Norway
Photo: gjende.no- 3
- Routes
- 3
- Ports
- 20m
- Avg crossing
- 1906
- Founded
Gjendebåten AS is a ferry operator, founded in 1906. It operates 3 ferry routes serving 3 ports in Norway. Customer contact: +47 61 23 92 93. Across its network, crossings average about 20m.
Live board
Gjendebåten AS departures today
Filtered to sailings that operate on today's date — open a departure for its full timetable.
Timetables
Which routes does Gjendebåten AS operate?
3 routes with live schedules.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings | Operators | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gjendesheim → Memurubu | 20m | 5 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Gjendebu → Memurubu | 20m | 2 / wk | 1 | Norway |
| Memurubu → Gjendebu | 20m | 2 / wk | 1 | Norway |
Network
Where does Gjendebåten AS sail?
Gjendebåten AS sails to 3 ports.
Experience
Onboard & services
- Baggage transport
- A family-run business operating for over 100 years, currently managed by the 4th generation.
- Provides ferry services on Gjende lake, serving as a vital transport link for hikers in Jotunheimen National Park.
- Crucial for popular mountain treks like Besseggen (often taken from Gjendesheim to Memurubu) and Bukkelægret.
- Offers up to seven daily departures to Memurubu and two to Gjendebu from Gjendesheim.
- Collaborates with local cabins and activity providers to offer package deals and tailored experiences for groups.
About
About Gjendebåten AS
Gjendebåten has been run by the same family for over a hundred years. Harald Øvstedal, today’s skipper, is the fourth generation; the fifth is already involved. The business began when his ancestor Ole Øvstedal built a boat himself on the shore at Gjendeosen and started rowing people up the lake.
Three kroner twenty to be rowed to Gjendebu
The first boat carried 28 passengers and Ole built it with his own carpentry. Before that he worked as a rokar — a rower. The Reisehaandbog for Gudbrandsdalen of 1905 records the price of being rowed to Gjendebu as 3.20 kroner. If you were in a hurry you could hire two rowers, and then it cost 6 kroner. The lake runs about 18 kilometres from Gjendesheim in the east to Gjendebu at the western end.
This is the boat the Besseggen walkers take
The classic Jotunheimen day is the boat in and the ridge back. Gjendesheim to Memurubu is 20 to 25 minutes with five departures; walkers land at Memurubu and climb back over the Besseggen ridge on foot. Beyond that, Memurubu to Gjendebu runs twice a day at the far end of the lake. The season runs from about mid-June into October.
Your rucksack can travel separately for 100 kroner
This is the detail worth knowing before a long day on the ridge. Buy a baggage tag on the boat or at the huts, tie it to the bag, and leave it on the quay under the correct sign. At the other end you collect it under the sign reading Ankomne ryggsekker — arrived rucksacks. It costs 100 kroner per item on any of the three legs, and it means you can walk Besseggen without carrying your overnight kit.
Fares, and dogs travel free
Gjendesheim to Memurubu is 260 kroner single for an adult and 130 for a child, or 300 / 150 for a same-day return. Gjendesheim to Gjendebu is 320 / 160 single, 360 / 180 return. Memurubu to Gjendebu is 260 / 130. Children under 15 pay the child fare and under-fives travel free. So do dogs. A return ticket must be used the same day, and tickets are not refundable.
Screenshot the ticket before you leave the valley
The operator says it plainly: in places in these mountains the mobile network is poor or absent. Take a screenshot or print the ticket before you arrive, or you may not be able to produce it at the gangway. Buying in advance also matters for a different reason — if you have not booked you join the queue and take your chances on the boat not being full.
You cannot park at the pier
There is no long-term parking at Gjendeosen. Drivers park at Reinsvangen and take a shuttle bus down to the boat; parking and shuttle are run by Visit Gjende and can be booked in advance. Budget the transfer into your timings, because missing the boat at Gjende is not a twenty-minute problem.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When was Gjendebåten AS founded?
Gjendebåten AS was founded in 1906.
Where does Gjendebåten AS sail?
Gjendebåten AS operates 3 ferry routes and serves 3 ports in Norway, including Gjendebu, Gjendesheim brygge, Memurubu.
How do I contact Gjendebåten AS?
You can reach Gjendebåten AS by phone on +47 61 23 92 93, by email at harald@gjende.no, or via their official booking site.
What facilities are available on Gjendebåten AS ferries?
Gjendebåten AS ferries typically offer Baggage transport. Facilities vary by vessel and route — check the specific sailing for details.
How early should I arrive for a Gjendebåten AS ferry?
Arrive at the terminal at least 30–60 minutes before a Gjendebåten AS departure as a foot passenger, and allow longer with a vehicle. Boarding and check-in times vary by port and route — confirm with Gjendebåten AS.
How do I find Gjendebåten AS ferry times?
Browse the live timetables for every Gjendebåten AS route on this page. Schedules are updated as the operator publishes them — always confirm with Gjendebåten AS before travelling, as sailings change seasonally.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated September 6, 2026.
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