Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
▲Excursion to Fjærland and the Jostedal Glacier
From Balestrand, cruise up the Fjærlandsfjord to visit the Norwegian Glacier
MuseuminFjærlandandtoseearecedingtongueoftheJostedalGlacier(Jos-
tedalbreen). Half-day and full-day (660 kr for either tour) excursions are sold
by Balestrand's TI or on board the boat. Reservations are smart (tours offered
daily May-Sept only, tel. 57 63 32 00,
www.visitflam.com/sognefjorden
and
follow links for “Fjærlandsfjord”).
While the museum and the glacier's tongue are underwhelming, it's a
pleasant excursion with a dreamy fjord cruise (80 minutes each way). To take
the all-day trip, catch the 8:05 ferry; for the shorter trip, hop on the 11:50 boat.
They both return on the same boat, getting you back in Balestrand at 16:50
(in time to catch the fast boat back to Bergen). Both tours offer the same fjord
ride, museum visit, and trip to the glacier. The all-day version, however, gives
you a second glacier viewing point and 2.5 hours to hang out in the town of
Fjærland. (This sleepy village, famous for its secondhand book shops, is about
as exciting as Walter Mondale, the US vice president whose ancestors came
from here.)
The ferry ride (no stops, no narration) is just a scenic glide with the gulls.
Bring a picnic, as there's almost no food sold on board, and some bread to
toss to the gulls (they do acrobatics to catch whatever you loft into the air).
