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Hiking Svartisen Glacier in Norway: An Unforgettable Adventure

The first time that I laid my eyes on Svartisen was in 2012. On the way down from visiting my uncle in Northern Norway, we detoured to stop by a magnificent glacier. We saw it from afar and didn’t take the ferry over. During my solo road trip last year, I visited my uncle and spent a couple of days there. Also managed to see Svartisen up close and personal. She was a beaut.

When translated, Svartisen means Black Ice. It is considered to be Norway’s second largest glacier growing and shrinking every year. I’ve been told that this is all dependent on the snowfall a couple of years back. It is possible to hop on a ferry, cross the lake and hike up to the outer edges of the glacier to admire it from afar. Alternatively, you can do what I did – Glacier Hiking! It is an amazing experience that I will definitely recommend to everyone.

Despite what you may think, glacier hiking in Norway can be done in summer (this tour was done in August 2017). In some regions around Norway, it is possible to be cold (or even snow) all year round.

Glacier hiking in Svartisen

I’ve done a decent amount of hiking in my time. Single to multi-day hikes, easy to challenging, local or overseas hikes – you get it, a LOT of hiking. However, there was nothing to prepare me for what glacier hiking entailed. It is great fun and absolutely exciting. I did my glacier hiking as part of a group with Rocks & Rivers. They are a great company to go with and super down to earth. My tour was led by Ben, an Aussie bloke who moved to Norway.

In our group, most (if not all) of the participants hadn’t glacier hiked before, so we covered the basics actively: learning how to put on crampons, safely navigating the glacier’s ups and downs, understanding the use and positioning of an ice pickaxe, and the proper procedure if someone falls into a crevasse. We left no stone unturned in terms of safety. No prior experience in ice climbing or glacier hiking was necessary for adults; everything was taught on the spot. However, being moderately fit is recommended, and children should ideally have mountain experience.

There is no predetermined plan or route since the ice constantly melts and transforms, creating intricate caves that can be explored based on the guide and the group’s capabilities. All you need to prepare for is to be amazed by the tour. Personally, I found it remarkably easy to maneuver in the crampons, and adapting to the ice axe wasn’t challenging at all. Just be careful with your belongings! I would highly recommend strapping your loose items (cameras etc) onto you. If you happen to accidentally let go of them, it may be the last you see of them if they fall down a crevasse.

Details of the tour

Note: all details were correct at the time this was written (June 2018).

It was really easy booking a tour with Rock and Rivers. I simply just gave them a call to check if there were any free spaces. I called two days before to book my spot, but be mindful if you are a group to call a few days in advance to secure your spot. The tours themselves run between May and September, in either rain or shine. Make sure to bring waterproofs in case of rain. During the winter, the glacier is covered in snow but you can contact them for other activities.

The cost of the tour is 900 NOK per person, which includes all things necessary for glacier hiking; ice pickaxe, harness, crampons, helmet and a guide! You have two options for payment: 1) cash or 2) by card, which does have a slight additional charge. The tour cost does not include bike hire or boat journey across the lake. Alternatively, you can BYO bike.

Getting to the glacier is relatively simple. You will meet your guides at Holandsvika harbour in the morning, take the boat across the lake. Once across, you will be split up into groups (depending on how many of you there are) and pick up all your safety equipment before a quick briefing. This is followed by a 3 km flat bike ride, which takes you close to the foot of the glacier. It’s a relatively easy hike from this point to the starting point of the glacier hike.

Before you get on the ice, your guide will discuss the plan of the day and fill you in on how to hike/climb safely. Once you’re all roped together and on the ice, that’s when the real fun starts!

Getting there

Svartisen is located in the county known as Nordland (Northland). Specifically, the Meløy Kommune. There are a few methods of getting to the glacier, all of which has an element of driving. The meeting point (Holandsvika located on Fv17) is approximately 2.5hrs south of Bodø. The easiest option would be to fly to Bodø and rent a car. There are daily flights between Oslo/Trondheim and Bodø – check out Norwegian, SAS or Widereø.

Or you can do what I did. Do a massive road trip from the South to the North (or vice versa or both).

Unfortunately, I’m unable to recommend any accommodation in the area as I was staying at my uncle’s house while I was in Neverdal. Regardless, there are a couple of accommodation options.

Quick info:

Where: Svartisen, Nordland
How much: 900 NOK (Including all necessary equipment for glacier hiking. Does not include bike hire or boat transfer)
Duration: Approximately 6 hours
When: May – September. Tours are not weather dependent. Rain or shine!
What to bring: Packed lunch and snacks (you’re able to order pack lunch from Rocks & Rivers beforehand), a refillable water bottle, gloves, cash, approximately 20L day bag, waterproofs, a camera (!!!)
What to wear: Outdoor clothes. Simply wear what you would for a normal hike (trousers, thermals, Goretex jacket, sturdy ankle supported hiking boots).

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Disclaimer: this isn’t a sponsored post. I just absolutely loved the tour I did with Rock & Rivers to Svartisen and highly recommend it. I usually wouldn’t mention companies but they are an exception. They are a great group of people and it was such a pleasure touring with them.

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Jessica D Festa

    I did glacier hiking in Argentina. Would LOVE to do it again in Norway!

    1. Oooh interesting. I’d love to glacier hike in Argentina! Need to get myself there first!

  2. Constance

    Wow your photos are amazing! I glacier hiked in Iceland and it was one of the coolest experiences in my life and I’d definitely do it again. Norway looks like a really good candidate for my next glacier hike!

    1. Aw thanks Constance! It definitely is one of the coolest things I’ve done. Would happily do it again, too! I never really thought about Iceland for glacier hiking but it’s on my ever-growing list now 🙂

  3. Matthias Last

    Thank you for such a helpful guide. Also the tips, it would really help out especially when coming for a visit in the place. I am sure you had a great time! What would you say be the most challenging yet fun part of the whole experience?

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