Nordfjordeid Private Shore Excursion, Glaciers and SkyLift Ride

Briksdal Glacier is the star here. You ride an open-air Troll Car up the valley, then walk about 10 minutes over uneven ground to see the glacier tongue and its small lake. Add the Loen SkyLift, which lifts you 1,000 meters above sea level, and you get two very different views of western Norway in one long day.

I like the private format, since your guide can pause at photo spots in Oldedalen instead of following a large coach. I also like the mix of nature and local stories, from the Viking ship found in Nordfjordeid to the tragic tsunami history connected with the glacial valleys.

The main caution is cost. At $2,036.24 for up to four people, this makes sense for a small group that values its own vehicle and schedule, but it is a serious splurge for one or two people. Lunch and the SkyLift ticket are not included, so budget for both.

Key points to know before you book

• Briksdal Glacier is reached by Troll Car: Your ticket for the open-air electric vehicle is included, followed by a roughly 10-minute walk to the glacier viewpoint.
• The Loen SkyLift costs extra: The five-minute ride to Mount Hoven is a highlight, but the adult admission is not part of the quoted price.
• This is a true private outing: Only your group participates, with room for up to four people and some flexibility for short photo stops.
• Hornindalsvatnet adds a scenic stop: You pass Europe’s deepest lake, with 514 meters of water below its surface and stories of a local lake monster.
• Nordfjordeid supplies the Viking setting: You see the area connected with the discovery of Norway’s largest Viking ship and hear about the burial site found in the town center.
• The day depends on weather and timing: It lasts about eight hours and is designed to return you to the Nordfjordeid cruise terminal on time.

A full day built around two big views

This excursion covers a lot of ground. You leave from the Nordfjordeid Cruise Ship Terminal on Kaivegen 12 and head inland toward the glacier country. The route links several sights that would be difficult to combine without a private vehicle: Nordfjordeid, Hornindalsvatnet, Olden, Oldedalen, Briksdal Glacier, and Loen.

The private setup matters most on a cruise stop. You do not have to wait for a large group at every viewpoint, and the guide can make short photo stops when conditions allow. Still, this is not a slow village walk. Much of the day is spent on the road, so you should be comfortable with a packed schedule and several hours of scenery viewed from the vehicle.

The tour is listed at about eight hours. The planned times at each place add up to a full day, with two hours around Briksdal Glacier and two hours in Loen. Good timing is important because the final return to port is part of the appeal.

Nordfjordeid: Vikings in the White City

Your first stop is Nordfjordeid, the town where the excursion begins and ends. During the Viking period, this area was an independent kingdom, and the guide uses the town to explain how people lived here more than 1,000 years ago.

The most striking local detail is the discovery of Norway’s largest Viking ship in the town center in 1874. You also see the site connected with a Viking burial and hear about artifacts that continue to shape the town’s understanding of its past.

Nordfjordeid is also known for its white buildings and architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The visit is not built around a formal museum admission. Instead, the value comes from seeing the town itself while your guide points out the places that could otherwise look like ordinary streets.

You have about an hour here, including the return portion at the end of the day. Ask for a short photo stop if you see a view or building you want to capture. This is a good opening to the tour because it gives the scenery a human story before you head into the mountains.

Hornindalsvatnet and the road into the mountains

The drive to the glacier passes Hornindalsvatnet, described as Europe’s deepest lake. It covers 50.5 square kilometers and reaches 514 meters deep. From the roadside, you see a broad sheet of water reflecting mountains, clouds, forests, farms, and sheep-covered slopes.

You get about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a proper look and some photographs, but not a full lake outing. The stop is mainly about the view and the guide’s explanation of the area.

The lake supports trout, char, and eel, while the Eidselva River is known for salmon and trout fishing. Fishing permits are sold through local hotels, though that is background information rather than part of this excursion.

Your guide also tells the story of the Horney monster said to live in the lake. It is a small, entertaining detail that keeps the stop from becoming just another photo break. If you enjoy local legends, listen closely here.

Olden and Oldedalen: the scenery becomes bigger

The route continues through Stryn Municipality, the gateway to Jostedalsbreen National Park. The drive passes through Stryn without a scheduled stop, so you should think of this section as a scenic transition rather than a town visit.

Olden is the practical pause. You stop for coffee and a restroom break before heading into the glacial valleys. Olden sits at the mouth of Nordfjord and is surrounded by high mountains. Cruise ships call here often in summer, and the feel of the village can change depending on whether a ship is in port.

From Olden, you drive through Oldedalen. This is where a private vehicle has a clear advantage. The guide can stop at appealing viewpoints that are less convenient for a large bus, including places near glacial lakes and flower-covered ground.

The scheduled time in Oldedalen is about 30 minutes, so do not expect a long hike through the valley. You are getting a concentrated view of the area before the main stop at Briksdal Glacier.

Briksdal Glacier and the Troll Car ride

Briksdal Glacier is the most active part of the day. At Briksdal Glacier National Park, you board an open-air electric vehicle called a Troll Car. The included ride follows a winding road toward the glacier and saves you from walking the entire approach.

From the vehicle, you can watch for waterfalls, mountain ice, goats, and steep slopes. The scenery changes as the road climbs, and the open sides of the vehicle make it easier to take photographs than from a standard coach.

The Troll Car does not take you directly to the glacier tongue. After getting off, you walk for about 10 minutes to reach the viewpoint beside the glacier lake. The path is uneven and rocky with slight inclines, so wear shoes with a good grip. This is not described as a demanding hike, but it is not a smooth pavement stroll either.

You have around two hours for this section, including the vehicle ride and walk. That gives you time to pause by the lake, take photographs, and listen to the guide. The glacier is the sort of place where weather changes the experience. On a clear day, ice, waterfalls, and mountain peaks can appear sharply defined. In cloud or rain, the setting can feel more dramatic and subdued.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. If you are booking around a cruise schedule, that weather policy is worth considering carefully.

Loen SkyLift and Mount Hoven

After the glacier, the tour turns to Loen for the second major viewpoint. The Loen SkyLift takes about five minutes to reach Mount Hoven, roughly 1,000 meters above sea level.

This is not a long mountain climb. The attraction is the quick ride and the broad view from the summit area. You can look across the Oldedalen and Lodalen valleys and see turquoise glacial lakes below. The guide also shares the tragic tsunami stories tied to these beautiful valleys, adding a serious note to what might otherwise be only a scenic overlook.

You have about two hours in Loen. That gives you time to walk around the summit, take in the views, and eat if you bring food or purchase it there. Lunch is not included, and the SkyLift admission is also extra. The tour information specifically notes adult SkyLift entry as excluded, so confirm the current ticket price when you book.

The SkyLift is a strong choice for anyone who wants a high mountain view without a strenuous hike. It also balances the Briksdal visit nicely. At the glacier, you are close to the ice and valley floor. At Mount Hoven, you see the wider pattern of mountains and lakes from above.

What the private format is worth

The price is $2,036.24 per group of up to four people. That works out to about $509 per person if four people share the cost, before lunch and the SkyLift tickets. For two people, the per-person price becomes much higher.

I would consider the price reasonable only if you value three things: a private vehicle, a local guide, and a shore-excursion schedule designed around a return to port. The tour combines sights spread across a large area, and arranging the same day independently could be awkward from a cruise terminal.

The cost is harder to justify for a solo visitor or a couple focused only on Briksdal Glacier. A larger group gets the best value because the price does not rise with each person up to the four-person limit.

The guide is part of what makes the format useful. Radmyla is named in the available feedback and is described as both a strong guide and a capable driver. That matters on a day involving mountain roads, several timed stops, and a cruise departure to catch.

Bottled water and snacks are included. You should still plan for lunch, since it is not supplied. You may also want to set aside money for the SkyLift and any coffee or food in Olden or Loen.

Who will enjoy this excursion most

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Nordfjordeid by cruise ship and want the biggest natural sights without joining a large coach group. It suits a family or group of friends numbering up to four, especially if everyone is willing to split the cost.

It also fits you if you want variety. The day includes Viking archaeology, historic town buildings, a deep lake, waterfalls, glacial scenery, a Troll Car ride, and a high mountain viewpoint. You are not limited to one attraction.

You should think twice if you dislike long drives, prefer an unhurried pace, or want a full meal and all admissions included. The schedule is busy, and the glacier walk requires comfortable shoes on uneven ground.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The experience is also near public transportation, although the stated meeting point is the cruise terminal. Confirmation is provided at booking.

Practical details before you commit

The activity runs from April 23 through October 15, 2025. The listed operating days are Monday through Friday, with hours shown as 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Check the exact start time carefully when booking, since the tour itself lasts about eight hours and must fit your ship’s schedule.

You meet at the Nordfjordeid Cruise Ship Terminal, Kaivegen 12, 6770 Nordfjordeid. The day ends back at the same meeting point, and the return to port is planned on time.

A small food treat is included at the end: Norwegian ice cream made with fresh cream. It is presented as a local-style finish, pleasantly cold without being hard-frozen. After a long day on the road, it gives the return drive a light ending.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and the local time cutoff applies.

Should you book it?

Book this excursion if you want to see both the ice at Briksdal Glacier and the high view from Mount Hoven, and you have three or four people to share the price. The private vehicle, included Troll Car, local storytelling, and planned port return give the day a practical edge.

Skip it if the cost is too high for your group, if you need lunch and admissions bundled into one price, or if you want a relaxed day with little driving. For the right small group, though, this is an efficient way to connect Nordfjordeid’s Viking past with the fjord region’s most memorable mountain views.

FAQ

Where does the Nordfjordeid private shore excursion begin?

It begins at the Nordfjordeid Cruise Ship Terminal at Kaivegen 12, 6770 Nordfjordeid, Norway.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point, the Nordfjordeid Cruise Ship Terminal.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

Is the Troll Car ride included?

Yes. Tickets for the Troll Car are included.

Is the Loen SkyLift ticket included?

No. Adult admission to the Loen SkyLift is not included in the tour price.

Is lunch provided?

No. Lunch is not included.

What should I wear for the Briksdal Glacier walk?

Wear comfortable shoes because the walk to the glacier tongue is about 10 minutes over uneven, rocky ground with slight inclines.

Does the tour operate in poor weather?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.