Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift day Excursion

The big draw here is the combination of two very different Norwegian sights in one day: the icy Briksdal Glacier and the high mountain views from the Loen Skylift. You ride Troll Cars partway up the glacier route, then take a short walk to the meltwater lake and river before rising nearly 3,000 feet above the fjord.

I like the small maximum group of seven, which keeps the outing more personal than a large coach trip. I also like the practical setup: pickup from a cruise terminal or hotel, a private air-conditioned vehicle, included attraction tickets, snacks, drinks, and a picnic with Norwegian specialties. The main drawback is the price, $400.27 per person, and the fact that poor weather can affect the glacier and Skylift views.

Key points at a glance

• Troll Cars shorten the Briksdal Glacier climb: You ride up the steep mountain road, then walk about 15 minutes to the glacier viewpoint.
• The Loen Skylift reaches 3,000 feet in seven minutes: Clear weather can reveal Loen Lake, Olden Valley, Nordfjord, and the surrounding mountains.
• The outing stays small: The private vehicle carries no more than seven people.
• Olden Lake becomes your lunch stop: The picnic includes Norwegian specialties, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available if requested in advance.
• The day includes more than headline sights: Olden’s 1700s stave church and a drive through the Olden Valley add local character.
• The timing suits a port day: The full excursion lasts about seven hours and returns to the meeting point.

Why this Olden day trip works so well

This is a full Norwegian mountain day without requiring you to organize several separate tickets or transport connections. You move from village scenery to a glacier, then from a lakeside picnic to a cable-car summit. The changing scale keeps the day interesting.

The tour is operated by Private Guided Norway, with an experienced driver-guide handling the route. One guide named Andreas has been singled out for his easygoing manner and strong local understanding. Since guides can vary, you should not assume he will lead every departure, but the experience is designed around a personal guide rather than a driver who simply drops you at each stop.

The vehicle matters here. The Olden Valley and the road toward Briksdal Glacier are scenic, but the day includes several hours of driving. A private, air-conditioned vehicle gives you a more comfortable base, along with the chance to ask questions and make the most of photo stops when time allows.

The format is especially useful for cruise passengers. You can choose pickup from your ship or hotel, but the stated meeting point is Fjordvegen 1562 in Olden. If your booking information lists Skjolden while your actual pickup is in Olden, confirm the exact place with the operator before departure. That small check can prevent a needless morning scramble.

Olden Old Church and the road into the valley

The day begins with a drive through Olden, including a look at the village’s old stave church. The church dates from the 1700s and is included as an admission stop, not just a quick roadside photo.

This is a quiet opening to a day that later becomes much more dramatic. You get a chance to slow down, enter the church, and spend a calm hour before heading farther into the mountains. For many people, this stop will be less spectacular than the glacier or Skylift, but it gives the outing a stronger sense of place.

The drive through Olden Valley is part of the experience, not dead time between attractions. Olden Lake appears along the route, with mountains rising around the water. Keep your camera ready, but also listen to the guide. A private drive gives you more room to notice smaller details than a large sightseeing coach usually allows.

The one-hour church stop may feel long to visitors mainly interested in dramatic scenery. If historic buildings are not your thing, ask the guide how the time is handled. The benefit is that the schedule does not rush you through every stop, though the total day remains tightly packed.

Reaching Briksdalbreen by Troll Car

Briksdal Glacier is the centerpiece of the first half of the tour. The vehicle takes you to the base camp, where you board a Troll Car for the steep mountain road toward the glacier.

The Troll Car is a major practical advantage. The route to the glacier involves a climb, and the vehicle removes much of the effort while preserving the sense of heading into high mountain country. You are not simply viewing the glacier from a distant road. You are carried close enough to continue on foot to the meltwater area.

From the Troll Car drop-off, the walk to the glacier takes about 15 minutes. The route leads toward the meltwater lake and river, with ice and snowy peaks framing the view. You spend around 15 minutes at the top before walking back down, so this is a focused glacier visit rather than a long mountain hike.

That distinction is important. The experience suits you if you want to see Briksdal Glacier without committing to a strenuous trek. It is less suitable if you are hoping for hours of hiking, solitude, or a chance to explore far beyond the main viewpoint.

Bring a warm outer layer and waterproof clothing. The mountain can feel cold and wet even when conditions in Olden are mild. One departure encountered rain and cold weather, yet the glacier remained the highlight because the waterfalls, ice, and mountain setting still made the visit worthwhile. The tour requires good weather, so conditions can also lead to a changed date or a full refund.

You should also expect the glacier itself to look different from older photographs. The supplied information does not give a current measurement or retreat figure, so I would not promise a particular size or viewpoint. What you can count on is a short walk to a meltwater setting surrounded by ice and snow-covered mountains, subject to weather and seasonal conditions.

A Norwegian picnic beside Olden Lake

Oldevatnet, also called Olden Lake, is scheduled as a two-hour picnic stop. This is a generous pause after the glacier visit and gives the day a needed change of pace.

Lunch consists of Norwegian specialties, served as a picnic. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be arranged, but you need to state your dietary needs when booking. Snacks and drinks are also provided during the outing, so you are not left to find food between the main stops.

A lakeside lunch is valuable for more than convenience. You can sit with the view instead of eating quickly in a crowded restaurant, and you get a quiet break before the cable-car ride. The exact picnic setup is not specified, so do not assume there will be a formal dining area, indoor seating, or a particular menu.

The two-hour allocation may seem generous, especially if weather is poor. On a clear day, though, it gives you time to eat, take photographs, and enjoy Olden Lake without treating lunch as a rushed fuel stop. If you prefer a packed sightseeing schedule, this will be one of the slower parts of the excursion.

The Loen Skylift from fjord to summit

The Loen Skylift supplies the day’s most dramatic change in viewpoint. The cable car rises from the valley to roughly 3,000 feet in about seven minutes.

At the top, clear weather can open views over Loen Lake valley, Olden Valley, Nordfjord, and Loen village. Mountains between about 4,500 and 6,000 feet surround the area, creating a broad mountain-and-fjord panorama rather than a single-point view.

I like placing this after the glacier. Briksdal gives you close-up ice, rushing water, and a mountain road. The Skylift then pulls you back to a wide view where the fjords and valleys make sense as one grand setting. You see Norway at two scales in the same day.

Weather is the deciding factor. Fog, rain, or low cloud can block the views, and a cable car ticket does not guarantee a clear summit. The ride itself is still included, but you should set your expectations around conditions rather than promise yourself a perfect panorama.

The stop is scheduled for two hours, which should allow time for the ascent, time at the top, and the return ride. The information provided does not specify additional summit walks, restaurants, or facilities, so treat the cable-car viewpoint as the main attraction.

The final drive through Loen Valley

After the Skylift, the vehicle returns toward the ship or hotel. If time allows, the guide may take you briefly up Loen Valley, with an opportunity to buy locally grown berries and local jam.

This optional finish has the right scale for a private tour. It is not another major attraction competing with the glacier and cable car. Instead, it offers a small taste of local food and farming before the return journey.

Do not build your schedule around the berry or jam stop. It depends on available time, and the tour must still return to the meeting point. For cruise passengers, the return timing matters more than an extra purchase.

Is $400.27 a fair price?

At $400.27 per person, this is an expensive day trip. The value comes from what is bundled together: a private air-conditioned vehicle, an experienced driver-guide, Troll Car tickets, Loen Skylift tickets, snacks, drinks, and a Norwegian picnic lunch.

Buying the main transport and attractions separately could become complicated, especially from a cruise port. You would need to coordinate the drive to Briksdal, the Troll Car, the glacier walk, lunch, the cable car, and your return. Here, one operator manages the moving parts, and the group is capped at seven.

The price makes more sense for a small group splitting the cost of a private vehicle than for a solo visitor comparing it with public transport. It also has value for cruise passengers who want one organized day with direct pickup and a clear return plan.

Still, you are paying for convenience and access, not just entry tickets. If your priority is the lowest possible cost, this tour is unlikely to win. If your priority is seeing both Briksdal Glacier and the Loen Skylift in one day without handling the details yourself, the package is easier to justify.

The booking pattern suggests strong advance demand, with this experience often reserved about 150 days ahead. That is useful information for cruise planning. If the date fits your itinerary, book early, especially if you need dietary accommodations or a particular pickup arrangement.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend it to cruise passengers who want a broad sample of the Olden area in one day. You get a historic church, a valley drive, a glacier, a lake picnic, a cable car, and a possible local-food stop.

It also suits couples, families, and small groups who prefer a guide and private transport. The maximum of seven people is a strong fit if you dislike large coach excursions or want to ask questions along the way.

The tour is less suitable for someone seeking a serious hike. The Briksdal portion includes a short 15-minute walk after the Troll Car, not a long trek. It may also disappoint if your main goal is complete flexibility, since the day has fixed stops and timed transfers.

Most people can participate, but you must be able to get in and out of the vehicle. Service animals are allowed. The supplied information does not give detailed mobility specifications for the Troll Cars, glacier path, or cable-car facilities, so ask the operator directly if you have specific access needs.

Practical advice before you go

Wear shoes suitable for a short, uneven outdoor walk and bring layers for changing mountain weather. A waterproof jacket is sensible, even if the forecast in Olden looks mild.

Tell the operator about vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free requirements when you book. Do not wait until the morning of the tour if the picnic needs to be changed.

Keep your schedule clear for about seven hours. The outing ends back at the meeting point, and pickup arrangements should be confirmed if you are coming from a ship or hotel.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. Since poor weather can cancel the experience, you may be offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this excursion if you want the two headline views, Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift, in one well-organized day. The strongest reasons are the small group, included Troll Car and cable-car tickets, private transport, and a guide who can keep the day moving while adding local context.

Skip it if $400.27 is beyond your budget, if you want a long glacier hike, or if you prefer to spend most of the day at one site. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see a lot of Olden’s mountain country without turning the day into a transport puzzle.

FAQ

Where does the excursion start?

The stated 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.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the excursion last?

The excursion lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is seven people.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch with Norwegian specialties is included.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options can be arranged if you provide your dietary requirements when booking.

Are the Troll Car tickets included?

Yes. Tickets for the Troll Cars are included in the price.

Is the Loen Skylift ticket included?

Yes. Admission to the Loen Skylift is included.

How long is the walk to Briksdal Glacier after the Troll Car ride?

The walk from the Troll Car drop-off to the glacier area takes about 15 minutes. The itinerary allows about 15 minutes at the top before the return walk.

What happens if the weather is poor?

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