Getting there
- Flights to Oslo (Gardermoen) (OSL) 195 km from the start
Treks / Norway
Besseggen Ridge
Norway · Nearest city: Oslo
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 14 km
Climbing≈ 1,100 m
Highest point1,743 m
Norway's most popular ridge walk in Jotunheimen, between the green Gjende and the blue Bessvatnet lakes.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonLate June to September
High pointVeslfjellet
Watch out: The ridge involves some hands-on scrambling. The boat to Memurubu should be booked in peak season.
Why people choose it
It's Norway's most popular ridge walk, between two lakes of completely different colours.
What makes it different
- Green and blue lakes on either side
- Starts with a boat ride
- Hands-on scrambling on the ridge
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Norway's allemannsretten lets you camp for up to two nights in uncultivated land, at least 150 m from houses and cabins.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Trail from OpenStreetMap (14.2 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Memurubu → Besseggen → Gjendesheim
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
- Best time to go: Late June to September.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Oslo.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: Late June to September
Late June to mid-July
Early summer
Midnight sun or very long days, snow patches on high ground and fast-flowing snowmelt rivers. Mosquitoes peak.
Bring
- Mosquito head net and repellent
- Eye mask for the light nights
- Gaiters for snow
Late July to August
High summer
Warmest and most stable weather, fewer mosquitoes later in August, but busiest huts.
Bring
- Rain jacket
- Warm layer
- Book popular huts and boats
September
Autumn
Stunning autumn colours and the first northern lights, but cold nights, first snow on the tops and some huts closing.
Bring
- Down jacket and hat
- Headlamp
- Check hut opening dates
Be ready for
Easy scrambling
A few short hands-on sections. Keep your hands free and your pack tidy.
Snow patches
Early in the season, snow can cover the path on high ground. Microspikes or crampons and some experience make these sections safer.
What you'll see
8 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Besseggen Ridge
Photo credits: Besseggen by Lars Strand (User:lkstrand), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Muru memurubu by Jutulen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Besseggen Bessvatnet Gjende by Silverkey (Mickaël Delcey), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hikers at peak by Mathias Jensen mathiasjensen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Dusk on Gjende, Norway - Flickr - Gael Varoquaux by Gael Varoquaux from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Memerubu - panoramio by TomasEE, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gjendesheim - panoramio by TomasEE, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gjende - panoramio by TomasEE, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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