Climb to the top of Norway’s Mount Hoven above the Nordfjord on the Loen Skylift for sensational views of mountains, glaciers and fjords.
There were a few things I knew I had to do on my Norwegian Fjords cruise – and riding the Loen Skylift and enjoying the spectacular fjord views was pretty much at the top of the list. I mean have you seen images of the view?
Since I was travelling solo, I played it safe and booked a shore excursion with P&O Cruises – a trip called Loen Skylift and Kjenndalen Glacier. I booked it months in advance (like, six!), and then promptly forgot all the details. That’s one of the advantages about booking a shore excursion. All the details are taken care of for you. Nothing for you to do except turn up and enjoy the trip!
After an incredible morning exploring the Briksdal Glacier, I found myself hopping straight from one coach to another. Turns out, if you book two excursions in Olden through your cruise line, there’s often very little time in between. It’s totally doable – read more about my experience here – but just be prepared for a quick turnaround!
Before heading to the Skylift, we drove along the shores of Lovatnet Lake, known for its striking turquoise colour, courtesy of glacial meltwater. It’s absolutely beautiful. Even the photo you take off a phone look like they could have jumped straight out of the pages of a travel brochure!
But Lovatnet also has a haunting history. In the early 1900s, two massive landslides triggered tsunamis that devastated nearby villages. We stopped at a quiet memorial to these tragic events, it was a real reminder what nature is beautiful, it is also powerful and unpredictable.
A quick glimpse of Kjenndalen Glacier
Next up was Kjenndalen Glacier, an offshoot of the mighty Jostedal Glacier. Located in the Jostedalsbreen National Park, it is part of the largest glacier in Europe.
Our first stop was at bridge over a rushing glacial stream. The crystal clear water surging over the light rocks and under the bridge made quite a sound. It was only a brief stop to take in the dazzling scenery, it was off to get a closer look at the glacier.
Time was tight at the glacier viewpoint as we were in danger of missing our Skylift slot. With a seven minute walk there and back from the coach drop it, it meant we had just a few minutes to savour the view. Honestly, it felt rushed. I snapped a few photos and was back on the coach before I could even catch my breath.
On top of the world at the Loen Skylift
Finally it was time for the Loen Skylift. The thing I’d been looking forward to most on this cruise. I find this a little hard to believe, but the skylift (which is sometimes known as the Olden Skylift) is a relatively new attraction. It only opened in 2017 (by the Queen of Norway no less). I’m not sure what people did before to enjoy the incredible view from up there. Climbed the mountain themselves I guess?
After collecting our tickets, we all squeezed into the cable car and started the ascent up to the top of Mount Hoven soaring 1,01 meters above the Nordfjord.
Fun Fact: It is one of the steepest cable cars in the world. Traveling at a speed of seven meters per second it reaches top of the mountain in just five – seven minutes (or bottom if you are coming down the mountain!).
As we rose above the valley, the view just gets better and better but But nothing – and I mean nothing – prepares you for the panorama at the top.
If you are anything like me you probably have an image in your head of what looking out over the fjords is like. This is it and more. It surely is one of the best views in the world. Simply breathtaking whatever the weather – and I’ve been there in beautiful sunshine and when it has been grey and drizzly.
To the left, you’ve got Mt. Skåla, Lake Lovatnet, and the sweeping expanse of Jostedalsbreen National Park. To the right, the village of Olden and the Nordfjord winding its way toward the sea. I could even spot our cruise ship below – looking more like a bathtub toy than a huge cruise ship. As large as cruise ships are, the mountains on either side dwarf them.
The sheer scale of the landscape make you feel tiny. I must’ve turned my head a hundred times, trying to soak it all in. I honestly didn’t know which view to keep looking at. Both sides are equally magnificent. If you’ve ever imagined what it’s like to look out over Norway’s fjords… this is it.
While we were up there, I watched paragliders and even a few base jumpers launch themselves off the cliffs and soar out over the landscape. It looked both terrifying and exhilarating.
If you can tear yourself away from the view – and trust me it is very hard to do that – there is a lovely restaurant, cafe and bar in the Mountain Station. If you want to try a meal using local ingredients, sip a drink while taking in the view or have a cuppa and waffle to warm up, there will be something for you here. I had tea and cake on my second visit, where I had more time, and it was truly one of the highlights of the cruse.
Once we were back on the ground, our guide casually mentioned that the cable car operator had hiked up the mountain. That is why there is a ticket machine at the top. People hike up and get the cable car back down.
Something to add to the maybe one-day list…
Would I recommend this excursion?
Would I recommend this excursion? Well yes and no.
I loved the Loen Skylift, it was honestly one of the highlights of my cruise. But the glacier stop felt rushed, and I wish we’d had more time at the top of Mount Hoven to relax, explore, and just be in the moment. In hindsight, I probably would’ve skipped the combo tour and done the Skylift on its own.
It was a very interesting afternoon, the viewpoints were incredibly picturesque and our guide was fabulous. Informative and engaging he shared information about the area with good humour. However, we drove for over two hours with just a couple of quick stops where you had just a few minutes for photos. So it felt like a lot of being stuck on the coach.
The main attraction (for me at least) was the Loen Skylift and its spectacular view and that seemed tacked on at the end. Knowing what I know now and having visited the Briksdal Glacier in the morning, I probably would have chose a different option.
I appreciate, I was very fortunate with the weather but the Loen Skylift was the highlight of the afternoon. And quite possibly the whole cruise. Although at the time I don’t recall seeing any stand-alone trips to the skylift, I probably should have paid more attention to what I was booking. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to have made my way there independently which is exactly what I did on my second visit.
Tip: Discover more about the Loen Skylift ticket and transport options
My top tips for visit the Loen Skylift
- Consider a DIY trip – there’s a local shuttle bus from the Olden cruise port that runs every 30 minutes. You can buy tickets (which include the lift tickets) Olden Adventure Office which is in the building next to where cruise ships dock or via their website.
- Book in advance if you can – this is a popular activity to do in Olden and cruise ship excursions often sell out.
- Allow enough time at the top – don’t rush your visit. The first time I was there I had less an hour which definitely wasn’t enough. The second time, I had all the time I needed as I visited independently. Make sure you build in some time to explore the walking trails and enjoy some refreshments as well as enjoying the views
- Check excursion names carefully – the Loen Skylift might also be listed as “Mount Hoven Cable Car” or similar. Or it might be combined with another stop as I discovered.
- Wear layers – check the weather forecast and expected temperatures. It can be chilly at the top, even on a summer day.
- If you decided to do two excursions in a day, be prepared for a tight turnaround. Especially if you’re booking through your cruise line.
The Last Word
The Loen Skylift is a must-do. No question about that. But how you choose to experience it makes a big difference.
Booking through your cruise line is definitely the easiest option. Everything’s taken care of, and there’s that peace of mind knowing the ship won’t leave without you if things run late. But the trade-off is flexibility – you’re tied to a set schedule and might feel a bit rushed at certain stops.
On the other hand, local tour operators know exactly how cruise days work. They’ve built their businesses around getting passengers back to port on time, so they’re usually a pretty safe bet. And going independently can give you the freedom to explore at your own pace – especially if your cruise line doesn’t offer the exact combo or timing you’re looking for.
So if Olden is on your itinerary, take a moment to think about what you really want from your time there. Do you want to linger at the top of Mount Hoven with a piece of cake and a view? Or pack in as much scenery as possible in one go? Once you know that, picking the right shore excursion – or planning your own – becomes so much easier.
You may also like…
- Cruising the Norwegian Fjords on P&O’s Iona
- Exploring the Briksdal Glacier on a shore excursion
- Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock shore excursion
- Touring Geirangerfjord viewpoints on a shore excursion