Destination
Duration
Price
Trip Type
Difficulty
Iceland Ski and Sailboat Expedition
We begin this unforgettable Iceland ski & sail adventure in the remote hamlet of Ísafjörður, tucked into the far northwest corner of Iceland. Known as the gateway to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, this isolated region offers some of the most dramatic, untouched terrain for ski touring in Iceland.
Over the course of six days, we’ll explore the pristine Icelandic fjords of Hornstrandir, skiing in Iceland from one wild, glaciated fjord to the next. Towering cliffs, powder-filled couloirs, and vast alpine bowls set the stage for incredible descents. After each day on the snow, we return to the warmth and comfort of our expedition sailboat—a cozy floating base where hot meals and cold drinks await.
This Iceland ski touring expedition blends human-powered adventure with the rhythm of Arctic sailing. Our sailboat allows us to access remote backcountry zones unreachable by land, making this a true Iceland sailboat expedition designed for adventurous skiers. Whether you’re carving fresh tracks above the North Atlantic or watching the Midnight Sun dip behind the peaks, this trip captures the essence of skiing in Iceland.
The Route
The adventure begins with a 12:00 PM meeting in Ísafjörður. On land, we’ll go over final trip preparations, safety briefings, and get familiar with our floating home. By 2:00 PM, we cast off and head into the majestic Hornstrandir fjords, where the adventure begins in earnest.
For the next six days, weather permitting, we’ll aim to explore and ski in six different fjords—each offering its own unique terrain and breathtaking views. This is Hornstrandir skiing at its finest: wild, remote, and incredibly rewarding.
Investment in travel is an investment in yourself.
Highlights
The Iceland Ski Adventure uses a 60 foot sail boat to explore one of the most beautiful places in Iceland – Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Each morning we’ll embark on a new exciting ski tour. The terrain features everything from long wide open cruiser runs to steep committing couloirs. You’re certified guide will begin each day outlining the day’s tour. The area provides excellent opportunities to complete short ski traverses. These traverses start the day in one fiord and finish in another, taking in the spectacular scenery. At the end of each day we’ll ski all the way down to the ocean and our waiting mother-ship.
- A real ski touring adventure in a very remote part of Iceland
- 6 days on an expedition sailboat with stunning mountain scenery
- Lots of different terrain choices to suit all levels of ability
- Fantastic ski traverses, starting in one fjord and finishing in another
- Kayaks and SUP’s available for use
Itinerary
We start our iIceland ski & sail journey by meeting at Ísafjörður harbour at 12:00pm. We’ll move your gear onboard and have a safety briefing. We’ll aim to depart Isafjordur harbor at 2:00pm and sail to Honrstrandir Nature Reserve. A journey of about one to two hours. We’ll anchor at Hesteyri and if there’s time go for a short evening ski.
Yacht. Dinner
We’ll begin the day with a safety briefing, avalanche search exercise and an explanation of what to do in case of emergency. We will then ski from Hesteyrarfjörður to Veiðileysufjörður. The climb up Hesteyrarfjörður is easy and the ski slopes on the other side offer many possibilities. We may end the day by skiing the steepest slope of the trip, 45°-50° in steepness (of course this is optional). Dinner will be at anchor in Veiðileysufjörður.
Yacht. B, L & D
Today we will ski to Lónafjörður (Lagoon fjord). We begin the day by climbing up to one of the cols to take a look at the bays on the north side. We then ski down to the first valley in Lónafjörður and climb at least two more mountains before meeting Arktika again in the afternoon.
Yacht. B, L & D
Here, we normally spend an extra day at the beautiful Rangali anchorage. Here are endless opportunities for skiing. From steep couloirs to rolling hills. One route will take us to the Snókur mountain with a good view of the coastal mountains on the east side of Hornstrandir. Often there is an opportunity to pick mussels for an après ski snack!
Yacht. B, L & D
Today we skin up from the Sópandi inlet and over to Hrafnfjörður (Raven Fjord). The mountain cirque at the head of the fjord is very beautiful and the anchorage is a perfect spot to spend the night.
Yacht. B, L & D
We will have a morning ski session before sailing back to Ísafjörður, with arrival around 4:00pm in the afternoon. You can catch the last flight from Ísafjörður that night, though we suggest staying at least one night in Ísafjörður to relax and get to know this old and beautiful town.
B & L. Accommodation and dinner are not provided.
Accommodations
BYR is the perfect expedition boat for explore the wilds of the Arctic.
She’s a Dutch built, steel hulled ketch that is fully equipped and certified to sail anywhere in the world.
BYR is also a very comfortable home, able to house up to 12 guests (we limit it to 8). She’s an excellent mothership and provides the perfect level of comfort in which to explore some of the world’s most remote areas.
Yacht Specs
- Length – 18.2m or 60ft
- Breadth – 6m or 20ft
- Draught – 2.5m
- Number of Guest Cabins – 4
- Number of Guest Bathrooms – 2
The Cabins
There are four guest cabins all located on the lower deck. There are two 2-man cabins with single beds and two 4-man cabins with single beds. All cabins have central heating and are well ventilated. There is plenty of space to store gear as well as a couple 220 volt charging stations to keep your electronics topped up.
The Living Spaces
BYR features a large saloon with plenty of space for meals or for quiet relaxing time. The saloon contains a detailed library with lots of information about Greenland, Iceland and Arctic exploration.
There is also a heated pilot house which contains a lounge and table. The pilothouse allows guests to comfortably sit inside and get a fabulous view of the spectacular scenery as BYR cruises by.
For those happy to challenge the cold there is also plenty of open deck space to sit outside.
The Facilities
BYR features two heated bathrooms with a toilet and sink in each. There is also a large separate shower room, with hot water servicing all.
Dates & Rates
May 8-13 – 2 spaces available
May 15-20 – 8 spaces available
Prices from
What's Included
- Six days on the yacht
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on Day 6
- Expedition kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, skirts and safety equipment
- Dedicated ski guide
- Experienced Skipper
- Sailing instruction
Not Included
- Flights
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation in Ísafjörður
- Alcoholic beverages
- Breakfast and lunch on Day 1
- Travel Insurance
- Ski equipment
Weather
Iceland is a land of very mixed weather. Usually the spring and summer brings higher pressure and settled weather but can be everything from dead calm and sunny days to a blizzard.
Trip Map
Pictures & Videos
FAQs
Iceland is a land of very mixed weather. Usually the spring brings higher pressure and settled weather but be prepared from everything from dead calm and sunny days to blizzard conditions and lots of snow. The average temperature is -5C during April but temperatures can get much lower.
There is very little mobile coverage once we leave port in Iceland. For emergencies there is an internet and satellite phone service onboard the yacht.
Yes, the boat has multiple 220 volt outlets. There is plenty of opportunities to charge your electronics.
The food is excellent.
Meals are hearty and made with local produce and ingredients as much as possible. Arctic char (similar to salmon), cod and lamb are commonly the ingredients used for dinners, quite often followed by berries and rhubarb pies for dessert.
We are happy to cater for vegetarians and other special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking. It’s a good idea to bring along some of your own dietary substitutes if you have a specialist diet.
Skiers should be of an advanced standard and have completed multiple ski tours to feel comfortable on this trip . You should be able ski tour up about 1200 meters/3600 feet per day and be able to ski down black diamond runs comfortably. You should also have an adventurous spirit and recognise that the weather will influence greatly what we can and can’t do.
No, all guests must bring their own ski and avalanche gear. Guests should be familiar with their avalanche equipment and have used their ski equipment before the trip begins.
Normally the skiing is very good. The conditions can be highly variable and we can be skiing powder, corn snow and everything in between but with a variety of different aspects and terrain to use we can almost always find some great skiing.
Not normally. Being a coastal snowpack with mild temperatures most instabilities settle out quickly.
Citizens from most western countries are not required to obtain a visa to enter Iceland. However, it’s always best to check the latest requirements.
Icelandic is the official language of Iceland. It’s a north Germanic language whose grammar is comparable to Latin or Ancient Greek. Most citizens of Iceland speak fluent English.
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