NORWAY JOTUNHEIMEN COUNTRY: NORWAY ALTITUDE: 2,469m PRICE: 1,250 DURATION: 8 DAYS Climb the two highest peaks in Norway Trek on remote paths through the heart of the Jotunheimen National Park Swim in 18 wild mountain lakes Spot reindeer and majestic elk Experience the glow of the midnight sun Choose your own wildcamping spot beside small lakes and mountain summits Improve your mountain skills and navigation Experienced British guides Training course included
INTRODUCTION Vast, ice-carved landscapes stretch out over more than three thousand square kilometers a befitting setting for the giants of Norse mythology. The grandeur and sheer scale of this area is breathtaking. Sharp peaks and impressive glaciers provide a grand background for the intense green rivers and vivid blue lakes, icy cold from snowmelt. Twenty-nine of Norway s highest mountains all lie within the Jotunheimen mountain range, including its tallest, Galdhopiggen. Walking in this stark and barren, remote-feeling region is endless, and its peaks offer big views of empty landscape, coloured in the reddish yellow light of the midnight sun.
ITINERARY Day 1 Arrive at Oslo airport, where you will meet your guides. Travel to the Gjendesheim DNT hut, where we enjoy good local food and make final preparations for our expedition. DAY 2 Early start with our full expedition bags on. We head up and across the famous Besseggen ridge, rising to 1,743m, between emerald Lake Gjende, and Lake Bessvatnet to the north. The ridge flattens out to a rocky plateau which we follow to the final summit cairn at Veslfjellnet. The descent on the knife-edge ridge is a moderate scramble. We find a remote spot up the Memurudalen valley next to a meandering river to set up camp. DAY 3 We leave our tents and bags in camp and head up to our first summit Surtningssue (2,368m), riddled with hanging glaciers and large areas splattered with map lichen in vibrant greens and yellows. We return to our camp for a well earned rest.
DAY 4 Today is a long day filled with different terrain and stunning views. We head up the iconic ridge of Memuru along the plateau and into Storadalen valley. From there we head north into a little known valley where we stop to sleep between two small lakes. DAY 5 ITINERARY Today we head down to Spiterstulen, a large manned hut where we enjoy a small rest and a lunch before we prepare our base camp for our summit push of Glittertinden. DAY 6 We leave camp to climb Glittertind, the 2 nd highest mountain in Norway (2,452m), which is covered in a permanent snow cap. From the summit, we enjoy long views across Oppland to the east. We descend along the same route back to our camp. DAY 7 Today we have a very early start to climb Galdhopiggen, Norway s highest mountain at 2,469m. It s a somewhat strenuous climb of 1300m, taking up to 4 hours to the summit. The view from the summit towards glaciers and hundreds of other wild and rugged peaks is spectacular. A stone hut is located on the top, and a warm drink and chocolate could be purchased if the hut is manned. We descend down to Spiterstulen, where we are transferred back to Lom and then Oslo for our flights the next day. Overnight in a 3-star hotel in the centre of Oslo. Dinner with your team mates and guides to celebrate the expedition. DAY 8 Depart Oslo.
Experience Most of the trekking is on marked and well-maintained paths. Climbing the Besseggen Ridge, and the 3 summits involves easy to moderate scrambling in part and may include the crossing of patches of old snow. Whilst glaciers will be close to our route, we will not have to cross any on our trek. A reasonable degree of fitness is essential; most days involve around 5-7 hours walking plus plenty of rest stops, and may involve 1,300m of ascent. There are small sections of steeper ground where good a head for heights is needed. If you are used to regular multi day hill-walking in the UK you will have the right level of fitness to fully enjoy your time on this trek. Prior to the trip, we will run a Skills Course, where you will learn how to manage your kit and select wild camping sites. What s Included What s not included All meals and accommodation (1 night mountain hut, 1 night hotel, 5 nights mountain tent. 2 meals in mountain hut and hotel, 6 days expedition food) Best quality mountain tents and Jetboils Medical safety equipment and supplies All road transfers in-country (except airport transfers on last day) Expedition team leader Travel to and from UK airport International flights and taxes Personal equipment Travel insurance Drinks and personal spending Tips for local staff Airport transfers to and from the in-country airport (as many people like to extend their stay.)
Accommodation For the most part of this trek, we will sleep in wild camps under the midnight sun. To wake up in the mountains is a great experience, and you really escape the crowds this way. An early morning swim in a mountain lake will be a refreshing way to start the day. On the first day, we stay at the Gjendesheim DNT lodge, where we enjoy traditional Norwegian lodge breakfasts and views across Lake Gjende. The last night, you will be accommodated in a 3-star hotel in the centre of Oslo. Meals We will have a substantial breakfast to start the day. Lunches consist of individual ration packs with picnic style foods and high energy foods. Evening meals during the trekking phase will consist of expedition food, which each of us will prepare on their JetBoil stove. If you have food allergies or intolerances, please inform us in your Booking Form. We will aim to cater to your needs, but it is advisable to also bring your own supplies from home. What to carry We will be moving with an expedition rucksack with all of our food and camping equipment. On the three summit days, we will leave most of our equipment in the base camp and carry only daysacks. On the training course we will split down into our tent groups and practice to manage kit and set up camp on an overnight expedition in the Lakes.
GENERAL INFORMATION Health Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult your doctor for up-to-date medical information well before departure. All our (UIMLA) International Mountain Leaders hold first aid certificates and carry a fully equipped first aid kit for medical emergencies. We recommend that you carry a personal First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the information and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. If you have any concerns, please contact us before booking. reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of your guide they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to yourself and/or the rest of the group. Insurance We advise you to take out your insurance as soon as you book your trip. This will cover you for any potential events which may cause you to cancel your trip. Insurance which covers mountain rescue, evacuation and medical expenses is essential. Please also ensure that your insurance covers you for walking above 2,500m (some will exclude this option). We will require a copy of your insurance prior to departure. It is also worth bringing a copy of your passport and keep it separate to your own documents in case you lose your passport. The BMC offers insurance for Norway. If using other companies please make sure they see the current advice from the Foreign Commonwealth Office.
GENERAL INFORMATION Flights Flights are not included in the price. You need to arrive into Oslo airport on the advertised start date, where you will meet your guides and a single transfer will be offered to Gjendesheim (Times to be confirmed at later stage). Return flights can be booked for any time on Day 8, or later if you wish to extend your stay in Norway. Flights to Oslo are cheap if booked early, and offered by a range of different airlines. If you need any assistance with booking your flights, please contact us. Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Money You can obtain NOK at cash machines in Oslo and change bureaux at the airport, or prior to travelling and this is probably the best option. It is a good idea to carry a small amount of NOK in low denominations for transport and refreshments in Oslo and Lom. Passport and Visa All participants require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation.
TRAINING COURSE The pre-expedition training course is designed to provide you with all the skills and information necessary to make sure you are in the best shape physically and mentally to succeed on your trip and enjoy the experience of a multi-day self-supported expedition. The training course will take you out into the mountains of the Lake District, where you will get used to carrying a weighted pack and have the opportunity to get to know your equipment. The course includes: You will learn about: Time out in the mountains. Itinerary and question and answer sessions Time to meet and get to know your guides and team members Kit advice session Selection of wild camp sites Choosing water sources and assessing risks Sanitation of wild camps Managing kit Appropriate clothing Hazards in the mountain environment
KIT LIST The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You must bring the following items: Backpack Around 65-80 litre rucksack should be sufficient for you to carry your provisions for the trek, spare clothing, water, equipment, personal equipment. Make sure your rucksack has a waterproof liner. Sleeping Gear Sleeping bag liner Lightweight summer sleeping bag (2 season) Roll matt preferable a self-inflating one such as Thermarest Clothing Base layer preferably a synthetic wicking layer. (one of which should have long sleeves) Windproof fleece / Softshell jacket. Warm fleece, jumper or down jacket (for chilly evenings) Waterproof jacket and trousers (lightweight, breathable) Warm hat and gloves. Light-weight trekking trousers quick dry material recommended, shorts are also acceptable. Underwear, preferably synthetic as they dry quicker. Avoid cotton underwear as they get wet with sweat and chaff. Socks (specialist trekking socks recommended) Sun hat with wide brim Sun Glasses, these are vital (They must have strong uva/uvb protection) Set of comfortable clothing for wearing around camp. Swimming costume or clothes that dry quickly.
KIT LIST Footwear Good pair of trekking boots well worn-in. Sandals or training shoes for comfortable wear in the evenings. Personal Equipment Thin accessory cord of 4-5m will create a great washing line. Titanium spork and penknife. Camera, lots of film/spare memory card and a spare batteries Wash bag and toiletries, antibacterial hand wash, toilet paper, a packet of travel fresh wipes/ baby wipes, soap, toothbrush & tooth paste. Don t forget to take ear plugs in case your Tent partner snores! Some all purpose soap (environmentally friendly) will be great for washing your clothes and body along the way. Walking poles, especially useful on descents, when the poles take much of the shock rather than the knees! Water bottles or Platypus/Camelback - min 2 litre capacity Electrolytes dissolvable tablets, these are great to restore lost minerals through sweating. Head torch plus spare batteries Sun screen - minimum factor 30 Insect repellent Small waterproof bag containing; passport, insurance certificate / policy, airline ticket, credit cards and money Lip salve with sun block Nappy bags or sandwich bags for personal waste (toilet paper during the day to take back to camp with you) Book or reading material for your down-time podcasts are fantastic or audio books. An Anker battery pack is very reasonable these days and charges your electricals many times as well as being lightweight and small in size. Sweets and snacks all meals will be provided just to supplement. Cash - the currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone. It is recommended that you take Euro or Sterling and exchange in the airport bureau de change.
KIT LIST KIT LIST Health Water purification, we will be using an MSR Filter system for cleaning the water from rivers and streams to drink Personal First aid kit, please bring any medication you are on plus Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and some small blister plasters/compeed etc if you feel your feet may suffer, antiseptic cream, selection of plasters and a bandage / support bandage.
WHY CHOOSE EXPED ADVENTURE Experienced and qualified guides Small group size Perfect safety record access to remote medical support and director is trained as Wilderness Medical Technician Personal, tailored journey from enquiry to stepping out on the mountain, to the next adventure Itineraries have an emphasis on skills and personal development one of our main aims is to help people gain confidence in themselves and their abilities for further mountain adventures Well-researched, carefully selected route and itinerary We provide a free training course and lots of advice and support prior to your trip Flexible and personalised approach we re always free for a coffee and a chat and go the extra mile to exceed your expectations