Aurlandsdalen from Østerbø to Vassbygdi

The walk starts at Østerbø, 820 m, by Aurlandsdalen Turisthytte. The marked path heads west above the lake at Nesbø and then down into the valley, below Vetlahelvete, a gorge a short way off the path. It continues down the steep, wooded valley past the old farms of Sinjarheim and Almen, and drops at last to the river and the road at Vassbygdi, 80 m.

It is 14.3 km with 253 m of ascent and 987 m of descent; allow about 5 hours. The grade is Hard: mostly downhill, but long, steep and rough underfoot in places.

DNT Oslo og Omegn publishes the walk as one of Norway's historic walking routes (historiske vandreruter) and gives the season as May to September. After heavy rain or in the snowmelt there is a risk of rockfall and the streams run very high, and the ground can be wet and slippery.

There is parking at Østerbø and at Vassbygdi. In summer buses serve Østerbø from Aurland and Flåm, and a local bus comes over the mountains from Ål; buses also run back from Vassbygdi. Check the timetables before you set out.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.