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Rondane Tour
(6.5km walk-in on a wide track from the bus stop at Spranget)
Your trip begins at the Spranget bus stop. Walk on the good approach track to Rondvassbu, the biggest hut in the Rondane and very welcoming. (As an option, stay in Otta on the train line and take the bus in the morning. The 6.5km walk to Rondvassbu is quick before the first stage proper.)
Mountain hut (breakfast, dinner and a packed lunch)
Blue 2 (grade) 12.5km with 130m ascent, 410m descent
We climb to the Illmanndalen, the valley running straight East to Bjornhollia. The ascent and descent are mostly gentle and the string of lakes along the pass gives wild views. Find the Bjornhollia hut as a collection of buildings in a walled enclosure, a Norwegian flag flying.
Mountain hut (breakfast, dinner and a packed lunch)
Red 2 (grade) 20.9km with 650m ascent, 490m descent
Today we climb steadily beside the Langglupenbekken to a col and descend to the junction of the Bergedalen and the Rondvassdalen. High mountains line up on both sides: the Hogronden (2,115m) and Digeronden (2,016m) to the North and the Rondslottet (2,178m and highest in the Rondane) to the South. At the junction, we keep North West to reach Doralseter and its collection of huts in the wide valley.
Mountain hut (breakfast, dinner and a packed lunch)
Red 2 (grade) 23.4km with 890m ascent, 780m descent
We back-track 8km to the junction with the Rondvassdalen and turn South towards the impressive and steep - yet not too tricky - Rondhalsen col. This is the key to reaching Rondvassbu, because the Rondvatnet itself has no path, but it does have a boat service in morning and afternoon which can help if staying at Rondvassbu. Once at Rondvassbu, have a last cup of coffee and walk the simple 6.5km access track to Spranget for the afternoon bus. This 6.5km is included in the stats above for the day. We stay in the small working town of Otta. (Staying at Rondvassbu is also possible and you would walk to the bus in the morning. We advise on all the timings.)
Hotel in Otta (breakfast)
Depart from Otta after a superb Norwegian breakfast in our central hotel. There are well-timed trains to Oslo via Oslo Lufthavn. Or, to travel further within Norway, please ask us for recommendations.
Add a rest day
We don't include a rest day as standard on our Rondane Tour. However, some walkers might like to treat Rondvassbu (your first hut) as a base for bagging some Rondane peaks, and in fact this is a popular use for the hut among Norwegian walkers. Please ask us about spending more than one night at any of the huts.
Make the trip longer
The three huts on our Rondane Tour are set at a day's distance from each other, with no intermediate places to stay, so it's hard to make the stages shorter. However, to extend your trip we can suggest a further night at any of the huts, or to spend more time in the area including down the train line in Lillehammer. Please ask us for details of spending more time in the area.
Make the trip shorter
Equally it's hard to walk only 1 or 2 of the 3 stages, due to the lack of a road to any hut. Please let us know how many days you have and we'll be glad to work on a plan.
Hike with a leader
Hike with confidence in the company of our fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (IMLs), with the navigation, accommodation and all arrangements taken care of. You're welcome to walk on any dates within our season and we can adjust the hike to suit your needs. Please ask for more details.
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Rondane Tour: 15 July to 26 Aug 2023 |
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| Dorms |
Private Rooms Groups of 2+ |
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| Self-guided | |||
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3 stages (4 nights) |
GBP 720 Singles 50 |
GBP 740 Singles 50 Main Trip |
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| Private guided | |||
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3 stages (4 nights) Group of 4 or more |
GBP 1,160 Singles 50 |
Please ask us |
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3 stages (4 nights) Group of 1, 2 or 3 |
Please ask |
Please ask |
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| Options | |||
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Baggage transfer |
Not available | ||
We can adjust your Rondane Tour in various ways, as follows:
Accommodation at the start
Our normal first night is in the characterful DNT hut at Rondvassbu. This involves a 6.5km walk along a good track. Depending on your arrival time before your trek at Oslo airport or elsewhere, we can advise on staying in a good hotel in Otta or Lillehammer, then making this 6.5km walk in the morning. It can also be made as part of your first stage if you prefer to walk through.
Accommodation at the end
After your trek, our usual option of our Otta hotel can be changed to the Rondvassbu hut for a last night in the hills, or to other hotels such as those in the lively ski town of Lillehammer.
No dormitories
If you'd like to stay in fewer dorms, please let us know. We have the possibility to book private rooms in each of the 3 huts, subject to availability. We can also offer our Otta hotel option on your first night, which avoids the first night at Rondvassbu; however, the atmosphere and setting at Rondvassbu are a substantial part of the trip's charm.
Single Room Supplement
The single room supplement covers the additional cost of booking single rooms on your hotel night in Otta, rather than sharing a double, twin or triple room. Unfortunately, because of the way the huts operate, it's not possible to book single rooms in the huts.
DNT membership
Your trip comes with a year's membership of the DNT, Den Norske Turistforening, the Norwegian trekking and travel association.
The DNT
The DNT has been running since the late 1800s and is responsible for Norway's national parks, the network of 500 mountain huts, plus tourist information offices in Norwegian towns. You'll quickly get used to seeing their red T waymarks.
Membership gives lower prices in some huts, which we have factored into the cost of our Norway trips, and also gives you direct benefits like discounts in DNT shops and some others.
We are delighted that our trekkers become bona fide DNT members like so many Norwegian trekkers, thus supporting the maintenance of the national parks.
In the run-up to your trip we will ask the date of birth of everyone in your group, as it's required for the DNT membership, and also a phone number to which your membership number can be texted. You can then use the DNT app on your Android or iPhone to show your membership to hut wardens and others.
From a start point at the large Rondvassbu hut we make a three-day circuit of the Rondane. As a compact national park, this length of time takes us within sight - mostly - of the highest hills, even if we stay mostly in the valleys and do not explore quite the whole area.
The terrain
The walking can be tough but in general the terrain is less tricky underfoot than the long boulder and rockfield sections found in the neighbouring Jotunheimen national park. Any sections of boulders here are short and manageable. Most walking is on packed earth paths or moorland, potentially muddy. Small stream and river crossings are plentiful and well served by bridges or easy rock-hopping.
Is it for me?
The terrain in the Rondane valleys, and the through-paths, is akin to our normal Alpine trails and avoids the hardest ground. The level of difficulty is a step lower than our Jotunheimen routes, for example, because we don't cross extensive boulder fields in the Rondane.
Difficulty
The ascent on stage 3 to the col is likely to be the hardest part of the route for many, but it is relatively short and it runs on a good path for most of the distance, with open rocks and slabs towards the top. The descent towards Rondvassbu is then much more gentle.
For an even more detailed read, please see our Rondane Tour Walking Guide
The most convenient airport is Oslo. Travel to Otta on the Oslo-Trondheim train line (Dovre branch) then change for the bus to Spranget. We advise on train times to meet the buses. Trondheim airport is also a good option and you would take the same train line but heading South.
Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point. The aim is that our trekkers arrange their travel by the simplest and most scenic means as suits their plan.
- Bespoke accommodation itinerary - tailored to suit your particular requirements
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner at each hut plus a packed lunch and a refill of your thermos flask on each day walking (this would be 3 nights on our normal trip)
- Detailed Routecards ROT1-3 of the Exploratory system, printed on waterproof paper
- The topographical hiking map needed
- GPX tracks covering our main route
- Membership to the Norwegian DNT for the year of your trip
- Expert advice and local information
- A comprehensive 'Season Update' following our pre-season recce
- Full support during your trip from the Alpine Exploratory team (9am until 9pm in Scandinavia)
- Travel to and from your trip (the bus to Spranget is not included)
- Local transport whilst on the trip unless specified
- Travel insurance
- Additional snacks and drinks not specified above. Evening meals in the towns (this would be 1 night on our main trip, in Otta)
- Baggage transfers (not available on this route)
Baggage transfer
Although baggage transfer isn't available on this hut-based trip, it's possible to leave your baggage at the hotel in Otta while you trek. On our normal 4-night trip you would pass Otta on the way to your first night at Rondvassbu, then return to Otta for your last night. If you prefer, please ask us to book an extra night in Otta at the start, or even to replace the Rondvassbu night so that you stay in Otta before and after. We can also offer the wonderful outdoors town of Lillehammer in place of Otta.
  Rondane Tour 2023 enquiry form
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If you prefer, please feel welcome to email or call us. Thanks!
| Contact Alpine Exploratory | |
| info@alpineexploratory.com | |
| Phone | +44 (0)131 214 1144 |
| Our times |
9am to 5pm UK time Monday to Friday |
| Australia | 02 8319 2266 |
| Canada | 416-548-4819 |
| New Zealand | 04 889 4515 |
| USA | 646-757-1102 |
Open to the world
Since Alpine Exploratory started in 2005 we have loved getting to know our clients from around the world. Along with the UK, our best-represented countries are the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Please use our national-rate numbers for a cheaper call to contact our office in Edinburgh.
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The Rondvassbu DNT hut in the Rondane National Park
Alpine Exploratory
+44 (0)131 214 1144
