Lodge-Based Ski Touring in Iceland’s Troll Peninsula

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • 4 or 6-day Troll Peninsula ski touring
    • Internationally Certified Icelandic ski guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Transportation between Akureyri and Karlsá Lodge
    • Transportation in 4×4 vehicles for the duration of the trip
    • Accommodation in double rooms with shared bathrooms for 4 or 6 nights (depending on the duration of your stay)
    • Entry fee to geothermal baths
    • Full use of Lodge Spa facilities
    • All meals starting with welcome dinner on the day of arrival and lunch on the final day (breakfast buffet, packed lunch, aprés ski snacks and three course dinners prepared by our lodge chef)
    • “Down day” activities (including whale watching, sea angling, hotsprings, and cultural tours)

  Food served during the tour is based on traditional Icelandic cuisine, locally sourced fish and meat. There will be an in-house chef specializing in hearty gourmet feasts with local fresh ingredients. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know upon booking. If your guides know your requirements in advance, they can prepare and accommodate you no matter what your dietary needs are. The only food not readily available in Iceland is Kosher food.

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation between Reykjavik and Akureyri before and after the trip
    • Accommodations prior to and after the trip
    • Equipment rental
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Helicopter drops for ski touring
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  If you’re joining this guided backcountry ski touring near Akureyri in Troll Peninsula, you need to be a fit intermediate skier and be able to ski in off-piste terrain. Keep in mind that ski touring does require a certain basic level of physical fitness to minimize risk and be enjoyable. We recommend that you have the basic core strength to ski in a variety of conditions.

  It’s recommended that you are able to do the following:

  • • Ski fall line in most snow conditions (powder to wind affected snow)
    • Make parallel or stem-christie turns on 35° groomed or firm snow
    • Side-slip on firm slopes up to 35°
    • Kick turns facing in or facing out on 30° slopes
    • Skate on level terrain
    • Ski black diamond runs at ski areas efficiently and in most snow conditions
    • Climb at least 1000 meters per day
• What do I need to bring?

  Clothing:

  • • Wind and waterproof shell jacket (Gore Tex or equivalent)
    • Wind and waterproof pants (Gore Tex or equivalent)
    • Base layer (wool or synthetic)
    • Ski pants
    • Jacket (Soft shell, fleece)
    • Light to medium down or fiber jacket
    • Hat
    • Gloves (2 pairs) (thinner touring gloves and thicker skiing gloves)
    • Ski socks
    • Casual day-to-day clothing for dinner at the lodge
    • Bathing suit for geothermal baths
    • During March and April winter boots are recommended as there may be snow around the lodge

  Skiing / riding gear:

  • • Ski touring skis, telemark or splitboard (snowshoes are not an acceptable option)
    • Repair kit for your bindings (guides will carry a full repair kit so keep yours light)
    • Skins and ski crampons (ski crampons are not optional*)
    • Ski poles
    • Alpine Touring, Telemark or Snowboard boots (we recommend carrying your boots in your carry-on baggage during flights)
    • Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel
    • Backpack 30-40 liters (with ski attachments)
    • Helmet (optional)
    • Sunglasses
    • Goggles

  Miscellaneous:

  • • Thermos or water bottle (1-2 liters)
    • Sun and lip cream
    • Small first aid kit with personal medications, blister kit, etc.
    • Camera
    • Power adaptors and necessary chargers for your devices

  Please have your ski boots in carry-on baggage during your flights to Iceland. If your skis get temporarily lost, your guides can provide excellent rental gear, but please contact us for information and availability.

  *Most backcountry ski bindings offer integrated ski crampon systems. Ski crampons work in conjunction with your skins to save you energy providing efficient skinning in firm snow situations. Ski crampons are lightweight and easy to carry and a great tool to add to your backcountry kit if you do not already own them. Please contact us if you are not able to find this piece of equipment for your trip. While your guides do not have it available for rent, they may be able to help you find a retailer.

• Can I rent equipment?

  Indeed you can! Your guides have a limited supply of rental equipment, which includes touring skis with skins, poles, and avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe). They have a small selection of ski boots at the lodge intended for emergency use only. Please bring your own ski boots as it’s much more comfortable. It’s suggested that you put them in your carry-on. As for the type of skis best suited, mid-fat to fat skis are recommended, not too soft. If you take your skis to the shop for a tune up before your trip, make sure to ask them for a warm temp wax.

  If you’d like to skip the hassle of bringing your own equipment, contact us and we’ll help you make arrangements!

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this Troll Peninsula ski touring adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum number of people is set at 12.
    • The trip needs to be booked at least four days in advance of the trip.

  Backcountry ski touring near Akureyri in Troll Peninsula can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors older than 14 may be permitted to join backcountry ski touring near Akureyri in Troll Peninsula on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Akureyri, the starting point of your Troll Peninsula ski touring adventure, you first have to get to Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, a 45-minute bus or taxi ride brings you to the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík.

  Then you have to reach the domestic airport, which is in the town center and most buses from the international airport will drop you off there. The flight with Air Iceland Connect from Reykjavik to Akureyri takes 35 minutes and there are a number of departures throughout the day. We recommend a late afternoon departure around 17:00 or 18:00 on Day 0, as accommodation is included in the price of the tour for that night. Your guides have limited staff for airport transfers, so if you arrive in Akureyri earlier in the day, they will not be able to pick you up until the evening.

  You can also charter your own flight with Eagle Air Iceland or Norlandair straight from Keflavík International airport to Akureyri.

  Please note that you need to allow yourself a minimum of 2.5 hours from the time your international flight lands in Keflavík until the departure of the domestic Air Iceland flight in Reykjavík due to the fact that it can take some time to get through customs and collect your baggage. You need to be at the Reykjavík domestic airport at least 30 minutes prior to your departure. The domestic airport is very small and easy to navigate.

• Safety measures in Iceland

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

  With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

  We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.

  If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• On recent volcanic activity in Iceland

  Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice”, has forever lived with volcanic activity. Minor and major eruptions have occurred every few years since the island was formed. Some of Iceland’s appeal, aside from sheer natural beauty, surely stems from this very fact.

  However, every new eruption, such as the recent Reykjanes Peninsula fissure, will make some travelers, tourists, and adventurers uneasy, especially given the fact that sensationalist media is not immune to misinformation and speculation.

  Since we work with a number of expert local guides in Iceland, we thought we’d share their input and fill you in on what’s actually going on.

  First of all, air traffic has not been affected. Flights to and from Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport are operating as they always do.

  Second, the effects of volcanic activity have been localized, with some roads closed, and all services in Iceland are operating as usual. Reykjavik, the capital, is around 40 km (25 miles) away from the volcanic fissure, and life there is as normal as ever.

  And third, trips offered by 57hours are taking place much further away, and are thereby even less likely to be affected by the volcanic activity, being perfectly safe for adventurers. Naturally, the authorities (and guides) are monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to keep both local residents and visitors safe and well informed.

  In case you have any additional questions or dilemmas, feel free to get in touch with either your guide or 57hours. For more information, please visit:
  https://safetravel.is/
  https://www.visiticeland.com/article/volcano-info

  Or watch the video with Dr. Matthew Roberts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office explaining the recent volcanic activities in Iceland:
  https://youtu.be/QA3-BXYuYrw?feature=shared

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60-89 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.

   

  Early Bird booking

  Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit. 

  As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best. 

  More about how Early Bird bookings work below:

  • • Only a 10% non-refundable deposit must be paid upon booking, but this deposit can be transferred to any other 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t end up working for you.
    • Once our guides publish new tour dates, we’ll reach out to you so you’ll be the first one to choose from newly released dates.
    • When you pick your date, you’ll confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total trip amount (amounting to the standard 30% deposit). 
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy (found above) applies.
    • The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip.