Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
snout. From mid-June to August, a ferry (Nkr40 return; 10am-6pm) shuttles over the la-
goon. From the landing, it's a sturdy walk over rocks to the glacier face itself.
Briksdalsbreen
Fromthesmalltownof
Olden
attheeasternendofNordfjord,ascenicroadleads23kmup
OldedalenpastBrenndalsbreen,andfromthereontothetwinglacialtonguesofMelkevoll-
breen and Briksdalsbreen. More easily accessible, Briksdalsbreen attracts hordes of tour
buses.It'satemperamentalglacier;in1997thetonguelickedtoitsfurthestpointforaround
70years,thenretreatedbyaround500m.In2005,thereacheswhereglacierwalkerswould
clamber and stride cracked and splintered. Soforthe moment, there are noguided hikes on
Briksdalsbreen, but she's a fickle creature and this may change.
It's about a 5km-return walk to the Briksdal glacier face, either up the steepish path or
along the longer, gentler cart track. Alas, the traditional pony-carts that plied the route for
over 100 years no longer transport visitors but
Oldedalen Skyss ( 57 87 68 05)
has
'troll cars', vehicles like giant golfing carts (Nkr180 per person). From their turnaround
point, there's still a 15-minute hike on a rough path to see the ice. To breathe up close in
the glacier's face, take a guided trip in an inflatable dinghy. Dinghies (adult/child Nkr250/
125), operated by
Briksdal Adventure ( 57 87 68 00)
, depart approximately hourly in
summer. We strongly recommend advance reservation for both troll cars and dinghies as
places are often snapped up by tour groups.
Sleeping & Eating
Melkevoll Bretun
CAMPGROUND €
( 57 87 38 64;
www.melkevoll.no
; per person/site Nkr20/100, dm Nkr110, cabins
with outdoor bathroom Nkr350 plus Nkr50 per person, with bathroom Nkr650-750
plus Nkr50 per person; May-Sep)
You'llfindaccommodationforallpocketsandgor-
geous views whichever way you turn. Look south and the Melkevollbreen glacier is stick-
ing its tongue out towards you, spin west and the long, slim Volefossen waterfall cascades,
turn north and the long reach of Oldevatnet lake shimmers, while eastwards, the Briksdals-
breen glacier blocks the horizon. There's a gorgeous green campsite with stacks of space
betweenpitches.Thelargercabinsareparticularlywellfurnished.Forbudgetsleepingwith
attitude, spread your sleeping bag in the 'stone-age cave' (Nkr110).
