Ski touring in Iceland is an unforgettable experience. The rugged mountains drop right into the Arctic Ocean and the treeless views of mountain peaks go on forever. This is a place that still has plenty of unskied terrain where you can be the first person to ever slide across a virgin slopes. Backcountry skiing is always an uncrowded adventure, but backcountry skiing in Iceland takes pristine powder to a whole new level.
Iceland Ski Touring is Truly Unique.
The Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland offers ski touring that can’t be replicated anywhere else. In the late season you can ski at any hour of the day or night under the rays of the Arctic Sun. There are non-stop runs that start from the top of a mountain and end on an ocean beach of volcanic black sand. The coastal snowpack is exceptionally stable, and combined with the lack of trees this makes route finding both low stress and filled with opportunity. If something looks interesting you can hike over and claim it as your own. There are vertical descents of up to 1500 meters (5000 feet) and slopes that range from mild to wild. You can skin to the top of a peak for a shot down narrow couloirs, or drop off the ridgeline earlier for a smooth ski down rolling terrain.
The season runs much later than most Northern Hemisphere skiing, starting in late February and running to early June. This means your ski fitness will be well developed and you can take advantage of Iceland’s spring ski touring which is a bit of a specialty. Consistently good weather, long days of constant daylight, and ego-boosting corn snow are a recipe for the trip of a lifetime. If you plan a date earlier in the winter for your Iceland backcountry skiing trip, you can trade the ever-present sun for the beauty of the Northern Lights. Winter weather in the Arctic can be exciting with little protection in the treeless landscape, but not as bitter cold as you may think with averages ranging from -4 to 2 above Celsius (20-35 degrees Fahrenheit).
Ski touring in this volcanic terrain is pleasantly predictable while still offering endless variety. The steep peaks gradually mellow to moderate flanks and vast, open faces. Narrow chutes open onto broad slopes and then form wide gullies to play in. High, steep ridges soften into smoother, round shoulders.
Dalvik, Iceland
Troll Peninsula
Alpine
Feb-May
Akureyri Domestic
Karlsa Lodge
All packages include guiding, accommodation, transportation from Akureyri and to/from ski tour drop off points, breakfast lunch and dinner, entry fees to geothermal baths, emergency and glacier travel equipment. You are responsible for your flight costs, fares will vary depending on when you purchase and where you transit through. All meals are included in the trip price, from dinner on arrival day to lunch on departure day.
Karlsa Lodge
It is possible to start your ski tour day with a heli drop. During our heli skiing season (mid-February through June) we typically have 2 to 4 helicopters based at our Klængshóll lodge in Skiðadalur. Depending on conditions and our heli skiing program for the day, it is possible to drop touring groups off on a nearby peak in the morning before our regular heli programs begin.
A heli drop for ski touring is based on €3,500 /hour of flight time and would typically include 1 drop in the morning. If you are a group of 4 then the cost will be approximately €290/person. It is possible to access some amazing terrain within 20 minutes of flying or less and please keep in mind that this accounts for both legs of your transfer.
We can usually accommodate multiple loads of transfer, in the case of more then one load there are 4 guests on the first load and then up to 5 guests on each load after that. Please keep in mind that this option is highly time dependent and has to be coordinated ahead of time.
We have several heli access only ski tours in the area to chose from. Our guides will work with the group leader/guide to decide upon the best option based on conditions and the group.
6
Daily
Feb -May
Elev drop 1200-1400m
Accommodations are in the Karlsa Lodge, which is the only ski in ski out ski touring lodge on the Troll Peninsula. Imagine hut to hut skiing, only you’re coming back to a fully renovated 1920’s house with classic Icelandic architecture and completely modern facilities. There’s even a former cow shed that has been transformed into a workroom for tuning and waxing your gear. Staying at Karlsa will constantly remind you of the incredible experience of ski touring in Iceland. From the lodge you have fantastic views of the East Fjord and the Arctic Ocean, where you are able to ski right down to the shoreline and watch the waves come in. This is a family operation and you’ll feel right at home in the large dining room and comfortable lounge as you refuel on a hearty dinner of home cooked food. Seafood, lamb, and dairy products are the staples of the local cuisine and are all prepared in savory varieties.
After a full day of ski touring in Iceland you’ll be happy to take a soak in one of the geothermal pools in the area. Volcanoes and inter-continental plate shifting is what created the fabulous mountains that we ski on during the day, but they also result in the hot springs and pools that we can relax in during
Accommodations are in the Karlsa Lodge, which is the only ski in ski out ski touring lodge on the Troll Peninsula. Imagine hut to hut skiing, only you’re coming back to a fully renovated 1920’s house with classic Icelandic architecture and completely modern facilities. There’s even a former cow shed that has been transformed into a workroom for tuning and waxing your gear. Staying at Karlsa will constantly remind you of the incredible experience of ski touring in Iceland. From the lodge you have fantastic views of the East Fjord and the Arctic Ocean, where you are able to ski right down to the shoreline and watch the waves come in. This is a family operation and you’ll feel right at home in the large dining room and comfortable lounge as you refuel on a hearty dinner of home cooked food. Seafood, lamb, and dairy products are the staples of the local cuisine and are all prepared in savory varieties.
After a full day of ski touring in Iceland you’ll be happy to take a soak in one of the geothermal pools in the area. Volcanoes and inter-continental plate shifting is what created the fabulous mountains that we ski on during the day, but they also result in the hot springs and pools that we can relax in during
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