Arnøya

Alongside our other trips in the Arctic Circle of Norway, we also visit the island of Arnøya. In recent years this island has emerged as a remote and exploratory destination and should be on any Norwegian ski touring devotees wish list. 

Arnøya

The island of Arnøya lies to the north east of the Lyngen Peninsula. Three fjord crossings by ferry are required during the journey from Tromsø. Despite being occasionally visited by ski and sail parties, this is not the only way to visit the island, with plenty of terrain to be explored from the road.

Summits such as Finnkjerka 787m and Lyngestinden 872m are classic summits which can be reached directly from the sea. This is also an area to stretch out the maps and explore new terrain. For those that have visited other destinations in Norway, Arnøya has quite a different feel with wide open slopes and a nearly complete absence of birch trees. This results in excellent access from the roads that surround the islands without the need for any "ski combat" in the trees.

Lying further north in the Arctic Circle the snow conditions are reliable, allowing you to ski from the summit to the sea in most cases. Arnøya is exposed, sitting with the Barents Sea to the north, the weather being predictably unsettled with storm cycles resulting in plenty of fresh snow. Combine this snow record with varied and exploratory terrain and you have the ideal location for an interesting trip to suit most levels of ski tourer.

The nearby island of Kågan also provides some excellent terrain and is easily accessible from our accommodation on Arnøya. With plenty of good summits here also, the island is well placed for a stop off while travelling north to Arnøya.

Ski Touring on Arnøya

Skiing on Arnøya and Kågan is superb and is much quieter than the principle summits of the Lyngen Peninsula further to the south. The area is famous for it's dramatic scenery, and remote feel far from the bright lights of Tromsø. 

We will spend a night in Tromsø, before starting the journey to Arnøya the following morning. We travel by road capitalising on the excellent road network and ferries linking the Troms mainland to Lyngen, Kågan and Arnøya. This allows flexibility to make best use of the prevailing weather with opportunities to ski anywhere en route to Arnøya for the first ski day, either on mainland Troms, the Lyngen Peninsula or in The Kåfjord Alps.

This trip is then based from accommodation on the east side of the island at Lauksletta House. The accommodation here is on a sheltered fjord, a short drive from the ferry. With mountains immediately behind there is the opportunity to ski directly from the house. 

We will ski in one of the neighbouring areas on the return journey to Tromsø.

Many of the days are shorter it terms of vertical distance than in the alps, giving plenty of time for another lap or small variations. Even though the first and last day of the trip are shorter ski days due to the travel, over the week we typically ski as much as on other trips.

You can download a sample programme here.

Cost

£2350 per person

Group Size

There are a maximum of 10 places available on this trip. Having 2 IFMGA Mountain Guides gives maximum flexibility to divide into small groups for each day on the hill. This is done on a daily basis depending on the prevailing snow and weather conditions, and the group's aspirations. This trip is guaranteed to run with a minimum of 1.

What’s included?

• 6 x days ski guiding with IFMGA Mountain Guides.
• 5 x nights accommodation and food on full board basis (inc. packed lunch) at Lauksletta House.
• 2 x nights accommodation in Tromsø on a B&B basis at the 4 star Clarion Edge Hotel.
• All transport during the trip.
• Use of avalanche transceiver, harness, axe and crampons on request.

What’s not included?

• Travel to and from Tromsø.
• Transfer to and from Tromsø Airport to Clarion Edge. (There is a regular shuttle bus).
• 2 x evening meals in Tromsø.
• Alcohol (This is expensive in Norway and is best purchased at duty free).
• Ski touring equipment. If you have any equipment requirements then please contact us. Please read the kit list here.
• Insurance for cancellation, rescue, repatriation and medical expenses.

Accommodation Options

Single room supplement £350 for 7 nights (subject to availability).

Ski Level

Our trip to the Arnøya would suit most levels of intermediate ski tourers. As a trip with a more remote and exploratory feel, it is ideal for those that have skied with us before on Kvaløya or in the Lofoten Islands and are looking for something different.  

The ability to ski off piste is essential for this area, being comfortable skiing slopes of up 30 degrees.  You will need to be able to cope in a variety of conditions i.e. poor visibility and crust. You should to be able to kick turn when skinning, even if you are not fluid in doing so. You need to have the fitness to cope with a full mountain day, skinning uphill at a rate of approximately 300m per hour for 3 - 4 hours. The majority of days will involve 700m -1000m of skinning. If you enjoy the Norwegian tradition of post skiing waffles then this is the trip for you.

To get the most from this trip, you will have some experience of using crampons, and boot packing up a slope, as some summits can only be reached on foot.

The terrain is varied with open slopes, couloirs and steeper slopes to suit most tastes. The days are also shorter than the european alps allowing us to take a steadier pace and enjoy at least one traditional 'fika' break. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss any aspect of your ski ability or for advice on your preparation.

About Us

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Featured Ski Tour on Arnøya

See Arnøya dates

See Arnøya dates