Olden Private Shore Excursion Briksdal Glacier and SkyLift Loen

Mountains, glaciers, and a cable car await. This private Olden excursion packs two major sights into one well-planned day: the Briksdal Glacier and the Loen Skylift. I like the freedom to stop for photos in Oldedalen, and I like that the Troll car ride is included, saving you a long uphill walk to the glacier. The main drawback is the price, especially for fewer than four people, and the Loen Skylift admission and lunch cost extra.

The outing lasts about seven hours and uses private transport for your group of up to four. That means you can set the pace more easily than on a large coach, though the day is still fairly full. Guide Radmyla has earned high praise for keeping the schedule moving and staying ahead of cruise-ship crowds, a valuable skill in a port where timing matters.

Key points to know before booking

• Two major sights in one day: Visit Briksdal Glacier and ride the Loen Skylift from Olden.
• Troll cars save time and effort: Reserved seats in open electric vehicles take you close to the glacier.
• Private touring gives you more control: You can pause in Oldedalen for photos at places large buses may pass.
• The price favors a full group: At $2,072.76 for up to four, the cost works out to about $518 per person when four people share it.
• Loen admission is extra: Lunch and the Skylift ticket are not included in the listed price.
• Ship timing is taken seriously: The return to Olden port is scheduled with cruise passengers in mind.

Why this Olden excursion works so well

Olden is a small port with an outsized supply of scenery. The village sits among steep mountains, glacier-fed water, and waterfalls, so even the drive away from the pier feels like part of the attraction. This excursion makes good use of that setting instead of treating the port as a simple starting point.

The route combines two very different experiences. Briksdal offers a close look at a glacier and the rugged valley around it. Loen gives you a high viewpoint over the fjord and nearby peaks. One is a ground-level encounter with ice and rushing water. The other is a fast ride to a broad mountain panorama.

I especially like the private format for a cruise stop. You are not tied to a large bus full of people waiting at every photo point. The guide can stop in Oldedalen when the view is right, and the group can spend more or less time at selected places, within the limits of the seven-hour schedule.

There is still a practical limit. This is not a slow, unplanned day in the countryside. You have to reach the glacier, return through the valley, arrive at Loen, ride the Skylift, and get back to the ship. The private vehicle gives you flexibility, but it does not create extra hours.

Leaving the Olden cruise pier

The day begins at Olden Cruise Park, at the pier in Olden. The starting area is surrounded by high mountains, blue glacier-fed water, and waterfalls, so you do not need to wait for the first major stop to begin taking pictures.

Private transportation is included, along with bottled water and snacks. Those small extras matter on a seven-hour outing, especially because lunch is not provided. You should plan to buy lunch or coffee at the top of Mount Hoven, where the cliff-top restaurant offers a dramatic setting.

The exact operating information provided lists dates from April 9 through October 15, 2025, with Monday hours shown as 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Since cruise schedules and seasonal hours can change, check the pickup time carefully when booking. The listed tour duration is about seven hours, so the start and end time need to match your ship’s schedule.

Olden Old Church and the first valley views

Soon after leaving the port, you pass Olden Old Church, a bright red building set among green surroundings. The stop is brief, about ten minutes, and the photo pause is optional.

This is a good example of the tour’s easygoing design. You can make a quick stop for a picture without turning the church into a long formal visit. If your group prefers scenery over architecture, you can keep moving and protect time for the glacier and cable car.

From here, the road leads into Oldedalen. The valley brings together glacial lakes, mountain walls, flowers, and waterfalls. The private vehicle is useful on this stretch because you can ask to stop at selected viewpoints instead of relying only on marked coach stops.

Do not underestimate this part of the route. Briksdal Glacier is the headline attraction, but the drive through Oldedalen supplies much of the day’s visual variety. The views change as the road follows the valley, and short photo pauses help break up the longer transfer to the glacier.

Reaching Briksdal Glacier by Troll car

The Briksdal section takes about three hours, including the ride into the glacier area and time to see the surroundings. Reserved places are provided in an open electric vehicle known locally as a Troll car.

The Troll car follows a winding road toward the glacier, passing waterfalls and steep mountain scenery. It gets you uphill in minutes and saves energy for the time near the glacier itself. For many people, this is the most sensible way to handle the visit, particularly on a warm day or when a long uphill walk would be tiring.

The open design adds to the experience. You can feel the spray from waterfalls along the route, though that also means you should protect phones and cameras. The road winds sharply, so if you are prone to motion sickness, sit where you feel most comfortable and keep your eyes on the surrounding views.

At the upper point, you get a closer look at the glacier tongue. The ice has retreated noticeably over time, a clear reminder that glaciers are not fixed monuments. The visit is scenic, but it also carries a quiet environmental lesson: what you see today is part of a changing ice field.

The description promises an untouched setting that has changed little over the centuries, but it is wise to keep expectations realistic. The glacier area is a major attraction, and the experience is organized around a transport route and a set visit time. You get access to a powerful natural sight, not solitude in a remote wilderness.

The three-hour allocation should give you time to enjoy the ride, take photographs, and look around without rushing every minute. Still, the glacier visit can become the most time-sensitive portion of the day if road conditions or crowds slow the schedule. This is one reason a guide who watches the clock is valuable.

Photo pauses through Oldedalen

After Briksdal, the route returns through Oldedalen toward Loen, with about 30 minutes set aside for scenic stops. This is where a private tour can feel more personal than a standard bus outing.

You can request pauses at particularly attractive points, and the guide can help you use the available time well. The information provided does not name specific photo locations, so you should not expect a fixed list of secret viewpoints. The benefit is flexibility, not a guaranteed stop at one famous location.

I like this part because it gives the day breathing room after the glacier. You can photograph the valley, water, flowers, and mountain walls without treating every stop as a race to board a bus. Even if you do not care about social media photos, these pauses give you a chance to keep a visual record of the route.

The tradeoff is simple: every extra stop uses time that could be spent at Loen. Tell your guide early if the Skylift is your top priority, or if you would rather linger in the valley. A private vehicle gives you a voice in that decision, but the return to port remains the final boundary.

Taking the Loen Skylift to Mount Hoven

The second major highlight is the Loen Skylift. The cable car reaches Mount Hoven in about five minutes, a remarkably quick change from valley level to a high mountain viewpoint.

At the top, you look down on the steep-sided fjord and across toward the Jostedalsbreen glacier. The view is broad and dramatic, with mountain trails and a bridge spanning a deep chasm near the summit. Mount Hoven rises more than half a mile above sea level, giving you a very different perspective from the glacier valley below.

The contrast between Briksdal and Loen is the strongest reason to choose this combination. At Briksdal, you are close to ice, waterfalls, and the road climbing through the valley. At Hoven, the fjord becomes the main subject, and the whole area opens out beneath you.

You have about two hours at Loen. That should allow time for the ride, photographs, a short walk near the top, and lunch or coffee at the cliff-top restaurant. Lunch is not included, so budget for it separately. The restaurant’s setting is part of the appeal, but the meal is optional if you would rather spend your time outside.

The cable car admission is also not included. That is an important cost detail because the tour price already looks high. Before booking, ask for the current Skylift ticket cost and add it to your group budget. The supplied information calls the Loen admission an extra charge but does not give a price.

Weather matters greatly here. Low cloud can reduce the wide fjord view, and poor weather may lead to cancellation. The terms allow a different date or a full refund if weather forces cancellation, which is helpful, but a cruise passenger may not have another day in port. You should understand that weather protection is not the same as a guaranteed replacement during your sailing.

How the private format affects the day

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. For four people, that can be a useful balance of comfort, control, and cost. You can divide the $2,072.76 group price four ways, bringing the base cost to about $518 per person before the Skylift ticket and lunch.

For two people, the base price is about $1,036.38 each. For a solo passenger, it is the full group rate. That makes the excursion far easier to justify for a family or small group of friends sharing the vehicle.

The private setup also matters for cruise timing. The guide can move your group directly between stops rather than waiting for a full coach to load. Radmyla was praised for being quick and efficient while staying ahead of ship crowds, which is exactly the kind of organization you want on a port day.

The phrase timely return to port is part of the tour promise, but you should still provide accurate ship details and pickup information. Any shore excursion carries some risk when roads, weather, or traffic enter the picture. A private schedule reduces unnecessary waiting, but it cannot control every delay.

Comparing the value with a standard shore tour

The price is high, yet the value becomes clearer when you identify what you are paying for. The package includes private transport, a personal guide, bottled water, snacks, and reserved Troll car seats. It also combines two of Olden’s major sights in one day.

You are paying for convenience as much as admission. A large bus tour may cost less, but it may give you less control over photo stops and more waiting around. This option is designed for people who place a high value on time, comfort, and a return coordinated with the ship.

The value is weaker if your group does not care about the private format. If you are happy with fixed stops, do not need individual photo pauses, and want only one attraction, a less expensive shared excursion may suit you better. This tour makes most sense when you want both Briksdal and Loen and can share the cost with three other people.

Remember the extra expenses. Lunch, the Loen Skylift admission, and anything else you buy during the day are outside the listed price. The Troll cars are included, which is helpful, but the second major attraction still requires a separate ticket.

Who should book this seven-hour outing?

I would point this tour toward a small group that wants a full day of major sights without managing its own transport. Families, couples traveling with friends, and cruise passengers who value a private guide are the best fit.

It also suits people who want photographs from several points along the route. The flexible Oldedalen stops are more useful to photographers and scenery fans than to anyone simply checking off attractions.

The day may feel too packed if you prefer long walks, quiet time, or a slow meal. The Briksdal visit uses a Troll car rather than a full hiking day, and the Loen stop gives you roughly two hours at the top. You see a lot, but you do not linger everywhere.

Most people can participate, service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. The provided information does not give detailed mobility specifications for the Troll car, glacier route, or Skylift, so ask the operator about your exact needs before paying.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made later are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. Since the experience requires good weather, check the local forecast and keep the weather policy in mind.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Olden Cruise Park, 6788 Olden, Norway, at the Olden cruise port.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Olden.

How long does the excursion last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers a private group of up to four people.

Are the Troll cars included?

Yes. Tickets for the Troll cars in the glacier park are included.

Is the Loen Skylift ticket included?

No. The Loen admission fee is not included in the listed price.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though you can buy lunch or coffee at the cliff-top restaurant at Mount Hoven.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift?

Book it if you have up to four people, want both headline sights, and care about getting back to your ship on time. The private vehicle, flexible photo stops, included Troll car, and efficient guiding make the high group price easier to defend when shared.

Think twice if you are traveling alone, watching every dollar, or mainly want a quiet glacier walk. The Skylift ticket and lunch add to the cost, and the seven-hour schedule keeps the day moving.

For the right group, this is a strong Olden shore excursion. You get the glacier at close range, a high fjord view from Mount Hoven, and a guide focused on making the most of a short port visit. Just confirm the Skylift fee, pickup timing, and weather plan before you commit.