Nigardsbreen Glacier in Jostedal is one of the easiest accessible glaciers in the fjords area in Western Norway. A short boat trip and a short hike, and you stand by the foot of the glacier. Map to use: Jostedalsbreen Nasjonalpark 1:50000.
We joined a Short Blue Ice Hike on the glacier, and had a great experience in wild and beautiful surroundings. See the pictures and video further down in the article.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Sognefjord area.
About season and other important information
SEASON – Glacier Guiding from 15 May to 25 September. The mentioned season are approximate dates and may deviate from this, depending on temperature, snow and local conditions. See Jostedalen Breførarlag´s Website for updated information about the season when booking glacier tours.
NOTE – You must always join a Guided Tour on Nigardsbreen Glacier. Do not walk on the glacier without guide.
SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS – You should follow the Norwegian Mountain Code when hiking in Norway. It can change from summer and sunny weather to winter and frost in minutes! Always check the Weather Forecast before you go hiking. For safety reasons it is recommended to avoid hiking in Thunderstorms, in fog, in bad weather and when it is snow and ice on the trail and in the mountain! Always bring good clothes and hiking shoes. And have enough food and water in your rucksack.
NOTE – The glacier is barriered off in a good distance from the tongue of the glacier. Crossing the barriers is at great risk, never cross the barriers.
Guided Glacier Hikes on Nigardsbreen Glacier
The hikes on Nigardsbreen Glacier can be done in small or large groups. All hikes on the glacier are guided by experienced guides, and all necessary equipment are provided. Some of the hikes you can choose between are Short or Long Blue Ice Hike and Special Blue Ice Hike. You can also choose the KIDS SPECIAL which is a more challenging hike, for sporty and adventurous kids.
Age limit on Glacier Hikes on the Nigardsbreen Glacier is minimum 8, 10 or 12 years old, depending on which glacier hike you choose. It is recommended to book Glacier Hikes in advance at Jostedal Breførarlag. At Breheimsenteret Glacier Center in Jostedal, more information are provided about the activities, the glacier and the surrounding area.
Glacier Bus from Sogndal
You can join the Glacier Bus from Sogndal to Jostedal if you do not have a car, there is one daily departure during the season.
About the Nigardsbreen Glacier
The Nigardsbreen Glacier is a glacier arm of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, the larges ice-cap in continental Europe.
The Glacier is situated by Lake Nigardsbrevatnet at Gjerde, a side valley to the Jostedal Valley. Between year 1700 and 1750, the Nigardsbreen Glacier expanded more than four kilometers.
During the last years, from around 1930, the glacier has been retracting. Between the Glacier Center and Lake Nigardsbrevatnet you can see several morains from the retreat of the glacier.
The road to the Glacier Lake goes through many of the moraines, so you are able to see some cross sections of the moraines from the road.
Nigardsbreen Glacier is still melting and retracting. Because of this, it takes longer to hike up to the glacier for each year.
Safety on and near Glaciers
Do not walk on a glacier without guide. It is also very important that one never hikes in front of a glacier! It is encouraged that one admires the beauty of a glacier from a safe distance.
Nigardsbreen Glacier: The last years there have been some fatal accidents by the foot of the Nigardsbreen glacier. A glacier is like a river in “slow motion”, glaciers are always moving. This causes the gacier to calv now and then, and sometimes the Glacial River will accumulate under the glacier and come out as a “tsunami”.
Due to the danger, some of the glaciers, like Nigardsbreen Glacier, are barriered off in a good distance from the tongue of the glacier. Crossing the barriers is at great risk, never cross the barriers.
Read more about safety on and near glaciers…
Lustrafjord – What to See and Do
The Lustrafjord and Luster area is deemed to be one of the most beautiful spots in the country. It is where the fjords meet the top of Norway and the mountains and glaciers never ends. There are many wonderful and exciting things to see and do there.
Solvorn is an idyllic village located down by the Lustrafjord. The oldest historical hotel and one of the finest, the Walaker Hotel, is located in the village. Time has in a way stood still in Solvorn. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
From Solvorn, you can take the small ferry across the Lustrafjord to Ornes and visit Urnes Stave Church and see the mighty Feigefossen waterfall which reveals itself in the spring. Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of our remaining stave churches in Norway, and is one of four world heritage sites in Western Norway.
The hike to Mt Molden gives you a fantastic view both in and out of the Lustrafjord. The locals claim this is the best view in Luster, and in Luster there are many great viewpoints.
Nigardsbreen glacier in Jostedal and Austerdalsbreen glacier at Veitastrond are two of the most beautiful and most easily accessible glaciers in Norway. Mørkridsdalen and Fortunsdalen are two classic areas for mountain hikes near Skjolden, which is located at the innermost part of the Lustrafjord. Stay at Skjolden Hotel in Skjolden, a great hotel with short-travelled food and drinks from the top shelf.
High in the Jotunheimen mountains, the Sognefjellet Mountain Road runs between the Lustrafjord and the Gudbrandsdalen Valley. The Sognefjellet National Tourist Route is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe with its 1434 meters above sea level at the highest point. Along the road is Turtagrø Hotel, Sognefjellshytta and Krossbu where you can stay and get information and guide to Hurrungane and the mountains and glaciers around Sognefjellet, which is one of Norway’s wildest mountain areas.
The Lustrafjord is approximately 40 kilometers long and is the innermost branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the middle of Western Norway.
The Lustrafjord – Hotels and Accommodation
Jostedalen – Jostedal Hotell
Jostedalen – Jostedal Camping
Fortun/Hurrungane – Turtagrø Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Resort
Lustrafjord – Sørheim Fjordpanorama
Luster – Dalsøren Camping
Luster – Luster Fjordhytter
Luster – Nes Gard
Marifjøra – Marifjøra Sjøbuer
Mollandsmarki – Heil pao kanten
Norway’s oldest hotel – Walaker Hotell in Solvorn
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Eplet Hostel & Juicefabrikk
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Villa Solvorn
Exclusivity and well-being at Hafslo – BesteBakken
Tungestølen at Veitastrond – Tungestølen Turisthytte
The Lustrafjord – Useful Links
Skjolden – Where fjord meets the mountains: Skjolden.com
Activities in Luster: Visit Skjolden
The UNESCO Protected Urnes Stave Church
Ferry across the Lustrafjord: Lustrabaatane
Glacier Guiding on Nigardsbreen Glacier: Jostedalen Breførarlag
Breheimsenteret Glacier Center in Jostedal: Breheimsenteret
Mountain Hotel in the Hurrungane Mountains: Turtagrø Hotel
Sognefjellet National Tourist Route: Norwegian Scenic Routes
Guided Kayak Trip on the Lustrafjord: Fjordseal at Marifjøra
Guided Motor Boat Tours at Lake Styggevatnet: Ice Troll