Dronebilde av skyssbåten over Holandsfjorden i Meløy, med bretunga Engabreen i bakgrunnen. Simon Fossheim / Visit Helgeland

Experience the powerful encounter with Engabreen – the glacier arm of Svartisen that stretches down towards the beautiful Engabrevatnet lake and Holandsfjorden along the Helgeland coast. Join a guided glacier hike and get a close-up view of the blue ice, explore the unique landscape shaped by the glacier, and enjoy the view of the glacier from Brestua café by the water.

Engabreen, also known as Engenbreen, is a glacier arm of Svartisen. It stretches down towards Holandsfjorden in Meløy and is clearly visible from the Braset rest area along the Coastal Route (County Road 17), about an hour’s drive from Forøy ferry quay.

If you want to get a closer look at the glacier, you’ll need to take a boat across the fjord. A shuttle boat runs several times daily throughout the summer season from Holandsvika, just north of the Braset rest area.

If you’re arriving with your own boat, there’s a guest harbour with space for about 30 boats.

Get directions to parking in Holandsvika on Google Maps
Get directions to the Braset rest area on Google Maps

Engabreen, also known as Engenbreen, is a glacier arm of Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen, reaching down towards the Helgeland coast and Holandsfjorden in Meløy. With a shuttle boat crossing the fjord and a short walk to the glacier front, this is one of Norway’s most easily accessible glaciers. It’s a striking encounter, with the glacier climbing more than a thousand metres up the mountainside. Here, you can feel the cool breeze from tons of ancient ice, hear the trickle of water flowing through grooves and potholes carved by the glacier, and watch the play of colours as sunlight dances across the sapphire-blue ice and the emerald-green glacier lake below. You might even hear the deep rumble of ice blocks breaking off and crashing down the mountainside – nature’s own thunderous voice.

From the quay at Engen, it’s an easy walk up towards the glacier, and you can rent a bike to make parts of the journey even easier. Guided tours are available, both to the glacier and onto the ice itself, offering insights into life around the glacier and how this landscape is constantly changing. Or simply enjoy a peaceful day at Brestua – the summer-open café overlooking the glacier, right by the shores of Engabrevatnet. Here, you walk in the footsteps of Sámi reindeer herders, ancient hunters, early mountaineers, emperors, and curious explorers.

A visit to the glacier is best planned for the summer months, when the snow has melted and the blue ice reveals itself in full splendour. The shuttle boat usually operates from June to September, and spending a few summer days at this truly special place is highly recommended.

Things to do and places to stay

Always keep a safe distance from the glaciers edge. It is unstable, and large ice blocks can break off without warning.

Hiking on the glacier itself should only be done with proper knowledge and safety equipment. If you don’t have the necessary experience, you can join a guided tour.

Norway’s right to roam allows you to camp in uncultivated land, as long as you stay at least 150 metres away from cabins and houses.

However, we recommend using a campsite or other accommodation nearby. This gives you access to showers, toilets, waste disposal, and parking.

If you still prefer to camp or wild camp, there are good spots for tents and hammocks near Brestua. Be respectful of nature and other visitors, plan your toilet stops, and take all your waste with you when you leave.

Thank you for respecting the local communities, and for helping us preserve the natural beauty of Helgeland!

Please:

  • Strive to leave no trace of your visit. Bring back all your rubbish, including used toilet paper, and discard it in the nearest rubbish bin.
  • Plan your toilet visits and use the opportunity when you pass a toilet. In the wilderness, make sure you are not a nuisance to others.
  • Respect the local wildlife. Keep a good distance from wildlife, livestock and birds. Keep your dog leashed.
  • Respect private property. Keep a respectful distance from houses and cabins.
  • Show good boating sense. Keep a good distance from shore and drive at a low speed, especially when you are close to anyone or anything on the water, including birds or animals. Avoid loud and disturbing engine noise. Be aware that some islands and nature reserves are important nesting sites, and that going ashore is prohibited during the nesting season.
  • Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene). Plan your excursion according to the weather forecast, your skills and experience.
  • Join a guided excursion or consider hiring an experienced guide, especially when you don’t have sufficient experience or knowledge to guarantee a safe trip.

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