Overview
Hardangervidda is Northern Europe's largest highland plateau, a vast wilderness of 8,500 km² where Europe's largest wild reindeer herds roam freely. The park offers an unparalleled backcountry experience: endless rolling moors, over a thousand lakes and rivers, and a network of DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) mountain cabins connecting hikers across the treeless expanse.
Budget Travel · Day Trips · Nature · Skiing · Trekking
Before you go
Connectivity
Limited mobile coverage—most of the plateau has no signal. Nearest coverage at gateway villages and along Rv7. DNT cabins have no WiFi.
Money
Norwegian Krone (NOK). Mountain cabins typically cost 300-600 NOK per night. Fishing permits 50-300 NOK. Credit cards widely accepted in gateway villages.
Safety
Above-treeline terrain with no natural shelter. Navigation can be impossible in fog. Blizzards close roads October-April. Always file a trip plan and carry emergency gear.
Transport
No roads inside the park. Access via gateway villages: Eidfjord (west), Geilo/Rjukan (east). Finse is reachable only by train. Rv7 crosses the plateau edge but closes in winter.
Weather
Weather changes rapidly from sunshine to snow at any time of year. Always carry windproof and waterproof outer layers plus insulation. Summer nights can drop to freezing even at lower elevations.