Jostedalsbreen Glacier

Mainland Europe's largest glacier, about two hours from Førde by road, heading northeast through Gaupne and up into Jostedalsbreen National Park. The glacier itself is a high ice plateau feeding dozens of arms that descend into the valleys below, the most accessible being Bøyabreen and Nigardsbreen.

Guided glacier walks on Nigardsbreen depart from a visitor centre near Jostedal village and require no special experience — groups are equipped with crampons and ice axes for the walk across the glacier surface. The Norwegian Glacier Museum at Fjærland, further around the Sognefjord, gives background on glacier science and the natural history of the ice.

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Jostedalsbreen covers around 480 square kilometres and is the largest glacier on the European mainland. It feeds dozens of glacier arms that flow down into the surrounding valleys, and it is possible to walk on the ice at several of them with a guided tour. The glacier has retreated significantly in recent decades — photographs at the visitor centre show how far the ice front has pulled back since the late 19th century.