Alpine Ski Touring on Iceland’s Troll Peninsula

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 6 days of backcountry ski touring
    • Backcountry permits
    • Cottage accommodation with made up beds
    • Meals during the adventure as indicated in the itinerary
    • All transportation during the adventure in a minibus
    • Safety equipment

  What’s not included:

  • • Lunch on day 1 or 6 (restaurant stop)
    • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Entrance fees to swimming pools
    • Accommodation in Reykjavik before and after the trip 
    • Transportation to and from Reykjavik
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for up to 8 hours a day for 6 days, along with daily ascents of up to 1000+ m. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain. That said, your guide can pick more and less challenging routes according to your skill level, including more gradual and less demanding slopes.

  Clients takes full responsibility for meeting the physical fitness level requirement of the trip. Clients that are physically unfit or not equipped for their tour can be dismissed from the tour at their own expense.  

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  To participate in this tour, previous backcountry skiing experience is highly preferable. You will be skiing on varied terrain for up to 8 hours every day. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, but feel comfortable on blue and black resort pistes, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you the backcountry basics such as skinning and steep skiing. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Backpack with straps for skis (30 – 40 liters)
    • Small first AID kit including a blister kit
    • Ski socks
    • Warm underwear (wool or synthetics)
    • Pants, e.g soft-shell
    • Light fleece jacket
    • A soft-shell jacket or other windproof and breathable layer
    • Waterproof jacket and pants
    • Light puffy jacket (e.g. down or Primaloft)
    • Ski-goggles
    • Sunglasses
    • Warm hat
    • Water bottle/thermos (1-2 liters total)
    • Gloves – two pairs thin and thick
    • Sunscreen and lip balm
    • Ski helmet (optional)
    • Ski strap
    • Favorite sweets/energy bars (optional)
    • Camera (optional)
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe from Fjallakofinn
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Fjallakofinn
    • Splitboards can be rented from Fjallakofinn

  Keep in mind that renting ski touring equipment in Iceland can be tricky, and you’re better off bringing your own equipment if possible.

  Ski rental locations are in Reykjavik and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing:

  • • This trip is not private, meaning that solo skiers are welcome!
    • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 8:1. All prices are per person.
    • The minimum number of clients that have to book for the tour to operate is 4. 
    • The maximum number of participants is 12, with the second guide joining the tour if 9 or more clients book. 

  Ski touring in Iceland’s 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 join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

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

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to the Troll Peninsula, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport, 40 minutes from Reykjavik. Your guide will pick you up in the city at around 8 a.m. on Day 1, so an overnight stay in Reykjavik the day before is recommended. You will arrive at your first skiing destination in the Troll Peninsula in the early afternoon.

• 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 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

• Covid measures in Troll Peninsula, Iceland

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan  accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in North Iceland, please refer to these official COVID-19 guidelines for traveling to and from Iceland.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

  Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!

  • • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
    • Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total amount.
    • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

  Basic

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Super Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.

  Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.

  IMG reserves the right to alter tours and itineraries due to weather or road conditions. All programs can be changed or cancelled at any moment during the trip to assure the safety of the clients and staff of IMG. 

  No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to delays, changes of flights or other services, as well as because of strikes, accidents, sickness, damage, negligence, weather, war, changes in schedules, or other similar causes. IMG does not assume responsibility for accidents or death that can be traced to the participant’s negligence, acts of third parties or exterior circumstances, such as weather, natural occurrences, war, or other similar causes.

  Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.