Near the last tributaries of the Western Fjords and the remote towns of the interior lies the pristine landscape of Jotunheimen National Park (“home of the giants”), the most visited in Norway. In 2006, Reinheimen National Park (“home of the reindeer”) was established north of Jotunheimen. These enormous parks flank the village of Lom, with Breheimen, a glacier area that attained park status in 2007, to the west. Today, it is Scandinavia’s top hiking destination.
Lom. The attraction of Lom (pop. 2500) is not what is to be found within the city, but what lies outside of it. The high-season for hiking usually runs from July to mid-August. In Jotunheimen, a popular trek leads to the summit of 2469m Galhøpiggen, northern Europe’s tallest mountain. Ask at the tourist office for the best departure points, which vary according to skill level and weather conditions. The 6hr. trail from Juvashytta is a popular route, but it can only be completed with the help of paid guides (160kr) who navigate the perilous soft spots of the Jostedalsbreen glacier. Before guides were mandatory, several inexperienced tourists fell through crevasses. The complex at Juvashytta (accessible by toll road 80kr) also offers an summer alpine ski area and a nice summer hotel (250kr per. person for double rooms). A bus leaves from Lom for Juvashytta (from mid-June to mid-Aug. daily 8:40am; 76kr, students 57kr). From Krossbu, hikers can take a 4-6hr. glacier walk. Less experienced travelers without a guide should catch the bus to Spiterstulen (1 per day 8:45am, 76kr, students 57kr). From there, plan to hike 8-9hr., not on the glacier. Nordal Turistsenter , in the city center, has cabins. Walk left as you exit the tourist office and cross the bridge to the main roundabout; take a left and follow the road until you see the cabins on your left. (☎61 21 93 00; www.nordalturistsenter.no. Laundry 25kr per machine. Reception 8am-11pm. Open Apr.-Dec. Tent sites 150kr per person, low-season 130kr; 200kr with car; 2- to 4-person cabins 395-440kr. Showers free.) Pick up groceries at Kiwi, off the main roundabout. (Open M-F 9am-9pm, Sa 9am-6pm. Cash only.) or the Coop across from the bus station. From Lom, buses run to: Bergen (8hr., 1 per day, 550kr); Oslo (6hr., 4 per day, 485kr); Sogndal (3hr., mid-June to mid-Sept. 2 per day, 220kr); Trondheim (6hr., 1 per day, 450kr). The tourist office is in the Fjellmuseum and National Park Center. From the bus station, turn left and cross the bridge. (☎61 21 29 90; www.visitjotunheimen.com. Open mid-May to mid-Aug. M-F 9am-7pm, Sa-Su 10am-7pm; from mid-Aug. to early May M-F 9am-4pm. Ring door bell. Museum www.fjell.museum.no. 50kr, students 30kr. AmEx/MC/V.)
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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