Ski and Sail Lofoten Norway

Skiing and sailing, what could be better! This is the most beautiful combination that you can imagine - you step onto an untouched beach with your skis, and then break trail up the mountain overlooking the sea.

Our base camp is our boat for 6 days and gives us the opportunity to go where nobody else can.

An unmissable experience for anyone who enjoys ski touring and the wonders of unspoilt nature.

The Lofoten isles offers some of the purest nature Norway has to offer.

The area is famous for its alpine mountains and peaks, offering possibilities and options for a wide range of skiers.

Most of the trips offer 700 - 1000 meters of altitude and descents, and the skiing most often ends down on the beach.

Many of the most spectacular places are accessible only by boat. This is why we sail.

During these 6 days we will explore and reach many of the most beautiful mountains in Lofoten, with spectacular scenery, including the northern lights.

The trip starts and ends in Svolvær.

The skiing we plan together with the skiguide, adjusted to the group as well as weather and conditions. After skiing we sail in to the next mountain for the next day.

This is an active trip where the outdoor experiences are in focus; either behind the wheel of the boat or on the mountain with skis.

On this trip we have with us a skiguide onboard for the whole trip. The guide is with us also as teacher and coach, and makes it possible for us to attempt some more challenging skiing and summits.

On our route, we will pass or visit Svolvær, Austnesfjorden, Geitgaljertind, the Trollfjord and Raftsundet.

If you're wondering where we dine in this remote landscape... we bring a Star Chef onboard, for a unique and local culinary experience.

Day 1 - Flight to Svolvaer through Oslo

Meeting on the dock in Svolvær. We gathering in the harbour at 1600 o’clock and start loading our gear.

We get to know the other participants, and we go through the plan for the week and see it in relation to conditions and forecast. Before it get’s too late in the evening we cast off towards a natural harbour for the night. -/-/D

Day 2 - Sailing and skiing

We start early this morning and sail into the fjords immediate north of Svolvær.

Here we go ashore with the dinghy and skin up the mountain we most want to ski!

In the afternoon we have no need to sail far as this fjord has ample possibilites and many very nice phases and peaks. B/L/D

Day 3 - Skiing

We stay in the Austnesfjord with its varied terrain and possibilities for fun under different conditions.

Here we find both easy and more challenging routes, the most difficult and well known being Geitgaljen and Higravtindene.

In the evening we sail out the fjord towards Trollfjorden were we’ll spend the evening. B/L/D

Day 4 - Skiing

This morning we wake up in the magnificent Trollfjorden, a bay available to sailors and boaters only. (We promise you’ll get in Easter-mode).

If the conditions allow we head upwards early before the sun starts warming up the hills, reaching for peaks of 1000 meters.

Dinner this Long Friday will be gourmet class, and while it is cooking we look for the northern lights. B/L/D

Day 5 - Skiing

This day we also spend in the mountains of the Trolls. Before the sun heats up too much, we will be on our way up with skis and skins on, ascending for 1000 meter high peaks.

In the afternoon we sail out of this narrow fjords towards other lines and faces. There are so many places to go!:) B/L/D

Day 6 - Skiing

This day we stay in Raftsundet with the areas various opportunities and great skiing. Not to mention the view towards the most amazing Lofoten skylight!

Last night often means good fun onboard the boat. B/L/D

Day 7 - Early morning skiing and sailing back

Early skiing this last day at a peak, then we will sail back to Svolvaer to be there in the evening.

We'll have our last dinner and evening onboard.  

Day 8 - Breakfast and end of our service

Taxi for the airport and flight back home.

This program may change du to weather and snow condition but also depending of you ski level and your fitness.

Ski and Sail in Lofoten: Practical Information

How does Ski and Sail work?

It is a concept where we use the sailing boat as our transport and hotel; we sail to the foot of the mountains and start our skiing right from the beach.

By boat we are flexible and can move from place to place, and choose our mountains according to the snow and weather conditions.

Ski & Sail is a concept devised by a french skier and sailor in the early 1990s, and has taken off in recent years in particular in Norway.

Our guides have been skiing there since 1993 and now know very well the Norwegian coast from Bodo to Finnmark.

Chamonix Mont Blanc Guides organise Ski & Sail in Bodo, Lofoten, Lyngen and Finnmark, and Svalbard.

Technical level: medium

This trip requires some experience of ski touring, but you do not need to be an advanced tourer / skier.

If you do have a lot of experience it is obviously an advantage, and you will be still able to challenge yourself.

Those with more experience often want to climb steeper mountains, and do more meters up and down in one day.

As organizers, we try to keep the level as equal as we can, so that we can choose mountains according to the level of the group.

If you are in doubt this is the right trip for you, you are welcome to contact us at any time - whether you are beginner or experienced.

This is a ski and sailing trip possible to do for most intermediate skiers. If you want to learn about sailing our skipper will be very please to teach you all the skill and technics of sailing.

If you also have sailing experience, you will be welcome to steer the boat and help the skipper in general.

Travel

Flights to Oslo, and then on to Svolvær are not included.

You can fly to Oslo from the UK with SAS, Norweigan Air International and RyanAir.

Check sas.no or wideroe.no for flights to Svolvær. If you get to Bodø you can take the ferry or speedferry over to Lofoten. See the public travelplanner here www.177nordland.no. 

From Svolvær airport, taxi to the harbour takes 10 min.

Please don't buy your flight ticket before the group is confirmed. We will send you an e mail as soon as this happens.

Changes to the program

The program is a provisional plan that we adjust according to weather and snow conditions.

If a particular slope is more avalanche prone or has wind crust, then we can sail to find another in better condition.

Onboard we have with us a dinghy for trips ashore, we have fishing gear to catch our dinner, and we have what we need to make a bonfire and barbecue ashore. 

Our Boat

Valiente is 21m steel boat recently built in 2010 fully equiped with 5 comfortable double cabins each fitted with an ensuite bathroom.

The boat has a small but practical kitchen, and has both indoor and outdoor dining quarters.

The boat has it's own fresh drinking water maker, with 2 tanks of 2300 liters. If there isn't enough wind to sail, then we have a 200 horsepower inboard engine to get us to our destination. 

Accommodation

Twin beds or shared king size bed with private bathroom in every cabin.

The cabin allocation will be based on the booking order - book early to make sure you get your first choice!

Food

We'll have a hearty breakfast in the morning, and when we come back onboard, we'll have another meal around 2 or 3 pm.

A dinner with dessert will be served around 8pm. A master chef is on board with us throughout the trip to prepare our meals.

Cost of Ski and Sail in Lofoten 8 days

We need a minimum of 7 persons to run this trip. You can sign up as an individual, or as a group, and we will endeavour the complete the group.

If you are a group of friends and want to privatise this trip, please get in touch with us.

Please contact us to discuss the dates you have in mind and the additional cost.

Costs include

• Organisation of the trip
• Experienced skipper on board
• High mountain guide for the duration of the trip
• Full board accomodation 7 nights, 6 days on the boat from day 1 diner to day 8 breakfast

Cost does not include

• Drinks on board, such as beer or wine, etc.
• Personal equipment and clothing (ski touring, boots, skins, tranceiver, shovel, probe, etc.)
• Flights to/from Svolvaer