Featured holiday Walking holiday in the Jotunheimen National Park Norway

This holiday starts with your arrival into Oslo by plane, where you will then pick up your hire car. Your journey takes you northwards, past Norway’s largest lake Miøsa, and passing through the towns of Lillehammer and Sjoa before you skirt the edge of the Jotunheimen National Park. As you approach your hotel the scenery will become more mountainous, signalling that you are entering the area known as the Home of the Giants. Arrive at Elveseter and check in to your hotel for the next five nights.

Situated in Eastern Norway between Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, Jotunheimen National Park covers an area of roughly 3,500 square km and is home to some of the most famous hiking trails in the country. The area was originally known as the Home of the Giants in Norse mythology due to the fact that Norway’s 23 highest mountains are all located within its borders. The two highest of these are also the focal points of two of Norway’s top three most iconic hikes. A popular starting point for the Galdhøppigen hike is Spiterstulen Mountain Lodge, which lies 1,100 metres above sea level. From here the round trip is roughly 13 km long and usually takes 5-7 hours, reaching three peaks over 2,000 metres high. Start by crossing the bridge at Spiterstulen, following a clear path which was renovated by Sherpas in 2010 through the forest. Following the red “T”s which mark the trail, you will ascend first Svellnose, then Keilhaustopp, before eventually reaching Galdhøppigen at 2,469 metres above sea level. You may want to stop at the Spiterstulen Mountain Lodge again on your way back for an authentic evening meal before returning to your hotel for the night. Spiterstulen is also one of the main starting points for the hike up the second highest mountain in Norway, Glittertind. This mountain has a permanent snow-cap and involves crossing the Glitterbrean Glacier. It is important to check the weather conditions before embarking on this hike, as crampons may be required depending on the conditions on the final ascent. For those looking for a more challenging, yet perhaps even more scenic, hiking route, the Bessegen ridge hike is recommended for experienced hikers only and starts with a scenic 20-minute ferry ridge from Gjendesheim to Memurubu. Jotunheimen is home to over 50 marked trails and you will find roughly 70 more in the surrounding area, meaning there is something to suit all ages and ability levels. On the opposite end of the altitude scale, the Dumma Valley features a series of labyrinthine caves home to narrow passageways and underground waterfalls carved out by the River Dumma. Other popular activities here include climbing and rafting. The River Sjoa is considered the best river in Norway for rafting, and there are also options to go canyoning and river boarding on the crystal blue waters. The town of Lom is a picturesque settlement famous for its striking Stave Church, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Norway and dates back to 1158. Other attractions here are the Lom open-air museum and the Norwegian Mountain Centre, which features an exhibition about Vikings, folklore and fairy-tales of the region. No visit to this town would be complete without a visit to the Lom Bakery to try one of its country-renowned cinnamon buns.

Today you travel from Jotunheimen to Norangdal. Driving through the vast open landscape with the mountains in the distance, you can get a true feeling of the magnitude and variety of Norway. Driving alongside the beautiful Lake Lagervatnet with the snow-scattered mountains pressing in on all sides will be a particular highlight of the first stretch of the journey. Following this you will reach a series of hairpin bends taking you up to see incredible views of the whole valley. Continue to the town of Geiranger before skirting the majestic Geirangefjord, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be greeted with breath-taking views of this as you tackle the next series of hairpin bends rising above it. Cross the fjord via more mountain valleys and arrive at your hotel, where you will be staying for the next five nights.

The area around the Norangsfjord is one of the most beautiful in Norway. The Sunnmøre Alps provide some excellent hiking opportunities, the finest of which is arguably the hike up to the Slogen summit. Patchellhytta cabin is a popular starting point for the ascent, or it is possible to start the hike from Øye, a round trip of 5-6 hours. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of the fjord and the surrounding mountain range. For a hike with a unique aspect we recommend visiting the popular Storsæterfossen waterfall, where the trail passes behind the waterfall itself. The Geirangefjord is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers an abundance of activities, from more hikes allowing you to take in the views from up high, to kayaking on the calm waters. For a truly breath-taking driving experience en route to the Geirangerfjord the Trollstigen is Norway’s most visited tourist road, consisting of eleven hairpin turns, each with its own name. This mountain pass was traditionally an important transport passage between mountain villages and has been a popular tourist attraction since the road opened in 1939. There is also a restored hiking path if you wish to experience Trollstigen by foot which crosses an impressive natural stone bridge. Slightly closer to home, the Norangsdalen (Queen’s route) is one of the narrowest valleys in Norawy and home to Lyngstøylvatnet Lake where you can still see the remains of the old road and foundations of the farmhouses which were destroyed by a rockfall in 1908 beneath the surface of the water. It is possible to hire bikes from the hotel to explore this area and its lakes in more depth. Boat trips are also common on the Hjørundfjord, giving you a different perspective of the fjord and the surrounding Sunnmøre Alps. For a more cultural experience we recommend spending one of your days here visiting the nearby city of Alesund. A port town on Norway’s west coast, Alesund is known for its art nouveau architectural style following a fire in 1904, and you may want to spend some time here taking in the architecture in its downtown district. For a true appreciation of this, Fjellstua is a famous viewpoint over the city which gives the best outlook on the townhouses and the surrounding waters. Alesund Museum provides an insight into the history of the city, from the great fire to the German occupation. It also features many exhibitions on fisheries and boats, an important part of Alesund’s history and culture.

Today you travel across the series of islands to Alesund airport. You may want to stop off along the way for a photo stop at one of the viewing points along these beautiful stretches of road as you drive next to the Hjørundfjord, giving you views of the water and the surrounding mountains. Return your hire car and board your flight back to the UK via a short stopover in Oslo.