Jotunheimen

Jotunheimen [1] is Norway's most famous mountain area and national park. The name "Jotunheimen" has its roots in Norse mythology, and literally means "The home of the giants".

Culture and History

History

Several English and German noblemen used to visit Jotunheimen in late 1800s and early 1900s to explore the mountain area, and climb the mountains. The Norwegian poet Vinje named many of the peaks in the western part of the park and is justly celebrated with a monument near Fondsbu DNT Hut. The Norwegian national playwright Ibsen set one of the most famous scenes in his classic Perr Gynt on the dramatic Besseggen Ridge in the eastern part of the park. The Besseggen Ridge has become one of the most visited natural attractions in Norway with 1-2 people passing any given point every 2-3 minutes in high summer -- not a place for solitude! The eccentric Englishman HC Slingsby popularised the area through his trip reports published in the Scottish Mountaineering Journal in the 1880s and 1890s. He also published a classic book-length account entitled Norway: the northern playground.

Landscape

Alpine mountains, glaciers with lakes and small rivers.

Flora and fauna

High mountain area with very few trees, mostly heathery terrain with some bushes.

Climate

Rapid weather changes can occur, lots of snow in the winter due to the high altitude, nice summer with over up to 25 degrees celcius if good and sunny weather.

Travel to Jotunheimen - Visa Requirements

It is located about 380km from Oslo, if you don't have a car, you can take the train to Otta 300km north of Oslo, and take the bus 80km west to Lom, where you have easy access to northern Jotunheimen. Alternatively, you can get a bus from either Oslo or Bergen to Tyinkrysset to the south of Jotunheimen where it is easy to access the south of the park. In winter the trip between Tyinkrysset and Fondsbu can be done by snowcat.

Fees/Permits

It's free to enter the nationalpark, if you want to fish, there is a small fee. Contact the local tourist information for more details.

Tours and Getting around Jotunheimen

The only way to travel within Jotunheimen national park is by foot or by skies (crosscountry). The DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association) have a lot of hikings routes with accommodation in Jotunheimen.

Jotunheimen tourist attractions and sightseeing

A fabulous alpine mountain area, probably the best in whole scandinavia. Several glaciers and steep cliffs in a national park environment.

Jotunheimen city tours

Here you can go hiking both in summer and by cross country skiing in the winter. Several possibilities of guided glacier hiking and guided climbing in the high mountains.

In Jotunheimen you climb several alpine mountains. Jotunheimens highest mountain is Galdhøpiggen at 2469m above sea level. Second highest is Glittertind with 2464m. These are both long, but technically easy hikes. One of the most famous hiking routes in Jotunheimen is across Besseggen a narrow edge with steep cliffs on both sides. The most famous mountain where you have to climb to get to the top, is Store Skagastølstind (2405m).

Jotunheimen souvenirs and shopping

Jotunheimen Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

What you bring with you, or buy at the local hotels in the park. Try Elk Burgers or Reindeer Steak.

Jotunheimen nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Fresh mountain water

Jotunheimen cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

There are several places where you can get accommodation in the mountain, both full service mountain hotels and self service cabins. Visit DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association) for more information.

Lodging

Camping

Wild camp. Not more than three days in a row on the same spot.

Backcountry

Stay safe

Always bring a map and a compass, pay attention to the local the weather forcasts. Always remember to tell where you go an when you expect to arrive there. Talk to locals if you're in doubt.

Get out

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by David and Evan Prodromou, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and Balleklorin and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license