Jotunheimen
Home of the giants
According to Norse mythology, Jotunheimen was once the place where the jotner – the trolls – lived.
Prepare to become spellbound, as you set foot in this massive mountain area in Eastern Norway, packed with waterfalls, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and valleys – and some of Northern Europe’s highest mountains.
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Where do you start exploring an area covering roughly 3,500 square kilometres?
The most scenic way to enter Jotunheimen is undoubtedly via one of the Norwegian Scenic Routes Sognefjellet and Valdresflye (pictured here).
Valdresflye passes the emerald green Gjende lake.
If you want to try out one of Norway’s most popular hikes over the Besseggen ridge, this is where you should start.
Most people take the Gjende ferry from Gjendesheim to Memurubu, a scenic twenty-minute ride, and start their hike from there.
The hike takes up to eight hours and is recommended for experienced hikers only.
The ridge itself is both narrow and steep, so it's not suited for those who have a fear of heights.
Besseggen (1,743 m a.s.l.), Galdhøpiggen (2,469 m a.s.l.)m and Glittertind (2,464 m a.s.l.) are Jotunheimen’s top three most iconic hikes – the latter two being Norway’s highest mountains.
However, Jotunheimen is more than just these giants.
With more than 50 marked trails within the national park and about 70 more in the surrounding areas, you can choose between everything from short hikes to multi-day adventures.
Norwegians love their cabin-to-cabin hikes in the mountains! The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) manages several cabins in Jotunheimen where you can get a bed for the night.
There are some really charming hotels here too, which elegantly belnd in with the surroundings, like Billingen Seterpensjonat (pictured here) and the Gammel-Kleppe Heritage Hotel …
… as well as cosy farms where you can spend the night, including Strind Farm and Valbjør Gard (pictured here).
But you don’t want to sleep the day away when you are in Jotunheimen.
Go rafting on the Sjoa, considered Norway’s best rafting river …
… go climbing, cycling, or horseback riding …
... or enjoy superb opportunities for cross-country and alpine skiing in the winter.
Snow-capped mountains. Powder descents. And hundreds of kilometres of groomed ski trails.
Few things can beat the sight of Jotunheimen in winter.
The Haute Route – Høgruta in Norwegian – is a real treat for hardcore ski touring enthusiasts. Five days, eight glaciers, and seven 2,000-metre high summits!
Winter, spring, summer, autumn. Nothing tastes better than a homemade meal after an active day in the wild.
Jotunheimen has long culinary traditions, and you can find local delicacies like reindeer meat, sausages, cured meats, cheeses, and jams.
Many of the mountain cabins and hotels in the area serve delicious meals based on seasonal ingredients.
When your stomach is full, your hunger for culture can be satisfied in Lom National Park Village.
Here, you can experience famous attractions like the Lom Stave Church from the 1100s, the Lom Open-air Museum, and the Norwegian Mountain Center.
Lom and its surrounding areas are a natural hub for active families.
Enjoy a feeling of complete freedom by ziplining down the Bøvre river, reach new heights at the Galdhøpiggen climbing park, join a guided glacier walk, or go caving in the marble caves of the Dumma valley (Dumdalen).
Or enjoy the magic of winter – in the summer – at the Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Center!
Just make sure you don’t leave Lom before you have visited the one and only …
... Lom Bakery. There isn’t a single person in Norway who heard heard about its delightful cinnamon buns. Taste them yourself and find out what all the fuss is about.
New tastes also await in Brimiland between Vågå and Lom.
The area received its nickname from one of Norway’s most famous chefs, Arne Brimi, and consists of several providers offering unique experiences – from tasty food and activities to comfortable accommodation.
So, what exactly is it about this wild, wild place?
Why have some of the most famous Norwegian artists, including Henrik Ibsen, Edvard Grieg, and Edvard Munch, been inspired by Jotunheimen?
Those who have been here know!
Come explore and get ready for an inspiring adventure.