Before the trip
Toftemo, Dovre
A night or two to slow down before or after the trip - we can arrange a hand-picked stay through the same operator network.
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Hiking · Dovrefjell, central NorwayA short pilgrim walk across the high plateau
Walking the Pilgrim Way over Dovrefjell
Five days on foot across the high plateau that has carried pilgrims, kings and cattle drovers between Oslo and Trondheim for the better part of a thousand years.
Photo: Kristin Telle ·
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Duration
5 days · 4 nights
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On the move
~51 km total
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Region
Dovrefjell plateau
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Lodges
4 historic mountain inns
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Style
Self-guided · luggage moved
Fixed departures
This is a guided journey on set dates.
The operator runs this on the weeks below. Other dates are not available.
- Open27-31 Jul 2026
- Open10-14 Aug 2026
- Open17-21 Aug 2026
- Open24-28 Aug 2026
- Open31 Aug - 4 Sept 2026
The journey
A short pilgrim walk across the high plateau.
This is a self-guided walking week along Pilegrimsleden - the medieval pilgrim road to Nidaros - across the open Dovrefjell plateau in central Norway. The route picks up the historic king's road at Budsjord Gård, climbs onto the high fjell, and follows the line of stone cairns north past Hjerkinn to Kongsvold, ending within striking distance of the Trondheim trains. Daily distances are moderate (15-21 km) on well-marked tracks; nights are spent at four working mountain inns along the way.
Dovrefjell has a particular kind of weight in Norwegian cultural memory. It is the country that the pilgrim route to Nidaros crosses; it is where the constitution of 1814 famously committed Norwegians to stay "united and faithful until Dovre falls"; and it is the last European stronghold of the musk ox, reintroduced here in the 1940s and now a small free-roaming herd you have a fair chance of seeing from the trail. The walking itself is on open, rolling fjell at 1,000-1,300 meters, with long views across to Snøhetta (2,286 m) and, on a clear day, the Rondane massif on the eastern horizon.
We arrange the trip through one of our long-standing Norwegian partners who has been operating this self-guided itinerary for many years. Luggage is transferred between the lodges by support vehicle, the route is laid out in a written description and a navigation app, and you walk with a daypack only. Departures run weekly from late June through August.
Is this for you?
Who this trip is - and isn't - for.
A good fit if
- ✓Walkers comfortable on consecutive days of 15-21 km on open mountain terrain with one substantial climb
- ✓Travelers drawn to the cultural and historical layers of a route - pilgrims, kings, drovers, hunters - as well as the landscape
- ✓Couples, small groups of friends and solo walkers who want a quiet, unhurried week with the logistics taken care of
- ✓Anyone hoping for a fair chance of seeing musk oxen in the wild
Less good fit
- ·Walkers seeking technical alpine terrain or significant exposure - this is open plateau walking, not mountaineering
- ·Travelers who want a fully-serviced group-guided format with a leader on the trail each day
- ·Anyone unable to handle Norwegian mountain weather: fog, wind and rain are part of the season even in midsummer
The route
Numbered pins mark the day the night is spent. Tap a pin for details.Where the week takes you.
Day by day
The shape of the week.
5 days · 51 km on foot
Elevation profile
~750 m of ascent across the week
Bar height = day's ascent · width = day number
Across 5 days · ~51 km on the move
You make your own way to Toftemo Turiststasjon, a working roadside inn at the southern foot of the Dovrefjell plateau. The easiest connection is the main Oslo-Trondheim train to Dombås, then a short taxi for the final ten kilometers; if you are traveling by car, the inn has parking. Dinner is included on the first night and is the right kind of welcome - a quiet farm-style meal in a building that has been feeding travelers on this stretch of road for generations.
Included
What is in the price.
- 4 nights at four working mountain inns along Pilegrimsleden, with private bathroom
- Breakfast every morning and a three-course evening meal each night
- Daily packed lunch (the standard Norwegian nistepakke)
- Luggage transfer between all overnight stops
- Transfer from Toftemo to the trailhead at Budsjord on Day 2
- Full route description and a navigation app with marked tracks and waypoints
Not included
And what is not.
- Travel to Toftemo and onward from Kongsvold
- Travel and cancellation insurance (we strongly recommend both)
- Drinks with meals and any extra snacks
- Optional musk ox safari at Hjerkinn (pre-bookable on request)
Where you sleep
Lodges and stays along the way.
Toftemo Turiststasjon
Roadside mountain inn at the foot of the Dovre plateau, with private bathroom and a working farm-style kitchen.
Nights
1
Dovrefjell Lodge
Quiet family-run upland inn at Furuhaugli, ringed by birch forest at the edge of the plateau.
Nights
1
Hjerkinn Fjellstue
Substantial historic mountain inn at the central crossing point of the plateau, base for the local musk ox safaris.
Nights
1
Kongsvold Fjeldstue
Protected 18th-century mountain farm and inn, with one of the better kitchens in the Norwegian high country and a small alpine botanic garden.
Nights
1
Extend your stay
Bookend the trip with a city stay.
Most travelers add a night or two at the start or end. We arrange these through the same operator network with the same single line of contact - write to us with your preference and we will fold it into your enquiry.
After the trip
Kongsvold
A night or two to slow down before or after the trip - we can arrange a hand-picked stay through the same operator network.
Add to my enquiry →Before you come
Know-before-you-go.
Practical Norway
- Visa
- Schengen - most Western travelers visa-free for 90 days.
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards accepted almost everywhere; cash rarely needed.
- Plugs
- Type F (European two-pin), 230 V / 50 Hz.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Round up if service was exceptional.
- Language
- Norwegian. English is widespread and fluent - you will not need a phrasebook.
- Tap water
- Some of the cleanest in the world. Refill, do not buy bottled.
Typical conditions
Norwegian summer days are long and the light lasts late. Expect mixed weather even in July: 15-22 °C is typical at lower elevations, with the chance of rain and sub-10 °C days higher up. The weather can change inside an hour - pack for it.
What to pack - for this trip
The five-to-seven things most travelers underpack for a Norwegian hiking week.
Underfoot
- Mid-cut waterproof hiking boots, broken in (the single most underpacked item)
- Two pairs of merino hiking socks plus a thin liner pair
Layers
- Merino base layer (long sleeve) - worth more than any single-piece down jacket
- Lightweight fleece or wool mid-layer
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers (Gore-Tex or equivalent - not a poncho)
- Light puffer for evenings at the lodges
In the daypack
- 25-30 L daypack with a rain cover
- Refillable water bottle (Norwegian tap water is excellent)
- Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen - UV is strong above the treeline
- Buff or light beanie, even in summer
The operator sends a complete packing list 6 weeks before departure, tailored to your specific dates and the forecast.
The country
What the week looks like.
Photo: CH / VisitNorway.com
Photo: Kristin Telle
Photo: Kristin Telle
Photography credits as shown on each image.
Practical questions
How fit do I need to be?
A reasonable level of general fitness is enough. The longest day is 21 km with a sustained 700-meter climb in the morning; the others are shorter and less demanding. If you walk a full day in the hills two or three times a year, you will be fine here.
How is the booking arranged?
We refer you to one of our long-standing Norwegian partners who runs this journey. The booking, contract, prepayment and consumer protection (under Norway's Reisegarantifondet) sit with the operator. The price is the same as booking the operator directly; we are paid a small referral commission and there is no extra cost to you.
How likely am I to see musk oxen?
Sightings on the trail itself are possible but not guaranteed - the herd ranges over a wide area. The much more reliable way to see them is the optional pre-booked musk ox safari from Hjerkinn, a guided walk with a local who knows the herd's current range. We would recommend adding it.
What is the booking lead time?
For high season (late June through August), we recommend committing at least three to four months ahead. The lodges are small and book out well in advance.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We strongly recommend booking comprehensive travel and cancellation insurance separately, ideally at the time of booking the trip. The operator can suggest Norwegian providers if useful.
Related reading
See all Field Guide →Background reading on this kind of trip.
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Start a conversation
If this looks like your kind of week, write to us.
Tell us when you are thinking of traveling and how you would like to shape it. A curator will reply within 24 hours with a considered first option, the operator we would arrange it through, and an honest pricing range for your specific dates.
Travel Guarantee Fund memberReply within 24hFluent English support
Refined by Nordic Curator from a journey by one of our long-standing Norwegian partners. The booking, the contract and the consumer protection (under the Norwegian Travel Guarantee Fund, Reisegarantifondet) sit with the operator. We are paid a small referral commission and there is no additional cost to you. The price is the same as booking the operator directly. How we work.