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Are you ready to embark on a truly epic adventure? Sail to the remote corners of the Earth, where the only tracks in the snow are the ones we carve ourselves. Welcome to the Westfjords – a place where the only inhabitants are ocean birds and elusive arctic foxes, and where the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve offers a haven of tranquility, breathtaking scenery, and unbeatable ski terrain. Spend six days with experienced local guides and embark for the Westfjords in a cozy, rustic sailboat. Tour the fjords and glacial valleys, find your ideal summit-to-sea line, and shred pristine mountain pow far from the crowds. Drop anchor in a secluded fjord or beside a majestic glacier, and let the ski touring begin. It’s a type of freedom and serenity that can only be found at the ends of the Earth.

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  • Pristine skiing conditions

    Sail and ski in one of the most remote regions of Iceland and shred untouched pow for days on end

  • Sail among labyrinthine fjords

    Glide from slope to slope on the Örkin, a charming oak sailboat with a spacious deck and SUPs for apres-ski action

  • Untouched landscapes

    Populated solely by ocean birds and arctic foxes, the area promises peace, solitude, arctic scenery, and fantastic ski runs

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Itinerary

Spend six days sailing, shredding, and ski touring in the most remote reaches of Iceland! Join an experienced local guide and embark for the Westfjords in a cozy, rustic sailboat. Tour the fjords and glacial valleys, find your ideal summit-to-sea line, and shred pristine mountain pow far from the crowds. Off the slopes, chill out on your spacious deck, have fun on the onboard SUPs, or take a dip in Iceland’s refreshing seas.

  • Meet us at the Isafjordur harbor around 11 am and after a quick safety briefing, board the Örkin — a beautifully restored oak boat with all the necessary amenities. Our meeting point is 40 minutes away from Reykjavik, but you can rent a car and leave it at Isafjordur (since most rentals have a drop-off here, you will only have to pay for the days you have to use the car). We’ll embark for the remote fjords of Hornstrandir and anchor in a secluded cove for an introductory ski run before dinner!

    Skiing: 2 hours
    Sailing: 6 hours

    A skier heading to a sailboat in the Westfjords, Iceland.
  • Embark on a fjord-to-fjord ski tour among the beautiful Westfjords. We’ll load up with a generous breakfast, and sail the chilling seas of Iceland until we find a good slope with great conditions. Then, it’s anchors away and time to tour! Summit-to-sea skiing is the name of the game, and if opportunities arise, we may ski some of the steep couloirs straight down to the fjord. The only tracks you’ll find here are those of an arctic fox, and if we’re lucky, we might even spot a few! 

    When we’re off the slopes, we’ll enjoy the views from the spacious deck, make use of the onboard SUP-s, or if we’re feeling fearless, take a revitalizing dip in the ice-cold waters.

    Skiing: 5-6 hours per day
    Elevation: +/- 600 m/1970 ft

    Shredding downhill in Westfjords
  • Get up early to enjoy a final ski run before motoring back to Isafjordur. We will have you back in the harbor in time for your flight to Reykjavik!

    Traveling in a small boat
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Meet your guide

Soti Summits
5.00
Soti Summits
Soti Summits
Based out of Siglufjordur in the heartland of the Troll peninsula, Soti Summits hosts adventure tours, quality accommodation & guiding services all over the north of Iceland. They use their extensive experience in tour operation and hospitality services to show you Iceland’s paths less traveled, and they’re always excited to share the best of North Iceland with their customers.

5.00 (1 reviews)
Marion V. (source: Google reviews)

Perfect harmony between nature, host, and guest. What an exceptional place!

Things to know

  • What you get in this adventure:

      • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • Six days of backcountry ski touring
      • Safety briefing on Day 1 of the tour
      • Sailboat transportation and accommodations for the duration of the tour
      • All meals for the duration of the tour
      • Use of onboard SUPs

    What’s not included:

      • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (available for an additional fee)
      • Transportation to Iceland
      • Transportation from Reykjavik to the Isafjordur harbor and back
      • Food and accommodations off the boat
  • To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 6 days, covering miles of complex and glaciated terrain every day. You will need to manage steep, 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.

  • This tour is meant for intermediate to advanced skiers with previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on steep, complex, and glaciated slopes for 6 days. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. 

    If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a 6-day beginner-friendly backcountry skiing and van trip in Iceland.

  • 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)
      • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
        • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
        • Lightweight snow shovel
        • Avalanche probe
        • Harness for glacier travel (for advanced touring)
        • Crampons (for advanced touring)

    For personal items, we recommend bringing:

      • Helmet
      • Sunglasses or ski goggles
      • Gloves and hat
      • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
      • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
      • Down jacket or vest
      • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
      • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
      • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
      • Water bottle and 1L of water
      • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
      • Food you can eat on-the-go
      • First aid kit
      • Sunscreen
      • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
      • Camera — optional
  • You will be sailing on the oak boat Örkin, beautifully restored to provide comfortable accommodation for Hornstrandir explorers.

    All amenities are included, with 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, or enjoy quiet moments on deck. You can even try a fortifying dip in the ice cold waters of the Westfjords peninsula!

  • 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.

    Skis, skins, crampons, and avalanche safety equipment can also be provided by your guide for an additional fee.

    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 pricing:

      • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 8:1. All prices are per person.
      • Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

    Ski touring in the Westfjords 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.
  • To get to the Isafjordur harbor, the starting point of this tour, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik, Iceland. From there, take one of the 2-3 daily 40-minute flights to Isafjordur Airport. To ensure that you arrive at Isafjordur in time to meet with your guide, which will usually be around 11 am, we recommend flying into Reykjavik at least one day before the tour.

    Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the Isafjordur harbor or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

  • 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

    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

  • 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 the Westfjords, please refer to Iceland’s official COVID-19 travel guidelines.

    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!

  • A non-refundable 20% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. 

      • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to one hundred twenty (120)  calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund minus the deposit. 
      • For cancellations ninety (90) to one hundred nineteen(119)  calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
      • For cancellations seventy five (75) to eighty nine (89)  calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
      • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. 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.
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