Hiking Tour in the Jotuneimen Mountains

• Bus to and from the Jotunheimen mountains, from Oslo
• Two nights shared bedroom accommodation in cabins in Beitostolen.
• Five-day guided trek through the Jotunheimen mountains, staying in mountain huts
• Two nights full board accommodation in full-service staffed huts (evening meal, breakfast and pack lunch included). Dormitory accommodation.
• Two nights accommodation in self-service mountain huts. Dormitory accommodation.

• Flights to and from Norway
• Expedition / trekking food (apart from the food provided in the full-service staffed huts)
• Trekking kit and equipment
• Transport and entry fees in Oslo (e.g. to museums)

WE have graded this trek as Challenging. Distances each day range from 14-21km with up to 700m ascent. The summer trails between mountain huts are marked with a red letter T, painted onto rocks and small cairns. The waymarking is typically about 50-100m apart. Sometimes the paths are very clear, but in other places, at higher altitude and over rocky terrain, there will little or no sign of a path. The serious nature of trekking in Norway should not be underestimated. The terrain is very rocky; there will mountain streams to cross; there can be snow patches; and in places the paths are steep and a little scrambly. It can be cold, windy, wet and snowy; and much of the time you are in very remote country, often with no phone signal. Your guide, Alastair Ewen, is very experienced in leading treks overseas and will manage the hazards, adapt the route if required and keep the participants safe. The trek is well within the capability of people used to hillwalking in Scotland.

Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with fantastic trekking. There is a strong tradition of hiking and skiing in Norway, underpinned by its public right of access to the outdoors. There is a big network of trekking routes throughout the country with simple waymarking. These trails link up with over 500 mountain huts, run by the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT). There are three types of Norwegian huts: the simplest type is like a spartan Scottish mountain bothy; then there are self-service huts, with beds and bedding, a kitchen with a stove, cutlery, pots and pans; and lastly, there are staffed mountain hotels. The huts have a huge amount of character.

We shall be trekking in the Jotunheimen mountains. The area is easy to get to by bus from Oslo, about four hours to the north west. Beitostolen is the nearest village to the expedition area. It has a campsite (with cabins), restaurants and supermarket. Jotunheimen comprises of a high plateaus, lakes, alpine peaks, and glaciers. The most prominent feature of our expedition area is Lake Bygdin, about 30km long.

For more information on trekking in the Jotunheimen, check out this blog.

The kind of conditions you’ll face in Norwy at the end of August, beginning of September is akin to what you’d get hillwalking in Scotland in the autumn. We might get some frosts and there could be some early season snow as well. Typically though the temperatures will be around 8-15C (46 to 59F), cloudy, sunny at times, with rain likely at some point during the course of the five days. Check out this blog for more detailed information, but in summary please bring the following:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Gaiters
• Walking boots (must be waterproof with a good tread)
• Hat, gloves, buff/neck gaiter
• Warm layers (fleece, jumper, merino wool thermal top, synthetic or down jacket)
• Walking trousers/leggings
• Sunhat and suncream
• 40-50 litre rucksack with waterproof rucksack liner
• Water bottle (at least one litre) with water purification tablets
• A thermos flask is a good idea (500 to 750ml)
• Trekking poles
• River shoes (e.g. crocs). Can be used as cabin slippers as well.
• Personal first aid kit
• Sleeping bag liner and pillow case (to use in the cabins)
• Some spare clothes to change into when at the cabin (optional)
• Travel clothes
• Wash kit
• Food (two evening meals, two breakfasts, three day time food). The kitchens in the self-service huts have pots and pans, stoves, cutlery etc
• Head torch.

Your guide for the trek will be Alastair Ewen, Director of Aspen. Alastair is an International Mountain Leader with lots of prior experience of leading  treks on mainland Norway and Svalbard. To read more about Alastair check out this webpage.

General Information

• • Aspen Outdoors Ltd – Aspen is the name of the company that runs Scotland Walking Holidays. Aspen is a Scottish limited company. We are VAT registered and hold an Adventure Activities Licence. Either Alastair Ewen or Jen Brooke will correspond with you about your tour. If you have any questions please email or call.

• • Participant Pack – Well before the tour starts, we shall email you a participant pack that provides detailed information on the itinerary, where to meet, what to bring, details of your accommodation, and information about your guide.

• • Hiking equipment and clothing – You will need to bring walking boots, waterproof jacket, and trousers, warm layers, and a hat and gloves. A more comprehensive kit list will be set out in the participant pack.

• • Payment – Payment is taken after the booking form has been submitted to us. Once a booking has been made, we shall contact you with details about making a deposit. Payment can be made by credit or debit card, bank transfer or cheque.

• • Deposit – A 20% deposit is payable at the time of booking. If a booking is made within 56 days (8 weeks) of the tour starting, the entire sum shall be sought a the time of booking.

• • Balance of payments – The balance must be paid 56 days (8 weeks) prior to departure.

• • Participant Travel Insurance – You are strongly encouraged to take out travel insurance to cover personal accident, medical expenses, lost luggage etc.

• • Company insurance – Aspen Outdoors Ltd holds insurance for the activities it provides. Its insurance policy is through HISCOX Insurance Company Limited. The insurance cover includes public and products liability insurance (up to £5 million), employers liability insurance (£10 million) and professional indemnity insurance (up to £5 million). If you would like to see a copy of our insurance documents please get in touch.

• • Safeguarding your payments – The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Aspen Outdoors Ltd, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for: Non-flight packages. ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Aspen Outdoors Ltd. In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company. You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here. You can find out more about ABTOT here.

• • Minimum number of participants – Four clients is the minimum number for our guided holidays to go ahead. In the event of us having to cancel through insufficient numbers, we will let you know at least 42 days before the start and we will offer you an alternative holiday. If the alternative does not suit you, we will refund in full all money paid.
    There is no minimum number for private guided itineraries.

• • Single Rooms – A limited number of single rooms is available on all our holidays at a supplement. In some places, if you are staying in a single room, you will share the bathroom with one other room.
    There will be no supplement if you are willing to share a twin room – with two single beds – with another member of the group of the same gender. This will always be a room with an en suite bathroom.

Terms and Conditions

• • Participants must disclose information on any relevant medical condition or treatment that may have a bearing on their ability to take part.

• • Participants must provide information to Aspen Outdoors Ltd on their skills and experience in the activity (winter hillwalking, summer hillwalking, multi-day treks, bushcraft activities) to help determine their competence and suitability for the activity.

• • Participants must read the information about the activity with particular attention to the grade/difficulty of the hike, the length of day, the distance to be covered and the height gained.

• • The objectives of the event; for example, the ascent of one or more peaks, are not guaranteed being subject to weather conditions, snow conditions and the capability and competence of participants in the group.

• • The objectives of the event may be modified or abandoned, subject to weather and snow conditions and the capability and competence of the participants in the group.

• • The event may be postponed or cancelled subject to adverse weather and snow conditions. Should this happen the company shall either provide a full refund or rearrange the event.

• • Participants must consult the equipment list provided by the company and follow other instructions provided to them before the activity to ensure that they are appropriately prepared for the activity.

• • During the activity, the participants must follow the instructions of the instructors to ensure their safety.

• • Should you wish to cancel your holiday after your booking has been confirmed you should write to us. The date of cancellation is the date on which we receive your letter or e-mail. A sliding scale of cancellation charges applies as follows::

    • • Greater than 56 days (8 weeks): the deposit only
    • • 28-56 days prior to departure: 50% of full price of tour
    • • less than 28 days: full fee.