MOUNTAINS AND FJORDS OF THE NORTH

The tour starts with an early pick up from your accommodation at 8:00; your guide will head on Road 1 north of Iceland. In the early afternoon, expect to arrive at the destination, west of the Eyjafjörður fjord. The first ski outing will take place in Öxnadalur at Kinnafjall (1104 m/3620 ft) when the group skins up before skiing down the 600 metres (1300 ft) of elevation gained. The base camp of this tour is a country guesthouse with a hot tub, and you will enjoy dinner at the cottage with the group.

Driving: 5 hrs

Skiing: 3 hrs

Ascent/Descent: 570 m (1900 ft)

Múlahyrna is a small peninsula situated between the villages of Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður, and here is the group’s second ski adventure. Expect a gentle climb up the Gvendarskál valley, which rewards with a view of the deep blue sea of Eyjafjörður and the North Atlantic Ocean. There are various possibilities of descent from here, and the guide will offer advice. Some excellent ski slopes often go straight down to the valley before we climb up again and choose a different descent. In good snow conditions, skiing down a steep open slope that faces Eyjafjörður, with the ocean directly below your skis, is possible! After a good day of skiing, you can relax in the swimming pool's hot tubs in the village of Dalvík.

Skiing: 5 - 7 hrs

Ascent/Descent: 900 - 1200 m (2900 - 3900 ft)

On the east side of the Eyjafjörður fjord, a beautiful mountain named Kaldbakur rises from sea level to an altitude of 1200 metres (3900 ft). This impressive mountain boasts one of Iceland’s longest descents, with abundant snow in the wintertime. The scenery from the top is unrivalled, with magnificent views of nearby mountains, the fjord and glimpses into the rugged Icelandic highlands. After removing our skins, we hit the slopes and ski down to the coast. On the way back, you will experience a little of the local culture and history with a visit to the tuff farm at Laufás and the town of Akureyri, where it’s possible to go for a relaxing soak at the jacuzzis of the town’s swimming pool.

Skiing: 6 - 7 hrs

Ascent/Descent: 1100 m (3500 ft)

The mountains over the village of Dalvík offer several good ski routes, and a few of those can be found on the Sauðaneshnjúkar peaks (992 m/3250 ft). The climb to the top is easy, and from there, we get a long descent down a great couloir back down to the valley. The group can also take a detour to Jökulbakstindur further in the valley for a choice of different and possibly steep descents. Your guide will advise on the best options based on weather and conditions. On the way back, you will visit a nearby microbrewery to taste local Icelandic beer!

Skiing: 6 - 8 hrs

Ascent/Descent: 1000 - 1500 m (3280 - 4920 ft)

This morning, we pick up and move further north to enjoy a couple of ski routes on the tip of the Tröllaskagi peninsula. The first ski destination of the day is in the uninhabited fjord Héðinsfjörður where we will find the mountain Vatnsendahnjúkur. The group will climb up Möðruvallaskál for a rather steep descent that offers an impressive view over the fjord and the ocean. After a good day of skiing, we head back to the guesthouse for a nice dip in the hot tub and dinner with the group.

Before heading back south to Reykjavík we are going to take advantage of the Siglufjorður ski area and use their lifts to get in position for one final ascent. Our target is Illviðrishjúkur (Bad Weather Peak) sitting to the west of the fjord Siglufjorður, with a steep descent that will take us right back to your vehicle. Return to Reykjavík in the late afternoon.

Skiing: 3-4 hours Ascent: 250m (820') Descent: 700m (2300')