Norway

Description

Jotunheimen - by Henk

Being the most beautiful country in Europe, Norway is as rich in unspoiled wild nature as it is in oil. The rugged mountains are interspersed with endless plateaus full of lakes. Impressive fjords (sea inlets) and glaciers ornament the long coastline. The unforgettable spectacle of a thunderstorm drifting by, the sun breaking through, the rain drifting away in the distance. In the Home of Giants (Jotunheimen) you will feel tiny as a dwarf. North of the polar circle there are several splendid areas like Troms and Finmark. Do bring your fishing gear if you go there.

Norway does not have long distance trails, but for some exceptions. Wherever there is wilderness, there are  mountain huts interconnected by trails marked with a red "T". Often these are painted high on heaps of stone, in order to stick out above the snow. The majority of huts are exploited by the DNT. Others by local hiking organisations. Some huts are private. Some of the huts are staffed and meals are served. Others are self-service huts: there is food in store, you take what you like, write down what you ate, and leave money for it in a special box. The third type of hut is the no-service hut. Here, you have to carry your own food. Generally they are equiped with gas, firewood, kitchen utensils, and blanks. Often, you will need a key to get in. The standard DNT key, which you can arrange in advance, fits on all huts.

All this means you can leave your tent at home, unless you prefer to camp in the wild clear light summer nights, and wake up to find yourself surrounded by a herd of ruminating reindeer.

A beloved national park is Rondane. Also, of course, Jotunheimen with Norway's higest mountains Galdhøpigen and Glittertind, is very popular. South of Jotunheimen is the vast plateau of Hardangervidda. The main hiking area's are situated in the south of the country. Turning north, the mountains are less well serviced by huts, and consequently hiking is more adventurous. Head north if you're looking for silence and real wilderness. A part of Lappland is in Norway and you can go there and sleep in reindeer farms: Finnmarksvidda.

Be aware that in Norway as in every country the Long T(r)ail theory is valid: most of the hikers go to 10% of the area's. But other area's may be more beautiful and in any case more quiet. In the north for instance, you will encounter a string of intensely beautiful mountain plateaus and ranges: Okstindan in Nord-Helgeland, Saltfjellet, Sulitjelma, and more. If you don't mind carrying your own food, meeting few people and 24 hours light a day, this is the place to go. Between simple but well furnished huts, cairned routes are laid out, leading up all the way to Lapland, even to Kautokeino via the Nordkalott trail and the Nordlandsruta. You can walk for months. Check out the DNT website, your most important source of information.

The season for walking the mountains is short. In June you will still sink down deep into the snow in the mountains. And again in September fresh snow is likely to blow you right off the fjell. Hiking in Norway is not without risk. River crossing and extremely bad weather take their toll. On warm days with no wind, the notorious midges will attack relentlessly.

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Map

Map of Norway North

Map of Norway Centre

Map of Norway South

Trails

Regions

Books

De Zwerver
Netherlands
2013
eBooks.de
Germany
2012
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2012
  • Wandelgids Noorwegen - Norwegen | Bruckmann |
  • Wandelgids met 40 wandelingen over heel noorwegen, nadruk op zuiden onder Trondheim. Ook 4 wandelingen op de Lofoten. Goede informatie met schetsmatige gedetailleerde kaarten. Fjorde, Seen, Gletscher, Polarlichter, Einsamkeit – wenn diese Begriffe für Sie wie Musik in den Ohren klingen, dann sind Sie in Norwegen goldrichtig. Von Touren... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2012
  • Wandelgids Noorwegen | ANWB |
  • > De wandelgids Noorwegen is geschikt voor de actieve vakantieganger. Met routebeschrijvingen, gedetailleerde kaarten en hoogteprofielen met afstanden en looptijden. > De ANWB Wandelgids Noorwegen beschrijft vijfendertig halve en hele dagtochten van uiteenlopende moeilijkheidsgraad in de klassieke wandelgebieden in centraal Noorwegen, tussen... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2011
  • Wandelgids Noorwegen Zuid - Norwegen Süd | Rother |
  • Uitstekende wandelgids met een groot aantal dagtochten in dal en hooggebergte. Met praktische informatie en beperkt kaartmateriaal! Wandelingen in verschillende zwaarte weergegeven in rood/blauw/zwart. In 50 Wanderungen erschließt dieser Führer das südliche Norwegen zwischen Oslo, Lom, Bergen und Kristiansand: Der Bogen spannt sich von den... Read more
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  • eBooks.de, Germany
  • Bol.ch, Switzerland
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eBooks.de
Germany
2011
Bol.ch
Switzerland
2011
  • Norwegen Süd
  • Norwegen bietet jede Menge unberührter, menschenleerer Natur und ist damit ein Paradies für Wanderer. Dieser Führer beschreibt 50 Wanderungen, darunter drei Weitwanderwege, im südlichen Teil zwischen Oslo, Lom, Bergen und Kristiansand. Der Bogen spannt sich von den höchsten Gipfeln Nordeuropas im Nationalpark Jotunheimen bis zu den malerischen... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2011
  • Reisgids - Wandelgids ANWB actief Noorwegen | ANWB |
  • Leuk gidsje met zowel een kleine hoeveelheid algemene informatie over de streek maar vooral ook met een aantal wandeltochten en soms fiets- en kanotochten. Ideaal om eens verder te kijken dan alleen maar dat appartement of huisje. Dé reisgids voor de actieve vakantieganger. Met wandelingen, fietstochten en autoroutes. Noorwegen is een zeer... Read more
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2010
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  • eBooks.de, Germany
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
  • Cicerone Press , United Kingdom
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eBooks.de
Germany
2010
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2010
  • Cicerone Wandelgids Walking in Norway - Noorwegen |
  • This book describes 20 walking routes in the main mountain areas of Norway, ranging from the Far South to the Arctic regions. Chosen because they are of particular interest to the visiting walker, all trips described are accessible by public transport. Many of the mountain areas are close to one another, making it easy to connect different... Read more
Cicerone Press
United Kingdom
2010
  • Walking in Norway
  • Guidebook includes 20 walking and trekking routes in the main mountain areas of Norway from the Far South to the sub-Arctic regions. Includes Hardangervidda, Aurlandsdalen, Rondane, Jotunheimen, Alvdal Vestfjell, Tafjord, Douvre, Trollheimen, Sylene, Femundsmarka, the mountains of Narvik, Troms Border Trail and Finnsmaksvidda. Read more
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Buch.de
Germany
2010
  • Nordskandinavien - Der Wanderführer
  • Aktualisierte und erweiterte Neuauflage: Dieses Buch enthält die erste vollständige Beschreibung des 1993 eingeweihten, sehr populären Nordkalottleden. 800 Kilometer führt dieser schönste und längste Wanderweg Nordskandinaviens durch die Berge Norwegens, Schwedens und Finnlands, überquert dabei 15 Mal die Grenzen und führt auch über den... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • eBooks.de, Germany
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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eBooks.de
Germany
2010
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2010
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
2009
  • Norway South
  • Presenting 50 hikes, the Rother walking guide to Norway opens up Southern Norway between Oslo, Bergen and Lindesnes: the routes range from the highest peaks in Northern Europe, in Jotunheimen National Park, to the picturesque forests and lakes of Telemark and the high heathland areas over the waterfall-rich Setesdal valley; from the cliff... Read more
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2006
eBooks.de
Germany
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Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
2008
  • Tafjordfjella
  • Tafjordfjella area in a series of GPS compatible recreational maps at 1:50,000 with cartography from Norway Read more
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2008
  • Wandelkaart 2533 Tafjordfjella | Turkart Uglandrt |
  • Uitstekende wandelkaart van een deel van Noorwegen. De Noren zelf gebruiken deze kaarten ook voor hun wandeltochten in de berggebieden. Afhankelijk van de moeilijkheidsgraad van het gebied voldoet een 1:50.000 of 1:100.000 kaart. Waar de 100.000 kaart aangeboden wordt, is er geen wandelkaart in de 50.000 serie waarop de al dan niet gemarkeerde... Read more
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Odalen South *
  • Odalen South area in a series of GPS compatible recreational maps at 1:50,000 with cartography from Norway Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Farsund
  • Map No. 10001, Farsund, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens Kartverk... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Kristiansand
  • Map No. 10002, Kristiansand, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Lillesand
  • Map No. 10003, Lillesand, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Egersund
  • Map No. 10004, Egersund, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Sirdal
  • Map No. 10005, Sirdal, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens Kartverk... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Evje
  • Map No. 10006, Evje, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens Kartverk... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Arendal
  • Map No. 10007, Arendal, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50,000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets and first published by Nordeca in 2011 - 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc.The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens Kartverk... Read more
More maps…

Walking holidays

Allibert trekking
France
  • LE GRAND TOUR DE NORVEGE
  • Le bouclier scandinave est une terre vieille de près de trois milliards d’années dont la Norvège est le témoin. Travail des glaciers du quaternaire, fjords immenses et profonds, plateaux sauvages couronnés de glaciers, rivières bondissantes, cascades spectaculaires, îles émergeant de... Read more
Sawadee
Netherlands
  • WALKING THE FJORDS
  • Set your camera to 'scenery' as you enter fjord Norway, heading deep into the heart of the country where no ungainly cruise ships can access. This is a landscape born from violence; yet the artistry of nature leaves a world etched with beauty, carved by centuries of grinding glacial arms. The thunder of cascading waterfalls remains a constant... Read more
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