Easter in Jotunheimen
In 1901 the owner of Bessheim, Iver Storvik received 100 NOK from The Association for the Promotion of Skiing for keeping his lodge open during Easter. Since then the family have received ski-loving Easter holidaymakers every years. Easter at Bessheim is skitrips, lots of good food, Iver the reindeer, beer in the snow, lectures (in Norwegian), campfires, childrens ski races, guided trips and party on Easter evening.
Easter 2025 starts on Friday 11th of April, and lasts until Monday 21th of April.
From we open in February to end of Easter we prepare many kilometres of cross-country skitrails in Sjodalen, connecting Bessheim to Besseggen Fjellpark, Hindseter and Gjendesheim.
Below you find the program for activities and menu during easter 2025:
Activityprogram Easter 2025 – We are working on the program for 2025. It will be updated by December 2024.
Sunday April 13th – quiz
Quiz by the fireplace 20:30, welcome!
Tuesday April 15th – dinner buffet with a visit from the wine-importer Bertil&Martens
Dinner buffet local tastes and tranching of lamb. Desserttable. The local wine-importer Bertil&Martens from Otta presents a selection of their wines during the meal. You can go to dinner any time between 18:30 and 20:30 Dinner is NOK 540. Children 3 – 12 years half price. Wines are paid for separately. Remember to make reservation for table.
Wednesday April 16th – lecture on travel notes from 1911
Kåre Lund gives a lecture on winter tourism at Bessheim in the early 20th century. The Englishman J. H. W. Fulton stayed here in March 1911, and wrote interesting travel notes, giving insight into the route, his trips from Bessheim, and daily life at the mountain farm. In Norwegian, by the fireplace 20:30.
Thursday April 17th – familytrip
We go skiing to a campfire burning not a long way from Bessheim. Suitable for both kids and adults. Meet in the reception at 11:00.
Thursday April 17th – lecture on the oldest cultural heritage in Jotunheimen
Lecture in Norwegian given by Reidar Marstein and Espen Finstad. Reidar is an experienced and recreational archeologist. Espen is a professional archeologist. Together they have found tracks, paths, remains of dwellings and artifacts popping out of the melting glaciers. Reidar have found a 3400 year old shoe, and last summer he found 7000 year old fishing arrangements in the lake Tesse. They come to talk about their work. In Norwegian, by the fireplace 20:30.
Good Friday April 18th – guided ski trip to Besshø
On Good Friday April 7th we will have a guided trip to Besshø. Departure from Bessheim 08:30. Experience from trips backcountry skiing at least 15 km is a prerequisite to attend the trip. You need: backcontry (not randonee) skis, warm clothing, wool base layer, windproof outer clothing, warm gloves, windproof gloves sunglases, food, warm drink, and the other equipment you need for a day outside in a potentially harsh climate. Price NOK 450. Sign up within March 31st on post@bessheim.no or phone (0047) 61 23 89 13. The guide is Jon, an experienced mountaineer who knows Jotunheimen like his back pocket.
Good Friday April 18th – dinner buffet with warm and cold dishes.
Large easter buffet with warm and cold dishes and desserts. Some exiting tastes of local food – reindeer, moose, deer and mountain trout.
Good Friday March 18th – quiz
Quiz by the fireplace 20:30, welcome!
Saturday April 19th – 11:00-14:00– Ride a sledge with reindeer
The reindeer herders Jørn Slettom og Ola Vaagaasarøygard are joined by their favourite reindeers Iver and Nils, and you can ride a sledge behind a reindeer on the lake. Suitable for children! Meet up when it suits you between 11:00 and 14:00. NOK 100 per person.
Saturday April 19th, 13:00– Easter ski race
We hold our annual easter ski race and skijump-comptetion! You can get your face painted from 12:00. We encourage everyone to dress up in costumes, but you are welcome however you are! We grill hotdogs and serve juice. Sign up in the reception by 11:00
Saturday April 19th, 19:00 – Easter evening
We serve a three-course dinner at 19:00. Dinner and party if you don’t have half pension is NOK 580 per person. Children 3 – 12 years half price. Make reservations in the receptions, on phone +47 61 23 89 13 or on email post@bessheim.no by 22:00 the night before.
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is a popular activity during easter. The most popular places are Øvre (Upper) and Nedre (Lower) SJodalsvatn, Gjendeosen and Nedre (Lower) Leirungen. All these lakes have great mountain trout waiting for you. You need to bring your own gear. Buy a fishing permit in the reception – children under 16 do not pay for the permit but should still have one. See more at the pages the Mountain Board, www.vaga-fjellstyre.no
Dog sledge riding during easter
At Sjodalen Hyttetun, 18 km north of Bessheim you can ride a dog sledge during the first weekend of easter, Thursday, Good Friday, 1. and 2. Easter day. See their English webpages for www.sjodalenhyttetun.no for details.
Dinner menu for Easter -We are working on the menu for 2025. It will be updated by December 2024.
Friday April 11
Baked cod
Game filet with vegetables, Hasselback potatoes and game sauce
Chocolate dessert
Saturday April 12
Dinner buffet with local tastes. Lamb from Vågå, tranched by our chef in the dining room.
Dessert table
Sunday April 13
“A taste of Jotunheimen” – a plate with a selection of local tastes
Fish of the day – local mountain trout.
Creme Brulle
Monday April 14
Soup of the day
Boiled reindeer meat served in traditional manner with onion sauce, root vegetables and mashed
potatoes
Cheesecake made of the Norwegian cheese Gudbranddalsost and berry mousse
Tuesday April 15
Dinner buffet with local tastes. Lamb from Vågå, tranched by our chef in the dining room.
Dessert table
Wednesday April 16
Menu from Christine Storm Munchs cookbook – Edvard Munchs great grandmother:
Local mountain trout
You choose between filet of ox and cod
Lemon tart
Thursday April 17
Creamed fish soup
Roasted leg of deer, tranched by our chef in the dining room. Served with baked potatoes and sauce.
Chocolate dessert
Friday April 18
Large Easter buffet with warm and cold dishes and desserts. Some exiting tastes of local food – reindeer, moose, deer and mountain trout.
Saturday April 19 Easter evening – Dinner served at 19:00 for everyone
Tastes of mountain trout
Local reindeer with fresh vegetables, game-sauce and mashed potatoes
Layered cake, cloudberry cream and skrylle/krumkake – a traditional local sweet bread
Sunday April 20
Cured meat of reindeer
Veal with vegetables, potatoes and sauce
Dessert of the day
Price of our three-course dinner is NOK 540 per person, 580 on Good Friday and Easter eve. If you have pension the dinner is included. Menu subject change.
Dinner is served each night 18:30-20:30 and reservations are taken per email to post@bessheim.no or at phone +47 61 23 89 13