Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen

Besseggen (Memurubu ↔ Gjendesheim)

The popular Besseggen ridge is a route route of about 6-8 hours (breaks included). The Besseggen hike takes you over the spectacular, steep, and some places very narrow trails which plunge four hundred meters straight down into the lake below.

Hiking: Besseggen (Memurubu ↔ Gjendesheim)

Difficulty: Difficult
Time: 7-9 hour(s)
Distance: 13 kilometers
Ascent height: 1300 meters

About Besseggen (Memurubu ↔ Gjendesheim)

- the most spectacular hike in​ the Jotunheimen

Besseggen is definitely one of the most famous hike and mountain ridges in Norway! The spectacular view with Gjende and Bessvatnet separated with just the small mountain ridge is breathtaking even for the most traveled hiker. Join the around 60 000 yearly other hikers and hike the Besseggen ridge!

The Besseggen mountain ridge is forged by Thor, and one of the most known places in “The Home of the Giants” and Jotunheimen National Park. The unique aspects of this hike is the view across the ridge. The spectacular view is made from the two lakes the Gjende lake with the distinct green color, one the one side of the ridge and 400 meter above on the other side we find Bessvatnet with its blue color typical of other lakes. The colors from Gjende is a result from glacier runoff containing clay and rock flour. Looking down towards Memurubu one can see the nearby river Muru coloring the water with a light colored runoff.

The Besseggen Hike Description

The famous view point is in the middle of the trail, and the total hike will take between 6 and 9 hours. Make sure you are in good shape, and are ready for a long full day hike. The trail is steep, long, and demanding! Start or end your Besseggen tour with a cruise on the Gjende lake with Gjendebåten. The boat has up to 7 departures every day in high season! Most people choose to walk Besseggen by taking the boat from Gjendesheim to Memurubu and then hike back to Gjendesheim. Gjendesheim to Memurubu is the most used stretch and even with two boats and several departures you should make sure to pre book your ticket! The tour is very popular and several departures can be fully booked. You can also walk from Gjendesheim to Memurubu along Besseggen and take the boat back to Gjendesheim. On busy days, this alternative can be a good idea if you did not already get your boat tickets! The peak reaches 1743 meters, and the total elevation is around 1100 meters for this tour.

Hike from Memurubu

The first hour from Memurubu will be a steep incline. Once you warm up, the land flattens out and takes you towards the most known part of the trail. “The Strip”, with the blue 1374 meter Bessvatn on the left and 984 meters emerald Gjende Lake on the right. This is a great spot to catch your breath, and take in the scenery. The Besseggen ridge is quite narrow, and a bit of a challenge if you run into fellow hikers going the opposite direction. Some parts are both steep and demanding, and the tour can be extra demanding in rain. Once you have descended the ridge, the trail takes you over Veslefjell Mountain towards Gjendesheim. Veslefjell Mountain is the ‘roof of Besseggen’. Here you pass large piles of rocks that serves as a marker for the highest point of the hike. Once you reach the top, the remaining kilometers back to Gjendesheim is like ‘a (now and then steep) walk in the park’. When you are one kilometer from Gjendesheim there will be a fork in the trail. Left-hand side will take you to Glitterheim and Bessheim. The right-hand side takes you back to Gjende and Gjendesheim.

Alternative Besseggen hiking routes

Most people hike from Memurubu, but it is also possible to start from Gjendesheim. You can hike from Gjendesheim and return by boat from Memurubu. From here you can also continue further into Jotunheimen with the Bukkelægret hike from Memurubu to Gjendebu. Another option is to start at Bessheim, hike to and around Lake Bessvatn and ascend to Besseggen.

Reason to go to Besseggen

  • National Geographic has listed Besseggen as one of the world’s top 20 most exciting hikes, and it is not hard to understand why.
  • The route takes you through the very heart of Jotunheimen’s wild and beautiful wilderness.
  • On your journey, you may very well encounter a herd of reindeer, and you may taste fresh clean mountain water right from the source.
  • Embark on personal challenges, crossing demanding passages, and putting your fear of heights to the test.

Who is Besseggen Hike Suitable for

This trip is considered demanding, and is recommended for experienced hikers and people in good physical health. The ridge is both steep, demanding and windy, and the track becomes extremely difficult in rainy weather.

In order to make sure your trip is a good experience, you should be well prepared, and plan your trip according to the weather. Even when sun and good weather are forecasted, the weather conditions can change quickly. Therefore, you should always check the forecast and ask local experts for advice before you set of on your trip. They often have knowledge of signs of rain and increased wind, even when the weather forecast has predicted calm and nice weather.

Best time to go to Besseggen?

In winter, the ridge is filled with ice and snow, which can make it a dangerous place to roam. There are some specialised guides and tours in the winter. Make sure you travel with a professionelle guide service!

The snow usually lies until early June, and the best season to cross Besseggen is summer and fall. Between mid-June and mid-October is the best season and also the same time when the Gjende boats run.

During high season in July and August, as well as on weekends, a great number of tourists hike this trail. At this time, the track can be somewhat crowded, and the boats fill up quickly. If you plan your trip outside the high season and on weekdays, there are fewer people around, and you can better enjoy the tranquillity of nature in these wonderful surroundings.

Sleep & Accommodation

There are a number of places to stay in or around Besseggen. You can start your Besseggen hike from the doorstep of Gjendesheim DNT or Memurubu. But if you are looking for more of a high end accommodation, Herangtunet boutique hotel, is the place to be.

Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway Chris Arnesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway Chris Arnesen
Besseggen
Besseggen
Besseggen – Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen
Besseggen – Visit Norway, Chris Arnesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Morten Helgesen
Besseggen ©Visit Norway, Morten Helgesen

Our product(s) with Besseggen (Memurubu ↔ Gjendesheim):

Discover Jotunheimen: Red Route (8-days)
Expand on your “Green Route” with a guided hike over the Besseggen ridge, and an extra day with a guided hike to the Uranostind glacier.
Included Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Discover Jotunheimen: Black Route (8-days)
Join us for some of the highlights in Jotunheimen. Uranostind, Besseggen and Østre Torfinnstind! We support you with a guide and equipment for the two most demanding hikes.
Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Historical Route Jotunheimen (7-days)
Follow the path of the pioneers in Norway’s mountaineering history on the historical route from Gjendesheim to Eidsbugarden, through Jotunheimen National Park.
Included Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Read more

Historical Route Jotunheimen (5-days)
Follow the path of the pioneers in Norway’s mountaineering history on the historical route from Gjendesheim to Eidsbugarden, through Jotunheimen National Park.
Included Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Read more

Discover Besseggen: Gjendesheim (2-days)
Catch Valdresekspressen from the central busterminal in the middle of Oslo, and a few hours later you will find yourself in the home of giants. Besseggen is one of the most known and famous hikes in Norway! Join the tour and find out why!
Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Discover Jotunheimen: Besseggen and Svartdalen (4-days)

Try the Jotunheimen highlight combination of two of the best hikes in the area, Svartdalen and Besseggen. The tour is a great fit for hikers in good physical condition and with some previous hiking experience.


Included Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Grand Tour Jotunheimen (10-days)
The Grand Jotunheimen route, perfect for the expert hiker who wants to see it all. The route does not offer luggage transportation and is tailored with the experienced hikers in mind.
Included Hiking Board: Breakfast, Lunch to go & Dinner

Read more

Besseggen (via Bessvatn from Bessheim)

Hike the famous Besseggen ridge on this alternative route from Bessheim. The route is a little longer but with less height meters to ascend. Read more

Bitihorn

Bitihorn at 1607 meters above sea level is one of the classical and easier hikes suited well for beginners in the area. The route start at the doorstep of Bygdin hotel and takes you up to a fantastic panoramic view over Valdres. Read more

Bukkelægret: Memurubu ↔ Gjendebu

Bukkelægret has a steady steep climb/descent on both sides of the route, with a longer flat plateau in the middle. The hike will take you through a variety of beautiful trout-filled lakes – a great place to catch your lunch. The high mountain offer great views of Gjende. In the steepest a Read more

Bygdin ↔ Torfinnsbu

Hike along the shore of the Bygdin lake. Hike one direction and take the M/B Bitihorn boat the other way. This way you get a mountain cruise and a great hike. The extra time you can spend at Bygdin Mountain Hotel and enjoin their famous waffles. Read more

Galdhøpiggen

To sit on top of Jotunheimen, you’ll have to conquer a 2469m (8,100ft) rise above sea level first. You’ll be rewarded with a 360 degree panorama of Jotunheimens mountain and lakes. Read more

Galdhøpiggen via Svellnosbreen

This is a longer, but much more exciting route to the summit of Galdhøpiggen, 2469 meters above sea level. The route includes a spectacular glacier crossing and steep, but easy scrambling up the south face of Galdhøpiggen. We follow the normal route down to Spiterstulen. It is a demanding trip Read more

Gjendetunga (From Gjendebu)

Gjendetunga is the perfect hike for those who want to indulge in a nice, relaxing and shorter trek, but who doesn’t want to go without a panoramic view experience. Towering over Gjendebu, Gjendetunga lies at 1516 MASL (4973, 7 feet) and is “a not to miss” hike if you’re in this area. On c Read more

Glacier hike to Svellnosbreen

A glacier tour to Svellnosbreen is a spectacular experience with large crevasses and blue ice towers. This is a day trip starting from Spiterstulen at 10:00 and we arrive at the edge of the glacier around 12:30 where we put on the gear needed for glacier travel: rope, harness and crampons. We exp Read more

Glittertind

– At 2,457 m above sea level, Glittertind is the second highest mountain in Norway, located within the municipality of Lom. It’s easy to grasp why the hike to Glittertind is so popular; not only is it an exciting hike that takes you over a glacier, which in itself is reason enough to go, b Read more

Hjelle - Vetti Gård

Vetti can be reached by foot or by horse-carriage from the nearby Hjelle farm to the south. The scenic route between Hjelle to Vetti Gård is well marked and is more like a well groomed road than the normal trails we are used to in Jotunheimen. Vetti is no longer regularly inhabited, but it is no Read more

Knausehøgdi

Enjoy hiking through the scenic mountain terrain with views of Jotunheimen and Langsua National Parks. Read more

Knutshøe

Next to his bigger brother Besseggen, you will find the 1517m high peak of Knutshøe. Knutshøe offers outstanding views towards the peaks towering all around and the surrounding lakes. Read more

Kvitskardtinden

With its 2,193 meters above sea level, Kvitskardtinden is Norway’s 59th highest mountain. Great views over Svartdalen bellow and Jotunheimen in the background! Read more

Kvitskardtinden (From Torfinnsbu)

With its 2,193 meters above sea level, Kvitskardtinden is Norway’s 59th highest mountain. Great views over Svartdalen bellow and Jotunheimen in the background! Read more

Melbyfjellet

From Beitostølen you can hike to Melbyfjellet past old mountain farms and the green mountain pastures with the views of Jotunheimen and Langsua National park. Read more

Nørdre Kalvehølotinden

North (Nørdre in Norwegian) Kalvehølotinden, with its 2019 meters above sea level, is the southernmost of Norway’s 2000-meter peaks. The mountain is part of a ten-kilometer-long mountain massif called Kalvehøgde, which consists of ten peaks over 2000 meters, including Vang and Valdres’ hig Read more

Ridderspranget (The Knight’s leap)

Ridderspranget (The Knight’s leap) is a narrow gorge through Sjodalen in the river Sjoa. Ridderspranget is easy to get to, with a drivable road which turns off road 51, 5 km south of Randsverk. From the car park it is only a short walk to the gorge. Please don´t try to jump across the gorge. I Read more

Svartdalen (The Black Valley)

The popular hiking route from Torfinnsbu to Gjendebu takes you through Svartdalen, meaning “The Black Valley”, which is often referred to as the most beautiful valley in Jotunheimen. As you wander through this lush valley, you'll be surrounded by majestic towering peaks, several of which Read more

Synshorn

Synshorn at 1457 meters above sea level invites to a fantastic view of Jotunheimen. The trail is easy to follow and climb, and varies from soft terreng to rock closer to the peak. The hike is well suited for beginners and is a short hike starting at the doorsteps of Bygdin Hotel. Read more

The King’s Road: Eggum Gard - Borgund Stave Church - Selto

Are you ready to walk to the most famous sections of the King's Road across Filefjell? You will experience Vindhellavegen, Øygardsvegen and Galdane. You will also be able to visit the world known attraction Borgund Stave Church. Read more

The King’s Road: Kvamskleive - Øye - Tyinkrysset

Start your hike at Kvamskleive and continue like the locals with public transportation from the end of Kvamskleive to Øye. Or skip the first part to start directly at Øye to avoid any extra transportation. Kvamskleive was in use from 1808 and replaced an older road on the other side Read more

The King’s Road: Maristova - Borgund - Eggum Gard

The stretch between Maristova and Borlaug is 7 km long, and has an elevation of 300 metres. Most is on grassy track and is the original Kongevegen. If you start at Maristova and head west, you will immediately encounter the spectacular wooden bridges – all built according to instructio Read more

Torfinnsbu ↔ Eidsbugarden

The Torfinnsbu to Eidsbugarden route is also the last stage of the Historical Hiking Route in Jotunheimen. The route takes you west from Torfinnsbu to Eidsbugarden. The trail goes along Bygdin lake, climbing to as high as 1600 meters above sea level, and back down to the final destination at Eids Read more

Torshammaren (From Eidsbugarden)

The tour to Torshammaren will provide a feeling of being surrounded by Jotunheimen's mountain peaks. At the peak you will find yourself at the gates of Jotunheimen's wilderness. The tour is easy, and a great tour for beginners. There are only 370 height meters from start to the peak, with a fairl Read more

Tyinkrysset - Kyrkjestølen - Maristova

Large parts of the route follow the beautiful lake Otrøvann. The lake is also known as Støgovatnet, and is located 971 m a.s.l. Between Kyrkjestølen and Maristova, you will cross the actual Filefjell and reach Kongevegen’s highest point. The stretch across Murkløpphøgda is Read more

Utsikten (From Eidsbugarden)

Utsikten is a short, easy tour with spectacular view over the great nature landscape of Jotunheimen. Its about 410m height meters to ascend, but short and fits beginners well. Read more

Veslådalen (Gjendebu → Eidsbugarden)

The hiking route between the Gjendebu and Eidsbugard takes you from Lake Gjende to Lake Bygdin through Jotunheimen National Park. Starting off from the birch forest by Gjendebu you follow the Veslådalen valley before heading down to Lake Bygdin and Eidsbugard. The hike is long but moderate wi Read more

Vetti Gard - Vettifossen peak (Round-trip)

Vettisfossen is one of Norway's tallest waterfalls, and the 284th tallest in the world. Most people hike to the base of the waterfall for a view of Vettisfossen. It's also possible to hike to the top. The route and climb is longer than to the base. But while you are at Vetti Gård this is a great Read more

Vetti Gård - Vettisfossen (Round-trip)

Continue from Vetti Gård up into the beautiful Utladalen. The green wild nature and the river along the hike creates a superb scenery all the way on to Vettisfossen. With a free fall of 275 metres, Vettisfoss is the highest waterfall in Norway which has not been regulated. The short hike has som Read more

Vindhellavegen & Borgund Stave Church

Vindhellavegen combined with Borgund Stave Church is the most spectacular and famous part of The Kings Road. The hike was renovated by the Kings Road project and is not a superb hiking route. Read more