Norway is famous for its legends and myths. Every boy probably knows about the warlike Vikings and fairy trolls living in the mountains. And even growing up, many do not leave the dream to meet them, or at least to see the home of these mythical heroes. The hike "The Heart of Norway. Galhöpiggen and the Giant Mountains" is one of the best options to make your dream come true.
Almost all of our trek flowing the picturesque Jotunheimen National Park. Its mountain scenery is spectacular, even though it is relatively low in elevation. Wild, untouched nature awaits us: winding fjords surrounded by huge cliffs, centuries-old glaciers, rushing mountain rivers and noisy waterfalls, dense green forests and gentle lakes whose eyes reflect the heavenly blue.
During our hike in Norway we will meet the real natural giants of this wonderful country - we will climb to the highest point of the country Galhöpiggen (2469 m), see the greatest waterfall Vettisfossen and swim through the waters of the "king of fjords" Sogne-fjord.
We offer to combine two trails in one trip: Jotunheimen National Park and Troll's Tongue Trek, and get 10% discount for the second hike!
For 12 days we can fully enjoy all the charms of Norwegian trekking and maximize the privacy of nature, because we almost completely go through the largest national park in Norway - Jotunheimen.
At almost every anchorage we will be able to shower and enjoy local campsites/hotels, while living in tents like real campers.
We will climb the highest point of Norway and the whole of Northern Europe - mountain Galhepiggen (2469 m), where you can enjoy incredible views, in addition there is a very cozy cafe and free WI-FI.
Take a photo against the background of the highest waterfall in the country and one of the highest in the world. Vettisfossen, 275 meters high free-fall water
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Kuluar experienced teamleaders will accompany the group along the entire route, making your hiking as memorable and safe as possible! They have been to Norway many times and know the country in details.
The manager, who will advise you before the trip, has been to Norway herself and will tell you the details from personal experience!
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied.
The day of the meeting of the group members. We fly from different corners of our planet to Oslo airport. Tonight we will spend the night in a cozy hostel near the train station, this is where the whole group gathers. A week before the hike coordinator will send you all the details about the exact meeting place on e-mail.
In the morning we go on by shuttle bus to Jotunheimen National Park, where most hiking trails in Norway originate. It's a fascinating ride in a comfortable vehicle with great views out of the window in the blink of an eye. We get off at the village of Gjendesheim, which is located on the shore of the picturesque lake Gjende. We take a tourist ferry to the other shore to the village of Memurubu. Despite the white nights, we ыet up our tents here and spend the night.
Well, this is the beginning of our hiking route. The trail passes among amazing scenery between two contrasting lakes. One, Gjende Lake, is deep blue and remains far below, while we climb up a rocky cliff, admiring the green hues of Lake Bessegen's water. Once we get around it, and go down to the west shore, we stop here for the night.
Distanse: 15 km, climb: 600m, drop: 400 m
Today we pass another large mountain lake in Jotunheimen Park - Russvaten. After resting and taking pictures on its shores, we continue on to the Glitterheim camping site, which is located further up the mountain pass. Here you will be able to stay in tents or, if you wish, in small huts with all the necessary conveniences.
Distanse: 18 km, climb: 700 m, drop: 200 m
We continue our way along the rocky slopes of the Norwegian mountains. Almost the whole day our route passes on a huge plateau. But you will not be bored, because on the gray rocky surface here and there small but lively and very beautiful mountain lakes will constantly delight your eyes. Further down the plateau we need to go deep into a huge canyon to the shelter of Spiterstuhlen, where we will stay overnight. There is a cafe here with a great view of the mountains. After a long hike we can sit back and relax.
Distanse:17 km, climb: 300 m, drop: 600 m
In the morning, we travel lightly to Galhöpiggen, the highest mountain not only in Norway, but also in the whole of Northern Europe. We will have to walk across rocky and harsh slopes and deep snowfields until we reach the top, which offers a wonderful panorama of the glaciers around us and a view of the ski resort of Yuvvaskhütta. That is, of course, if there is no fog. At the summit itself there is a small shelter-cafe for climbers. Here you can have a snack, warm yourself up with some tea, buy some original souvenirs, and have a rest after a long ascent. In the evening we are coming down to our camp at Spiterstuhlen.
Radial trekking: 12 km hike, climb and drop: 1300 m.
And again today we will have to overcome rocky slopes, high mountain valleys, blue lakes and passes as we reach our next overnight stop on the shore of the quiet mountain lake Leirvatnet, located at the foot of the amazingly shaped Kirk Mountain.
Distanse: 14 km, climb: 300 m
From the picturesque lake that gave us a cozy night, we descend a rocky path to the valley of the wide Storutla River. We will pass through dwarf forests, where we may encounter trees no taller than our knees. Also these places are rich in different gifts of nature, so we will surely gather mushrooms for the evening soup, and we will replenish our supply of vitamins with fresh forest berries - blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries. We will camp in the middle of the mountain Norwegian tundra.
Distanse: 12 km, drop: 300 m.
Today we are waiting for an impressive spectacle - one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Europe - Vettisfossen. The water of the mountain river, falling from a large cliff 275 meters high, not reaching the ground, breaks into small splashes and in sunny weather forms a wonderful rainbow, which tourists from many countries come to admire. Unceasing sound of water, light breeze, colorful reflections of the sun give unforgettable emotions.
Distanse: 23 km, drop: 300 m
After admiring the morning sunrise and the splashing of the waterfall in its rays, taking a couple of pictures, we go down to the village of Ovre Ardal, which is located on the edge of the largest Norwegian fjord - Sogne-fjord. Here the walking part of the hike through Norway ends, and then we take the bus to the camping site in Songdal. Here we already have all the amenities we missed.
Distanse: 14 km, climb: 115 m, drop: 685 m
Today we'll take an exciting five-hour trip through Norway's largest fjord. Our feet are resting as we will be sailing on a boat, enjoying the beautiful views of the rocky shores of the fjord and small villages lurking above the cliffs. In Bergen we check into a hostel and walk around the city, which has many world-class attractions. In the evening we take a funicular to Mount Fløyen, where we can see the whole city in all its enchanting nighttime glory.
Today we say goodbye to the part of the group that is going home. You can fly directly from Bergen, or you can take a bus or train to Oslo. This concludes our hike in Norway. Beautiful country with wonderful nature, but we have to say goodbye and fly home.
You can also continue your journey in Norway and go further with us to the Troll's Tongue Trek. Today we meet the members of the next group.
The manager will advise you about equipment, help you find the best air tickets, share information on hotels and excursions. You make your own payments and purchases. If you want the manager to buy the ticket for you, it is possible, but for extra money, because it is a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
Citizens of Ukraine, who have a biometric passport, do not need a visa to visit Norway. At the border, you may be asked to provide an insurance policy. Citizens of Ukraine and other countries, who have a regular passport, need to have a Schengen tourist visa. If you don't have a visa, we'll help you to get one. So far, the participants of our hikes have not received refusals.
You must have no illnesses from this list in order to participate in the hike.
The climate in Norway is not the easiest and most pleasant. It often rains, it can be foggy. But after bad weather you appreciate the gentle northern sun much more. We try to organize our hikes at the most favorable time, but we can not give any guarantees about the weather)). Take good membrane clothes, they will protect you from rain and wind. Air temperature is about +13 on average but sometimes it gets warmer than +20! So it is not as cold as you think! In June, there may still be snow on the overnight stay near Troll's Tongue. August is more rainy compared to other months.
This hike in Norway cannot be called very simple. We categorized it as "difficult", because the route is quite long trekking (often more than 20 km), the trail passes through the rocky terrain. The harsh northern climate with frequent rains and strong winds also adds to the difficulty.
If this is your first hike, to begin with, we recommend to go to a few easier hikes, such as the Carpathians or Georgia, to get a feel for hiking life, to understand what it is - to go with backpacks, to sleep in tents, to get wet in the rain. Of course, this is not a requirement, beginners can also cope with the route, but it will be much easier for you and you can get more pleasure from what you see. Be sure to incorporate jogging into your trek preparation schedule, it will increase your endurance, and the long climbs/transitions will not seem so difficult to you. When hiking in Norway, remember, this is a real hike, not just a walk in the park. It will not be easy for everyone.
Buy good, quality gear. In this hike you will feel all the advantages of expensive membranes over cheap ones. But it must be of high quality and reliable to withstand the northern rains and winds. On the choice of equipment depends your comfort and enjoyment of the hike. Good membrane pants and jacket, windproof waterproof tent, and comfortable waterproof boots are a must have in this trekking.
After Trekking in Norway. Giant Mountains and Galhöpiggen (2469 m). Jotunheimen, we recommend the following routes:
It is recommended to buy tickets as early as possible, as the price always rises significantly closer to the departure date. There are no direct flights from Ukraine to Oslo, you should fly with a connection in European cities. Tickets change all the time, so we can't give specific advice on how and with what to fly. You should always look for the actual variant at the time of purchase for the chosen date of your trip. The group meets in Oslo on the first day of the program during the day, so you can fly in at a convenient time. The hike ends in Bergen. So you can fly home from either Bergen or Oslo. Usually the train ride Bergen-Oslo on one of the most scenic roads in the world takes 7-8 hours, tickets cost 50-80 euros. Keep this in mind when choosing a date and location for your return trip. It's better to buy train tickets in advance on the official website of the train company, it's cheaper. If you have any difficulties - you can always contact us.
Our recommendations for airline ticketing services can be found in this article.
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
Teamleader meets all participants at the campsite in Oslo. How to get there - we will tell you in detail before the hike. 7-10 days before the start of the program we will send you on email information about the meeting of the group and the teamleader's contacts. A month before the start there will be a chat with the participants and the teamleader in Viber, where you will be able to get acquainted before the start, ask general questions, find a companion for the flight.
Almost everywhere in the city you can pay with a bank card. It is important that it has a chip or Pay Pass, as not all terminals have a slot to read the magnetic tape. But for city transportation, we'll buy tickets in cash. If you plan to cash out with a card, note that many ATMs have a commission - about 200 kronor (approx. 20 euros). The amount of the fee may vary and is written on each ATM. Look for state banks such as Spare Bank - there you can cash out money without fees. It is also worth taking some cash with you into the mountains for the trek.
Of course, it's not a cheap treat, but to visit the Bergen waterfront and not taste the delicacies of the sea... You'll regret it until the next time you come back.
Buy ice cream. It's very similar to Icelandic ice cream - just as big, tasty and expensive.
Surely you are wondering what we will eat on a hike? Let's just say that you don't have to worry. Many participants say they eat better on the hike than they do at home. The basis of the menu is a simple meal of cereals and soups. You should not count on gourmet delicacies (although they can be).
If you do not eat any products, be sure to inform the manager so that the guide can slightly adjust the menu for you. We also recommend taking some yummies with you - nuts or sweets. Appetite on a hike is much better than at home.
Please note that the menu shown is indicative only. Team leaders usually have their signature dishes that they love to pamper participants with.
Features of nutrition for vegetarians - if you do not eat meat, be sure to read. We tell here how we will feed you and at the same time we give you a 5% discount to the hiking.
The total amount of mandatory additional expenses of the program: from 40 euros
Depending on your wishes you will need money for souvenirs, additional excursions, getting to and from the airport (20 euros), meals in a cafe. It is always recommended to have a hundred or two euros with you in case of unforeseen circumstances.
*Please note: It is not the manager's task to choose a separate flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations from his experience and shares flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
To book a place in the group, you need to make an advance payment 250 euro. You can do this here or just write to the manager. It is after the prepayment is made for you to reserve a place in the group.
You will deposit the rest of the cost of the tour in cash at the first day of the program. In case of departure from the route you can not return your money back.
