Ski touring in the Lofoten Islands: Trollfjord

The Lofoten Islands, in northern Norway, are an ideal destination for lovers of mountain sports and outdoor adventures. Trollfjord, in particular, is a narrow, beautiful fjord surrounded by steep mountains that attracts many ski tourers every year.

What is a fjord? It's an ancient glacial valley invaded by marine waters.

Here's some useful information to help you plan your trip. If you're looking for an itinerary for ski touring in Trollfjord, this is it.

Late light on the way up, with the fjord opening out below you.

Plan your ski touring holiday.

Trollfjord is a deep, narrow fjord. Its walls drop some 500 metres, almost vertically, into the water, and the peaks around it rise from 800 to over 1,000 metres. Solid ski touring experience is therefore essential, along with navigation and mountain safety skills.

Be sure to check the weather conditions before setting off. Trollfjord is a place where the weather can be very changeable. That's why you need to be attentive and aware of the dangers of avalanches, and be able to detect them early.

Ski touring equipment

We recommend suitable ski touring equipment, with safety kit to match: an avalanche airbag pack such as an ABS® or a Réactor®, an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe.

It's also important to check the weather and avalanche conditions before you set off. You can do this by consulting local forecasts or by asking guides for advice.

Reach Trollfjord by ski touring.

Trollfjord can only be reached by boat. From May to September, small boats leave Svolvær for the fjord every day; in the ski touring season, the crossing is arranged on request with a local boat operator. You can reach Svolvær from Bodø on the fast passenger boat, a crossing of about three and a quarter to three and a half hours, or hire a car and drive through the Lofoten Islands.

Be aware that the local companies that drop you off and pick you up at Trollfjord by boat can charge very different prices. Sometimes double or even triple.

The simplest way to go ski touring in Lofoten is to join an organised trip, with professionals who ski with you and choose each day's route according to the snow and the weather. Our week there, based in Svolvær from 13 to 20 March 2027 with six skiers per guide, is set out in full on the ski touring Norway page.

Their experience will be an advantage for you, and with their help the little worries of the trip fall away.

From the head of the fjord, the way up to Trollfjordhytta, the Trollfjord cabin, depends on the season. In winter, the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) advises against the summer path, which crosses avalanche terrain, and recommends a variant along the ridge. The cabin sits alone in the mountains, with a sauna and two houses.

Trollfjordhytta is run by DNT Vesterålen and stays open all year, unstaffed. Keys are sold at the tourist office in Svolvær and at other outlets; commercial groups should contact DNT Vesterålen directly.

The route is relatively well signposted, but weather conditions can change rapidly in the Lofoten Islands. That's why it's always advisable to check the weather forecast before setting off. You should also make sure you have enough food, water and warm clothing to protect you from the elements.

Once you've reached Trollfjordhytta, you can start your ski touring descent. There are several different routes you can take, depending on your skill and skiing ability. Some ski tourers choose to do a straight descent from the top of the fjord to the base. This descent uses the steep slopes and narrow corridors to glide at high speed.

Others prefer to take a slower, more cautious route. They can take their time navigating the mountain's ridges and valleys. They can then take in the view of the fjord below.

Whichever route you choose, make sure you are sure of your route. There is no network in the valley.

What to do after skiing

As you may or may not know, Norway is famous for its magnificent Northern Lights. Sometimes you have to be patient and pay attention at the right time, but this is the place to see them!

Ask the local guides about when, how and where to see the most beautiful northern lights.

The rest of your stay leaves time for other outings. In winter you can go kayaking from Svolvær or Eggum, on trips of two to three hours in a drysuit, or take a RIB out of Svolvær to watch the sea eagles, with some trips running into the Trollfjord itself.

As a general rule, it is strongly recommended that you are accompanied by a mountain professional. This could be a ski instructor specialising in off-piste skiing or a mountain guide. A number of organisations offer the services of such professionals, and organise ski trips to Lofoten, such as PowderWeGo.

PowderWeGo is an agency specialising in off-piste skiing, heli-skiing, ski-sailing and ski touring. It can take you to the four corners of the world.

For advice on how to get there, read our article on "How to get to Lofoten". You'll find all the main information you need to know about the trip.