Olden Shore Excursion: the Amazing Briksdal Glacier

Posted By : Dean_F
We arrived in Olden aboard the cruise ship Sky Princess, booked the tour from TripAdvisor recommendation through Viator. The process was easy and straightforward with acknowledgements and assurances/confirmations. On leaving the ship the guides were easy to find in their yellow jackets. The journey of approximately 20km by bus was good accompanied by a running commentary by Danny one of the guides. On arrival you have the choice of walking the 3.5km up to the foot of the glacier (a comfortable 45 minutes) or you can take a ride (best pre-booked to ensure timings). We walked which gives ample opportunity to enjoy the scenery and take the customary photo's as evidence of the outstanding natural beauty to be enjoyed. The guides also walk up at the back to ensure there are no stragglers which reassures you that the timings will be kept. We took approx. 30 minutes to do the walk up and took photo's on route. We spend a good 30-40 minutes at the glacier and then leisurely walked back. Bus left promptly and we took in a short stop for another photo opportunity. A great experience.
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Posted On : 2024-06-01 14:04:47

Posted By : Rosalie_L
Excursion was great. We were given ample time to hike to see the majestic Briksdal Glacier. Option number 2 is to ride a troll car but you have to book online ahead of time.
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Posted On : 2024-05-30 16:35:33

Posted By : Todd_H
New clean bus
Great bus driver
Fantastic tour guide (Denise)
Beautiful scenery
Very good communication from the tour company
On time departure and arrival
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Posted On : 2024-05-29 09:02:40

Posted By : janwA824DL
The bus ride to and from the park was beautiful. They gave us just enough time to take the beautiful hike to the glacier and enjoy it some when we arrived. However, we did not have enough time to visit the gift shop. To make it a perfect experience, an extra hour at the park would have been great!
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Posted On : 2024-05-27 19:12:35

Posted By : Robin_T
Scenery was amazing. Guide was great and it's amazing the bus driver can drive on those winding roads.
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Posted On : 2024-05-19 13:29:07

Posted By : btpang
Amazing view, and great tour guide. Gave just the right level of detail. Was the local lady tour guide from Alesund. The trip to the Glacial was also just right. Definitely worth a visit.
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Posted On : 2024-05-17 17:21:22

Posted By : Kimbely_L
Our visit to the Briksdal Glacier with Olden Shore Excursion was exceptional. If your cruise includes a stop in Olden, Norway, make sure the Briksdal Glacier is on your itinerary. It’s not just a stunning sight; it's a breathtaking marvel that stands as one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

The tour company was incredibly well-prepared and organized, which allowed us to start our adventure as soon as we stepped off the boat. We were quickly checked in by a welcoming team and boarded a comfortable double-decker bus. The bus driver was experienced and skilled, ensuring a smooth ride to our destination.

Adding to the experience was our tour guide, who was genuinely friendly but also impressively knowledgeable about Norwegian history. Overall, this tour was a seamless blend of natural beauty, efficient logistics, and delightful company. I highly recommend this excursion for a truly unforgettable experience in the heart of Norway's natural wonders.
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Posted On : 2024-05-16 23:01:07

Posted By : JANET_W
Beautiful experience. We didn’t make it all the way to the top but did see beautiful waterfalls and scenery! If ya want to get to the top you might want to reserve one of the little cars but we saw plenty without that. Great bus-very modern and comfortable. Great driver, also! Amazing what they do on the small roads but we felt very safe!
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Posted On : 2024-05-15 15:26:15

Posted By : Dee_S
The trip to the glacier was beautiful and the actual glacier area was amazing! You need to book the transportation up to the glacier on the small vehicles in advance, did not know that so we had to walk up the hill.
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Posted On : 2024-05-15 10:25:12

Posted By : TripInsider
We began the day in Olden, with a short coach ride on this cold, bright morning, from the ship to the Briksdal visitor center. We were dressed in warm layers: thermal shirt, turtleneck, down jacket, waterproof hooded jacket, jeans, wool socks, hat, gloves, sturdy hiking sneakers. And binoculars. And ponchos. The hike is almost entirely a gentle, uphill climb on a wide gravel path, with a few steeper stepped ascents. There are a couple of bottlenecks at narrow staircases, which require some agility to navigate the steep, irregular stone blocks. Due to the bright sun, and the effort, we soon peeled off all the outer layers! It took us 50 minutes to go to the end of the trail- the lake at the foot of the glacier. The return was about 40 minutes, all downhill and fast! The trail became very crowded on the return because many visitors came from the ship.
If this sounds too challenging, the “John Deere” troll cars will take you to a viewing point, where you can disembark, walk a short distance, take photos, then ride back.
Our tour ended with tea, coffee and cakes at the “Kafeteria.”
Restrooms are available before and after your hike in the “Kafe ” and the “Kafeteria” Visit the souvenir shop too!
The glacier is distant, unlike the “walk on” experience in Iceland or Alaska or Canada. The air temperature near the glacier was not significantly colder during our hike,; we put our light jackets on again. Wind was not a factor on our hike; we stayed completely dry near the waterfalls. We are active seniors, but live in flat Florida, so, yes, the uphill was a challenge on the legs. My estimate was 5k each way, but I wandered and did some extra walking, so that may be on the high side.
Overall, a great excursion during the voyage. Quintessential Norway in the spring!
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Posted On : 2024-05-14 04:42:17