Sitting on the easten side of mainland Europes largest single area of ice, and amongst mountains over 1500m high, Jostedalens Glacier Lakes are subject to all weather conditions.

It is possible to meet all fours seasons in the one tour, and it is for this reason we ask all clients to think about the unique opportunity we have to kayak around icebergs, watch a glacier calving and walk on ice (all in the one day!) rather than what the Gods will throw at us that day. It is only due to the weather that we have this amazing area.

Some of the more extreme weather we have met is actually on the more enjoyable side. In 2003, Styggevatnet was baked in heat of up to 33 degrees Celcius and the warm clear weather lasted an amazing 6 weeks.

On many occasions we have started tours in cloud/fog, which gathers over the dam in certain weather. This has to be the best start to a tour, with virtually no visability for up for 30mins, but the cloud dispersing half way down the lake as we break through into clear skies and the beautiful view of the glacier and mountains in front of us.

The wind on the lake can be particularly strong late in the season for short periods of 3-4 days. In fact, we have cancelled only two tours in the first four seasons, both of which were due to the wind. One day the strength of the wind was so great we couldn't carry the equipment to the kayaks on the side of the lake to start the trip, and the other day the wind had pushed so many icebergs into our landing site, we couldn't get out between them to start the days tour!

Early in the season we are faced with surface snow and ice on the lake from the winter before. The exact date the lakes are free of this surface ice is natures decision and as such we can't give exact start dates on Styggevatnet until a few weeks beforehand. As an example, in 2003 we began tours on Styggevatnet on the 7th July, in 2004 we began on a (early) record breaking 28th June, in 2005 we had to wait until the 25th July! and in 2006 we were in the middle of July (15th)

Of course, this doesn't mean no kayaking in Jostedalen, it gives us all the opportunity to realise just how varied and unique Tunsbergdalsvatnet is during the early season. As this lake is more than 700m lower than Styggevatnet, we are able to kayak from the start of the season with no surface ice issues.