Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift day Excursion

Big views arrive in two very different ways. This seven-hour outing pairs the icy drama of Briksdal Glacier with the high mountain views from the Loen Skylift, while a private vehicle keeps the day simple and flexible. I like the small maximum group of seven, and I like that pickup can be arranged from a cruise terminal or hotel.

The included Troll Car ride saves you from tackling the steep road on foot, and the Norwegian picnic lunch adds a pleasant local touch. The main drawback is the price, $400.27 per person, and the day depends on good weather, especially for the cable car views.

Key points to know before you book

• Two major sights in one day: You visit Briksdal Glacier and ride the Loen Skylift, giving you both close-up ice scenery and wide fjord views.
• Troll Cars handle the steepest section: The small vehicles take you up the mountain road before a short walk to the glacier.
• A private group keeps the pace manageable: The vehicle holds a maximum of seven people, useful for cruise passengers with limited time.
• The Olden Valley sets the scene: The route passes Olden village, Olden Old Church, and Oldevatnet before reaching the glacier.
• Lunch is included: The picnic features Norwegian specialties, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available if requested at booking.
• Guide quality is central to the experience: Andreas from Trondheim receives especially warm praise for his easygoing manner and clear local guidance.

What the day costs and what you get for it

At $400.27 per person, this is not a bargain excursion. It is priced more like a private sightseeing day than a basic coach trip, so the value depends on how much you want handled for you.

The fee includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an experienced driver-guide, Troll Car tickets, Loen Skylift tickets, and a picnic lunch. That matters because the two main attractions would otherwise require separate planning, timing, and transport.

I see the strongest value in the small group. With no more than seven people, you are not being moved around with a large crowd, and your guide can keep the day focused on the two headline sights. Pickup can be arranged from your cruise terminal or hotel, which is especially useful if you are visiting Olden during a port call.

The day lasts about seven hours. That gives you enough time for both attractions without trying to squeeze in a long list of minor stops. Still, you should compare the cost with your own priorities. If you mainly want a quick look at one waterfall or one viewpoint, this tour may feel expensive. If you want glacier access, a mountain cable car, transport, lunch, and a guide in one package, the price is easier to justify.

Olden Old Church and the first look at the valley

The outing begins with a scenic drive through Olden village and up the Olden Valley. This first stretch is not just a transfer. It gives you a gradual introduction to the area, with views of the valley, the lake, and the mountains ahead.

A stop at Olden Old Church adds a quiet cultural pause before the bigger natural sights. The church is a stave church dating from the 1700s, and you have about an hour with admission included. That is a generous amount of time for a small historic building, so you can enter, look around, and enjoy a calm break without being rushed.

I like this stop because it gives the day some balance. Glacier and fjord scenery can blur together after several hours, while the church offers a very different sense of place. It also helps connect the modern excursion with Olden’s older village life.

The practical point is that this is a sightseeing visit, not a full museum program. If your main interest is dramatic scenery, the church may feel like a gentle prelude rather than a highlight. If you enjoy local architecture and quiet places, it is a worthwhile opening stop.

Riding the Troll Cars toward Briksdalbreen

The trip then continues to the base camp for Briksdal Glacier. From there, Troll Cars take you up the steep, winding mountain road.

This is one of the smartest features of the day. The route toward the glacier climbs sharply, and the Troll Cars make the approach possible without requiring you to walk the entire road. You still get an active outing, but the most demanding uphill section is covered by the vehicle.

After the ride, you walk for about 15 minutes to reach the meltwater lake and river below the glacier. The final approach is short, but you should still wear shoes suitable for walking and bring a waterproof layer. The supplied details describe conditions that can be rainy and cold, and one account specifically notes enjoying the glacier despite rain and low temperatures.

You spend about 15 minutes at the top before walking back down. That is enough time for photographs and a close look at the ice, water, falls, and surrounding snowy mountains. Do not expect a long glacier hike or time on the ice itself. This is a viewpoint visit near the glacier, not a technical ice excursion.

The scenery here is the emotional center of the day. Briksdalbreen gives you the sense of a powerful natural force, especially where meltwater and falls move down from the ice. You might find the weather changes quickly, so the best experience comes from accepting the conditions rather than waiting for a perfect blue-sky visit.

One practical caution: the glacier section is listed as about two hours, but only part of that time is spent at the final viewpoint. You are paying for the whole transfer and access arrangement, not hours beside the ice. The short walk is manageable for most people, but you must be able to get in and out of the vehicle.

Oldevatnet makes a good lunch stop

Oldevatnet, also called Olden Lake, is used for the picnic lunch. The stop is planned for about two hours, which creates a slower middle section after the glacier visit.

Lunch includes Norwegian specialties, and dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated when you provide the information during booking. That is a useful detail for a full-day outing, since you do not need to arrange a separate meal stop.

I like the picnic idea because it keeps the meal tied to the setting. Rather than treating lunch as an interruption, the lake stop gives you time to pause, eat, and take in the water and mountains. Snacks and drinks are also provided in the private vehicle during the journey.

The long stop may be a plus or a minus depending on your style. If you like a relaxed pace and time for photographs, two hours gives you breathing room. If you prefer constant sightseeing, it may feel like too much time for lunch. The itinerary calls it a picnic stop, so you should think of it as a scenic rest rather than another formal attraction.

The Loen Skylift climbs 3,000 feet in seven minutes

The final major sight is the Loen Skylift, a cable car that rises from the valley to about 3,000 feet in only seven minutes. The quick ascent is part of the fun. One moment you are at the lower station, and soon you are looking down over the valley from the mountaintop.

When weather allows, the view includes Loen Lake valley, Olden Valley, Nordfjord, and Loen village. Mountains rising between roughly 4,500 and 6,000 feet surround the viewpoint, giving the ride a very different visual scale from the glacier stop.

This contrast is why the combination works. At Briksdal, you approach ice, water, and falls from below. At Loen, you rise above the fjords and see how the valleys fit together. You get close scenery in the morning and a broad aerial view later.

Weather is the key condition. The cable car ticket is included, but clouds can block the very views that make the ride special. The tour requires good weather, and if poor conditions lead to cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Even with changeable weather, the ride may still be enjoyable, but you should not book it expecting guaranteed clear visibility.

You should also know that the cable car is not a tiny add-on. The Loen Skylift portion is planned for about two hours, including the ride and time at the top. That makes it a substantial part of the day, not a quick photo stop squeezed between other sites.

The drive back to Olden and the value of a local guide

After the Skylift, the vehicle returns toward the ship or meeting point. If time allows, the route may include a quick drive up the Loen Valley, with the possibility of buying locally grown berries and local jam.

That final option gives the day a small taste of regional food culture. It is not guaranteed, since it depends on time, but it fits the tour’s broader appeal: you are not only checking off major sights, you are also seeing villages, valleys, local produce, and historic architecture.

The driver-guide can shape how much you get from the road sections. Andreas, a guide from Trondheim, is praised for being easygoing and well informed, and one visitor specifically says they would book with him again. Another account describes the operation as well organized and easy to find straight off the ship.

Those details matter on a port day. A guide who keeps the schedule clear and gets you moving at the right times can make the difference between a relaxed excursion and a stressful race back to the ship. The private vehicle also means you are not trying to find your own way between Olden, Briksdal, and Loen.

Group size, comfort, and physical demands

The maximum group size is seven people. That is small enough to feel personal, while still keeping the cost of a private vehicle shared among a few passengers.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and snacks and drinks are available during the journey. Those comforts are useful because the day includes several drives, and the weather may shift from mild valley conditions to cold, wet conditions near the glacier.

Most people can participate, but you must be able to get in and out of the vehicle. Service animals are allowed. The glacier visit includes a 15-minute walk each way from the Troll Car drop-off area, so you should be comfortable with that amount of walking on the route described.

The experience is best for someone who wants major scenery without arranging several separate tickets. It also suits cruise passengers who value pickup and a planned return. Families, couples, and small groups can all fit the format, provided everyone is comfortable with the vehicle transfers and short glacier walk.

It is less suitable if you want a long hike, an extended church visit, or a fully unstructured day. The schedule has several fixed pieces, and the two-hour blocks at the glacier area, lake, and Skylift shape the pace.

Booking timing and cancellation details

The tour is often booked about 150 days ahead, which suggests that early planning is sensible, especially for a cruise date or a preferred pickup time. Confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you reserve within two days of departure, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Because weather matters so much, check the forecast before setting out, but do not assume a cloudy morning automatically ruins the day. The provider may cancel for poor conditions, in which case you receive another date or a full refund.

Who should book this Olden excursion?

I would choose this tour if you want to see the area’s two biggest natural attractions in one organized day. The glacier provides the close, dramatic moment, while the Loen Skylift gives you the broad fjord view that helps make sense of the region.

I would also choose it if you are arriving by cruise and want a pickup arrangement, included tickets, lunch, and a guide without managing local transport yourself. The small group and reported organization add real value here.

I would hesitate if $400.27 feels high for a day of sightseeing, or if you mainly want an active hike. The glacier walk is short, and the cable car is a scenic ride rather than a demanding mountain outing. You should also accept that rain, cold, or cloud may affect the views.

Should you book it?

Book this excursion if you want a comfortable, small-group day built around Briksdal Glacier and the Loen Skylift. The best features are the Troll Car access, the included picnic, the private vehicle, and the strong guide feedback, particularly for Andreas.

Skip it if you prefer to travel independently, spend many hours hiking, or avoid paying for a package that depends on weather. For a first visit to Olden, though, this is a well-balanced way to cover the area’s most memorable sights without wasting your limited port time.

FAQ

How long does the Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift excursion last?

The excursion lasts approximately seven hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $400.27 per person.

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 according to the tour details.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a picnic lunch with Norwegian specialties, an air-conditioned vehicle, an experienced driver-guide, Troll Car tickets, and Loen Skylift tickets.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of seven travelers.

Is lunch suitable for dietary restrictions?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options can be arranged. You need to provide your dietary requirements when booking.

What happens if the weather is poor?

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