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Loen travel guide

Loen sits at the head of the Nordfjord, where Loen Skylift climbs straight from the fjord to the top of Mount Hoven.

Hiker with a backpack sitting on a mountain top overlooking the Nordfjord and snowy peaks near Loen.

Loen is a small village in Stryn municipality, at the far end of the Nordfjord in western Norway. Loen Skylift, one of the steepest cable cars in the world, runs from the fjord all the way to the top of Mount Hoven. Read the full story in our guide to Loen Skylift.

For glaciers, summer skiing and cycling in the surrounding area, see our Stryn travel guide. More ideas for the rest of the country are in our Norway travel guide.

Things to do in Loen

  • Loen Skylift opened in 2017 and takes you from the fjord to the top of Mount Hoven, with a restaurant and wide views at the summit.

  • The via ferrata is secured with a steel cable all the way to the top. Around 750 metres above the fjord you cross the longest via ferrata bridge in Europe.

  • From the top of Hoven you can hike or cycle a number of trails. Equipment can be hired.

  • Zipline Loen is open in summer and sends you 220 metres through the air.

  • On the fjord you can hire pedal boats, kayaks and paddleboards.

  • In winter, Hoven has ski and snowshoe tours.

Where to stay in Loen

Hotel Alexandra is a family-run hotel right at the foot of Loen Skylift, with a spa and two restaurants. Hotel Loenfjord sits by the Loen river and the Nordfjord and has 137 rooms. Both feature in our Loen Skylift guide.

Frequently asked questions about Loen

Where is Loen in Norway?

Loen is at the far end of the Nordfjord in Stryn municipality, in the county of Vestland in western Norway.

What is there to do in Loen?

You can ride Loen Skylift to the top of Mount Hoven, climb the via ferrata, try the zipline in summer and paddle on the fjord. In winter there are ski and snowshoe tours on Hoven.

Can you hike up Mount Hoven instead of taking the cable car?

Yes. You can walk up, or climb the via ferrata for a more airy route. The via ferrata can be done with a guide, or on your own if you have some climbing experience.

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