Hemmed in by the Sunnmørsalpene mountain range, shimmering glaciers, and waterfalls, Hjørundfjord is a 22-mile long fjord and a bucket-list item for avid backcountry skiers. Located south from Ålesund, Hjørundfjord and the surrounding mountains rising from the sea will be accessed by a sailing boat, with plenty of new backcountry spots to discover during your daily ski tours. Revel in the couloirs, steep lines, and tree runs of Slogen, Skårasalen, Kolå Peninsula, and other locations far away from the crowded resorts and ski from mountain tops all the way down to the sea! To round out the experience, you’ll visit a fjord sauna, hike to sleepy villages, and go fishing. Immerse yourself in Norwegian culture by having regional meals in a 600-year-old guesthouse and a farm restaurant that serves food grown in their own backyard. Get your skis primed and don’t forget your camera—this combo of fjords and superb skiing can only be matched by the area’s unparalleled natural scenery.
Ditch the crowded resorts and avoid the tracked-out snow
Discover Norwegian culture by getting a taste of the regional cuisine
The terrain is versatile and includes couloirs, steep lines, and tree runs
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, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Hjørundfjord, Norway, please refer to Norway’s Government website and Helse Norge Travel Advice.
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!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
To enjoy this guided backcountry adventure in Hjørundfjord, you need to be in good enough shape to climb anywhere from 3,280 to 4,920 ft (1,000-1,500 m) above sea level. You will be on your feet for several hours a day for 4 days, covering several miles of terrain every day. 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.
Tour taking place from February 25 to March 4 will be adapted for beginner to intermediate skiers.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with solid blue level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry and this Hjørundfjord ski trip is no different. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing:
Ski touring and sailing in Hjørundfjord can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Secure your spot with a deposit of $805 (7000 NOK). Full payment must be received within 90 days prior to departure. In the event of booking a trip less than 90 days prior to departure, the full amount must be paid within 4 days. Delay of payment is considered a breach of contract and gives your Guide the right to cancel the booking, but claim the deposit. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
If you have booked a trip and need to stay home in quarantine due to Covid-19 and this prohibits your planned trip, you can reschedule free of charge 72 hours prior to departure.
If you need to cancel your booking you will need to notify your guiding service electronically.
To get to Ålesund, your meeting point, most people fly into Ålesund Airport (AES), 20 minutes away from Ålesund. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi or bus.
You will meet your Hjørundfjord mountain guide in Brosundet in Ålesund, where your sailing boat Jolly will be waiting for you. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
Your home for the week is Jolly, a 49-foot long Långedrag steel cruiser. This Dutch-built boat is equally as sturdy as it is comfy and spacious, so you can rest assured that Jolly will never fail to protect you even if the seas get rough. Its five cabins snuggly accommodate up to seven guests aboard, with whom you can mingle in the common area in the center of the boat—but don’t miss the chance to bask in the sun on its huge deck if the weather’s nice! Jolly moves with some help from the wind and can easily reach a cruising speed of 6.5-8 knots to give you a comfortable ride.
There’s not a thing for you to worry about on this cruise. Jolly will take you deep into narrow fjords where towering mountains rise straight up from the sea. You’ll get to conquer those 1,700-meter peaks over the course of your 8-day adventure, after which you’ll get back to your cozy sailboat and a delicious meal. There’ll be plenty of time for exploring, so Jolly will take you to some Norwegian gems: a 500-year-old hillside farm restaurant, unique fjord pubs, and a floating fjord sauna.
Did we mention breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are included in this trip? Vegetarian, vegan, fish, or meat dishes—you won’t be left hungry. All of it can be prepared as Arabic, Indian, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, or Norwegian food, courtesy of Jolly’s incredible cook Maria!
