Ski Touring Adventure in Iceland’s Eastfjords

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • 7-day Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing adventure
    • Internationally Certified Icelandic ski guides with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Transportation between Egilsstaðir Airport and Mjoeyri Lodge
    • Transportation in 4×4 vehicles for the duration of the trip
    • Accommodation in oceanside cabins with two people sharing each cabin (single cabin supplement available upon checkout)
    • Entry fee to geothermal baths
    • All food from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 — breakfast and packed lunches at Mjóeyri, dinners at Randulffs Seahouse
    • “Down day” activities including, sea angling, hotsprings, and cultural tours
    • Use of emergency equipment and communications (this includes avalanche safety gear)

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation between Reykjavik and Egilsstaðir before and after trip
    • Accommodations prior to and after the trip
    • Equipment rental
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional
• What’s the accommodation like?

  For the whole duration of the tour, you will be staying at the charming Mjóeyri Lodge. Originally built in 1885, the lodge is nestled on the Mjóeyri Peninsula and has been renovated to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You will have access to a common lounge, but there are also tea & coffee facilities. Bed linen and towels are included, while WiFi is available throughout the property.

  Every day after skiing you will return to them and if you want, take a dip in the beachside hot tub—or go for a swim in the ocean, if you’re courageous enough!

  

• What’s the food like?

  Food served during the tour is based on traditional Icelandic cuisine, locally sourced fish and meat. You’ll eat your breakfast at the cottages, enjoy a picnic lunch during the day, and for dinner you’ll go to Randulffs Seahouse Museum, a 130-year old fisherman’s store house built into the fjord.

  This unique experience of dining in a museum, in what is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Iceland is a large part of the allure of this ski touring adventure. Here you will feast on local delicacies such as fresh fish, reindeer, pickled herring, and the world famous Greenland shark.

  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.

  

• How fit do I need to be?

  If you’re joining Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing adventure, 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) OR a splitboard
    • 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

  Snowboarders are welcome as long as you bring your own split board! Although your guides use skis for guiding, they have years of experience guiding snowboarders and are very conscious in choosing the appropriate terrain when necessary (so no long flat runouts!). Please be aware that your guides do not carry split boards in their rental fleet, so participants must bring their own splitboards.

  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.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 people. As soon as your guides have 4 participants signed up, the trip is confirmed, 30 days at the latest.
    • The trip needs to be booked at least 30 days in advance of the trip.

  Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing tours 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 Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing tour 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 Egilstaðir, the starting point of your Iceland’s Eastfjords skiing tour, you first have to get to Keflavík International Airport (KEF). You can either fly or drive to Egilstaðir.

  • • If you’d like to fly into Egilstaðir, you first have to reach the domestic airport, which is in the town center and most buses from the international airport will drop you off there. It takes around 45 minutes to get there. AirIcelandConnect offers 2 flights daily to Egilstaðir (flights are around 1 hour in duration).*
    • You can also drive to Egilstaðir, which takes approximately 8 hours.

  In any case, your guides will pick you up on arrival day at Egilstaðir Airport in the afternoon and then transfer you to your lodging.

  *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 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

  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.

  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 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-89 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 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 60-89 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 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 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.