How to trek the Jostedal Glacier in Norway (our experience)

One of the great attractions of my most recent trip to the fjords of Norway was, without a doubt, the possibility of trekking on a glacier.

In Europe it is not common to see large glaciers, and in my case prior to said trip I only remember seeing it in Austria, specifically the Grossglockner Glacier.

But now the experience has been totally different.

What the Jostedal glacier is like, characteristics

The objective was to reach the Jostedal glacier (Jostedalbreen), not only to enjoy its landscape, but to make a trekking excursion.

El Jostedal, with its 487 square kilometers of surface and 60 kilometers in length, is the largest glacier in continental Europe.

In Norway itself, in the svalbard islands, there are other larger glaciers, such as Austfonna which reaches 8.412 kilometers in surface.

Although the origin of the fjords of norway is found in the effects of Ice Age, about 12.000 years ago, the truth is that the Jostedal It is much younger as it only dates back to 500 BC.

This enormous elongated glacier extends through the high areas of the fjords, with a highest elevation at 2.018 meters above the sea, and the lowest at 350 meters.

It is truly surprising to know that the glacier reaches 600 meters thick in some areas.

Numerous tongues of ice come down from the glacier, which you can access to see from various places.

What is the most visited area of ​​Jostedal?

The most visited language is Briksdalbreen, which tourists who travel through the fjords on cruise.

I was looking forward to seeing the glacier at this point during my previous trip to the fjords, quite a few years ago.

To watch the Briksdal glacier You reach a viewpoint from where you can see its tongue of ice.

It is an experience that I suppose will be similar to seeing the aforementioned glacier from a viewpoint. Grossglockner in Austria.

What is the experience of trekking through the Jostedal glacier?

For its part, to make the trekking on the Jostedal glacier your destiny must be the language Nigardsbreen, which is reached from the fiord dream and which has the lowest elevation of all.

Furthermore, in this language it is the only place where it is currently allowed trekking in the Jostedal.

In view of this activity, the first thing you need to know is that the Jostedal, like all European glaciers, is in a process of continuous retreat, losing about 20 meters annually.

The ice sheets are in continuous movement, so it is essential to do the trekking with experts, and never on your own, since ice collapses are continuous.

These guides have the necessary experience to assess possible risks and thus ensure that the excursion can be done without problems.

After going through the Visitors Center de Nigardsbreen, you will arrive at the parking lot, the starting point of an excursion that will take you about five hours in total.

There you will receive the first instructions, in our case, from a Basque mountain guide, Ibai, who works in the activities company that carries out the glacier walks.

The guide will give you the ice ax, studs and gloves that you will take with you to the foot of the glacier.

Well, in fact, the first thing you have to do is get to said enclave, which means walking for about 45 minutes along a fairly rocky path that runs along the shores of the lake.

A special moment without a doubt is having to cross the torrent that comes down from the glacier on a wooden bridge.

Already at the foot of the glacier, all the members of the group (no more than ten people), after putting on their studs on your feet, you will rope yourselves to access the surface of the glacier in a typical mountaineering group.

An exciting moment is when you start walking on the ice, always uphill following the steps of the guide who leads you along the most appropriate path.

I had never had the experience of walking with studs metal on your feet, and I was surprised by the great security you feel when you hold firmly to the ice.

On the walk on the ice you will have to jump over some cracks and, most interestingly, pass between cracks where you think you won't fit.

During the excursion you will also have time to make rest stops and take photos.

Finally, it is time to return, so you will have to retrace your path, with a final journey of almost an hour to the parking lot, already with the accumulated fatigue of the entire day.

In any case, I can tell you that it is an experience that you will remember throughout your life.

As a preview, be sure to watch the brief video which heads this article with images of the experience lived in the Jostedal glacier.

Here you have more information about the summer activities in the Norwegian Fjords.

Map: where it is and how to get to Jostedal Glacier

To trek on the Jostedal glacier, in the Norwegian Fjords, you must reach the foot of the Nigardsbreen tongue, south of Alesund, accessing the innermost area of ​​the great Sogne fjord.