Besseggen has a special status among Norwegians and hiking the ridge is considered a rite of passage, no matter your age. The iconic view is characterized by the Gjende and Bessvatnet lakes. Gjende is a stunning emerald color and very long and narrow. Bessvatnet is a deep blue and among Norway’s clearest lakes. In fact, it’s said you can see up to 30 meters below the water. There's also a plethora of great peaks that rise up above the landscape in all directions. Rarely will you see landscape more beautiful.

Hiking the Besseggen ridge is very demanding. It takes roughly 6 to 7 hours to complete the ridge hike, not including breaks. Despite the challenging route, during the short hiking season from the end of June to mid-September, more than 30,000 hikers complete the trip making Besseggen one of the most trafficked hiking routes in Norway. The trail becomes extremely difficult in rainy weather, so make sure to look at the forecast and talk with locals and fellow hikers before embarking on the trek. Due to the short season, the trail is often very crowded. To avoid the masses, aim to hike on a weekday in September. July is the traditional month for Norwegians to take summer holidays.