Olden and Skjolden are villages north of Bergen, Norway along the western coast, but towards the ends of two different fjords. They are both very scenic with rugged cloud covered mountains, glaciers and waterfalls. Both of these villages are small in terms of population and therefore there weren’t many things to see and do in each village, but we were there for the scenery. From Bergen, Norway we traveled to Skjolden and then to Olden to get a look at Norway’s fjords.
Skjolden, Norway
Skjolden is located at the end of the Lustrafjorden, a branch of the Sognefjorden, the longest fjord in Norway. About 200 people live here.
We were interested in taking the long scenic walk to a couple of waterfalls. There was rain in the forecast, so we brought rain gear and only had light sprinkles. We needed the long walk to work off all the delicious food we had been eating.
Along the way there were a couple of small RV parks that appeared to have water and electricity. The views were amazing. We enjoyed seeing all of the wildflowers in bloom along the way.
A view of the Åsafossen waterfall. There is a trail to the base of the falls that free fall about 590 feet.
At the base of the waterfall there were cattle and horses grazing.
Our cruise ship in the distance gives you an idea of the height of the fjord.
Olden, Norway
Olden is located on the southern shore of the Nordfjorden, the sixth longest fjord in Norway. It’s a more popular tourist area compared to Skjolden. Olden has a population of under 900 people.
We took the Loen Skylift up 3320 feet to an alpine area where there were hiking trails. Unfortunately, the mountain top was in a cloud bank, so the visibility was very limited. We were hoping to see the surrounding mountain peaks. Along the trails there were wildflowers and sheep grazing.
Back in Olden we explored the village shops. There were the usual gifts like shirts, hats, key chains, and reindeer pelts. Our favorite were the intentionally ugly trolls. In Norse mythology, trolls are unfriendly and love to deceive humans.
Picturesque scenes and wildflowers around Olden.
