Discover Jotunheimen:          Autumn ridges

Fall is probably the best season to experience Jotunheimen National Park: a nature full of contrasts and the mountains almost for yourself. Explore the area around beautiful lake Gjende with the famous hikes of Knutshøe, Bukkelægret and Besseggen. The perfect autumn getaway!

Highlights

  • 3 famous and spectacular ridges

  • Autumn colors

  • Local food

Included

  • Bus transport from/to Oslo

  • Boat transport

  • Luggage transport

  • Transport to Knutshøe
  • 5x Accommodation incl. bedlinen/towels and breakfast

  • 5x Dinner 

  • 5x Packed lunch

  • Tour description, GPX tracks and travel documents in our app

  • Beewax food wrap 

Season and price

August – September

Daily departures

Last departure day:           12 September 2025

Price
Adult (double room): NOK 14.150
Single room suppl.: NOK 2.250 
Children (12-16 yrs): NOK 12.600 

Autumn Ridges in Jotunheimen

Autumn in Jotunheim is the perfect season for hikers seeking for breathtaking and quiet nature. Traverse dramatic mountains and ridges, with snow-dusted peaks hinting at the coming winter. This unique and unforgettable adventure offers a seamless blend of invigorating hikes, relaxation, and gourmet experiences, all set against the stunning backdrop of autumnal landscapes.

Our carefully crafted package includes alternative routes for those steep sections, ensuring your safety and enjoyment, even if the conditions become demanding. Capture the vibrant hues of the season and create lasting memories on this extraordinary autumn getaway in Jotunheim. Don’t miss the chance to experience the best of Norway’s hiking holidays this autumn!

Map

This is the route you are walking.

Day to day

Day 1: Oslo - Gjendesheim

Transport: Bus Valdresekspressen from Oslo

Transport from Oslo Bussterminal in the city centre. If the time schedule does not fit your flight we can help with accommodation in Oslo, adding one extra night. Let us know.

Accomodation: Gjendesheim DNT Lodge

Meal: Dinner

Day 2: Knutshøe

Transport: transfer to the departure of the hike

Activity: Hike Knutshøe

Duration: 4-6 hours, Distance: 13 km, ↑ 700 m

Knutshø is called Bessegens little brother. The mountain has a very cool shape and is exposed with lakes on both sides. The ridge has two challenging points where you will have to use both, hands and feet.

Accomodation: Gjendesheim turisthytte DNT

Meals: Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

Day 3: Gjendesheim-Gjendebu

Transport: Boat cruise from Gjendesheim to Gjendebu

Today you will take the beautiful boat cruise over Gjende Lake. If you want to take a smaller hike, you can hike the first part of the lake to Memurubu before catching the boat to Gjendebu.

Alt. hike from Gjendesheim to Memurubu 

Duration: 2-3 hours, Distance: 10 km, ↑ 400 m

This hike is a nice and easy walk alongside the lake.  

Accommodation: Gjendebu DNT Lodge

Meals: Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

Day 4: Bukkelægret

Activity: Hike Bukkelægret

Duration: 5-6 hours, Distance: 11 km, ↑ 850 m

Bukkelægret is an exciting, steep walk with a longer flat section in the middle. The trip takes you through several mountain lakes packed with mountain trout – a perfect area to have lunch. The high route gives a great view over the water Gjende. In the steepest parts of this route you can hold on to the chain for extra safety, or hike an alternative route.  

Accomodation: Memurubu Lodge

Meals: Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

Day 5: Besseggen

Activity: Besseggen 

Duration: 6-8 hours, Distance: 14 km, ↑ 1132 m

Besseggen is one of Norway’s most popular hikes. The trip over the narrow and airy ridge offers a fantastic view of majestic Jotunheimen. With the green Gjende Lake 400 meters straight down on one side, and the deep blue Bessvatnet Lake on the other, you will have an experience you will never forget.

Accommodation: Gjendesheim DNT Lodge

Meals: Breakfast | Packed Lunch | Dinner

Day 6: Departure

Transport: Bus from Gjendesheim to Oslo

Transport from Gjendesheim to Oslo Bussterminal in the city centre. If you are going to Oslo Airport, you must count about 1 hour to transfer from the city. 

If the time schedule does not fit your flight we can help with accommodation in Oslo, adding one extra night. Let us know.

Meal: Breakfast | Packed Lunch

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!

Transportation

Travel green. 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 power outlets with USB chargers and toilets.

Experience the convenience of choosing from various departure times and travel destinations along our express bus routes. Share your travel plans with us, and we’ll take care of the arrangements, ensuring a stress-free experience for you.

Departure times from Oslo Bus Terminal
Choose from the following departures:
08.30 am -1.20 pm
10.20 am – 3.05 pm
12.20 pm – 5.50 pm

Important details

To fully enjoy your hiking adventure in the mountainous areas, it’s important to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and local temperatures. The conditions in the autumn are wonderful, but it can also give some challenges. You need to be prepared to walk in the snow in case of snowfall. We have also described alternative routes for the steepest parts if the exposure or conditions makes it uncountable. In September, normal temperature is between 0-10 degrees.

For a comfortable and enjoyable experience, we recommend wearing warm, waterproof clothing, sturdy mountain hiking boots that provide ankle support, and bringing sunscreen and sunglasses. It is not recommended to wear trail running shoes, everyday shoes, or sneakers.

Luggage transport

We will send your luggage from cabin to cabin, so you only need to bring a daypack on your hike.

Meals

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

Accomodation

Gjendesheim Turisthytte DNT:  
Gjendesheim Turisthytte has a history dating back to 1878. The hut is run by DNT and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains, with Besseggen Ridge as a neighbor.  

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

Memurubu Turisthytte:  
Memurubu is a tourist hut at the end or start of the famous Besseggen hiking trail. Memurubu is originally an old mountain pasture dating back to 1872, but has had tourists for just as long. Cows are still grazing around the tourist hut, which lies at the mouth of the river Muru in the valley Memurudalen. 

Trails and difficulty

Medium

Kilometer: up to 15 kilometers
Ascent: up to 1000 ascent meter
Terrain: Varied trail, where longer sections are hilly and rocky, there may also be sections with exposed terrain.

On these trips, there is mountainous terrain, and there can be long ascents and descents. The tours are usually around 5-7 hours. It can be rocky and demanding surfaces, which require that you are in normal to good physical shape. On some of the tours, there may be exposed parties, but most of these are possible to avoid by choosing another variant.

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.

See more of our hikes

Day to day

Day 1: Oslo - Gjendesheim

Bus: Valdresekspressen fra Oslo

Transport from Oslo bus Terminal (Oslo Airport). 
If you are coming from Oslo Airport, you must count about 1 hour to transfer to Oslo Bus Terminal. 

If the time schedule does not fit your flight we can help with accommodation in Oslo, adding one extra night. Let us know.

 

Accomodation: Gjendesheim turisthytte DNT

Gjendesheim Turisthytte has a history dating back to 1878. The hut is run by DNT and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains, with Besseggen Ridge as a neighbor.

 

Day 2: Knutshøe

First ridge: Knutshøe

Level of difficulty: medium
Duration: 4-6 hours
Distance: 13 kilometers
Ascent: 700 meters

Knutshø is called Bessegens little brother. The mountain has a very cool shape and are exposed with lakes on both sides. The ridge has two challenge points where you will have to use all hands and feet.

Accomodation: Gjendesheim turisthytte DNT

Gjendesheim Turisthytte has a history dating back to 1878. The hut is run by DNT and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains, with Besseggen ridge as a neighbor.

.

Day 3: Boat cruise to Gjendebu

Boat: Boat cruise to Gjendebu

I dag skal dere ta den flotte båtturen over Gjendevannet. Hvis dere ønsker en kortere båttur, kan dere vandre langs den første delen av innsjøen.

Alt. hike from Gjendesheim to Memurubu 

Level of difficulty: Easy 
Duration: 2-3 hours 
Distance: 10 kilometers 
Ascent: 400 meters

This hike is a nice and easy walk alongside the lake.  

Accommodation: Gjendebu Turisthytte DNT 
At 990 masl at the west end of Gjende Lake 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: Bukkelægret


V
Hike: Bukkelægret

Level of difficulty: Medium 
Duration: 5 hours 
Distance: 11 kilometers 
Ascent: 850 meters 

Bukkelægret is an exciting, steep walk with a longer flat section in the middle. The trip takes you through several mountain lakes packed with mountain trout - a perfect area to have lunch. The high route gives a great view over the water Gjende. In the steepest parts of this route you can hold on to the chain for extra safety, or hike an alternative route.  

Accomodation: Memurubu DNT
Memurubu is a tourist hut at the end or start of the famous Besseggen hiking trail. Memurubu is originally an old mountain pasture dating back to 1872, but has had tourists just as long. Cows are still grazing around the tourist hut, which lies at the mouth of the river Muru in the valley Memurudalen.

Day 5: Besseggen

Hike: Besseggen 

Level of difficulty: Medium 
Duration: 6-8 hours 
Distance: 14 kilometers 
Ascent: 1132 meters 

Besseggen is one of Norway's most popular hikes. There is a fantastic view of majestic Jotunheimen on a trip over the narrow, airy ridge. With the green Gjende Lake 400 meters straight down on one side, and the deep blue Bessvatnet Lake on the other, you will have an experience you will never forget.

Accommodation: Gjendebu Turisthytte DNT 

At 990 masl at the west end of Gjende Lake 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 6: Gjendesheim - Oslo

 

Bus: Gjendesheim - Oslo 

Transport from Gjendesheim to Oslo bus Terminal (Oslo Airport). 
If you are going to Oslo Airport, you must count about 1 hour to transfer from Oslo Bus Terminal. 

If the time schedule does not fit your flight we can help with accommodation in Oslo, adding one extra night. Let us know.

See bus departures from Gjendesheim below Practical information.

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!

Departures from Oslo

Monday-Wednesday

8.30 am – 1.05 pm 

Thursdays 

8.30 am – 1.05 pm 
3.05 pm – 7.05 pm 
5.00 pm – 9.05 pm 
5.20 pm – 9.03 pm (Directly from Oslo Airport) 

Friday 

8.30 am - 1.05 pm 
1.05 pm – 5.45 pm 
5.20 pm – 9.03 pm (Directly from Oslo Airport) 

Saturday 

8.30 am - 1.05 pm 
10.20 am – 1.35 pm 

Sunday 

10.20 am – 1.35 pm 
12.20 pm – 4.50 pm 
5.20 pm – 9.03 pm (Directly from Oslo Airport)

 

Luggage transport

We will send your luggage from cabin to cabin, so you only need to bring a daypack.

Departures from Gjendesheim

Monday-Friday 

2.00 pm – 6.35 pm 

Saturday 

10.00 am – 2.45 pm 
2.00 pm – 6.35 pm 

Sunday 

10.00 am – 2.45 pm 
10.00 am -2.21 pm (Directly to Oslo Airport) 
4.00 pm – 8.20 pm 
5.35 pm – 10.00 pm

Meals

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

Accomodation

Gjendesheim Turisthytte DNT:  

Gjendesheim Turisthytte has a history dating back to 1878. The hut is run by DNT and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains, with Besseggen Ridge as a neighbor.  

Gjendebu Turisthytte DNT:  

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

Memurubu Turisthytte:  

Memurubu is a tourist hut at the end or start of the famous Besseggen hiking trail. Memurubu is originally an old mountain pasture dating back to 1872, but has had tourists for just as long. Cows are still grazing around the tourist hut, which lies at the mouth of the river Muru in the valley Memurudalen. 

Trails and weather

The conditions in the autumn are wonderful, but it can also give some challenges. You need to be prepared to walk in the snow in case of snowfall. We have also described alternative routes for the steepest parts if the exposure or conditions makes it uncountable. In September, normal temperature is between 0-10 degrees.

All the paths are well-marked. The terrain varies from flat and easy to rocky and hilly. All the hikes as a short steep, exposed crux where you will have to use both legs and arms. Thou these sections can be avoided by walking an alternative route around.

Equipment list

We will send you equipment-list when ordering. 

Opplev Jotunheimen med oss!

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