Norway's fjords and the steep mountains along the coast are a sight you won't soon forget. Through the heart of this unique landscape, runs the Romsdalstien hiking trail. On five varied stages, the path reveals views of some of Norway's most memorable mountains, such as the Trollveggen, as well as forested valleys, rustic mountain huts and many metres in altitude.

Despite its short stages, the Romsdalstien is a demanding long-distance hiking trail that includes some steep and challenging passages. Although these require surefootedness and a head for heights, special mountaineering equipment is not necessary. As the weather can be changeable, you should pack good rain gear and allow a little time buffer in case you need to sit out a bad weather day in a hut.

You can walk the Romsdalstien as a hut Tour as the stages are planned so you can stop at one of the cosy Norwegian Trekking Association DNT at the end of each day. If there’s no hut warden, you need a standardised key which you can borrow from the DNT for a deposit. You can pick one up at one of the DNT offices (such as in Oslo or Trondheim), or apply online on the DNT website. If you stay for three nights or more per year, then it’s worth becoming a member of the hiking club. Some of the huts have a small pantry where you can stock up on snacks, but it’s still necessary to carry plenty of food in your backpack as there are no shops along the way.

Thanks to the Norwegian Allemansretten, you can camp anywhere in the open countryside. However, due to the rocky terrain at higher altitudes and the marshy meadows in the valleys, it can sometimes be a little difficult to find a good camping spot.

How to get there: You can take the train to Åndalsnes from Trondheim or Oslo. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys I know of, especially the last section, and it makes you even more excited for the hike ahead of you. A bus leaves almost hourly from Åndalsnes to Åfarnes, where you start your hike. From Isfjorden, at the end, you can catch a bus back to Åndalsnes. If you want to shorten your hike or finish early, you can take a short walk from any of the cabins to the next valley and soon reach a road.

The best time to hike the Romsdalstien is from mid-July to September. Before that, there is still too much snow for hiking, especially at higher altitudes. From mid to late-September the first snow can fall again. If you are unsure, you can ask DNT Romsdal for the current conditions.