Besseggen

About

The ridge walk every Norwegian has an opinion about. The classic plan: park at Reinsvangen, take the morning boat from Gjendesheim across the lake to Memurubu, then walk back high over the ridge, with the glacier-green Gjende on one side and the deep blue Bessvatnet on the other. The colour contrast from the top is the image on a million postcards, and it looks like that in real life too. You can walk it in either direction; going Gjendesheim-first and catching the afternoon boat back from Memurubu works just as well, so pick by the boat times. The scramble up the ridge is steep but short, with hands needed in places. Book the boat ahead at gjende.no, start early, and bring more food and clothing than a city hike needs. This is a real mountain day a long way from the nearest espresso. When Sam did it with his college roommates, they hiked from the parking lot to Memurubu, spent the night at the lodge with a traditional three-course Norwegian dinner and breakfast, and took the ferry back the next morning before carrying on with their road trip. Worth copying.

🕒 How long

A full day, plus getting to Jotunheimen. Most people stay a night at Gjendesheim.

👤 Suits

Fit hikers who want Norway's most famous day walk. Not for a first-ever mountain trip.

🗓️ Season

Roughly late June to September or early October, snow depending. Don't try it outside the season.

This is personal opinion, not a sponsored listing.