Ski Touring Norway: The Ultimate Winter Adventure

You didn’t come this far to stop

Jotunheimen and Bessheim

Once again, we are heading to our favorite spot in the south of Jotunheimen National Park, which boasts a fine collection of easily accessible and some of the highest Scandinavian peaks.

Dates: March 14 – March 23 , 2027

Here is a detailed overview of what awaits us on this expedition:

🗺️ Terrain Accessibility and Route Characteristics

The area around Bessheim offers a wide variety of terrain, ranging from gentler, rolling plains to exposed Alpine ridges. The great advantage is that you can set off toward many peaks directly from the lodge or from the nearby Fv51 road (Valdresflye):

• Besshøe (2,258 m a.s.l.): The king of the local area. This is a demanding, full-day tour (8 to 12 hours) with an ascent of around 1,300 vertical meters. The route goes through the valley around the frozen Lake Bessvatnet, and the final climb up the summit ridge tends to be steep and technical—often requiring you to bootpack with skis on your backpack.

• Veslfjellet (1,743 m a.s.l.): The peak crossed by the famous summer ridge trail, Besseggen. In winter, a safer route starting from Gjendesheim is used. It is an excellent, slightly shorter objective (approx. 7 hours from Bessheim and back) featuring a beautiful, sustained descent.

• Høgdebrotet (2,226 m a.s.l.): A very popular and easily accessible 2,000-meter peak. The approach starts a bit higher up from the road leading toward Valdresflya. It offers wide, open slopes that are ideal for safe, long powder turns.

• Heimdalshøe (1,843 m a.s.l.): A perfect objective for bad weather days or as a warm-up. It lies east of the national park. The ascent goes from the Sjodalen valley over gentler ridges. The lower section of the route is usually marked with poles.

• Rasletinden (2,105 m a.s.l.): A very popular and straightforward 2,000-meter peak. The climb from the Fv51 road follows a gradual, broad ridge without any technical sections.

❄️ Snow Conditions and Avalanche Hazard

March in Jotunheimen guarantees a massive amount of snow—the average snow depth around Bessheim in mid-March is around 140 cm.

• Snow Quality: Thanks to consistently low temperatures, the snow retains its powder characteristics (dry cold snow). On wind-exposed ridges, however, expect scoured, hardpack surfaces or ice crusts.

• Avalanches: Norwegian mountains are notorious for strong winds that frequently transport snow, creating dangerous wind slabs on leeward slopes. It is absolutely critical to check the Norwegian avalanche forecast daily on the official portal varsom.no.

🌡️ Temperatures and Climate

Although March marks the beginning of spring, Jotunheimen is dominated by an uncompromising Arctic winter.

• Temperatures: Average daytime temperatures in the valley range between -4 °C and -12 °C. At altitudes above 2,000 m a.s.l., they regularly drop to -10 °C to -15 °C.

• Windchill (Apparent Temperature): Due to frequent winds on the high plateaus, the windchill can easily plummet below -20 °C. High-quality hardshell clothing, an insulated down jacket, and spare warm gloves in your backpack are absolute necessities.

• Light: Unlike in January, March days are already pleasantly long, providing plenty of daylight even for demanding full-day traverses.

🏡 Basecamp: Bessheim Stuga

Our base in Bessheim is a historic and immensely cozy mountain lodge situated at an altitude of 965 m a.s.l. by Lake Sjodalsvatnet. In March, it is fully operational for the winter season and provides excellent amenities:

• Accommodation: Traditional Norwegian cottage with self-catering facilities.

• Food: The restaurant at Bessheim is renowned for its cuisine based on local ingredients—prepare for reindeer, deer, moose meat, and fresh mountain trout. For a tighter budget, I recommend cooking for yourself.

• Services for Skiers: Free parking is available (Bessheim is also a starting or endpoints of the famous multi-day traverse Jotunheimen Haute Route / Høgruta). Additionally, machine-groomed cross-country ski tracks run right from the lodge through the Sjodalen valley.

I expect a group of intermediate ability, but no hardcore athletes. The goal is not to clock up high mileage against the clock, but to thoroughly enjoy the touring. The landscape in this area is truly magnificent. However, everyone should tour at least in pairs, and naturally, everyone must follow the instructions of a qualified instructor for this sport. The pace will certainly not be fast, but it is necessary to maintain a steady and patient group pace and not run away from the pack. Every route will be designed so that we can manage it at a relaxed pace. The expected daily average ascent is around 1,000 vertical meters, which requires a relatively decent level of physical fitness. There are many routes in the area and very few people.

We fly with Norwegian Air from London Gatwick to Oslo-Gardermoen (north of Oslo), where we will transfer into a vehicle equipped for ski touring and head northwest. The estimated arrival time at the lodge is around 9:00 PM.

The round-trip flight ticket is currently around €145 with 10 kg of baggage. Additional baggage or skis cost €25 each way. The total price of a round-trip ticket including skis is therefore approximately €200.

Flight Information

✈️ Departure (London to Oslo)

• Date: Sunday, 14 Mar 2027

• Departure: 09:15 – London Gatwick (LGW), Terminal S

• Arrival: 12:25 – Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)

• Flight: Direct (Duration: 2h 10min) operated by Norwegian Air

✈️ Return (Oslo to London)

• Date: Tuesday, 23 Mar 2027

• Departure: 15:30 – Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)

• Arrival: 16:55 – London Gatwick (LGW), Terminal S

• Flight: Direct (Duration: 2h 25min) operated by Norwegian Air

The total price including the deposit comes to 1,850 GBP per person. You will pay for the accommodation and transport upon arrival at the lodging facility. Everyone pays individually according to the instructions of the accommodation venue, ideally by card via a payment terminal, totaling 17700 NOK after your arrival to Bessheim cottage

A mandatory deposit of 250 GBP per person out of the total amount is required to confirm participation in the event, ensuring we all meet up at the airport as planned. This deposit serves as the fee for the ski touring instructor and your mountain guide. You will receive an invoice and a proof of payment. Deposite will go trough british National Westminster bank account.

The vehicle and private cottage reservation are arranged by the expedition club association in Ambjörby. A spacious vehicle will be ready for us in a parking lot near the airport for our specific dates.

What is included:

Accommodation for 8 nights in a private cabin in the mountain area + 1 night in a hostel in Oslo, and transportation (a large vehicle for the entire stay) which will be available to us at all times, including a qualified guide and ski touring instructor.

What is not included in price:

Flight ticket and food. Travel insurance covering backcountry skiing suitable for this type of event.

Cooking together in a modern, fully equipped kitchen costs relatively the same as cooking in the Czech Republic. We will coordinate a group shopping list in the car after arrival and buy groceries on the way from the airport. Any additional spending is up to each participant.

Requirements & Gear

A prerequisite is having your own, preferably well-tested gear. The physical difficulty is intermediate, and the terrain is suitable even for advanced beginners. The recommended basic safety gear is an absolute must, which includes the "holy trinity" (avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe).

Other required equipment includes: a headlamp, helmet, warm yet breathable clothing (a down jacket paired with a lightweight membrane jacket, breathable waterproof pants), high-quality gloves, and of course, sunscreen, ski goggles, regular sunglasses, and UV lip balm. A neck gaiter that you can pull over your face in case of wind is also needed. Bring a suitable water bottle of at least 1.5 liters capacity that can retain heat. Ski crampons (harcheisens), a small wrist compass, and a well-stocked first aid kit including a quick sugar/energy replenishment pack are highly recommended. Travel insurance for this specific event is mandatory.

Recommended ski width underfoot: 85mm+