> Kid-friendly routes: Choose your own itineraries
> Enjoy scenic ferry rides on mountain lakes
> Stay in traditional and cosy Norwegian cabins
The Middle Fjord & Fjell Trail is an 11-day family walking holiday in the south-central half of Norway. Combine Nordic natural beauty with the joys of hiking. With flexible and personalised child-friendly routes, this trip is a fun experience along the Rondane, Jotunheimen and Aurlandsdalen National Parks. For extra fun, you can take a train to a remote cabin and a ferry across a mountain lake.
Each stage is a short and manageable hike, a maximum of 11 km and 5 hours per day, perfect for adventurous families with children (+10 years). Choose your own routes each day from a selection of circular walks based on your energy level and interests. Below is our suggested itinerary to make planning easier for you and your little ones.Stay in comfortable Norwegian cabins during the trek and in hotels or guesthouses before and after. And enjoy full board in the cabins to make sure you're ready for the adventure. Ideal for families who enjoy walking together in the great outdoors. Focus on walking time with your family and just enjoy. Come home full of memories of exploring Norway!
Welcome to Norway! Your adventure begins when you arrive in Oslo, Bergen or any other airport in the country. This day is all about settling in and getting ready for an unforgettable family road trip through the spectacular scenery of Norway's national parks.
Driving time: ≈ 4 hours (from Oslo to Mysusæter)
After collecting your car you will start your scenic drive to Mysusæter. Whichever city you start from, we recommend stopping along the way to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and take in the beautiful scenery.
The drive itself is a wonderful introduction to Norway's stunning nature and the children will love the chance to see the beautiful scenery. Once you've arrived in Mysusæter, settle into your accommodation and get ready for some exciting hiking in Rondane National Park. Are you ready?
You can take a walk around your accommodation if you have time and feel like it.
Driving time: ≈ 10 minutes (from Mysusæter to Spranget)
Today, after a short drive from Mysusæter to the Spranget car park, your first family walk begins to Rondvassbu, a cosy mountain cabin in the heart of Rondane and by Rondvatnet lake, where you'll stay while you explore the national park. This stage is a first easy walk with plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
On the way to Rondvassbu cabin, the children will love exploring the area in the fresh mountain air. Just before you reach the cabin, you can cross a small wooden bridge and enjoy a waterfall with a raging torrent that flows from Fremre Illmannstjern into the river that joins Lake Lonin. Another 15 minutes and you'll reach the hut, where you can enjoy some local food and a well-earned rest before tomorrow's adventure. Today is the perfect introduction to the natural beauty of Rondane!
Take a stroll around the hut or along the lakeshore if you feel like exploring a bit more before dinner.
Driving time: ≈ 1 hour 45 minutes (from Spranget)
After a well-deserved rest, your adventure continues with a gentle walk from your cabin back to the Spranget car park. This easy walk is perfect for taking in the views and saying goodbye to the natural beauty of Rondane National Park - a great way to end your time in the area.
If you feel like exploring before you leave, take a short walk around the hut or along the lakeshore.
Once you've arrived at Spranget, it's time to collect your car and head for the stunning Jotunheimen National Park. Are you ready? Let's go! The drive takes less than 2 hours, so it won't be too hard on the kids, and you'll pass lush green fields before reaching the imposing mountains of Jotunheimen. On arrival, you'll spend the night at Gjendsheim cabin, also situated by a lake, where you can rest and prepare for the next few days of adventure in this iconic national park.
Today's adventure is a beautiful round trip starting and ending at Gjendsheim Cabin in the heart of Jotunheimen National Park. The route takes you through varied terrain with some moderate climbs and descents to keep everyone on their toes.Your scenic walk begins with a long ascent from the stunning Lake Gjende, with several viewpoints offering sweeping views of the intense blue waters of the lake, waterfalls and distant peaks. As you make your way towards Bessvatnet, you may be lucky enough to see deer and other wildlife in the distance.
Once at Bessvatnet, you will have passed the highest point of today's walk at around 1380m. This tranquil spot is ideal for a rest and a snack to recharge your batteries for the rest of the loop. Don't forget to take a family photo to capture the moment!
As you descend from Bessvatnet to Øvre Sjodalsvatnet lake, you'll see many waterfalls and bubbling brooks. As you get closer to the lake, there's a road between Bessheim and the shore, so be careful before crossing to enjoy the sparkling water reflecting the sky. You can continue the last part of today's stage and, avoiding the road, cross a new wooden bridge over the river - great fun! The last 3 km bring you back to the shores of Gjende, where you can relax and have dinner after today's adventure.
For an extra bit of adventure and fun, why not start or end the day with a boat trip? You choose whether to take the ferry from Gjendesheim hut to Memurubu (the return point for today's stage) in the morning or in the afternoon from Memurubu to your hut. This trip will give you a different perspective of the lake.
Note 1: Keep in mind that ferry departures and schedules are limited - in high season there are up to 3 departures a day from each port. Check the timetables to buy tickets, especially the morning departures and the last return trip of the day. Don't miss them! If you do, don't worry, you can always walk and enjoy Jotunheimen one last time as a family at your own pace.
Enjoy a relaxing and fun family walk along the beautiful lake Gjende. The stage is designed to be relaxing, giving you plenty of time to connect with the landscape and each other. Children will love this gentle walk with easy paths and breathtaking views of the sparkling lake, waterfalls and imposing peaks. As you walk along the north shore, you'll pass peaceful waters with plenty of places to stop, take photographs and enjoy the tranquillity. You may also find a small pebble beach where you can dive during the summer months. Have fun!
Note 2: Please note that stage details (distance and duration) may vary as they do not include the boat trip.
Driving time: ≈ 5 hours 20 minutes (from Gjendsheim to Geilo)
Train ride: ≈ 1 hour (from Geilo to Finse)
Today your adventure takes you on a long, scenic drive from Gjendsheim Lodge to Geilo, a charming mountain town in Hallingdal. After breakfast, you'll drive from Lake Gjende to Geilo, which takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. The drive offers beautiful views of the Norwegian countryside, giving you another opportunity to enjoy it on the road.
Once you've arrived in Geilo, park your car and take the train to Finse, which takes about 1 hour. Finse is a unique and remote destination with no roads and can only be reached by train, which makes it even more special. The train journey is both charming and entertaining, with beautiful views of Aurlandsdalen National Park. Once in Finse, you'll be greeted by the tranquil surroundings, now relax and get ready for the next day of your adventure.
Fun fact: Finse was chosen as the location for one of the episodes in the Star Wars saga. This remote but idyllic location was used to film an important battle on the snowy planet of Hoth, did you know that?
On your first day in Aurlansdalen with your family, you can start with an excursion that goes to and from the lake Finsevatnet. The hike begins with a walk through wild, beautiful countryside. Follow the well-marked trail northwards and enjoy spectacular views of valleys, streams and the surrounding mountains, some of which are almost 1750 metres high. Ready for an adventurous day out in the great outdoors?
After about an hour's walk, 2.5km from the hut, you will come across a fantastic wooden suspension bridge, which is only in use in the summer as it is built and dismantled at the beginning and end of each season. A fun moment for children and adults alike!
The rest of the trail is a gentle slope up to the highest point of the day, the Klemsbu hut at 1584 metres (only open in winter). Use this point to rest, enjoy the view and take some photos. Don't forget to have lunch before returning to the hut. After an enjoyable day's walking, you'll return to Finse full of excitement and memories of a great day out with the whole family.
Before your adventure in Norway comes to an end, take the opportunity to enjoy the stunning views from Vetle Finsenuten (1,493 m). This accessible peak offers some of the best views in Finse - a fantastic way to end your trek.
Start your day with a short but scenic walk to a lookout point. After the first kilometre and a half, take the path that leads to the summit, leaving Store Finsenuten (1599 m), Vetle's older brother, on your right as you turn slightly left. Vetle's summit is an ideal vantage point from where you will be rewarded with a 360° view of Finse, its lake and the incredible natural landscape of Aurlansdalen... as far as the eye can see!
After reaching the summit and taking a short break to enjoy the panoramic views of the National Park, you'll make your way back to your cabin, knowing that you've seen some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region.
Train ride: ≈ 45 mins (from Finse to Geilo)
Driving time: ≈ 3 hours 25 minutes (from Geilo to Oslo)
If you feel like it, you can go to the lakeside and enjoy the view, take a short walk along the shore or even climb to the top of Finsenuten before catching the train back.
After breakfast in your hut, it's time to head home. You'll start the morning with a relaxing 45-minute train journey from Finse to Geilo. This train journey gives you one last opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Norwegian countryside, or just try to get some sleep.
In Geilo you'll collect your car from the car park and drive back to Oslo, which takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. If you're going to Bergen instead, the drive is slightly longer at around 4 hours.
Whether you're returning to Oslo or another city in Norway or abroad, this is almost the end of your unforgettable family adventure in the Norwegian wilderness, full of nature, exploration and unique moments. After so many days in the mountains and a long journey by train and car, you deserve a rest. Check into your hotel and try to relax after this incredible adventure.
After checking out of your hotel, your family adventure on the Fjord & Fjell Trail comes to an end. Today you can either continue your journey through beautiful Norway or return home with unforgettable memories of your trekking experience. Whether you decide to explore more of Norway or just relax at home, this incredible family trip will stay with you forever. We wish you a safe journey and hope to see you on the trails!
We will send you on your way with a digital travel guide that includes a route description for the Fjor & Fjell Trail, interactive hiking maps, and the most important information applicable to your trek
During your Fjor & Fjell Trail, you will spend your nights in mountain huts. In the mountain huts we normally only book dormitories, but we can look into private rooms on request. If the private rooms are fully booked or not available in the hut, we automatically book a bed in dormitories for you. Please note that private rooms are more expensive and there will be an additional charge for this.
Accommodation at the huts includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We will arrange this for you as well. This allows you to travel lighter and have one less thing to worry about.
Accommodation before and after the trek is included. If possible, we also organize breakfast.
You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.