Briksdalsbreen

Briksdalsbreen is the best-loved arm of the Jostedalsbreen ice cap, a blue glacier tongue that hangs above a green valley near Olden. An easy three-kilometre walk past waterfalls, or a ride in an open troll-car, brings you to a meltwater lake beneath the ice.

What you actually see

• The glacier tongue - the blue ice hanging above the valley.
• The meltwater lake - the milky green lake at the foot of the ice.
• Valley waterfalls - the falls the trail passes on the way up.
• The troll-car ride - the open electric buggy shuttle for those who prefer not to walk.

When to go

Summer, when the valley trail is clear and the troll-cars run; the ice is at its most accessible in the warm months. Morning light suits the blue ice.

Honest expectations

The glacier has retreated a long way up the valley, so it is now a more distant blue tongue than in old photos. The walk is easy but the ice itself is off-limits without a guide. It is a popular stop, so cruise days bring crowds and the troll-cars queue.

Nearby

Olden and the Nordfjord are the base; the Loen skylift and the Jostedalsbreen centre are close.