Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift day Excursion

Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift give you two very different views of western Norway in one well-packed day. You’ll ride Troll Cars up the steep mountain road to the glacier, then shoot from fjord level to roughly 3,000 feet in seven minutes on the Loen Skylift.

I like the small group, capped at seven people, and the private vehicle, which keeps the day more flexible than a large coach trip. I also like the mix of natural scenery and local character: the old church, a Norwegian picnic beside Oldevatnet, glacier meltwater, and a guide who can explain the area as you go.

The main drawback is cost. At $400.27 per person, this is a serious splurge, and seven hours leaves little room for a slow, unplanned day. Weather also matters: poor conditions can cancel the experience, although you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.

Key points to know before booking

• Troll Cars save your legs: They carry you up the steep road toward Briksdal Glacier, leaving you with only a short walk to the meltwater lake and river.
• The Loen Skylift is the big view moment: The cable car rises from sea level to about 3,000 feet in seven minutes.
• This is a genuinely small outing: The maximum group size is seven, with an air-conditioned private vehicle.
• Lunch is part of the day: You get a picnic with Norwegian specialties, plus snacks and drinks during the drive.
• Weather can change the plan: The glacier and Skylift depend on conditions, and the tour may be canceled if the weather is poor.
• Book early for cruise dates: The experience is often reserved about 150 days ahead, which matters when ship schedules limit your choices.

A full day from Olden to Norway’s high viewpoints

This excursion works because it joins two major sights that are close enough to visit in one day but different enough to keep the scenery changing. Briksdal Glacier brings you close to ice, waterfalls, and mountain walls. Loen Skylift gives you the broad view, with Nordfjord, Loen village, Loen Lake, and the Olden Valley spread below.

You’ll spend about seven hours on the outing. Pickup can be arranged from your cruise terminal or hotel, while the listed starting point is on Fjordvegen in Olden. If you are arriving by ship, confirm the exact pickup instructions before the day begins so you know where to meet the guide.

The small group is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. With no more than seven people, you avoid the slow loading and unloading that can turn a scenic day into a schedule exercise. You can also ask the guide to explain what you are seeing, rather than simply following a flag through a crowd.

The guide is an experienced driver guide, and one named Andreas has been associated with this experience. He is from Trondheim and has been praised for an easygoing manner. Since guides can vary by date, treat Andreas as a possibility rather than a guarantee.

Olden Old Church and the quiet start to the valley

The first stop is Olden Old Church, a wooden stave church dating from the 1700s. The visit is planned for about an hour, including the drive through Olden village and up the Olden Valley.

This is a good first stop because it slows the pace before the larger sights arrive. A stave church is built with upright wooden posts and a distinctive timber frame, a style strongly associated with Norway’s older religious buildings. Here, you can enter, look around, and spend a quiet few minutes rather than rushing straight toward the glacier.

The drive itself is part of the visit. Olden village gives way to the valley, with Olden Lake appearing as the road continues inland. You’ll want your camera ready, but try not to spend the entire drive looking through it. The valley is one of those places where the changing view from the vehicle matters as much as the formal stops.

The church is not the main reason to pay $400.27 for this tour. It is a thoughtful opening act, though, and it gives the day a little more local flavor than a simple glacier transfer.

Briksdal Glacier by Troll Car and short mountain walk

The main physical attraction is Briksdal Glacier, also called Briksdalsbreen. You’ll first reach the base camp, then board a Troll Car for the steep, winding road up the mountain.

That ride is especially useful for anyone who wants to see the glacier without committing to a long uphill hike. The road is steep enough that the vehicle does more than provide a novelty ride. It removes the hardest part of the approach and lets you save your energy for the final walk.

From the upper drop-off point, you’ll walk for about 15 minutes toward the glacier. The path leads to a meltwater lake and river framed by snow and ice-covered mountains. You’ll have roughly 15 minutes at the top before walking back down, so this is a short, focused glacier visit rather than an extended mountain hike.

That timing is worth understanding. You’ll get close enough for strong photographs and a clear look at the glacier’s water, but you will not have hours to sit beside it. If you prefer a relaxed pace, use the walk itself as part of the experience and avoid treating the return as a race back to the vehicle.

The glacier can look very different depending on weather. Rain and cold are possible, even when conditions in Olden are mild. One day can bring clear views, while another may offer mist, wet paths, and dramatic waterfalls. Bring warm and waterproof clothing, even though the vehicle is comfortable.

The glacier is also the part of the excursion most dependent on safe conditions. If poor weather forces cancellation of the full experience, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.

Oldevatnet picnic with Norwegian specialties

After the glacier, the outing pauses at Oldevatnet, known as Olden Lake, for a picnic lunch. The stop is planned for about two hours, which gives you a useful break after the mountain road and walk.

The lunch includes Norwegian specialties, and dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated if you state them when booking. That is more convenient than having to find a restaurant between fixed sightseeing times, especially on a cruise day.

The lake stop also gives the itinerary breathing room. The church and glacier involve looking, walking, and photographing. A picnic beside the water lets you simply sit for a while and take in the valley. Snacks and drinks are also provided in the private vehicle, so you are not left relying on chance stops for refreshments.

Do not expect a formal restaurant meal or a long food-focused tasting. The value is in combining a practical lunch with a scenic pause. If you have a food allergy or strict dietary need, provide the details at booking rather than waiting until pickup.

Seven minutes to the summit on Loen Skylift

The Loen Skylift is the day’s most dramatic change in viewpoint. The cable car rises from roughly sea level to about 3,000 feet in only seven minutes, bringing you above Loen and the surrounding valleys.

At the top, weather permitting, you can see Loen Lake, the Olden Valley, Nordfjord, and Loen village. The mountains around the viewpoint rise to roughly 4,500 to 6,000 feet, so the scale can be impressive even before you start taking pictures.

I like this stop because it gives you a clear sense of the area’s shape. At the glacier, you are focused on ice, water, and a narrow mountain route. From the Skylift, you can connect those individual sights to the larger fjord country around them.

The drawback is simple: the view is not guaranteed. Low cloud can hide the valleys, and rain can turn the summit into a gray lookout. The cable car ride is still part of the experience, but the value of this stop depends heavily on visibility. A flexible guide can help with timing, yet no tour operator can control the clouds.

Plan for cooler conditions at the top than in the village. The supplied information does not specify facilities or exact time at the summit, so your guide will determine how the stop fits into the day’s schedule.

A private drive back through Loen Valley

After the Skylift, you’ll return toward the ship or hotel in the private vehicle. If time allows, the route may include a quick drive up the Loen Valley, with a chance to buy locally grown berries and local jam.

This final possibility is a nice touch, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed shopping stop. The excursion has several fixed pieces, and the guide must allow enough time for your return. If you are on a cruise, the ship departure time takes priority.

The drive back is also a good chance to ask about the places you have just seen. A small group makes that conversation easier, particularly if your guide is Andreas or another guide who enjoys explaining the region.

What the $400.27 price really includes

At $400.27 per person, this tour is not a budget option. You are paying for a private vehicle, an experienced driver guide, Troll Car tickets, Loen Skylift tickets, lunch, snacks, drinks, and a full day of transportation between several sights.

The price makes more sense if you compare it with arranging the same day independently. You would need to organize transport to the glacier, pay for the Troll Cars, arrange the Skylift, find lunch, and watch the clock closely if you are returning to a ship. Here, those major pieces are handled together.

Still, the value depends on what you want from Olden. If you mainly want a ride to one viewpoint, this is too much. If you want the glacier, the lake valley, the church, the Skylift, and a guide in one day, the price buys convenience and time.

A private excursion can also be valuable for cruise passengers. You are not tied to a large group’s pace, although you still need to allow a safe margin before your ship sails. Confirm the pickup and return plan in advance, especially if the ship terminal is different from the listed Olden meeting point.

Who will enjoy this Olden excursion most

This tour suits you if you want a broad introduction to the area in a single day. It is particularly useful for cruise passengers, small families, couples, and groups who prefer a private ride over a large coach.

It also suits you if you want to see a glacier but do not want a long mountain trek. The Troll Cars handle the steep section, and the final walk is about 15 minutes each way. You still need to get in and out of the vehicle and manage a short walk on the mountain path.

The outing is less suitable if you want a slow day with plenty of free time. The schedule is full, and the glacier stop is brief. It may also disappoint you if your main goal is a guaranteed summit view, since the Loen Skylift depends on weather.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The practical requirement is that you be able to get in and out of the vehicle. If you have mobility concerns, ask about the specific walking surface and vehicle arrangements before booking, since only general participation information is provided.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

The experience is offered daily during the stated April 1 through October 1 operating period, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Confirmation normally arrives at booking. If you reserve within two days of departure, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local time.

Because the outing requires good weather, check the forecast before you go, but do not assume a poor forecast means you should cancel yourself immediately. If the operator cancels for weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

The experience is often booked about 150 days in advance. That is a useful warning for cruise visitors, since popular port dates can fill well before the sailing date.

Should you book Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift?

Book it if you want to cover Olden’s biggest sights in one organized day and value a small group, included transport, and a guide who can keep the timing under control. The combination of Troll Cars, glacier water, a lake picnic, and the seven-minute Skylift ride gives you a varied view of the region.

Skip it if $400.27 feels too high for a day that depends on weather, or if you want a long, quiet visit at the glacier. You should also think twice if a short walk and fixed schedule do not suit you.

For most cruise passengers with only one day in Olden, this is a strong choice when the budget allows. Book early, give dietary details in advance, confirm pickup, and pack for rain and cold. Those small steps will help you get the most from a day built around some of western Norway’s best scenery.

FAQ

Where does the excursion start?

The listed meeting point is Norway, Olden, Fjordvegen 1562. Pickup can also be arranged from a cruise terminal or hotel, so confirm your exact pickup location when booking.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts about seven hours.

What attractions are included?

The day includes Olden Old Church, Briksdal Glacier, Oldevatnet, and the Loen Skylift. Troll Car transportation to the glacier is also included.

How far do you walk at Briksdal Glacier?

After the Troll Car ride, you walk for about 15 minutes to the glacier area, spend about 15 minutes there, and then walk back down.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch with Norwegian specialties is included, along with snacks and drinks in the vehicle.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs can be accommodated if you provide the information when booking.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is seven travelers.

Is the Loen Skylift included?

Yes. The ticket is included, and the cable car takes about seven minutes to rise from sea level to roughly 3,000 feet.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.