Jotunheimen: Valdresflye and Sognefjellet
Two high mountain roads through Norway’s tallest peaks, from the Valdres valley via Lom to the head of the Sognefjord and the oldest stave church.
- Distance
- 259 km (161 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 34 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Norway
- Updated
- July 14, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 259 km (161 mi) with 8 stops, from Fagernes to Sogndal. About 3 h 34 min of driving in total.
Route description
From Fagernes in Valdres, take the Fv51 north over Valdresflye, a bare plateau at nearly 1,400 m with views of the Jotunheimen peaks. Stop at Gjendesheim, where the lake of Gjende lies below the Besseggen ridge; if you want to hike it, stay a night and take the morning boat.
The Fv51 descends towards Vågå, and route 15 leads west up the Otta valley to Lom, a village of timber houses with a fine stave church. Lom is the gateway to Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain in Northern Europe.
Now comes the Fv55 over Sognefjellet, climbing past glaciers and lakes to 1,434 m before dropping in tight bends past Turtagrø to Skjolden at the head of the Lustrafjord. Both mountain roads are closed in winter and usually open between late May and October.
Follow the east side of the Lustrafjord to Ornes and Urnes Stave Church, then take the short ferry across to Solvorn and drive on to Sogndal. The steep sections on Sognefjellet are fine for motorhomes in good weather, but use low gears on the long descent.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Fagernes
Norway - 276 km
Gjende and Besseggen
NatureGjendesheim, NorwayThe green glacial lake of Gjende and the start of the Besseggen ridge walk, Norway’s best-known day hike. A boat takes hikers up the lake to Memurubu in summer.
- 350 km
Lom
Norway - 40 km
Lom Stave Church
HistoryLom, NorwayA large medieval stave church in the village centre, extended in the 17th century, with dragon heads on the gables and a graveyard above the river.
- 554 km
Sognefjellet
ViewsLuster, NorwayThe highest mountain pass road in northern Europe, topping out at 1,434 m between glaciers and peaks of Jotunheimen. Open from about late May to October; expect snow walls in June.
- 628 km
Skjolden
Norway - 732 km
Urnes Stave Church
HistoryOrnes, NorwayNorway’s oldest stave church, from the 12th century and on the UNESCO list, famous for its carved animal ornament. It sits on a green slope above the Lustrafjord.
- 818 km
Sogndal
Norway
