Skjolden (Sognefjord, Norway)

Skjolden is a port town located in Luster municipality (Sogn og Fjordane, Norway). The village is at the end of Lustrafjorden (branch of Sognefjorden) and at Sognefjord's innermost point. Sognefjorden's length (measured from Skjolden to Ytre Sula Island / where the fjord meets the sea) is 205 km (124 mi), ranking it the world's longest fjord. The valleys Fortunsdal and Morkridsdal meet at Skjolden, west of Hurrungane Mountains.

Skjolden lies along Sognefjellsvegen road, 20 km (12 mi) west of lake Prestesteinsvatnet and Fannaraki mountain. The village is also about 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Gaupne's municipal center and about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Hafslo. Breheimen National Park is north of Skjolden. It is home of the glaciers Sporteggbreen and Harbardsbreen and the mountain Tverradalskyrkja.

The village of Skjolden was home to the Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) between 1913-1914. He wrote some of his most important works here.

A must-see is Urnes Stave Church - Norway's oldest stave church (13th-century) and an outstanding example of Scandinavia's wooden architecture that combines Viking, Romanesque and Celtic. In Jostedalsbreen National Park, travelers can see everything from fjords to farms, green valleys, barren mountains and glaciers, with peaks up to 2000 m. In the heart of the beautiful landscapes stands Jostedal Glacier (Europe's largest) where tourists can walk on the ice. Jotunheimen National Park is one of Norway's most popular hiking- and fishing-themed travel destinations. Park's wildlife includes deer (also reindeer), elk, skunk bears (wolverines), lynx.

In 2019, the cruise port handled 12 ship calls and 24,000+ tourists (passengers and crew). For season 2020, the port had scheduled 23 ship calls (booked berthings).

Skjolden cruise terminal