Johan Wildhagen - Høgruta i Jotunheimen
Johan Wildhagen - Høgruta i Jotunheimen

Haute Route Jotunheimen

Norway's hottest ski route

Haute Route Jotunheimen

Norway's hottest ski route

From USD 1704

Join us on a 5-day alpine ski trip in Jotunheimen and experience some of the most beautiful mountain scenery Norway has to offer. This is Norway's answer to the Haute Route Alpine classic.

Highlights

  • Alpine ski tour through some of Norway's finest mountain scenery
  • Good food and pleasant accommodation along the way

This is a tough trip with long day stages and up to 12-1300 meters of altitude each day. The main goal is an alpine skiing experience through the heart of Jotunheimen.

Surtningssue, Glittertind, Bukkeholsbandet and Storebjørn are all big summits we will aim for on this trip. There are several different route variants along the way, and we will constantly assess the stages based on weather and conditions. Although the goal is to cross Jotunheimen from east to west, we cannot guarantee that it can be completed in its entirety every time. This is one of the risks of going on such a trip, in contrast to a "peak trip weekend" where you have a lot of leeway to choose trips each day based on weather and conditions.

6

6-12

5-12

4/6

4/6

NO/EN

Dates and booking

Tue 02. April - Sun 07. April 2024

USD 1704Available

See guides Guaranteed departure

Tue 09. April - Sun 14. April 2024

USD 1704Limited availability

See guides Guaranteed departure

Send request
This trip is also offered as a private tailormade trip. Travel alone, with your friends or family whenever you want.
Send request

Opening hours Phone
Mon-Fri : 08-20
Sat-Sun : 14-17
Opening hours Chat
Mon-Fri : 07-23
Sat : 10-18
Sun : 13-21
CET

Safety

  • 24 hour emergency response
  • All guides have wilderness first aid experience
  • Necessary medicine and first aid equipment available
  • Cooperation with Turlegen.no for medical advice while in the field

Safety and grading of trips

Physical level

4/6 Physical

To participate on a level 4 trip with us, you must prepare well and be ready for a real challenge! The trips are often longer than at lower levels, and the accommodation is often of a simple standard. Along the way, it will be both physically and mentally demanding, and it presupposes that you are prepared for this. You should do targeted training well in advance of departure. If the trip includes technical elements such as kayaking, cycling, climbing, glacier, skiing / summit hiking, you should have good skills in the relevant activity.

Safety and grading of trips

Risk level

4/6 Risk

Activities / trips with significant risk. Events can happen, and they can be of such a nature that they require professional help. If guidelines from guides and / or the company are not followed, you can be exposed to incidents that in the worst case result in serious injuries.

Safety and grading of trips

Training and Preperation

This tour requires good physical fitness, good skiing skills and general mountain experience. You must be able to master descents in varying snow conditions and terrain with a steepness of approx. 35-40 degrees in some sections. The tour has long stages of 8-12 hours and up to 1,300 meters of altitude each day, 5 days in a row.

You must be experienced in backcountry skiing and be used to long stages over several days in a row to be able to take part in this tour. Extensive and varied experience with split boarding is required if you would like to use this, please contact us. Participants must bring crampons and an ice ax and have experience in using these tools. Like all other summit tours, you also need to have and know how to use an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe.You must carry everything you need for 5 days in your rucksack for the entire trip.

 

Accommodation

We will stay in mountain cabins in Jotunheimen in 4-person rooms. It is possible to pay for bed linens and towels at the cabins so that you don't have to carry a bag of sheets and a towel on the trip. Tick this in the booking form or get in touch with us to set this option up.

 

Transport

The easiest way to get to Otta is by train or bus, both from Oslo and Trondheim. Check www.vy.com for train times and prices.

It will also be possible to park private cars at Otta station.

 

Highlights

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Day by day

Gjendesheim
Glitterheim, april 2019
Gjendesheim

Day 1:Meet in Otta

You will meet the guide and the rest of the group at Otta station at kl. 17:45 / 5:45 PM for departures in March and kl. 16:15 / 4:15 PM for departures in April, just after the train/bus from Oslo arrives. We will travel together to Gjendesheim and have dinner at 20:00 / 8 PM or 19:00 / 7 PM where we will have a briefing for the trip. We get a good night's sleep before the adventure begins.

You will meet the guide and the rest of the group at Otta station at kl. 17:45 / 5:45 PM for departures in March and kl. 16:15 / 4:15 PM for departures in April, just after the train/bus from Oslo arrives. We will travel together to Gjendesheim and have dinner at 20:00 / 8 PM or 19:00 / 7 PM where we will have a briefing for the trip. We get a good night's sleep before the adventure begins.

Gjendesheim

-,-,D

1t 15 minutes

Øyvind Salvesen
Øyvind Salvesen
Øyvind Salvesen

Day 2:Gjendesheim - Memurubu

After a good breakfast at Gjendesheim, we get ready to finally start the trip through Jotunheimen. This first day is a solid stage, over Besshø and down to Memurubu. We follow the marked winter trail from Gjendesheim to Glitterheim to the east end of Bessvatn, from here we follow the ridge up to Bukkehø and further up to the top of Besshø 2258 m. The descent is decided based on the conditions, either the west chute or the west ridge if there is a risk of avalanches, or down towards Gjende and over the ice to Memurubu. In bad weather, we go directly across Gjende to Memurubu along the marked trail. Once at Memurubu, we eat a well deserved dinner and recharge for the next few days ahead of us. Note: there are no shower facilities at Memurubu in winter.

After a good breakfast at Gjendesheim, we get ready to finally start the trip through Jotunheimen. This first day is a solid stage, over Besshø and down to Memurubu. We follow the marked winter trail from Gjendesheim to Glitterheim to the east end of Bessvatn, from here we follow the ridge up to Bukkehø and further up to the top of Besshø 2258 m. The descent is decided based on the conditions, either the west chute or the west ridge if there is a risk of avalanches, or down towards Gjende and over the ice to Memurubu. In bad weather, we go directly across Gjende to Memurubu along the marked trail. Once at Memurubu, we eat a well deserved dinner and recharge for the next few days ahead of us. Note: there are no shower facilities at Memurubu in winter.

Memurubu

B,L,D

1258m/

17 km

Øyvind Salvesen
Øyvind Salvesen
Glitterheim, april 2019

Day 3:Memurubu - Glitterheim

This stage is relatively long, and today we can pick out several 2000 meter peaks if the weather is with us. We follow the summer route over Raudhamarn to the top of Surtningsue 2368 m above sea level. From here we follow the ridge north where we can climb 2,000 meter peaks, before we end up at Søre Veotinden. There are several options for descending, one of them is down Styggehøbrean down into Veodalen and down to Glitterheim. In bad weather, we follow the branched route from Memurubu to Glitterheim. This is one of the heaviest stages of the trip where we ascend several summits and have multiple skis to skins transitions throughout the day.

This stage is relatively long, and today we can pick out several 2000 meter peaks if the weather is with us. We follow the summer route over Raudhamarn to the top of Surtningsue 2368 m above sea level. From here we follow the ridge north where we can climb 2,000 meter peaks, before we end up at Søre Veotinden. There are several options for descending, one of them is down Styggehøbrean down into Veodalen and down to Glitterheim. In bad weather, we follow the branched route from Memurubu to Glitterheim. This is one of the heaviest stages of the trip where we ascend several summits and have multiple skis to skins transitions throughout the day.

Glitterheim

B,L,D

1100m/

19 km

Øyvind Salvesen
Øyvind Salvesen
Øyvind Salvesen

Day 4:Glitterheim - Spiterstulen

Today we may be a little tired after yesterday's trip, so it is good that we have a shorter stage ahead of us. We climb Glittertind 2465 m above sea level, Norway's second highest mountain. We go up the normal route to the top, where we have a great view, and we can, among other things, overlook Galdhøpiggen. Down we ski towards Spiterstulen in the west, down the ridge to the bottom of Steindalen, from here over Skautkampen and down to Spiterstulen. In bad weather, we follow a branched route.

Today we may be a little tired after yesterday's trip, so it is good that we have a shorter stage ahead of us. We climb Glittertind 2465 m above sea level, Norway's second highest mountain. We go up the normal route to the top, where we have a great view, and we can, among other things, overlook Galdhøpiggen. Down we ski towards Spiterstulen in the west, down the ridge to the bottom of Steindalen, from here over Skautkampen and down to Spiterstulen. In bad weather, we follow a branched route.

Spiterstulen

B,L,D

1100m/

15 km

Øyvind Salvesen

Day 5:Spiterstulen - Leirvassbu

Today we head towards Bukkeholsbandet, and if the weather permits, we can take a trip to Nørdre Bukkeholstindan - where we can get a fantastic view of some of Jotunheimen's most iconic peaks. Then we go up to Søre Tverrbottinden and down in a southern direction to Leirvatnet before we are finally down at Leirvassbu.

Today we head towards Bukkeholsbandet, and if the weather permits, we can take a trip to Nørdre Bukkeholstindan - where we can get a fantastic view of some of Jotunheimen's most iconic peaks. Then we go up to Søre Tverrbottinden and down in a southern direction to Leirvatnet before we are finally down at Leirvassbu.

Leirvassbu

B,L,D

1800m/

24-26 km

Johan Wildhagen - Høgruta i Jotunheimen
Øyvind Salvesen

Day 6:Leirvassbu - Krossbu - Otta

We will wake up at the wonderful Leirvassbu, enjoy the view and take on the last day of the trip. It's a little sad, but at the same time a fantastic accomplishment. We are going to take a last trip up to Storebjørn 2222 m.a.s.l. We will follow the normal route from Leirvassbu up, and on through Bjørnskaret and down to Leirbrean and on to Krossbu. If the weather is bad, we can follow the valley from Leirvassbu out to the road. At Krossbu, we are picked up by minibus and head back to Otta Station, where we arrive before the last train to Oslo and Trondheim leaves.

We will wake up at the wonderful Leirvassbu, enjoy the view and take on the last day of the trip. It's a little sad, but at the same time a fantastic accomplishment. We are going to take a last trip up to Storebjørn 2222 m.a.s.l. We will follow the normal route from Leirvassbu up, and on through Bjørnskaret and down to Leirbrean and on to Krossbu. If the weather is bad, we can follow the valley from Leirvassbu out to the road. At Krossbu, we are picked up by minibus and head back to Otta Station, where we arrive before the last train to Oslo and Trondheim leaves.

B,L,-

1t 30 minutes

1200m/

14 km

You will meet the guide and the rest of the group at Otta station at kl. 17:45 / 5:45 PM for departures in March and kl. 16:15 / 4:15 PM for departures in April, just after the train/bus from Oslo arrives. We will travel together to Gjendesheim and have dinner at 20:00 / 8 PM or 19:00 / 7 PM where we will have a briefing for the trip. We get a good night's sleep before the adventure begins.

Gjendesheim

-,-,D

1t 15 minutes

After a good breakfast at Gjendesheim, we get ready to finally start the trip through Jotunheimen. This first day is a solid stage, over Besshø and down to Memurubu. We follow the marked winter trail from Gjendesheim to Glitterheim to the east end of Bessvatn, from here we follow the ridge up to Bukkehø and further up to the top of Besshø 2258 m. The descent is decided based on the conditions, either the west chute or the west ridge if there is a risk of avalanches, or down towards Gjende and over the ice to Memurubu. In bad weather, we go directly across Gjende to Memurubu along the marked trail. Once at Memurubu, we eat a well deserved dinner and recharge for the next few days ahead of us. Note: there are no shower facilities at Memurubu in winter.

Memurubu

B,L,D

1258m/

17 km

This stage is relatively long, and today we can pick out several 2000 meter peaks if the weather is with us. We follow the summer route over Raudhamarn to the top of Surtningsue 2368 m above sea level. From here we follow the ridge north where we can climb 2,000 meter peaks, before we end up at Søre Veotinden. There are several options for descending, one of them is down Styggehøbrean down into Veodalen and down to Glitterheim. In bad weather, we follow the branched route from Memurubu to Glitterheim. This is one of the heaviest stages of the trip where we ascend several summits and have multiple skis to skins transitions throughout the day.

Glitterheim

B,L,D

1100m/

19 km

Today we may be a little tired after yesterday's trip, so it is good that we have a shorter stage ahead of us. We climb Glittertind 2465 m above sea level, Norway's second highest mountain. We go up the normal route to the top, where we have a great view, and we can, among other things, overlook Galdhøpiggen. Down we ski towards Spiterstulen in the west, down the ridge to the bottom of Steindalen, from here over Skautkampen and down to Spiterstulen. In bad weather, we follow a branched route.

Spiterstulen

B,L,D

1100m/

15 km

Today we head towards Bukkeholsbandet, and if the weather permits, we can take a trip to Nørdre Bukkeholstindan - where we can get a fantastic view of some of Jotunheimen's most iconic peaks. Then we go up to Søre Tverrbottinden and down in a southern direction to Leirvatnet before we are finally down at Leirvassbu.

Leirvassbu

B,L,D

1800m/

24-26 km

We will wake up at the wonderful Leirvassbu, enjoy the view and take on the last day of the trip. It's a little sad, but at the same time a fantastic accomplishment. We are going to take a last trip up to Storebjørn 2222 m.a.s.l. We will follow the normal route from Leirvassbu up, and on through Bjørnskaret and down to Leirbrean and on to Krossbu. If the weather is bad, we can follow the valley from Leirvassbu out to the road. At Krossbu, we are picked up by minibus and head back to Otta Station, where we arrive before the last train to Oslo and Trondheim leaves.

B,L,-

1t 30 minutes

1200m/

14 km

What's included in the price

Included

Not included

Reservation

We reserve the right to change prices. The day by day program is a guideline and changes may occur. You can refer to our general travel conditions for more information.

Travel insurance

On all our trips, we require you to have full health and accident insurance which will also cover any emergency transport home. Read more about travel insurance.

Guides

Equipment list

This list is intended as a guideline, so that we have what we need regardless of the weather we get on the trip. Remember that you can also get used hiking equipment that works perfectly. Get in touch if you have any questions. TIP: We recommend that you have the most important hiking equipment in your hand luggage, for example hiking boots and gore-tex jacket/trousers.

Obligatory

Clothing

We recommend wool underwear for both men and women. Wool sportstop is recommended for women.

High enough to reach above the boot shaft is reccommended.

Fleece or wool. 

With hood, and long enough to cover the butt.

Gore-Tex or similar. Must have a decent hood, and hold out wind and rain. Should have space for midlayers underneath. Ventilation under the arms is recommended. 

Gore-Tex or similar. Must be waterproof and windproof,  zips for ventilation are recommended.

Warm hat for cold days.

Footwear
Equipment

30-40 liters or more with attachments for skies and ice axe.

Remember new/extra batteries.

High SPF, 30-50. Remember chapstick for lips and nose. 

For protection against cold wind and snow.

Randonee skis, not splitboard. Make sure your bindings fits your boots.

Make sure these fit your skis.

Make sure they fit your ski boots. 

Make sure these fit your skis and bindings.

With new batteries.

Small, light and in aluminum (not plastic).

We recommend a small and light alpine harness. For example Petzl Altitude or Tour or Black Diamond Colouir.

2 pcs. screw carabiners and 1 regular carabiner. 

One sling, 120 cm

0,5-1,0 liter

Recommended

Clothing

Thin, ultra lihgt.

Warm ski mittens/gloves.

Equipment

Band-aid, compeed, sportstape, Paracet/Ibux, medicine for soar throat, running nose, irritable stomach, etc, and personal medication. 
We need to know about all medicines you are taking, in case something happens. 

Tooth brush, tooth paste, small towel, ear plugs, wet wipes, biodegradable soap, etc.

Nuts, chocolate, energy bars, etc.

To attach skis to backpack if necessary.

For example Nalgene bottles with wide mouth. 1-2 liters.

Useful

Equipment

The equipment list is intended as a guideline so that we can cope with whatever we encounter on the trip, but at the same time, be careful with the weight. We think you should include the things on the list, but not much more.

The pack should be as light as possible, not only so that you can carry it but to avoid blisters, to improve skiing technique whichreduces the risk of injury, and after five days of touring the pack might feel heavy enough even if it seemed light when packed.

The bag should not be heavier than 10-12 kg. Expect to have to carry some common equipment, max 1 kg.

Avalanche equipment (transmitter/receiver, search pole, and shovel) is mandatory on this trip.

It is possible to rent bed linens and towels at the cabins you don't have to carry the extra weight. Tick this in the booking form or get in touch with us to set this option up.

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Testimonial

"This was a fantastic trip. we had an excellent guide - Are Aarsland Reed -- with the right blend of guidance, safety & motivation. The scenery is incredible - I highly recommend this trip through Norrona and Are as a guide"

– Mike K, 2023