Norway. Jotunheimen National Park

  A peaceful transition from the more popular lake area to absolute solitude. This stretch offered a meditative walk through open alpine terrain, with frozen lakes, wide valleys, and postcard views of Norway’s rugged peaks. Ideal for those seeking silence, space, and a true wilderness camp experience...

  Map of the Jotunheimen National Park hikes...

  After finishing the Gjendebu trail, we left the more popular lake area and the hut behind, where we’d crossed paths with a fair number of hikers. It was a lovely place, but we were looking for something quieter - somewhere we could really feel the stillness of the mountains...

  We hiked about 5 kilometers further, gradually climbing into more remote alpine terrain. The trail mellowed out here, with rolling hills, wide-open views, and only the sound of the wind and our boots on the path. No one else in sight—just us, the mountains, and the vast sky...

  The terrain turned wilder—soaked and spongy underfoot, with patches of snow and waterlogged moss everywhere. Streams crisscrossed our path, but we didn’t even bother taking off our shoes. At that point, our feet were constantly wet anyway, soaked from hours of hiking through damp terrain...

 While we hiked to our next night’s spot, snow started appearing more and more. Even though it was already the second half of June, I began to realize that the next day would be full of snow...

  Before reaching our campsite, we climbed a bit higher, hiking through patches of snow, and finally found a dry, beautiful field near a frozen lake.

  It was dry, soft ground - a beautiful field with clear views of the snow-covered peaks in the distance. There was a peaceful, untouched feeling to it all, like we had the entire mountain range to ourselves...

  The next morning, the weather greeted us with clouds and light rain... 

  The snow level was surprisingly high for summer, even for Norway. Hiking the trail became a challenge - our legs were constantly sinking deep into the snow, and more than once, we had to dig them out by hand. In some places, the snow was frozen enough to walk safely, which helped a lot...

  It was like walking into another season entirely. Next photos perfectly captures the surreal contrast we experienced - despite being in the second half of June, the landscape was fully wrapped in winter’s grip. A wide, snow-covered plain stretched endlessly ahead, framed by a dark, cloud-covered mountain that loomed like a frozen fortress. The sky was heavy and moody, the air cold and damp. Footsteps disappeared quickly in the soft snow, and the only sign of life was one bright figure - hood up, pack on, marching steadily into the white...

  It felt wild, remote, and a little unreal. A reminder that in Jotunheimen, summer is just a suggestion...

  The frozen lake has started to crack open, revealing striking shades of turquoise beneath the surface ice - like nature’s hidden gem...

  The slope is gentle but tiring, each step sinking slightly, demanding effort. The mountain across the lake rises steeply, still mostly hidden in clouds, adding to the feeling that you’ve crossed into a remote and timeless wilderness...

  The good part? Many of the creeks were covered by thick layers of snow, so we could cross over them easily without getting wet again...

  

  To hide from the wind during lunchtime, we found the perfect spot tucked behind a large rock. It shielded us from the chilly gusts sweeping across the snowfield and made our break feel surprisingly cozy. Sitting there, surrounded by this frozen wilderness, with a warm meal in hand and silence all around - it was one of those simple, perfect trail moments...

  After lunch, we began our descent into the valley. Step by step, the snow started to thin out, slowly revealing patches of rocky terrain and hints of green. With every meter down, the landscape softened - the harsh white gave way to colors again, and it felt like we were gradually returning from another planet...

   Crossing icy streams had already become part of our daily routine. Sometimes, the stream was quite deep, then we took off our trousers...

  This entire stretch of the hike, from our camp until we started descending toward the Utladalen valley, we didn’t see a single person. Not even in the evening as we dropped lower into the valley. It felt like we had the whole mountain to ourselves - a raw and beautiful kind of solitude that made this day unforgettable...

  We pitched a tent in the green zone very close to Utladalen Valley, finding a nice dry spot between the wet mossy areas...

  The next day, we planned to finish our 80 km hike by passing through a valley full of waterfalls. Today, we’re just recovering from a snow day full of adventure and a challenging hike through snowy passes...