Folgefonna glacier walk 2026: the Blue Ice Hike above Jondal, crampons at 1,200 meters
Norway's third largest glacier sits on a plateau above Hardangerfjord. Folgefonni Glacier Team leads the walks from the Fonna Glacier Ski Resort guide shop. This is the current route, the real prices, and what 400-year-old ice looks like under your feet.
Folgefonna covers 207 km² and is Norway's third largest glacier. Guided walks with Folgefonni Glacier Team depart from the guide shop at Fonna Glacier Ski Resort, 19 km from Jondal. Blue Ice Hike from 1,249 NOK, 5 to 6 hours, May to November. This is the logistics and what glacier walking involves.
Hardangerfjord at sea level in July is warm enough to swim in. Around 18°C on a good day. Forty minutes by road above Jondal, at 1,200 meters on the Folgefonna plateau, you are walking on 400-year-old glacial ice with 12-point crampons strapped to your boots. The temperature on the ice is 5 to 8°C even in peak summer. The contrast inside a single day trip is one of the more specific experiences available in any Norwegian fjord region.
Folgefonna covers roughly 207 km² across three connected glaciers (Nordre, Midtre, and Søndre Folgefonna). It is the third largest glacier system in mainland Norway after Jostedalsbreen and Svartisen. The plateau sits in Folgefonna National Park directly above the south shore of Hardangerfjord between Jondal and Odda. Guided access is the only legal way onto the ice. This is what the standard Blue Ice Hike involves.
Getting to the glacier
The access road climbs from Jondal on the north shore of Hardangerfjord to Fonna Glacier Ski Resort at 1,199 meters. Distance from Jondal to the ski centre is 19 km. Drive time is 30 to 40 minutes on a narrow mountain road with passing places.
The toll station sits 8 km above Jondal. The fee for a standard car in 2026 is 120 NOK. Payment is by card at the booth. The road is closed in winter and typically opens late April or early May depending on snow.
From the south shore of Hardangerfjord (Rv550), take the Jondal to Tørvikbygd car ferry. Crossing time is 20 minutes. The ferry runs roughly every hour in summer. Check norled.no for the current timetable and any reduced-service days.
Booking and operator
Folgefonni Glacier Team (folgefonni.no) is the licensed glacier guide operation on Folgefonna. The Juklafjord booking office sits in Jondal. The guide shop for walk departures is at Fonna Glacier Ski Resort at the top of the toll road. Book online in advance for peak season dates. Walks fill in July and August.
The tour options
Three guided walks cover most visitor needs. Prices are 2026 starting rates.
- Panorama Glacier Hike. From 1,190 NOK. 3 to 4 hours. Easy grade. Runs daily from mid-June to mid-August. This is the entry-level option. The route stays on the flatter part of the plateau and focuses on the views across to Hardangerfjord. Accessible by public transport from Bergen as a day trip with careful connection planning.
- Blue Ice Hike. From 1,249 NOK. 5 to 6 hours with around 5 to 6 km on the ice and 300 to 400 meters of elevation change on the glacier. Medium grade. Runs daily end of May to November. Age limit 10+. This is the standard full glacier experience with a descent into the Juklavass arm where the blue ice is exposed.
- Glacier Crossing, 2 days. From 1,590 NOK. Two-day traverse with a DNT cabin overnight. Hard grade. For walkers with hill fitness and prior mountain experience.
Winter options (from 3,490 NOK) and 4-day basic glacier courses (from 7,000 NOK) are also on the folgefonni.no calendar. Private guides run from 9,390 NOK per day for groups of up to roughly 4 to 6 people.
What the Blue Ice Hike actually involves
The guide fits 12-point steel crampons to your boots at the shop. Ice axes and harnesses are issued for the sections where they are required. The group walks to the ice edge on a short approach path. Crampon training starts on flat ice before the route angles down.
Crampons change your gait. You flat-foot down slopes instead of edging, and you walk with your feet slightly wider than normal to avoid catching the points on your opposite gaiter. Ten minutes of practice makes the technique feel natural. The guides demonstrate before the group moves into any steeper terrain.
The Juklavass glacier arm shows the deep blue ice that gives the tour its name. The colour is the result of years of compression squeezing air out of the ice and letting it absorb all wavelengths except blue. The compressed layers you see in a vertical wall represent annual snowfall. A typical wall on the Blue Ice Hike route shows 200 to 400 years of accumulation. Ask the guide to point out the seasonal banding.
Crevasse sections require the harness and a short-rope technique. The guide leads, and the group moves in sequence. Solo walking on the glacier is not permitted and not safe. The crevasse network on Folgefonna is partially snow-bridged and not all hazards are visible from the surface.
What to bring
- Layered clothing. A base layer in merino or synthetic, a mid-layer fleece, and a waterproof shell. The temperature on the ice runs 10 to 15°C cooler than at the fjord.
- Stiff boots. The crampons fit best on a stiff mountaineering or 4-season hiking boot. Soft trail runners will not hold crampons properly. The operator can advise on rentals if needed.
- Sun protection. The glacier reflects UV at 1,200 meters. Sunglasses (ideally Category 3 or higher) and high-SPF sunscreen are essential. Cloud cover does not remove the UV risk.
- Gloves and hat. Thin liner gloves are useful even in July. A warm hat matters if the wind picks up on the plateau.
- Packed lunch and water. The guide shop has a small kiosk. No full catering. Minimum 1.5 liters of water.
Fonna Glacier Ski Resort
The same toll road ends at Fonna Glacier Ski Resort, which operates on glacier snow from roughly mid-May through late August. This makes Fonna one of the longest-running summer ski operations in Europe. Day ski passes run approximately 550 NOK in 2026. Ski and snowboard rental is available on site. Check fonnaresort.no for lift status and current conditions the morning of your visit. Weather on the plateau changes quickly, and lifts close in wind.
Combining a half-day ski with an afternoon glacier walk is feasible if you plan the timings carefully. The ski runs finish early afternoon. Book the afternoon Blue Ice Hike slot through folgefonni.no to match.
Practical information (2026)
- Operator: Folgefonni Glacier Team (folgefonni.no)
- Guide shop location: Fonna Glacier Ski Resort, end of toll road above Jondal, 1,199 meters elevation
- Distance from Jondal: 19 km, 30 to 40 minutes by car
- Toll road: 120 NOK per car, toll station 8 km above Jondal
- Jondal to Tørvikbygd ferry: 20 minutes, hourly in summer (norled.no)
- Panorama Glacier Hike: From 1,190 NOK. 3 to 4 hours. Mid-June to mid-August.
- Blue Ice Hike: From 1,249 NOK. 5 to 6 hours. End of May to November. Age 10+.
- Glacier Crossing 2-day: From 1,590 NOK. DNT cabin overnight.
- Equipment provided: Crampons, ice axe, harness
- Glacier area: Folgefonna covers approximately 207 km² across three connected ice caps
- Park status: Folgefonna National Park (established 2005)
The Folgefonna glacier walk is one of the few day-trip glacier experiences left in mainland Norway that starts from a fjord and finishes on live ice within a single afternoon. The operator is experienced, the kit is included, and the route shows you ice that started falling as snow when the Napoleonic Wars were ending. That is a specific experience. Book it in advance.