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.
  • Please note that May 4, 2025 is women-only! All other dates are co-ed.

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.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.