and it sounds like this level of craftsmanship and leadership is what we can come to expect. I'm impressed--!--and more than anything, very grateful.
Joanne R
1 year agoMemorable Experience
The hut to hut hike in Norway was my first formal small group trekking trip and I was not sure what to expect but I had a fantastic time. It was so much fun for 2 reasons: 1) the guides, Magda and Oda, were constantly energetic, attentive and knowledgeable. 2) The schedule was seamless to provide ample challenging hiking while still being able to see and do things that you can only do in that country (for example taking a hot sauna and them jumping into the fjord). The guides went above and beyond and worked so well with each other that created an easy and warm atmosphere. The way the trip was planned and how it was executed by the guides made it a memorable experience.
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