12 Things To Know About Summiting Galdhøpiggen With A Guide

Jotunheimen National Park is home to Norway’s 29 largest peaks, and Galdhøpiggen is the highest. While getting to the summit requires a glacier crossing, it isn’t as inaccessible as one might think. Quite the opposite, during the peak season, a few hundred people a day summit Galdhøpiggen.

How to get to the summit of Galdhøpiggen in Norway

When I travel, I try not to follow any trends. Sometimes, I even consciously skip touristy places, like the famous Trolltunga hike.

It wasn’t the fact that Galdhøpiggen is the highest mountain in Norway that drew me to its summit. It was the exhilarating thought of crossing a glacier to get to Galdhøpiggen’s peak that made the hike so appealing.

Hiking the glacier route requires guided assistance. In this post, I will share how to book a guide and all the other important information to summit Galdhøpiggen safely.

1. Galdhøpiggen summit hike: the stats

• Distance roundtrip: 11.6 km / 7.2 mi
• Time required: 6-8 hours  
• Total Ascent: 650 m / 2120 ft
• Type of hike: Out and back
• When to go (2023): May 26 – 17 September
• Parking: 61.67352, 8.37033

2. About Galdhøpiggen

Galdhøpiggen is not only Norway’s highest peak but also the highest peak in northern Europe. It stands at 2469 meters above sea level (8100 feet).

The peak is in Jotunheimen National Park, one of Norway’s most visited National Parks. The park is known for its raw nature and moon-like landscape created by many years of glaciation. It is also home to another fantastic day hike in Norway – the Besseggen Ridge Trail.

There are two main routes to the summit of Galdhøpiggen:

1. From Juvasshytta across the Styggebreen glacier: This is the route I took. It requires the assistance of a guide to cross the glacier safely.
2. From Spiterstulen cabin to the summit: A much longer approach that takes a whole day and includes over 1500 meters of elevation gain over 13 kilometres. Because this route doesn’t involve glacier crossing, it can be done without a guide.

3. The map of the Galdhøpiggen hike

Above, you can see my path from the car park to the summit. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and route with my Garmin Fenix watch, which I wore that day.

4. How challenging is the hike to the Galdhøpiggen summit?

The hike to the summit is surprisingly easy. Our group included young children, small dogs, and seasoned older hikers. Everyone got to the top safely and with no issues.

There are a few tricky points in the last stage of the hike, where you might have to use your hands for assistance. Icy conditions along the trail, even in the middle of summer, might also make navigation tricky. Make sure to have appropriate equipment with you.

5. The time window for hiking to Galdhøpiggen in the summer of 2024

During the summer season of 2024, guided tours are available daily at 10 AM from 1 June until September 15. In July there is an additional slot for 11:30 AM.

Snowy and icy conditions can be expected anytime during the hiking season. I hiked the trail in the middle of July, and it had snowed the night before. We had some fresh powder snow at the summit.

6. How to get to the Galdhøpiggen trailhead

Juvashytta, the high alpine mountain hut where the guided hike to Galdhøpiggen begins, lies circa 15 kilometres / 25 minutes drive off route no. 55 is the Sognefjellet scenic route – one of Norway’s popular National Scenic Drives.

The drive up to Juvasshytta is quite steep at times. Ensure your car has good brakes and enough power to make it up and down safely.

This toll road has an automatic toll station that records your vehicle’s license plate number. Once you get to the Juvasshytta, you can pay the toll. There are ticket machines near the parking lot. You can also pay the toll online on Paypass.no within 48 hours of using the road. The fee for a camper is 200 NOK and 150 for a regular car.

7. How to book a guide for the Galdhøpiggen hike?

Guided tours are operated through the Juvasshytta cabin. Bookings can be done directly on their website.

A guided tour costs 400 NOK for adults and 380 NOK for a child. Kids must be at least seven years old to join the tour.

The price includes a harness and carabiner rental, which you will use for glacier crossing. Since I travel with my harness, I brought it on the tour. The guides were okay with it.

8. Facilities along the Galdhøpiggen trail

Juvasshytta offers overnight stays, an on-site restaurant, and a small outdoor shop. If you forget to pack your hiking boots, you can also rent them there.

If you are not a guest, you can use the toilet and shower facilities in a separate building near the parking lot. Both are available for a small fee. The facilities are in top condition and look like they have been renovated recently. I needed to take a warm shower after a hike, especially since my campervan was not equipped with one.

A small hut (Volehytta) is also near the summit, where hot drinks and snacks are sold. It provides excellent shelter during bad weather conditions, but given the number of people at the summit at any given time, there isn’t enough space for everyone.

Unfortunately, there are no other toilet facilities along the trail to Galdhøpiggen, apart from the Juvashytta, and many hikers choose to pee right near Volehytta, which I found pretty disgusting.

9. Galdhøpiggen trail description

We met with our guides 15 minutes before takeoff. After a short briefing on the hike, we were on our way. The guides also divided harnesses and carabiners among the group. Each person carried a harness and carabiner, which they later attached to a rope.

The hike to the summit of Galdhøpiggen divides nicely into three even stages.

Stage 1: From Juvasshytta to the edge of the Stygebreen glacier

The first half of the hike (circa 2.8 km) goes gently uphill across rocky terrain to the edge of a glacier. Since we walked in a large group (approximately 100 people), the pace was adjusted to the slowest members. This part took circa 1 hour to complete.

Stage 2: Stygebreen glacier crossing

Once at the edge of the Stygebreen glacier, we were told to put on our harnesses and clip onto the rope. We were divided into three groups.

Once the guides checked that we were all safely attached, we started hiking across the glacier. This was the easiest part of the hike; however, we all had to keep a proper distance from one another to make sure that the rope wasn’t dragging between our feet.

This is done to ensure that no one falls into a crevasse. Glaciers usually stay covered by a layer of snow, and crevasses aren’t visible. It took us around 45 minutes to cross it.

Stage 3: Summit push

Once on the other side, we unroped and were told by the guide that we could continue to the summit on our own. We were told meet them in the same spot in two hours.

The summit push is the hardest part of the Galdhøpiggen hike. It has a few scrambling sections, where you must use your hands for assistance.

10. What to bring and wear on the Galdhøpiggen hike

Even though it was the middle of the summer season when I hiked to the top of Galdhøpiggen, we still had winter(ish) conditions; hence, you should be properly equipped. Below is a checklist of things to bring:

• Sunscreen—My friends and I forgot to put sunscreen on before we left, which resulted in sunburn.
• UV Sunglasses – even on a cloudy day, the sunlight bouncing off the glacier can be blinding.
• Warm synthetic or down jacket – to keep you warm at the summit
• Shell jacket – It should always be in your backpack in case it rains or snows
• Gaiters – they can come in handy after a snowfall. They will stop the snow from getting into your boots.
• Daypack – find your perfect backpack in the Osprey Amazon Store
• Hiking boots—preferably above-ankle boots. I own a pair of Hanwag Alverstone boots and highly recommend them.
• Hiking trousers – I recommend rugged trousers from the Swedish brand Revolution Race.
• Foldable trekking poles
• Warm hut or a buff—buffs have many great uses, from headbands to hats and neck warmers. I own at least three pairs.
• Wind gloves
• Drinks and plenty of snacks
• Cash to pay for drinks and snacks at the top.

11. Where to stay nearby 

If you plan on travelling along the Sognefjellet Scenic route and summiting Galdhøpiggen, I recommend staying in the Røisheim Hotel and Skysstasjon. It’s a historic hotel with an incredibly cosy feeling. Juvasshytta is only 30 minutes away.

You can book a night directly at Juvasshytta if you want to be close.

Another great place to stay nearby is the Nørde-Repp Hotel in the Bovervalley along the Sognefjellet route. It’s located in a tranquil setting, has access to a garden, and is often visited by Elks.

If you want to be closer to civilization, stay at the Fossheim Hotel in Lom. It will be a great place to continue your road trip toward the Geiranger Fjord.

12. Frequently asked questions about the Galdhøpiggen summit hike

Are you still on the fence when it comes down to summiting Norway’s highest peak? Below are some of the most asked questions regarding the excursion

Do I need a guide to summit Galdhøpiggen?

A guide is only required on the route that crosses the Stygebreen Glacier. This is to ensure the safety of all hikers. A good knowledge of crevasse crossing is necessary, and let’s face it, an average hiker doesn’t have that.

Is the Galdhøpiggen hike worth it?

Galdhøpiggen is one of the best day hikes in Norway. Is it my favourite? – No. Do I regret hiking it? The answer is also a no. Would I do it again? Probably not. Once was enough.

If you don’t mind hiking in groups, you will have a great time. Crossing a glacier and standing at the highest peak in Scandinavia is a bonus!

Other hikes, places, and activities to experience nearby

Sognefjellet Scenic Route

The Sognefjellet scenic route runs between Gaupne in the South and Lom Municipality in the North. For over 100 kilometres, the road follows exquisite landscapes and crosses Northern Europe’s highest mountain pass. With plenty of viewpoints to stop and take photos, the road features on some of my Norway road trip itineraries.

Besseggen ridge trail

Besseggen is a full-day hike that traverses along the ridgeline high above the turquoise lake Gjende. Besseggen trail has some of the best views of the Jotunheimen National Park.