Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift day Excursion

The best part of this Olden outing is the contrast: one moment you are looking at a quiet 1700s stave church, and soon after you are riding Troll Cars up toward a glacier before rising 3,000 feet above the fjords on the Loen Skylift. It packs several of western Norway’s finest views into one day.

I like the small group of no more than seven and the private vehicle, which make the long scenic drives easier and more personal. I also like that the price includes the Troll Cars, Skylift tickets, picnic lunch, snacks, and drinks. The main consideration is the cost, $400.27 per person, plus a fairly full seven-hour schedule that depends on good weather.

Key points to know

• Briksdal Glacier by Troll Car: Ride the steep mountain road, then walk about 15 minutes to the meltwater lake and river.
• Loen Skylift views: The cable car climbs from the fjord to about 3,000 feet in only seven minutes.
• Small private group: The vehicle carries a maximum of seven people, with pickup available from a cruise terminal or hotel.
• Olden Valley scenery: The route includes Olden village, Olden Lake, the Olden Old Church, and the road toward Briksdalbreen.
• Norwegian picnic included: Lunch can be arranged as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free when requested at booking.
• Weather matters: Rain and cold do not necessarily ruin the glacier stop, but poor weather can cancel the activity or reduce the Skylift views.

Why this Olden day trip works so well

Olden is a small place, but the surrounding mountains give you an unusually wide choice of scenery within a short drive. This tour links three very different experiences: a traditional wooden church, a glacier valley, and a cable car viewpoint over Nordfjord.

That variety is the real strength. You are not spending the entire day on one road or at one viewpoint. The day shifts from quiet and historical to rugged and icy, then finishes high above the fjord.

The private format also matters. With no more than seven people, you should have more room for questions and fewer delays than on a large coach excursion. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and snacks and drinks are provided during the drive. That is useful in a region where scenic roads take time and weather can change quickly.

The guide is an important part of the experience. Andreas, a guide from Trondheim, has been specifically named as a possible guide, and the outing is designed around a driver-guide rather than a separate large tour staff. Expect a relaxed pace with local explanation along the way, not a formal lecture at every stop.

Olden Old Church and the first hour

The route begins with a drive through Olden village and up the Olden Valley. The first stop is Olden Old Church, a stave church dating from the 1700s.

This is a good opening stop because it gives you a quiet look at Norwegian building traditions before the day moves into bigger natural scenery. The church is not presented as a long museum visit. You have about an hour here, with admission included, so you can enter and spend some calm time inside.

The church stop may appeal most to you if you enjoy places with a human scale. The later glacier and mountain viewpoints are dramatic, but the church provides a sense of how people lived and worshipped in this valley. It also breaks up the drive early in the day.

The timing is generous compared with a quick photo stop. Still, the exact amount of time available inside may depend on the day’s road conditions and the needs of the group. The tour has several major stops to fit into seven hours, so the hour should be viewed as an allocated visit rather than a promise of an unhurried church study.

Through Olden Valley to Oldevatnet

After Olden Old Church, the road continues into the Olden Valley. You pass Olden Lake, also called Oldevatnet, where the tour pauses for a picnic lunch.

The lake stop is more than a meal break. It gives you time to enjoy the valley without the pressure of moving straight from one ticketed attraction to the next. Norwegian scenery can be spectacular, but a good picnic stop lets you sit with it for a while.

Lunch includes Norwegian specialties, and dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated if you provide the information when booking. That is a useful detail, especially because this is a private outing and the meal can be planned in advance.

The schedule gives two hours to the Oldevatnet stop. Since the full day lasts about seven hours and includes driving, lunch, the glacier visit, and the Skylift, that time likely covers the picnic and the surrounding visit rather than two full hours of sitting at one table. You should still expect a proper pause, not a sandwich eaten while rushing back into the vehicle.

Snacks and drinks are also available in the vehicle. That adds practical value on a day with several road sections, though you should not treat those extras as a substitute for the included picnic lunch.

Reaching Briksdal Glacier by Troll Car

The main adventure comes at Briksdalbreen, one of the best-known glacier areas near Olden. The vehicle takes you to the base camp, where you board a Troll Car for the steep road toward the glacier.

The Troll Car is a small open-style mountain vehicle designed for this route. Here, it saves you from tackling the full steep road on foot and makes the glacier more accessible within a seven-hour day. The ride itself is part of the fun, with winding mountain roads and changing views as you gain height.

At the upper point, you walk for about 15 minutes toward the glacier. The final stretch leads to a meltwater lake and river, framed by ice and snowy mountains. You spend roughly 15 minutes at the top before walking back down.

That last walk is short, but you still need to be comfortable getting in and out of vehicles and walking on the route. The tour information says most people can participate, but the vehicle requirement is clear: you must be able to get in and out without assistance from specialized equipment.

Do not expect to stand directly on the glacier. The experience is a viewpoint visit to the glacier area, meltwater lake, and river. The view can be powerful even from a short distance, especially when waterfalls, ice, and mountain walls come together.

The weather can change the character of this stop. One account describes rain and cold during the glacier visit, yet the scenery remained worth seeing. That is a useful warning: bring clothing for wet and chilly conditions even if the morning looks pleasant. Poor weather can also lead to cancellation of the entire experience, with a different date or full refund offered.

What makes Briksdalbreen worth your time

A glacier is not simply a large patch of snow. At Briksdal, you can see the meltwater system around it, with the lake and river showing how ice and mountain water shape the valley.

The short walk is valuable because it brings you beyond the road and into the setting itself. You get the sound and force of the falls, the cold mountain air, and a clearer sense of scale than you would from a roadside viewpoint.

The stop is brief at the upper end, so plan your photos before you arrive. You have enough time for pictures and a good look, but not an open-ended hike. If your main goal is a long glacier trek, this is not that kind of excursion. It is a scenic access visit with a short walk.

I would also keep expectations realistic about the ice. A glacier changes over time, and the exact view depends on weather and conditions. The attraction is the whole valley, not just one frozen wall.

A picnic by Oldevatnet

The picnic at Oldevatnet adds balance to the day. After the road to the glacier and the short walk, you can slow down beside the lake and eat food with Norwegian character.

Because lunch is included, you do not have to spend part of the day searching for a restaurant. That matters in a rural valley where stopping options may be limited and cruise schedules leave little room for delays.

The food is listed as Norwegian specialties, but no fixed menu is provided. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, state them when you reserve the tour. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options can be arranged.

The lake stop will appeal to anyone who prefers a scenic meal to a crowded dining room. It may feel less exciting than the glacier or Skylift, but it is an essential pause in a long day. You will appreciate it most if you want a little time to take in the valley rather than collect attractions as quickly as possible.

Riding the Loen Skylift to 3,000 feet

The final major stop is the Loen Skylift. The cable car rises from the fjord to about 3,000 feet in seven minutes, an impressive climb that changes the scale of the day at once.

From the mountaintop, weather permitting, you can look over the Loen Lake Valley, Olden Valley, Nordfjord, and Loen village. Mountains between about 4,500 and 6,000 feet surround the viewpoint.

This is one of the tour’s strongest contrasts. At Briksdal, you are close to ice, water, and a narrow mountain road. At Loen, you look across the entire area from above. The two stops show western Norway from different angles.

Weather is the key factor. Low cloud or rain may hide the fjords and valleys, so you should not book this specifically for a guaranteed panoramic view. The cable car ride is still included, but the quality of the view depends on conditions at the summit.

You have about two hours assigned to this part of the outing, including the Skylift visit and the return drive. That gives you time to take in the mountaintop, take photos, and travel back without treating the cable car as a quick dash.

The return through Loen Valley

After the Skylift, the vehicle returns toward the meeting point and cruise terminal. If time allows, the driver may take you briefly up the Loen Valley, where you might have the chance to buy locally grown berries or local jam.

This extra drive is not guaranteed, since it depends on the schedule. It is best viewed as a pleasant possibility rather than a central feature. The main value of the tour comes from the church, glacier, picnic, and cable car.

The route back also gives you another chance to watch the scenery rather than focus on navigation. With a private driver-guide, you can ask about the valley and the places you pass, subject to the timing of the day.

Is $400.27 a fair price?

At $400.27 per person, this is not a budget excursion. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: private air-conditioned transport, a driver-guide, Troll Car tickets, Loen Skylift tickets, a Norwegian picnic lunch, snacks, and drinks.

You are also paying for convenience. The tour can collect you from your cruise terminal or hotel, and the day is arranged around several places that would be difficult to connect efficiently without a car. For a cruise visit, that time saving has real value.

The maximum group size of seven improves the calculation for couples, families, or small groups who want a more personal outing. A solo visitor may find the price harder to justify, unless the glacier and Skylift are the main reasons for visiting Olden.

The price is less attractive if you want a long glacier hike, a slow church visit, or extensive time at each viewpoint. This is a broad sightseeing day, not a specialist hiking tour. You pay for range, transport, and included admissions.

Timing, pickup, and practical details

The excursion lasts about seven hours and ends back at the meeting point. Pickup can be arranged from a cruise terminal or hotel, but confirm the exact point when booking. The listed start point is Norway, Olden, Fjordvegen 1562.

The experience is offered from April 1 through October 1, 2025, with listed hours from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The early start range is useful for cruise visitors, but your actual pickup time should be confirmed for your date.

You receive confirmation at booking unless you reserve within two days of departure. In that case, confirmation may arrive within 48 hours and depends on availability.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Service animals are allowed. Most people can take part, but you need to get in and out of the vehicle. The tour is not described as wheelchair accessible, so ask the provider directly if that is important for you.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you want to see the major sights around Olden in one well-organized day. It is especially suitable for cruise visitors, couples, families, and small groups who value private transport and included tickets.

It also suits you if you want a mix of culture and nature. The stave church gives you a quiet start, Briksdalbreen provides the most dramatic mountain experience, Oldevatnet offers a proper lunch pause, and the Skylift finishes with a wide view.

You should think twice if you dislike driving on winding mountain roads, have difficulty getting in and out of vehicles, or want a long independent walk. The tour is active enough to require a short uphill walk, but it is not a hiking day.

Rain should not automatically put you off. The glacier can still be impressive in cold, wet weather, and the tour may offer a different date or refund if conditions are too poor to operate. Still, the Skylift view is much less certain in cloud.

Should you book the Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift tour?

Book it if you want the most efficient way to combine Olden’s church, valley, glacier, lake, and mountaintop viewpoint in one day. The small group, included transport, lunch, and admissions make the high price easier to understand.

I would skip it only if you want a slower, cheaper day or a serious glacier hike. For everyone else, this is a strong choice for a first visit to the Olden area, especially when your time is limited by a cruise schedule. Pack warm waterproof layers, confirm pickup, and give the guide your dietary needs in advance.

FAQ

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

The excursion lasts approximately seven hours and ends back at the meeting point.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Norway, Olden, Fjordvegen 1562. Pickup can also be arranged from a cruise terminal or hotel.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of seven people.

Are Troll Car tickets included?

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

Is the Loen Skylift included?

Yes. Admission to the Loen Skylift is included.

Is lunch provided?

Yes. The tour includes a picnic lunch with Norwegian specialties.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be arranged if you 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 weather, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.