Jotunheimen
Description
Jotunheimen, Home of the Giants, is the most famous and spectacular hiking region in Norway. Thanks to the hard gabbro rock, the mountains in this part of Norway are less eroded. The area counts twenty mountain peaks higher than 2300 meters, including the highest in the country: Galdhøpiggen (2469) and Glittertind (2452), both equipped with a glacier, both a feasible climb.
Great and well marked trails run between these giants. Perhaps the most famous (and busiest) path of Norway is the Besseggen ridge between the huts Memurubu and Gjendebu. This ridge is steep and exposed, but not dangerous. On the horizon is the sharp Hurrungane climbing range. Far below lie two lakes, seperated by a thin wall only: the green lake Gjende and 400 m higher dark blue lake Bessvatnet. Afraid of heights? Remember that the legendary Per Gynt dashed off the ridge on the back of a reindeer: "right along the Edge we two clove our passage through the air", Henrik Ibsen wrote.
You are surrounded by high mountains, deep valleys and dark lakes everywhere in Jotunheimen. In early summer, you will hear the roar of waterfalls and streams after every turn.
A good route through the area starts in Otta. Take the morning bus to Glitterheim, and then find your way westward to Hjelle. You can make it in one week, but when you have more time, you can climb some mountains as well. A round trip is also possible, in many variants. Again start in Otta, and continue, criss-crossing the area, to the pleasant DNT hut Gjendesheim. During weekends, buses drive directly to Oslo.
Many huts are available: Gjendesheim, Memurubu, Glitterheim and Gjendebu are staffed DNT huts. Then there are several self-service and unstaffed huts, plus several private huts. Carrying a tent is not needed.
Opinions
- Troncquo
- Rate 9
- Henk Nouws June 2001
- Rate 9
- Positive When I was in Jotunheimen, there was still a lot of snow. This made hiking tiresome, but the scenery was wild. There were almost no other hikers.
- Negative Besseggen was too busy.
Map
Hike Reports
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Norway nat. parks
- Troncquo August 2010
- 3 week travel with hiking to the Preikestolen,in Hardangervidda, Jotunheimen ( Galdhoppigen, Jostedalbreen glacier, Gjendesheim ) and Rondane. Superb hiking area!
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Jotunheimen, Home of the Giants
- Henk Nouws June 2001
- Worried about the melting glaciers in the Alps? And where exactly are the glaciers in the Pyrenees located? If you can't remember the feeling of ice and snow, here is the place to go: Jotunheimen, "home of the giants".
Photo Albums
More photos albums…
Links
Facts
- Bergtatt : Norges 2000-metere (Norwegian)
Great resource for anyone climbing the Norwegian Mountains. "Here you will find route descriptions to all of Norway's peaks over 2,000 meters above sea level", the author writes. Indeed, all the summits in Jotunheimen, Rondane, Breheimen and Dovrefjell are present on this website. Short descriptions, detailed maps, and the reports of the author's own climbing attempts with plenty of pictures, makes this website very complete.
- Tilltopps
Excellent page describing the different trails between the huts in Jotunheimen.
- Hiking in Norway’s Jotunheimen and Hardangervidda
Blog entry with some maps and pictures.
- In the Home of the Giants (pdf)
Reprint of an article describing a route in Jotunheimen, by Washington Trail Association.
- Jotunheimen - Areas - The Norwegian Trekking Association
This is the description of the area on the website of the DNT, including a map with all the huts.
- Jotunheimen Area Mountains Guide - A comprehensive guide to Jotunheimen Mountain Routes
Introduction to hiking in the Jotunheimen mountains.
- Jotunheimen roundwalk (pdf) (German)
Leaflet describing a possible itinerary in Jotunheimen Nationalpark.
- Jotunheimen, Article in Austrian Alpine Club Newsletter 97, spring 1988
Article describing the hiking possibilities in Jotunheimen. Old, but not too ..
- jotunheimen.info (Norwegian)
Website about Jotunheimen.
Reports
- :: BreogFjellsport.no - Jotunheimen (Norwegian)
Fine collection of trail reports, all in the Jotunheimen region, with many pictures and maps etc.
- Tilltopps - Jotunheimen
Excellent page, with some six hiking reports into the Jotunheimen mountains.
- August 1997:- Trekking in rugged Jotunheimen - Norway
Report of a hike on the popular trails of Jotunheimen.
- August 1999:- A comprehensive photo essay of a trek in Jotunheimen - central Norway
Hiking report including advice on climbing the high peaks of the region.
- Bergwandelen in de Jotunheimen (Dutch)
page about Jotunheimen: information, trail report, maps.
- Den höga Nord - Jotunheimen (Swedish)
Short trip report and a series of pictures.
- Galdhöpiggen och Glittertind, Hans Wennerström (Swedish)
Report of the climb of the two highest mountains in Norway, located in Jotunheimen: Galdhöpiggen and Glittertind.
- Jotunheimen (Norwegian)
Many reports of hikes made in Jotunheimen, with lots of pictures (Many places: Hurrungane, Galdhøpiggen, Leirungsdalen, Veodalen, Urdanostind, etc)
- Jotunheimen 2003 (Norwegian)
Short report, with a map.
- Jotunheimstien - Hiking in Norway
Look and feel yourself: fine photo gallery.
- Mine turar i Jotunheimen (Norwegian)
This person returned many times to Jotunheimen. All journeys are described with maps and pictures.
- Nielsen Brown Outdoors: Jotunheimen Plans
Nielsen Brown's blog about a walk in Jotunheimen.
- Norway | nielsenbrownwalkabout
Some blog entries about hikes in (a.o.) Jotunheimen.
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Books
United Kingdom
2018
- 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
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- The Book Depository, United Kingdom
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
United Kingdom
2014
- Norway Walking
- Connie Roos’ Cicerone guide to Walking in Norway explores the best walking areas of Norway ranging from the far south to the Arctic regions. 20 walking routes are covered in total, varying in length between a few days to over a week. Norway’s landscape is ideal for walking: there are mountains relatively free from crowds and few roads... Read more
Netherlands
2014
- Walking in Norway
- This book describes 20 walking routes in the mains mountain areas of Norway, ranging from the far south to the Arctic regions. Here you will find mountains relatively free from crowds, and few roads criss-crossing the remote landscape; within this ideal setting for walkers, cairned routes twist through splendid scenery and link up with... Read more
Netherlands
2007
- Wandelgids Walking in Norway | Cicerone
- 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
Belgium
2014
- Walking in Norway
- This book describes 20 walking routes in the mains mountain areas of Norway, ranging from the far south to the Arctic regions. Here you will find mountains relatively free from crowds, and few roads criss-crossing the remote landscape; within this ideal setting for walkers, cairned routes twist through splendid scenery and link up with... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Netherlands
- Norway the Outdoor Paradise
- This book is the story of James Baxter's 2700 kilometre ski up the entire length of Norway, followed by his 3100 kilometre kayak down the whole of Norway's coast. This eight month journey took him through Europe's most pristine natural wonders; the empty snow-covered spine of Scandinavia's mountain chain, the Arctic taiga forests and tundra,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Norway the Outdoor Paradise
- This book is the story of James Baxter's 2700 kilometre ski up the entire length of Norway, followed by his 3100 kilometre kayak down the whole of Norway's coast. This eight month journey took him through Europe's most pristine natural wonders; the empty snow-covered spine of Scandinavia's mountain chain, the Arctic taiga forests and tundra,... Read more
Netherlands
2017
- Wandelgids Noorwegen: Jotunheimen - Rondane | Rother
- Uitstekende wandelgids met 50 dagtochten in dal en hoger gelegen delen van het gebergte. Met praktische informatie en beperkt kaartmateriaal! Wandelingen in verschillende zwaarte weergegeven in rood/blauw/zwart. Deze wandelgidsen uitgever staat hoog aangeschreven en is een begrip onder de wandelaars! 176 Seiten mit 80 Farbabbildungen, 50... Read more
Netherlands
2013
- Wandelgids Jotunheimen | Conrad Stein Verlag
- Duitstalige wandelgids Jotunheimen (Noorwegen) met beschrijvingen van meerdaagse wandeltochten door het gebied Jotunheimen – das Heim der Riesen - ist eine der beeindruckendsten Bergwanderregionen Norwegens. Es trägt seinen Namen zu Recht, denn schließlich finden sich alle norwegischen Gipfel über 2.300 m hier, mit Galdøppingen (2.469 m),... Read more
Netherlands
2016
- 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
Netherlands
2013
- Wandelgids Dominicus Bergtochten in Noorwegen | Gottmer
- In dit boek worden elf berggebieden beschreven: van het lieflijke Oslomarka in het zuiden tot aan de eindeloze Finnmarksvidda in het noorden. Klassiekers als Jotunheimen en Hardangervidda zijn opgenomen, maar ook minder bekende berggebieden als Sunnmore en Lyngen Alpen. Naast de uitgebreide informatie over elk gebied worden speciale tochten... Read more
Netherlands
2014
- Fotoboek Traumtreks Europa | Rother
- Nicht der Weg, sondern, so einst Reinhold Messner, der Umweg ist das Ziel. Trekking, das ist das Entdecken der Welt nicht auf dem kürzesten; sondern auf dem interessantesten und schönsten Weg, das Ziehen von Ort zu Ort, getrieben von Neugier, Abenteuerlust und purer Freude am Gehen – die vielleicht eindrucksvollste Art, Landschaften, Natur und... Read more
Maps
United Kingdom
- Valdresflye Tourist Route
- This Valdresflye National Tourist Route Map belongs to a series of 18 map and postcards sets describing popular tourist routes all over Norway. The map set includes a map in 1: 50,000 presenting an accurate topography (based on the Norwegian topographic survey) which describes local footpaths, cycle or ski routes, sport and recreational... Read more
United Kingdom
- Southern Norway North - Oslo - Bergen - Rondvassbu - Galdhopiggen
- Southern Norway North: Oslo - Bergen - Sognefjord - Ålesund region at 1:335,000 from Cappelen, covering several national parks including Jotunheimen and Rondane (both also shown on contoured enlargements), plus city maps of central Oslo and the Bergen area.Coverage extends from Oslo and the Hardangervidda NP northwards to Ålesund and Røros and... Read more
United Kingdom
- Jotunheimen East Nordeca 2503
- The eastern part of the Jotunheimen region in Norway in a series of GPS compatible recreational maps at 1:50,000 with cartography from Norway’s topographic survey and additional tourist information. Contours lines are drawn at 20m intervals. The overprint varies from title to title, but includes local footpaths, in some cases distinguishing... Read more
United Kingdom
- Jotunheimen West Nordeca 2505
- The western part of the Jotunheimen region in Norway in a series of GPS compatible recreational maps at 1:50,000 with cartography from Norway’s topographic survey and additional tourist information. Contours lines are drawn at 20m intervals. The overprint varies from title to title, but includes local footpaths, in some cases distinguishing... Read more
United Kingdom
- Jotunheimen Nordeca 2215
- Jotunheimen area in Norway in a series of GPS compatible recreational Turkart maps at 1:100,000 with cartography from Norway’s topographic survey and additional tourist information. Contours lines are drawn at 20m intervals. The overprint varies from title to title, but includes local footpaths, in some cases distinguishing between easy and... Read more
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 2215 Turkart Jotunheimen | Nordeca
- Gebied: Jotunheimen Deze plaatsen zijn op de kaart te vinden: Beito, Beitostølen; Breheimen, Bygdin, Bøverdalen; Eidsbugarden, Fortun, Galdhøpiggen; Gjende, Glittertinden, Harbardsbreen, Hestbreapiggan, Hurrungane, Jotunheimen, Jotunheimen nasjonalpark, Kaldfjorden, Knutsholstinden, Nautgardstinden, Randsverk, Sjodalen, Skarstølstindane;... Read more
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 2505 Turkart Jotunheimen Vest - West | Nordeca
- Gebied: Årdal; Skjåk; Lom, Luster, Vang 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 1:25.000, 1:50.000 of 1:100.000 kaart. Alle noodzakelijke informatie vind je er op terug: bemande en... Read more
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart 2503 Turkart Jotunheimen Aust - Oost | Nordeca
- Gebied: Vang, Nord-Fron, Lom, Vågå; Øystre Slidre 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 1:25.000, 1:50.000 of 1:100.000 kaart. Alle noodzakelijke informatie vind je er op terug:... Read more
Walking holidays
Netherlands
- Noorwegen - Jotunheimen Besseggen
- Het vele kilometers lange Gjendemeer, dat zich als een groenblauw fjord tussen de rotswanden van de Jotunheimen uitstrekt, vormt de leidraad voor deze reis. Schitterend wandelen door het imposante gebergte en natuurlijk wandel je over de Bessegen. terwijl u uw bagage door de boot laat vervoeren. Overnachten in sfeervolle fjellstues. Eénmaal... Read more