Before the trip
Høvringen
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 · Rondane, central NorwayA gentle short hut-to-hut introduction
A gentle hut-to-hut walk through Rondane National Park
A short, family-friendly hut-to-hut walking trip through Rondane National Park - Norway's first national park, established in 1962 - with three traditional fjellstuer and a route that flexes to your pace each day.
Photo: Esben Bratlie / Visitnorway.com · Rondane
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Duration
4 days · 3 nights
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On the move
21-36 km in total · short or long route each day
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Region
Rondane National Park
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Lodges
3 traditional fjellstuer with private bathrooms
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Style
Self-guided · luggage moved · flexible daily distance
Available on request
Arranged on the dates you choose, within the July - September window.
The journey
A gentle short hut-to-hut introduction.
This is a short and accessible hut-to-hut walking trip through Rondane National Park in central Norway, designed to flex to suit walkers of mixed fitness - families with younger children, grandparents with grandchildren, friends starting out on Norwegian mountain walking. Each of the three walking days offers two or three route options of different length, so you can choose a 6 km gentle stroll or a 12-14 km longer day depending on the morning. Luggage is moved between the lodges for you.
Rondane was the first Norwegian national park, established in 1962, and is best known for its rolling rounded peaks and the open dry-tundra plateau between them - the country has a particular silence and a famously good light. The route runs in a small loop from Høvringen via Putten Seter and Smuksjøseter and back, with all three nights at traditional fjellstuer (mountain inns) with private bathrooms and proper three-course dinners.
We arrange the trip through one of our long-standing Norwegian partners. The walking is on clear marked trails throughout; the route description and map are supplied for self-navigation.
Is this for you?
Who this trip is - and isn't - for.
A good fit if
- ✓Walkers wanting an easy first taste of Norwegian mountain country with built-in flexibility on daily distance
- ✓Families, including those with younger children (one child under 12 travels free and a second at half price, sharing a room with two full-paying adults), multi-generation groups, or anyone walking in mixed-fitness company
- ✓Travelers happy to walk on open marked tundra at altitudes of 1,000-1,400 m
- ✓Anyone drawn to the particular silence and clarity of light of Rondane
Less good fit
- ·Walkers seeking sustained alpine effort or technical terrain - this is rolling marked-trail country
- ·Travelers wanting a fully-guided group format with a leader on the trail each day
- ·Anyone requiring four-star hotel comfort - these are working mountain inns
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.
4 days · 36 km
You make your own way to Høvringen, the small mountain village at the western entrance to Rondane National Park - easiest by car, or by train to Otta and a paid hotel transfer for the final stretch. Check in at Høvringen Fjellstue, one of the oldest tourist businesses at Høvringen and beautifully placed at the edge of the park, in time for dinner.
Included
What is in the price.
- 3 nights at three traditional fjellstuer with prepared beds and private bathrooms
- Breakfast, packed lunch and three-course dinner each day
- Luggage transfer between the three lodges
- Detailed walking route description with short and long options for each day
Not included
And what is not.
- Travel to and from Høvringen (train tickets to Otta on request; hotel transfer Otta-Høvringen NOK 750 return per person)
- Travel and cancellation insurance (we strongly recommend both)
- Drinks with meals and any extra snacks
Where you sleep
Lodges and stays along the way.
Høvringen Fjellstue
One of the oldest tourist businesses at Høvringen, beautifully placed at the western entrance to Rondane.
Nights
1
Putten Seter
Once a small summer farm, now a fjellstue with traditional cabins, apartments and rooms, and views to Gudbrandsdalen and Jotunheimen.
Nights
1
Smuksjøseter Fjellstue
Traditional fjellstue close to the boundary of Rondane National Park.
Nights
1
Extend your stay
A few extra days in Høvringen.
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.
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 gives you access to its travel app about a month before departure; the app includes a suggested packing list for the trip.
The country
What the week looks like.
Photo: Scanout.Com
Photo: Yngve Ask / Mountains of Norway
Photo: Yngve Ask / Mountains of Norway
Photography credits as shown on each image.
Practical questions
How is the booking arranged?
We refer you to one of our long-standing Norwegian partners who runs this journey. The booking, the contract, the prepayment and the 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 additional cost to you.
Can the itinerary be modified?
Yes, within limits. The operator can start the walk at any of the three fjellstuer or change the order to fit availability, and can add extra nights at the lodges (NOK 1,970 per person in a double room, including dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch). Tell us what you have in mind in the first conversation.
What is the booking lead time?
The season runs from July to September and the lodges are small, so ask early. After you book, the operator confirms all the accommodation within a few hours to three working days; wait for that confirmation before you book train tickets or transfers.
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
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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 one business day with a considered first option, the operator we would arrange it through, and an honest pricing range for your specific dates.
Travel Guarantee Fund memberFluent 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.