Briksdal Glacier and Olden – 09th July 2024.
On 9th July 2024, we arrived at Olden for our visit to Briksdal Glacier. Arriving by cruise ship, we sailed up the fjord the scenery was stunning with dark clouds halfway up the mountains and many still had snow on the tops, the visit to Briksdal Glacier was by coach and then the final leg was taken by Troll Car to reach the glacier’s base, I then walked back to the coach park on a well-kept path.
Olden - Location
Olden is a small village situated at the end of Nordfjord in the western part of Norway. It's surrounded by mountains and when we visited, some still had snow on the top. The village is small with a few shops, but it was nice to walk around and one house had an amazing garden.
From Olden, you can go to other attractions, such as the skylift which takes you up Mount Hoven 3,317ft (1,011m), but we never did that as we only wanted to visit the glacier.
Briksdal Glacier – The Melting Glacier
Briksdal Glacier is part of the larger Jostedalsbreen Glacier and is one of the most accessible and well-known glaciers in Norway. Over the years, however, it has been significantly affected by climate change and our guide told us the glacier has retreated 1,640 ft (500m) since the early 2000s, but in recent years the retreat has slowed slightly.
As you approach Briksdal Glacier, we noticed the turquoise colour of the water flowing from the glacier into the nearby lake. The guide told us this is due to the presence of finely ground rock particles, known as glacial flour, suspended in the water which is created by the glacier moving and grinding against the bedrock beneath it to create a fine silt. When sunlight hits the water, the glacial flour refracts the light, giving the water its appearance.
Our Journey to Briksdal Glacier – Coach and Troll Car Ride
Our journey to Briksdal Glacier started with a coach ride from Olden, which took us through some amazing scenery with dotted farms and small wooden houses, all this set against the backdrop of steep mountains with waterfalls cascading down from the peaks.
Once we arrived at the Briksdal Glacier visitor centre called Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, we switched to Troll Cars for the final leg of the journey. The Troll Cars are open-top and take you on a great ride up to the glacier’s base taking you past the forest and crossing streams of meltwater.
The Troll Cars dropped us off at a scenic point near the glacier lake. From there, it was a short walk to the lake, where you could see the Briksdal Glacier in the distance.
Walking Back from the Lake – Scenery and Experience
After spending time at the lake and taking in the spectacular views of Briksdal Glacier, I walked back to the coach park. The path leading down was well-maintained, offering a gentle descent through the valley. The walk back was great as I was able to stop off and view the stream and rock formations created by the glacier as it melted.
The views were also amazing as I looked across the valley to see waterfalls cascading down the side of the mountains, all in all, this was the best day of the entire cruise.