Sea to Summit Ski Touring Westfjords
Ski & Sail Adventure Tour in the Remote Westfjords of Iceland
A spectacular, six-day ski touring adventure based on the vessel Orkin cruising throughout the secluded Hornstrandir nature reserve of north-western Iceland. Pristine slopes await, with your afloat accommodation beckoning after your descent from summit to shoreline. This is an exclusive trip with limited availability, so be sure to make a booking request today!
The peninsula of Hornstrandir is like no other. Covering about 580 square kilometres, it is a vast, mountainous tundra interrupted by deep fjords and glacial valleys. No motor vehicles, helicopters or airplanes exist here, so if you’re looking for tranquility, remoteness and mindful adventure, this is the place to ski.
Skiing from fjord to fjord, you may encounter Iceland’s only indigenous mammal, that is, the Arctic fox. Hornstrandir has been uninhabited since the mid-20th century and is now a haven for these playful animals. Here they roam free - as you will, skiing among the pristine mountains and coastal valleys.
Tour Highlights
- Splendid isolation & quiet in a remote part of the world.
- Beautiful cruising through the fjords of north-west Iceland on a comfortable, lovingly-restored boat.
- Spectacular ski tours every day from 'fjord to fjord'.
- Diverse ski terrain from gentle slopes to steep couloirs all the way from summit to sea.
- Ski descents of up to 800m vertical.
- Gourmet meals with fresh local produce.
- Possibility to see the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis).
- An adventure of a lifetime in a place rarely visited by humans.
To view the multi-day program, see the Itinerary tab.
Make a General Booking Enquiry ->
Accommodation & Meals
Your home on the tour is vessel, Örkin, a 20 metre ex-fishing boat made from sturdy oak. The Örkin has been beautifully restored and now provides comfortable accommodation for Westfjords (Hornstrandir) explorers. All amenities are included plus generous breakfasts and tasty meals to ensure strength for the days ski touring. During downtime there are perfect opportunities to make use of the on-board SUP’s (Stand-up Paddle Boards) or enjoy quiet moments on deck. You can even try a fortifying dip in the ice-cold waters of the Westfjords peninsula!
All cabins are twin-share, with a sleeping capacity on board for up to 10 passengers plus crew & guides.
Snow
The snowpack is predominantly coastal and, in the springtime (April/May), ranges from powder to corn snow. Stable avalanche conditions are the norm, allowing for steeper runs & couloirs to be safely conducted (if the group wants!). The corn snow in May allows for more intermediate skiers & snowboarders to enjoy ski-touring in the region.
Ski Ability & Equipment
The tour can is suitable for fit, strong intermediate or better skiers with previous experience in backcountry ski-touring and ability to ski in off-piste powder & mixed snow conditions.
Participants need to bring their own ski-touring/splitboarding gear and all avalanche safety gear (airbag, shovel, shovel, probe & beacon). There is a possibility to rent skis, skins and ski crampons, plus avalanche safety equipment (beacon, probe and shovel) for additional tariff.
Getting There & Away
The tour starts and finishes at the harbour in the impressively situated village of Ísafjörður. Getting to Ísafjörður can either be by private transfer, rental car or flight to the local airport, then taxi to the harbour. The closest airport is Ísafjörður (IFJ), around 6km from the harbourside on the opposite side of the local fjord. Flights from Reykjavik (RKV) airport to Ísafjörður (IFJ) take around 45minutes. Note that flights to Reykjavik from international origins land at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), and most internal domestic flights depart from the Reykjavik (RKV) airport nearer to the city.
By road, the drive to Ísafjörður from Keflavik takes around 6 hours in good conditions, a lot more in poor weather conditions. Flying here from Reykjavik makes sense.
See the 'Travel to Iceland' page for detailed information on getting to Iceland.
More Info & Booking
For fixed date tour bookings, make a request via the date listings above.
For more info or questions, make a General Booking Enquiry ->