Jostedal: Glaciers, Trails and History

Jostedal combines glacial landscapes with cycling routes, educational attractions and local history. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether Nigardsbreen and glacier experiences are your main focus, or whether you would also like to include cultural destinations in the wider destination of Luster. These different themes can help you plan your days in the region.

Glacial landscapes and trails

Nigardsbreen is an outlet glacier of Jostedalsbreen and is located in Jostedal. Both the glacier and the valley in which it lies are protected as a nature reserve. The aim is to preserve a distinctive valley with a well-developed glacial margin zone.

At Nigardsbreen, visitors can walk from the car park along the lake to the glacier or take a boat across the lake. This gives you two different options: walking along the shore or travelling over the water. For guided glacier hikes, you can contact Breheimsenteret or the authorised guides and instructors of Jostedalen Breførarlag.

Cycling and glacier activities

The Gjerde–Bergset cycle route leads into Krundalen. Another route, Gjerde–Styggevatnet, passes through a glacial landscape towards Styggevatnet and Austdalsbreen. The destinations and landscapes differ: one route leads into a valley, while the other passes through an area shaped by glaciers. Information on journey times or difficulty levels is not available for these routes.

In the immediate area, short and longer hikes on bare glacier ice with experienced glacier guides are available from May to October; the necessary equipment is available to rent. Breheimsenteret in Jostedal is a starting point for glacier hikes and guided trips to the glacier front in Jostedalen. At Nigardsbreen, you can join these guided hikes through the centre or with the authorised guides and instructors of Jostedalen Breførarlag.

Jostedalen also offers opportunities for cross-country skiing, woodland trips and ski touring. There are also guided ski tours, avalanche courses and ski camps. Breheimsenteret is also a starting point for kayaking and rafting activities in Jostedalen; availability for these activities may vary depending on the season and provider.

Breheimsenteret and local history

At Breheimsenteret, you can learn more about Jostedalsbreen, Breheimen National Park and Jostedalen in an interactive exhibition. The main themes are glaciers and climate. An informative nature trail also leads from the centre to Nigardsbrevatnet. Along the way, it covers geology, history and glaciers. The Breheimsenteret restaurant serves homemade dishes made with local ingredients.

Another testament to local history is Jostedal kyrkje. The wooden long church is thought to have been built around 1660 by Hans Ottesen Ravn. Its architectural form and the traditional attribution offer a different perspective from the glacier activities, complementing the nature themes with a historical view of Jostedal.

More destinations in the wider destination of Luster

The wider destination of Luster includes other distinct cultural destinations. Urnes Stave Church was built in the 1130s and is one of the oldest surviving Norwegian stave churches. It is richly decorated inside and out. Dale Church dates from around the middle of the 13th century; its richly decorated west and south portals distinguish it among Norway’s medieval stone churches. In Gaupne, the Old Church preserves a west portal from an earlier stave church, dated to the second half of the 12th century. These destinations are part of Luster and should be distinguished from the attractions in Jostedal.

Getting there and choosing your travel focus

You can reach Breheimsenteret by car via Route 55 over Sognefjellet or via Route 5 through Sogndal. Alternatively, you can travel to Sogndal and take the Brebussen from there. The road from Sogndal to Jostedalen passes through Hafslo and Gaupne; if you plan to take the bus, check the timetable before your trip.

If you also consider destinations in the wider destination of Luster, you can explore additional nature and cultural themes. This allows you to tailor your choices to your own travel plans without conflating experiences outside Jostedal with the attractions available locally.

Discover more destinations: Ornes, Veitastrond, Høyheimsvik, Marifjøra, Hafslo, Fortun, Gaupne, Skjolden

Go to the wider travel overview: Luster.