nigardsbreen glacier

We came to the fjords on a cruise and came to Nigardsbreen Glacier as an excursion booked through the cruise company, P&O. The glacier is part of a national park is very vast in size and has amazing views/sculptures.The excursion was disappointing as we travelled a long way by coach, for 20 minutes off the coach to see the glacier & then back on the coach for a long drive to the ship. Disappointing excursion, and would have liked to have seen more of the glacier and walked to it and got a real up close feel for it. However, the views here and the overwhelming nature and vastness of the glacier cannot be taken away! Come and see it but not by cruise coach excursion!!

I firstly went to Briksdalbreen to get walk on glacier. Disappointingly, I cannot since the timing isn't just right. we then drive the road to Nigarsbreen after several question. NIgardsbreen indeed stunning and amazing. the guide is very warm and informative. but Nigardsbreen itself is the one that you cannot miss.

Nigardsbreen is reached after a short easy hike along the shore of the lake Nigardsbrevatnet. The trail is most flat (I mean there are no big hills to climb, though you will have to go up and over some big rocks along the way.)Once you arrive at the base of the glacier, you can marvel at the blue ice and all the melt water that comes pouring off of it. Take pictures and enjoy, because the glaciers are rapidly melting away!A sign warns you about getting too close to the glacier due to dangers of falling ice. However, you can get a guided tour out on to the ice if you continue over to the left (you will see where everyone else is headed to put on crampons and meet with a guide)Note: to reach the start of the short hike, you have to drive up a narrow access road that requires you to pay NOK $40 at the gate. You will need some coins to get through the gate (I wish they had mentioned this at the Visitor's Center!)We saw some people walking rather than driving out to the start of the hike, so offer those folks a lift and meet some fellow travelers!Also consider doing the hike to nearby Bergsetbreen.

To appreciate this glacier, you really want to get close to it...which is a tricky hike and even taxing from the boat. I wouldn't pay the toll unless I could get close...from the car park it's a reasonable view but you don't appreciate the scale. The boat only runs over the summer, so we had to walk...and it rained so the journey back over the rocks was even wetter. The route is well marked but I wouldn't attempt it without good grippy and waterproof hiking boots. Even if the boat is running, it's a bit of a walk to the foot of the glacier and again over rocks which can be slippery. ..In fact, this area was were I fell over! I don't know about in Norway, but there are easier glaciers to get to in Iceland!

We hiked from the parking lot to the base of the glacier. The walk is relatively short, but the terrain might be tricky for some (especially if the level of the lake is high), but seeing the fantastic blue colour of the glacier is a must.

You can drive to a parking lot where there is a hiking trail to the glacier. Also there is a shuttle boat that can take you closer to the base of the glacier. The trail is rocky and you have to climb over some large boulders and cross some small streams. We tried the trail but it was too long and rough for us. We are very experienced hikers but now are in our 70s so we took the boat. Even then it is a fairly long hike to get close to the glacier. There are lots of good photo opportunities and they have guided walks on the glacier for the adventureous.

From afar it looks just like one of those pictures you see in magazines or documentaries. But you only truly appreciate it upon going up close. Went for the Blue Ice walk which lasted 3 hours (about 2 hours on ice) The terrain up close is equally as treacherous as it is stunningly beautiful and the guide took us through a mini-cave into a crater in the glacier. Many photo stops and also break for a bite on the glacier. Definitely worth a walk up the glacier with a proper guide.Tickets can be bought at the visitor center some distance away from the Glacier. For the family walk, you have to get to the tent under the Glacier by yourself (either hike or take the boat). For other walks (e.g. Blue Ice walk), meet the guides at the carpark before they bring you there, boat ride included in price of tickets. You need to book in advance for walks other than the family walk (which ends on 25/8). The road from the visitor centre to the glacier carpark is a few km and has a toll barrier (coins or credit card) of 40 NOK.Never never venture past the barriers without a proper guide and never underestimate the danger of the seemingly docile glacier.

It was an unforgettable experience for me as it was the first time of me to walk on ice, The ice was blue. It was sad when I looked at the photo in 70s, the glacier actually decreased a lot on its size. The global warming is serious.

We arrived at the car park late in the afternoon and it was drizzling:-( The glacier looked so beautiful even from here. We walked the track into the glacier face. This was not an easy walk even though we had good hiking shoes on. The smooth rocks were very slippery and at times it was hard to see clearly where the markings for the path were. It took us one hour to walk in. The area is very beautiful, with the lake to one side and the glacier ahead. You can walk right up to the glacier and see its features, size and the amazing colour. Photos just cannot do this justice.We saw a couple take their children under an overhanging piece of ice and hubby called out that it was dangerous. Two tourists had been killed in N. Z. Not so long ago doing this.As it had started to rain, we headed back to the car park, thinking we could catch the taxi boat that runs from a point part way to the glacier and back to the car park, but it had finished for the night (6pm?).For us, this is definitely the best glacier of the six we have seen.If there is a next time, I would definitely do a guided walk ON the ice.

The hike on Nigardsbreen was a very fun experience. our guide and other members on the hike were very helpful.

Guided hikes for many people. Our group, all roped together, exceeded 16. Once you are on the glacier, you do not see many other groups, but otherwise the popularity is evident. You can go quite close to the glacier but not on it. To go on the glacier, you must take a "glacier tour".

Glaciers are always impressive to see. At Nirgardsbreen glacier you can come really close to the glacier and you can also take part at organized glacier hikes. For reaching the Nigardsbreen you have to take the toll road which starts near the Jostedalsbreen Information Center. The road stops at the parking place. From here you can walk the trail to the glacier or you can take the small boat (fee) that drops you close by from where you can hike further on.Perfect for a day trip. Take route 55 exit Gaupne and you will have a wonderful drive / scenery towards the glacier. Drive up till Jostedal where the National Park Center is situated.

The path to go there is lovely and not boringly straight so we take pleasure just for that, and there this gorgeous view, this strong iced water descending... not too much tourist around, that keeps all the happiness to see this... (compared to briksdal golfcar and so on!!)

Great tour guides with a sense of humor, a pace to match any group, and gorgeous views! Cramp-ons and pick axes provided!

We took a bus from Sogndal to the glacier hike. We, including my 74 year old grandpa, did the 2 hour blue ice hike. The hike was supposed to leave at 11:45 and we were told it would take 3 and a half hours total (2 hours on the ice). It got started a little late, no big deal. The hike was beautiful and it was very interesting hearing how much the glacier has changed over the years. The last bus is scheduled to leave the glacier at 4:55 and we would have no other transportation. Our hike ended at 5:10 and the guides did not seem to be in any rush or seem to care at all that we needed to catch the bus or else would be stranded. The only reason the bus did not leave without us was because my dad had finished his hike much earlier and persuaded (with a few $100 koruna) to wait for us.I would caution people who are not in good shape to even do the family hike. It was very difficult for my dad, who has 2 fake knees and is not in good physical condition to even get to the point where the glacier tour starts.All in all it is very beautiful. I am glad we went, but be very careful about the time if you are riding the bus.