Nordfjord glaciers: Fjærland, Briksdal and Dalsnibba

Route description

From Sogndal take route 5 north along the Fjærlandsfjord to Fjærland, a village at the head of the fjord with the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Mundal, the old centre of the village, has second-hand books displayed on shelves outside its wooden buildings. Route 5 continues north past Bøyabreen, a glacier tongue visible from a car park beside the road, before entering a long tunnel to Skei.

From Skei the E39 heads north, and after Byrkjelo route 60 heads over the hills to Olden on the Nordfjord. Turn south into Oldedalen for 23 km to the car park below Briksdalsbreen. The walk to the glacier lake is about 3 km each way on a good path past waterfalls, with an alternative option of small open electric carts in summer. Allow two to three hours.

Loen is the next village along the fjord. The road into Lodalen runs along the green lake Lovatnet towards Kjenndalsbreen, another glacier arm, and a cable car climbs from the village to Mount Hoven. Stryn, at the head of the fjord, is the main town for supplies and fuel. From here route 15 climbs east up the valley past lakes towards the Strynefjell mountains.

At Langvatn turn north on route 63 towards Geiranger. The Dalsnibba toll road branches off near Djupvasshytta and climbs to 1,476 m, with a platform looking down into the valley and fjord. It usually opens from late May. Route 63 then descends in tight hairpins to Geiranger; take it slowly in a motorhome, and expect to meet coaches on the bends.