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# Olden cruise port: Briksdal Glacier or Loen Skylift?

By Cruise.do · Updated October 17, 2026

The short answer

Choose Briksdal for a valley and glacier-view outing. Choose Loen Skylift for an elevated panorama with a short lift ride. Neither ticket automatically includes the journey from your ship in Olden.

[Link to this answer ↗](#quick-answer)

## [Briksdal still involves walking](#briksdal-still-involves-walking)

The [Troll Car operator](#source-briksdal-trollcar-2026) says its vehicles start in Briksdal, not at Olden cruise terminal. It also describes about 500 metres of walking from the upper stop to the lake by the glacier. The advertised round trip of roughly 1.5 hours excludes your transfer from Olden.

That matters if someone in your group is choosing the vehicle specifically to avoid walking. Ask about the path, the vehicle boarding arrangement and whether the outing is suitable for their needs. Do not buy on the assumption that a car reaches the glacier edge or that the view matches a photograph taken years ago.

## [Loen Skylift is a different kind of scenery](#loen-skylift-is-a-different-kind-of-scenery)

The [Skylift operator](#source-loen-skylift-2026) gives a five-to-seven-minute ride to Hoven, with the top station at 1,011 metres. That is the lift journey, not a full excursion duration. Add the transfer to Loen, queues, time at the top and the trip back.

A panoramic view is particularly dependent on visibility. Check the webcam and operating status, and decide whether you would still enjoy the outing in cloud. If your main interest is lunch with a view, check restaurant arrangements separately from the transport ticket.

## [Compare the work involved](#compare-the-work-involved)

Scroll sideways to see the full table.

Olden excursion decisions
| Compare | Briksdal | Loen Skylift | 
| --- | --- | --- | 
| Main appeal | Valley journey and glacier landscape | Mountain panorama | 
| Transport to buy or confirm | Olden to Briksdal, plus any Troll Car | Olden to Loen, plus the lift | 
| Mobility question | Remaining path after the vehicle ride | Transfers, station access and any summit walking | 

Read the full description of a combined tour. Doing both is possible in some schedules, but a long list of inclusions may leave less time at each place than you expect. Compare the minutes available at the main sights rather than simply counting attractions.

## [Choose an outing you can enjoy at your own pace](#choose-an-outing-you-can-enjoy-at-your-own-pace)

For a mixed group, agree on whether the day should be mainly seated, gently active or a substantial walk. An itinerary chosen by the fastest walker can leave everyone else worrying about the return.

Ask the operator exactly where the pickup and drop-off are. A ticket that starts at the attraction has a different value from a tour collected at the cruise port. If you arrange the pieces independently, write down who is responsible for each connection and what you will do if one part runs late.

Keep any extra shopping or café stop close to the return route. Olden is not a day that needs to be filled with every advertised attraction to feel worthwhile.

## Sources and verification

Public sources checked for the statements cited above. Planning examples are editorial suggestions; confirm current details for your booking.

- [Briksdal Troll Car glacier transport](https://en.briksdal.no/breskyss)Briksdal · Checked 2026-10-17Operator confirms remaining walk, tour duration and that transport starts in Briksdal, not Olden.
- [Facts about Loen Skylift](https://en.loenskylift.no/about-loen-skylift)Loen Skylift · Checked 2026-10-17Operator confirms Hoven summit station height and five-to-seven-minute lift journey.

[Read the text version](https://cruise.do/guides/olden-briksdal-vs-loen-skylift/index.md) · [How we use sources](https://cruise.do/guides/how-we-check-cruise-information/)

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## Keep planning

[Norway cruise planningBergen cruise port: Fløyen or Ulriken? →](https://cruise.do/guides/bergen-floyen-vs-ulriken/)[Norway cruise planningFlåm Railway vs Nærøyfjord cruise: which excursion? →](https://cruise.do/guides/flam-railway-vs-naeroyfjord/)[Cruise comparisonsCruise-line vs independent shore excursions: which should you book? →](https://cruise.do/guides/cruise-line-vs-independent-shore-excursions/)