NEW TRIP
Exploring Jotunheimen, Rondane, and Dovre National Parks
Hiking the Heart of Norway
Overview
Head to remote inland Norway, far from the busy coastal areas, to explore awe-inspiring peaks and glistening mountain lakes—and discover the heartland of Norwegian folklore, with its trolls and Jötnar (mountain-dwelling giants). This inner realm, called Innlandet, is Norway’s only landlocked county and a world of sleepy farms, folk dances, and mythical mountain ranges. From Skåbu (5,600'), Norway’s highest village, we’ll hike trails with panoramas across the glacier-carved summits of Jotunheimen, Rondane, and Dovre national parks, paddle canoes on tranquil lakes, and visit an ancient farmstead. From our historic lodge on the ancient St. Olav’s Way, a pilgrim trail in Dovre National Park, we’ll hike park trails amid the legends of
Peer Gynt and take a walking safari to look for free-roaming muskox. As we explore, the farm-to-table cuisine keeps us well fed and we’ll savor the long, soft evening light of Norway’s summer.
Arrive: Oslo, Norway
Depart: Trondheim, Norway
Highlights
- Discover a remote part of Norway far from mainstream tourism
- Explore the glacier-carved landscapes of Jotunheimen, Rondane, and Dovre
- Hike across lichen-covered plateaus and deep valleys dotted with sparkling lakes
- Take a walking safari to see muskox in the wild
- Canoe on tranquil lakes, visit a prehistoric rock art site
- Stay in welcoming mountain lodges
Itinerary
From Oslo, we head to our mountain lodge on the shores of Lake Bygdin in majestic Jotunheimen National Park. Our hikes bring us along lichen-covered plateaus and jewel-like lakes.
After a hike to Jotunheimen’s iconic peak of Bitihorn, we head to our lodge in Skåbu, the highest inhabited village in Norway. We’ll canoe across three separate lakes in a tranquil realm of Jotunheimen, visit a prehistoric rock art site, and tour the historic Lykka Farm, with its buildings dating to the 1500s.
In Rondane, Norway’s oldest national park, we hike to the Peer Gynt Cabin, a spot associated with the famous stories of Peer Gynt, Ibsen’s masterpiece, and take a walking safari in the mountains of Dovrefjell National Park to see free-roaming muskox and possibly wild reindeer.
After a walk to the Snøhetta Viewpoint in Dovrefjell National Park, we take the train to historic Trondheim, founded by the Vikings in the 10th century, for an overnight and Farewell Dinner. Depart on Day 9.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 4+, Moderate to Strenuous. Day hikes and cultural exploration are our focus; many days we are hiking for 5-6 hours. Trails can be quite rough; be prepared for uneven ground.
Average Hiking Day
- 5-10 miles
- 5-6 hours 1,000-1,700 feet gain/loss
Challenge Days
- Day 2: 5 hours, 7.5 miles, elevation gain/loss 1,700 feet
- Day 5: 6.5 hours, 9.5 miles, elevation gain/loss 1,250 feet
While the Norwegian mountains are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged. The trails in Norway are kept very natural and not maintained beyond necessity. Therefore, trails can be uneven, with large rocks or loose scree, and you can expect some steep sections. Norway is often rainy, so the rocks on the trail will be wet. There are some exposed roots along the way, and there will be muddy spots. You need good balance to be able to hike on these surfaces. It is extremely important to be a confident and capable hiker due to the remoteness of the areas we visit. Alternative hiking options will not be possible.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
This trip is in a region that is considerably colder than our other Norway trips. The mountain lodges are at elevations above 3,000 feet so temperatures could get down to the low 40sF overnight. The brisk daytime temperatures are perfect for hiking but rain is not unlikely. Mountain weather can be changeable, and we want you to be well prepared for all you may encounter. It is important to come prepared with layers for adding/removing, waterproof hiking boots, and good waterproof outer layers. Trip members need to remain flexible in consideration of inclement weather that may require changes, such as substituting different hiking routes, canceling hikes, or switching the days of certain hikes.
The mountain lodges of Norway are very simple. Rooms are clean and comfortable but amenities will be minimal. The guest rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that hotel rooms in Scandinavia in general are smaller than in the US. As our lodges in Bygdin and Hjerkinn are in fairly remote locations, any hiking gear or other personal supplies you need should be brought from home. Single occupancy rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single occupancy room, please make your request as early as possible.
Vegan diets cannot be accommodated throughout the entirety of the trip, and vegetarian options may be limited. The cuisine at our mountain lodges is tasty and made from fresh local ingredients typically used for neo-Nordic dishes. For most of our packed lunches, we will use items from the lodge’s breakfast buffet. “Pålegg” is the Norwegian word for toppings and spreads that go on bread, and that is the common breakfast and lunch in Norway. There will be a variety of spreads, jams, and pâtes to pair with cheese, cold cuts, vegetables, and fish, enough to make an entirely new type of “makpakke” (packed lunch) to bring on the trail every day. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often, the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our vehicle for the drive from Oslo to Hjerkinn will be a 16-seater minibus with a trailer for luggage. From Hjerkinn to Trondheim, we will travel by local train. Note that hotel porters are not common in Norway, so guests should be able to carry their own luggage.
Client Testimonials
"Great itinerary, great scenery, great food. We've been to this area before (except for Trondheim), and love it. So glad Stefano designed a trip to these gorgeous areas that are often overlooked by American tourists. He found scenic hikes that were blessedly uncrowded and beautiful. And the canoe outing was a great bonus! I loved the accommodations, too. The mountain lodges and the farm hotel in SkÅbu were just perfect."
Inge K.
Concord, MA
"Accommodations were really great,the food was fabulous, and the hikimg options were well chosen.. Kudos to planners."
Walker T.
Dallas, TX
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.