Besseggen Ridge
The classic mountain ridge of Jotunheimen, walked between a turquoise glacier lake and a deep blue one - the most popular high hike in Norway.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Besseggen is the most famous mountain ridge walk in Norway, a full-day hike in Jotunheimen along a knife-edge between two lakes: the clear deep-blue Bessvatnet, and the milky emerald-green, glacier-fed Gjende far below. A boat carries most walkers up Lake Gjende to start, and the ridge itself is a genuine scramble.
What you actually see
- The two-colour lakes - turquoise Bessvatnet above and blue Gjende below, seen at once.
- The ridge scramble - the steep, rocky knife-edge that gives the hike its fame.
- Jotunheimen peaks - the highest mountains in Norway all around.
- The Gjende boat - the ferry along the long green lake to the trailhead.
When to go
The short high-mountain summer from late June to September, when the ridge is snow-free. Take an early boat to allow the full day. Weather turns fast at altitude, so pick a settled day.
Honest expectations
It is a demanding full-day hike with real scrambling on the ridge, not a gentle walk, so it needs fitness, boots and a head for exposure. It is hugely popular, so the trail and the boat are busy in season. Sudden weather is a genuine hazard on the exposed high ground.
Nearby
The peaks of Jotunheimen, including Galdhopiggen, rise around it; the Sognefjellet mountain road crosses nearby.
What to pack for Besseggen Ridge
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
