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Group Size
8 guests per guide, maximum 12 guests in house
Terrain
Wide open slopes to steep couloirs and glaciated terrain
Up & Down
Avg. daily ascension 800-1400 meters 1-3 descents per day
Accommodation
Kviar Lodge

The beautiful abandoned farm of Kvíar is becoming a cozy but rugged haven for adventurers to enjoy a great atmosphere after a fulfilling day out. Kvíar is a great getaway and the perfect stepping stone for ski touring trips. We use our comfortable speedboat Bjarnarnes to shuttle us to the best skiing locations in the area. At the end of the day, the speedboat picks us up and heads back to the lodge where mouth-watering dinner awaits. Life is simple in Kvíar and you'll be taken back in time as you enjoy how people lived in the area more than sixty years ago.

Join us in this remote yet amazing location at the center of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. The beautiful abandoned farm of Kvíar is becoming a cozy but rugged haven for adventurers to enjoy a great atmosphere after a fulfilling day out. The house was built in 1921 and in 1948, the last inhabitants left this isolated place in search for a better life. Though not many people might want to live there permanently, Kvíar is a great getaway and the perfect stepping stone this trips both in winter and summer. We use our comfortable speedboat Bjarnarnes to shuttle us to the best skiing locations in the area. At the end of the day, the speedboat picks us up and heads back to Kvíar where mouth-watering dinner awaits and you can spend a little time in the sauna. Life is simple in Kvíar and you'll be taken back in time as you enjoy how people lived in the area more than sixty years ago.

Departures are Monday-Saturday Every week from the beginning of April to the end of May

We urge you to take at least one day to enjoy skiing in the backcountry around Isafjörður where great couloirs and open slopes await fresh tracks.

Dates & Prices

Please contact us for further information and pricing. Available for complete groups only.

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Included 

  • Airport transfers in Isafjörður for guests arriving on the day of departure
  • All food from dinner the evening of arrival to lunch on the last day (Breakfast buffet, packed lunch, aprés ski snacks, and 2 course dinners)
  • Accommodation in Kvíar Lodge (twin and bunk beds)
  • The services of a professional guide for the duration of the trip. Maximum 8 guests per guide
  • Boat transport for skiing. It can be a mixture of our speedboat Bjarnarnes and a Zodiac

Not included 

  • Travel to and from Ísafjörður, Iceland unless specifically mentioned in itinerary.  
  • Equipment Rental (including avalanche safety gear)
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Personal medical insurance 
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Gratuities

A typical day-to-day itinerary

Please note that this plan is just to give an example. Since we have a fast boat, we can change it as we please depending on where the best snow is and what people want to do. There are still a lot of un-skied lines that are perfect to explore on this trip.

DAY 1

Departure after lunch on our speedboat Bjarnarnes from the harbour in Ísafjörður. Our destination is Kvíar, where we plan to spend few hours searching for good snow and going over some safety issues with the guide. You should eat well and dress accordingly before getting on board the speed boat and keep your ski gear ready. Well deserved dinner will be ready when the group comes off the mountain to the farmhouse.

DAY 2

We go over avalanche rescue procedures and do a bit of practice with our beacons to prepare us for the week. On this first big ski day we traverse over to Veiðileysufjörður - ''The fjord where no fish gets caught''. Passing through the high cols and over the peaks we catch a glimpse of the north side of the Cape Horn peninsula where no one except the Arctic Fox roams at this time of year. Anchorage in Veiðileysufjörður.

DAY 3

A short boat ride will take us to the head of Lónafjörður Fjord where we shoulder our packs and with skins on, we have many options. Either head to Rangali and skin up Rangalaskarð Pass where we get a god view over Hornvík Bay on the North side, or up from Miðkjós and skin up to the peaks of Snókur and Breiðuskarðahnjúkur for some beautiful ski runs. We take a boat ride back to Kvíar where a great meal awaits us. We might spend half an hour on the beach picking mussels (fr. moules) for starter before heading back. We'll light up the sauna to relax sore muscles.

DAY 4

We plan to spend the whole day exploring the mountains in Hrafnfjörður (e. Raven's Fjord). The head of the fjord holds some amazing cruising grounds with smooth runs all the way from the tops. The highlights are from the top of Hvítserkur and Mt. Bláfell and from the pass between Bláfell and Mt. Hattarfell. For those that want something really steep, there is an option to ski the West face of Hattarfell. Only been done once before.

DAY 5

On the last full day we plan to make a short boat ride over to Höfðaströnd Beach and skin up to the top of Mt. Tröllafell (e. Troll Mountain) with a mixture of steep couloirs and open runs. There is a lot of un-skied territory on that side that we can also look at and make some nice first descents.

DAY 6

Our passenger boat arrives early for a pickup and transfer back to Ísafjörður, where we get ready for a some skiing in the vicinity of town. There are many options for a traverse or steep couloirs very close to town.

Check availability

Packing list

CLOTHING

  • Wind and waterproof shell jacket (Gore Tex or equivalent)
  • Wind and waterproof pants (Gore Tex or equivalent)
  • Soft Shell (or fleece) jacket and pants (optional)
  • Base layer (wool or synthetic)
  • Light down or fiber jacket
  • Hat
  • Gloves and/or mittens (2 pairs)
  • Ski socks (wool or synthetic, avoid cotton)
  • Casual clothes to wear ashore or on the boat
  • Hut shoes or slippers 
  • Hiking boots
  • Swim suit and towel

MISC.

  • Sleeping Bag +5c
  • Headlamp
  • Sun and lip cream
  • Sunglasses
  • Small first aid kit with personal medications, sea-sickness tablets,  blister kit etc
  • Repair Kit - Bring any spare parts specific to your bindings. The guides will carry a full repair kit so keep yours light.
  • Camera (optional)

SKIING & RIDING GEAR

  • Boots - Alpine touring, plastic telemark or comfortable snowboard boots
  • Ski touring skis, telemark or split board (we recommend skis with a waist width in the 95 to 120 range. We are unable to accommodate snowshoes as a mode of uphill transportation.
  • Skins and ski crampons (Ski crampons are not optional)*
  • Ski poles (adjustable recommended, snowboarders should have 3-section poles that fit nicely on your pack)
  • Ski Straps - used for holding your skis together on your pack or your shoulder.
  • Avalanche transceiver, shovel,  probe (240 cm or longer)
  • Backpack 30-40 liters (with ski/board attachments)
  • Thermos or water bottle (1-2 liters)
  • Ski Goggles
  • Helmet (optional)

Please use a soft duffel for the trip, no hard suitcases. Please have your ski boots in carry on baggage during your flights to Iceland. If your skis get temporarily lost we can provide rental gear.

DOWNLOAD PACKING LIST

FAQ

  • Are the guides Icelandic

    We have both local Icelandic guides as well as guides from Canada and Europe who have worked with us for many seasons and are very familiar with Iceland and the culture. 

  • Do you have splitboards available or can I use snowshoes?

    We do not have splitboards available for rent and they are very difficult to rent in Iceland. You must bring your own splitboard. It is not possible to use snowshoes in place of a snowboards unless you are on a private program and talk with us at the time of booking. 

  • How do I get to Ísafjörður?

    Once you arrive in Iceland you can chose to fly or drive to Isafjordur in the Westfjords of Iceland where our the Glacier Fjords and Kviar hut programs begin. Icelandair offers between 1-2 flights daily to Isafjordur (flights are around 40 minutes in duration). Flights depart from Reykjavik Domestic Airport which is approximately 45 minutes from the Keflavik International Airport. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue same day. Please visit our Getting Here page for further details.

    You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive is approximately 440-500 km depending on which route you take.The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours.

  • How many skiers are there in a group?

    Our group minimum is 3 skiers. If you are one or two skiers that would like to join a trip then please do not hesitate to stay in touch and we will let you know what trips are available. Our guest to guide ratio is 8:1. If you are considering bringing a bigger group than 8 persons then we can add a second guide. 

  • What is the weather like?

    April and May tend to be stable in terms of wind and precipitation on the Troll Peninsula with long spells of calm, but there are also storms that can last for a day or two. Bad weather happens and you must be aware of the fact that you are up in the high Arctic in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This is all a part of your adventure ski touring experience.

    Our position in the middle of the Atlantic also means that bad weather never lasts for long with fast moving low-pressure areas striking and then leaving as fast as they arrived. Temperatures in April and May are mild, usually around -10 to 0 degrees Celcius up in the mountains but can rise up to +10 degrees on a good day but drop to  -10 on a cold day.

    One huge advantage of our northerly position is the continuous daylight, meaning that as we move closer to summer we can have bad weather until the afternoon but still get out in the evening since the sun is not setting until around midnight. 

    All that said there is another Icelandic saying that goes like this "If you do not like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes"

  • Can you accommodate skiers with special dietary needs?

    Please advise us by making note of any special needs or allergies on your booking form when reserving your trip. If we know in advance we can prepare and accommodate you no matter what your dietary needs are. The only food not readily available in Iceland is Kosher food.