Besseggen Ridge Trek
Famous knife-edge ridge between two lakes
A legendary 14-kilometre ridge hike scrambling directly between the green waters of Lake Gjende and dark Lake Bessvatnet.
Lake GjendeChallengingHiking
Jotunheimen & Besseggen, Norway
Ideal: 2–5 daysBest: Jun–SepPrice: Expensive
In 60 seconds
Jotunheimen & Besseggen in 60 seconds
Translated as 'Home of the Giants', Jotunheimen contains Northern Europe's highest summits, crowned by Galdhøpiggen. The iconic Besseggen ridge traverses a narrow granite crest suspended between emerald glacial meltwater and high dark blue tarns, sustained by traditional Norwegian trekking lodges and mountain bakeries.
MountainsNational Park
Best for
- Hiking
- Nature
Known for
- Besseggen ridge hike
- Lake Gjende
- Galdhøpiggen summit
- DNT mountain lodges
Skip if
You suffer from acrophobia or cannot navigate steep exposed rock scrambles with handholds.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Jotunheimen & Besseggen fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Gjendebåten Lake Ferry
ModerateHistoric lake shuttle serving wilderness trailheads
The green-hulled passenger boat transporting hikers across the length of Lake Gjende between Gjendesheim, Memurubu and Gjendebu.
GjendesheimBoatGlacial lake
Lom Stave Church (Lom stavkyrkje)
Inexpensive12th-century medieval timber church with dragon heads
One of Norway's largest and most complete medieval stave churches, featuring carved dragon heads and 17th-century acanthus paintings.
Lom VillageHistoricMedieval
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Gjendesheim Mountain Lodge Restaurant
ExpensiveHearty three-course mountain meals on the lakeside
The main DNT mountain lodge serving wholesome three-course communal dinners of local mountain venison, root vegetables and lingonberries.
GjendesheimDNTLocal game
Memurubu Fjellstue
ExpensiveTrailhead lodge dining between ridge ascents
A family-run wilderness lodge at the base of Besseggen offering hot home-cooked meat stews, warm breads and cold Norwegian draught beer.
MemurubuHeartyLocal
Fossheim Hotell Restaurant
Very expensivePioneering regional Norwegian culinary heritage
A historic timber inn in Lom celebrated for four-course gourmet dinners featuring mountain trout, morels and aged cheeses.
LomFine diningHeritage
Bakeriet i Lom
InexpensiveFamous wood-fired mountain bakery
Norway's most celebrated artisanal bakery, drawing travellers across the country for freshly wood-baked rye loaves and cinnamon buns.
Lom VillageBakeryCinnamon buns
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Galdhøpiggen Summit (2,469m)
Northern Europe's highest mountain peak
The roof of Scandinavia, reached via guided rope teams across the Styggebreen glacier or an independent rocky ascent from Spiterstulen.
Spiterstulen / JuvasshyttaGlacierHighland
Sognefjellet Scenic Route
Northern Europe's highest mountain pass road
A high mountain road cresting at 1,434 metres above sea level between jagged snow walls, glaciers and modern stone art installations.
Fv55 High PassFreeRoad trip
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Gjendesheim Peisestova
ModerateHearthside mountain ale lounge
A warm stone and timber lounge by Lake Gjende where tired trekkers trade trail stories over Norwegian craft ales by a roaring fire.
GjendesheimBeerCosy
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Lake Gjende & Gjendesheim
Turquoise glacial lake and ferry terminal
The dramatic departure port where the green waters of Lake Gjende meet the trailhead to Besseggen.
Lom Village
Artisan valley cultural base
The picturesque mountain valley gateway renowned for its stave church, celebrated artisanal bakery and culinary inns.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Gjendesheim & Maurvangen
ExpensiveLakeside DNT mountain lodges
Immediate morning walking access to the Memurubu boat departure without vehicle traffic.
DNTHiking
Lom Sentrum
ExpensiveValley hotels & historic timber inns
Base yourself near celebrated dining, bakeries and routes crossing into Sognefjellet.
BakeriesCentral
Practical
Know before you go
- Gjende ferry tickets
- Book Gjendebåten ferry tickets between Gjendesheim and Memurubu weeks in advance for summer weekends.
- Trail direction
- Take the morning boat to Memurubu and hike back to Gjendesheim so you scramble UP the steepest ridge spine.
- Hiking duration
- The 14 km Besseggen ridge traverse takes 6–8 hours with 1,100 m elevation gain; carry windproofs and ample water.
- Mountain pass winter
- Route 55 over Sognefjellet closes from November to May due to heavy snow; check 175.no before crossing.
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1158
Lom Stave Church is constructed, standing as one of the grandest dragon-headed timber temples in Norway.
- 1868
The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) is founded, opening Gjendesheim as its flagship alpine hut in 1878.
- 1980
Jotunheimen National Park is established, protecting 1,151 square kilometres of glaciated alpine wilderness.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Galdhøpiggen Peak
Northern Europe's highest mountain peak (2,469m)
Climb Northern Europe's rooftop summit via guided rope team traverses across the Styggebreen glacier.
1 hour by car to JuvasshyttaGlacierHighest peak
Sognefjellet Scenic Route
Northern Europe's highest mountain road pass (1,434m)
Cross dramatic windswept glacial landscapes linking Eastern Norway with the deep sea branches of Sognefjord.
40 min from LomAlpineGlaciers