Discover Olderdalen

For your trip to Olderdalen, culture, crafts, outdoor activities and the ferry connection across the Lyngenfjord offer a range of options. If you are looking for a hotel in Olderdalen, these interests can help you choose a place that suits your travel plans: Would you like to explore local history, plan an activity or take the ferry from here?

Culture and crafts in Olderdalen

Kåfjord Church in Olderdalen was consecrated for use on Sunday, 19 June 1949. Nearby, Kvenparken commemorates Kven activities and settlement in the area. It is located about 4 km south of the centre of Olderdalen. Both places offer a tangible connection to the cultural history in and around Olderdalen.

Crafts are also part of the local offerings: Olderdalen Husflidslag offers, among other things, courses in sewing Luhkka and using tin thread. If a particular course is important to your trip, it is advisable to check the date in advance.

Activities and practical planning

At Olderdalen Ski Camp, guests and other visitors to the area can use the workshop to repair their own skis or bicycles by booking an appointment in advance. Snowshoes and avalanche equipment can be rented by contacting them and booking in advance. Workshop use and equipment rental are therefore separate options, and both require prior arrangements.

The Olderdalen Ski Camp sauna is located on the shore in Olderdalen. From there, it is only a short distance to a dip in the fjord; the experience can be booked through the partner’s website. The visit is therefore described as a bookable experience, not as something available without prior arrangements.

For cross-country skiing, Olderdalen has a lit trail about 5 km long, as well as another trail towards Dalbakken. The first route differs from the trail towards Dalbakken in its length and lighting. Conditions and grooming may vary, so check the trail status before setting out. Frisbee golf is also offered as an activity in Olderdalen during the summer.

The Lyngenferga ferry runs from Olderdalen across the Lyngenfjord to Lyngseidet in Lyngen municipality. If you plan to use this connection for your trip, check the timetable in advance.

More to explore in the wider destination of Kåfjord

The wider destination of Kåfjord also has cultural attractions. The Holmenes Coastal Sámi Farm is the main site of the North Troms Museum in Kåfjord municipality. The farm dates from around 1850 and was inhabited until 1964. Its buildings have been restored or reconstructed and returned to their condition around 1930. In Manndalen, the Center for Northern Peoples is a Coastal Sámi museum; a cultural trail in Čáhput/Svartskogen leads to stories and legends of the Manndalen valley.

The Riddu-Riđđu Festival takes place annually in Kåfjord and is an international Indigenous festival. Its programme includes music, courses, performing arts, literature, a children’s festival, a youth camp, seminars, art exhibitions and film; programme categories may vary from one edition to the next. The festival is held mainly outdoors. Ticket holders can pitch their tents for free at a campsite; specific arrangements may change from one edition to the next.

For excursions in Kåfjord, the Gorsa Bridge is another notable landmark: it spans a 153-metre-deep gorge in Kåfjorddalen. The signed trail starts at the car park above Ankerlia, is 1.8 km each way and takes about 25 minutes. Along the way, it passes the ruins of a mine that operated until 1919. Road and trail conditions may vary, so plan your route with current conditions in mind. For a differently paced outing, Dalberget in Djupvik is a half-day hike to a hut open to the public, with panoramic views of the Lyngen Alps. The hike to Dalberghytta is about 3 km long and takes about 3 hours.

Discover more destinations: Kåfjord, Løkvollen, Birtavarre

Back to the wider travel overview: Kåfjord.