Discover Jotunheimen national park

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Discover Jotunheimen: Green route
Guided tour (6 days)

A 6-day guided tour that is best suited for people with normal fitness and basic hiking skills. This tour takes you right into the heart of Jotunheimen, over beautiful Bygdin, to high peaks, and through wonderful valleys.

Highlights

Svartdalen – Norway’s most beautiful valley
High peaks with panoramic views
Cultural history, and local food at historic accommodations

Including

Bus transport from / to Oslo
Luggage transport
Accommodation incl. Towels and linen
Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Detailed tour description
Local guide

Season

June – September

Join us to the heart of Jotunheimen

This is a 6-day guided tour that is best suited for tour-accustomed people with normal fitness and basic hiking skills. The trip takes you right into the heart of Jotunheimen, over beautiful Bygdin, to high peaks and through fantastic valleys. The trip goes to some of the most famous and historic accommodations in Jotunheimen. As well as viewpoints and tours that have inspired mountain people and artists for centuries. An experienced guide with good local knowledge will lead the group and ensure that it is a safe and pleasant trip.

You will stay in traditional and historical places such as Bygdin høifjellshotell, Fondsbu DNT, and Gjendebu DNT, where you will be able to enjoy a friendly and relaxing life with a pleasant atmosphere and delicious local food.

Day to day

Day 1: Oslo - Bygdin

Day 1: Oslo – Bygdin
Bus: Valdresekspressen from Oslo to Bygdin

Enjoy the trip from the big city towards Valdres and Jotunheimen! The express buses take you straight from the capital, to the heart of Norway. On the way you will pass mountains, valleys, rivers, and beautiful farms. The buses have free WiFi, power outlets with USB chargers and toilets.

Fjelltur: Synshorn

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1-2 hours
Distance: 5 kilometers
Height at the top: 1457 meters
Ascent: 450 meters

Synshorn is located at 1457 masl and offers a fantastic view of Jotunheimen. The trails are easy to walk, and vary between some soft terrain and more rocky terrain near the top.

Accommodation: Bygdin Høifieldshotell

Right by Bygdinvannet and the pier to M / B Bitihorn you will find Bygdin Høifieldshotell. The hotel offers a traditional and historic atmosphere, with good local food.

Day 2: Bitihorn

Hiking: Bitihorn

Difficulty: Medium
Time: 5-8 hours
Distance: 10 kilometers
Height at the top: 1607 meters
Ascent: 600 meters

Bitihorn at 1607 masl is a classic route at Bygdin. It is one of the simpler peaks in the area and is well suited for both beginners and more mountaineers. At the top you get a fantastic panoramic view of large parts of Valdres.

Accommodation: Bygdin Høifieldhotell

Right by Bygdinvannet and the pier to M / B Bitihorn you will find Bygdin Fjellhotell. The hotel offers a traditional and historic atmosphere, with good local food.

Day 3: Svartdalen

Hiking: Svartdalen

Difficulty: Challenging
Time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 14 kilometers
Ascent: 610 meters

Svartdalen – often referred to as Jotunheimen’s most beautiful valley. As you hike through this lush valley, majestic towering peaks will surround you, several of them over 2,000 feet high.

Accommodation: Gjendebu DNT

At 990 masl at the west end of Gjendevannet you will find Gjendebu. The hotel offers a traditional and historic atmosphere, with good local food – and is the oldest cabin of DNT, built in 1871.

Day 4: Gjendetunga

Hiking: Gjendetunga (From Gjendebu)
Difficulty: Medium
Time: 3-5 hours
Distance: 10 kilometers
Ascent: 520 meters
Descent: 520 meters

Gjendetunga is the trip where we enjoy a shorter distance, but without missing majestic views. Gjendetunga towers over the cabin Gjendebu and is a trip you will not want to miss if you are in this area. On a clear day, we enjoy lunch at the top with a 360 degree beautiful view of green Gjende, and the mountain massifs to the east and west.

Accommodation: Gjendebu DNT
At 990 masl at the west end of Gjendevannet you will find Gjendebu. The hotel offers a traditional and historic atmosphere, with good local food – and is the oldest cabin of DNT, built in 1871.

Day 5: Veslådalen

Hiking: Veslådalen (Gjendebu → Eidsbugarden)
Difficulty: Medium
Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 16 kilometers
Ascent: 516 meters

The hike between Gjendebu and Eidsbugarden goes between the lakes Gjende and Bygdin in Jotunheimen National Park. From Gjendebu, the trip goes through Veslådalen before ending at Eidsbugarden.

Accommodation: Fondsbu DNT
Fondsbu is located on beautiful Eidsbugarden. The cottage is widely known for its good atmosphere, hosts and great location. A popular place for hikers.

Day 6: Eidsbugarden - Oslo

Bus: Valdresekspressen to Oslo

Enjoy the trip home from the mountain adventure. The express buses take you straight from Jotunheimen and Valdres back to the city. On the way you will pass mountains, valleys, rivers and beautiful farms. The buses have free WiFi, power outlets with USB chargers and toilets.

Practical information

Below you will find practical information about this trip. Not finding what you are looking for? See our frequently asked questions page, or send us an email – we will help you!

Transportation

The journey includes transport from Oslo to Bygdin with Valdresekspressen, boat across Bygdinvannet and Valdresekspressen from Eidsbugarden back to Oslo.

Luggage transport

Luggage transport is included in the price and includes:

From Bygdin Høifieldshotell to Gjendebu DNT
From Gjendebu DNT to Fondsbu DNT

Meals

Tour pension includes breakfast, packed lunch and dinner. If you want another drink for dinner or snacks / chocolate on the trip, this can be bought at the cabins. It is possible to fill the thermos with hot drinks (for a fee) and drinking bottles with water (free of charge) at all accommodation.

Accomodation

Day: 1 – Bygdin Høifieldshotell
Day: 2 – Bygdin Høifieldshotell
Day: 3 – Gjendebu DNT
Day: 4 – Gjendebu DNT
Day: 5 – Fondsbu DNT

Packing list

You will need a backpack for the day trips, preferably between 20 and 30 liters. A waterproof “duffel bag” for the rest of the luggage is recommended. The luggage is moved from place to place and may be exposed to rain and other elements during transport.

Wool socks, thin
Wool underwear
Rain, and windproof jacket and trousers
Shirt, or sweater of wool or fleece
Rain, and windproof jacket and trousers
Lue
Buff / scarf
Gloves / gloves
Shorts
T shirt
Indoor footwear
Extra underwear
Extra indoor pants

Toiletries
Headlamp / flashlight
Toilet paper and clogged paper bags
Garbage bags
Gnawing plasters
Seat pads

Thermos and water bottles
Seat pads
Camera
Mobile
Charging bank
Sunglasses
Sunscreen

For self-guided tours:
Map, compass and map folder
Map app on mobile – eg Norway map
First aid equipment
Knife / multitool

Your hiking route

Map

This is the route you will cycle!

Day to day

Day 1: Arrival Oslo

Arrival Oslo

Accommodation: Thon Hotel Oslo

Included meals: -

Optional: When you want to rent a bike, you will use the first day to pick up your rental bike from Fara Cycling in Oslo (before 6 pm, on Saturdays 4pm, Sundays not available).
We teamed up with the famous Norwegian brand Fara Cycling to give you the chance to ride one of the best gravel bikes.

Day 2: Train to Vinstra and cycling to Bygdin

Transport
Take the train (prebooked from us) from Oslo Central Station to Vinstra.

Cycling from Vinstra to Bygdin
Distance: 90 km, ↑ 2240 meters
On your first day, you will cycle on a gravel road from the valley of Gudbransdalen up to Jotunheimen. You will follow “Jotunheimvegen”, cycling from the woods towards the mountains above the treeline. You will pass many summer farms along the way and follow the big lake Vinstra. On the horizon, you can see the mountains of Jotunheimen and the summit of Bithorn, where you will find your accommodation at the lake Bygdin.

Accommodation: Bygdin Høyfjellshotell

Included meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Cycling Bygdin - Syndinstøga

Cycling from Bygdin to Syndinstøga via Slettefjell

Distance: 58 km, ↑ 1670 meters

From Bygdin, you cycle down the road to Beitostølen village and continue towards the mountain pass Slettefjell along a gravel road. This is an active summer farm areaand you will get a lovely view over Valdres. Back in the valley, you have the chance to visit the stave church in Høre . From here you need to cycle up again to the last mountain pass on the trip. Reaching the top of the hill you will find your accommodation.

Accommodation: Syndinstøga

Included meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Day 4: Cycling Syndinstøga - Gol

Cycling from Syndinstøga to Gol

Distance: 74 km, ↑ 955 meters

The third day you cycle through a summer farm landscape where you will probably meet many animals grazing along the road, passing cabin villages, lakes and you have a chance to stop at one of the farm to eat a lunch and experience local farm live.

Transport
Take the train from Gol to Oslo (prebooked).

Accommodation: Thon Hotel, Oslo

Included meals: Dinner, packed lunch and dinner

Day 5: Departure

Optional: Deliver Rental bike

Deliver the rental bike to the shop of Fara Cycling at 10 am.

Included meals: Breakfast

Practical information

Below you will find practical information about this trip.
Can not find what you are looking for? See our frequently asked questions page, or send us an email - we will help you!

Accommodations

All the accommodations have double/twin beds with private bathrooms.

Hotel Thon, Oslo:
3-star hotel close to the train staion and Bike rental, including breakfast buffet.

Bygdin Høyfjellshotell:
This hotel has a long tradition of hosting active mountain people who want to visit Jotunheimen. Even tho many rooms were renovated you will get a historical atmosphere. The food is sure to be the highlight of your stay. Dinner is made from local ingredients and comes to taste great.

Syndinstøga:
Here there are 22 beds divided into 2 apartments and 3 hunting lodges. They have a great restaurant and pub, with good atmosphere and beautiful views. Syndinstøga is known for its good food. With a focus on local and sustainable ingredients, the kitchen composes today's dinner menu. It serves dishes based on moose and deer from local hunters. Lamb and mountain pig from the farms at Syndin and fish from local suppliers.

Bikes

Bring your own bike as this bike fits best to you and your demands. You can take the bike with you by bus/train from Oslo

Meals

All restaurants offer food based on local ingredients. For breakfast there will be buffet. Here you also need to make yourself a packed lunch that you bring to lunch for the day. It is possible to fill a thermos, check with the accommodation. Dinner will be served in the afternoon/evening

Route

Gravel/trail

You receive from us the original Mjølkevegen map and gpx coordinates you can use on your GPS device.
The Mjølkevegen is a well-maintained gravel road, used as well by cars and other vehicles. Some parts will be paved roads.

Difficulty

Hard

Kilometres: 50 - 100 kilometres
Elevation: 800-2000 accent meters
Terrain: fine gravel roads or asphalt

Participation in this tour demands good physical preparation and familiarity with extended periods of gravelbike riding. Daily distances are between 58 – 90 km, involving 1000 – 2000 climbing meters. You can anticipate numerous challenging uphill segments during the day. Our itineraries are tailored for gravel bikes and would prove excessively lengthy for e-bikes without the opportunity for recharging en route.

Equipment list

When you book with us, we'll provide you with a packing list to ensure you have all the necessary clothing and gear with you.

Transport

This tour includes the train from Oslo to the starting point at Vinstra and back from Gol to Oslo. Travel green just not only feels good but is it as well comfortable and relaxing way to reach your bikepacking adventure.

Day 2: Oslo-Vinstra by train
08.02 am-11.09 am

Day 4: Gol- Oslo by Train
7.28 pm-10.22 pm