Medvind: Hiking the Aurlandsdalen valley - a three-day hike from Finse to Aurlandsdalen

Day 1: Finse - Geiterygghytta

Mountain hike from Finse to Geiterygghytta across Sankt Pål with great views of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier in the south and the Skarvheimen and Jotunheimen mountains in the north. The hike is largely on gentle uphill and downhill paths. You pass several lovely mountain lakes on the way, and we recommend eating your packed lunch beside Omnsvatnet lake while you admire the lovely view. A three-course dinner and made bed await at Geiterygghytta lodge, and maybe you’re brave enough to take a dip in Geiteryggvatnet lake? 

Day 2 (and 3): Geiterygghytta - (Steinbergdalshytta) - Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte

The day’s leg takes you down from Geiterygghytta lodge to Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte lodge. This is where the Aurlandsdalen valley begins and takes you down from the mountains to the fertile valley. The hike starts in lovely mountain plateau terrain and takes you in the same direction as the car road, but a good distance from it, so you don’t hear it. After a while, you come to lovely Steinbergdalshytta, a privately run lodge. It is possible to spend a night here to break up the leg, but we recommend, at the very least, to stop at the lodge for a bowl of porridge made with soured cream. The hike to the Aurlandsdalen valley continues down the valley to Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte lodge. Another possibility for shortening the leg, is to take a bus from Stemmerdalen near Steinbergdalshytta to Østerbø, but remember to research the bus times in advance on skyss.no/en.

Day 3 (4): Østerbø/Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte - Vassbygdi

Little can be seen of the major power developments that took place here in the 1970s and 1980s. The path follows gorges and ravines, through blasted passages, and surrounded by magnificent rock formations. 

Hikers can select a steeper route by crossing Bjørnstigen, right after they set out from Aurlandsdalen lodge. This route is steep both up and down and should only be done by those looking for a more exposed route. 

The main path continues down the valley where the packhorses used to carry their loads in past times. It leads through beautiful and lush nature, following a historical trail passing traces of old settlements, vacated farms, fascinating potholes and other historical points of interest. Historical highlights are the biggest and most distinctive pothole Vetlahelvete located between Heimrebø and Sinjarheim) and the vacated farms Nesbø, Sinjarheim and Almen.

There is a bus stop, car park and a service building with sanitary facilities in Vassbygdi.

By car

Parking at Ål or Haugastøl, Flåm or Voss. Train to Finse.

By public transportation

Finse is easily accessible by train on the scenic Bergen Line with a number of daily departures between Oslo and Bergen.

From Vassbygdi there are several options for return transport

We recommend to take the bus back to Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte/Østerbø to round off the day with dinner and overnight stay. The next day you can take the bus from Østerbø to Ål station, where you can travel onward by train in direction Oslo/Bergen. Take the local bus 850 Vassbygdi-Østerbø / Østerbø-Ål. Remember to research the bus times in advance on skyss.no/en, as the bus service only runs in the main summer season.

Alternatively you can catch a bus from Vassbygdi to Flåm, and continue by the Flåm Railway and Bergen line from Myrdal in direction Oslo/Bergen. Please see the following links for timetables and tickets:

Skyss.no – local bus 850 from Vassbygdi to Flåm/Østerbø-Ål
Norway's best - bus from Vassbygdi to Flåm/Østerbø
Norway’s best - Flåm Railway
Vy.no – train Myrdal –> Oslo/Bergen