Skiing in Iceland: a week by the fjord, from the last run to the sauna

A week of skiing in Iceland on the Tröllaskagi comes in two halves: by day, a helicopter drop, then skins and powder all the way down to the sea; by evening, a sauna facing the fjord, a hot tub outdoors and a chef's dinner. It is gone five o'clock, the skis are propped up to dry, the Eyjafjörður stretches away like a sheet of silver to the peaks across the water, and steam is already rising from the hot tub.

On the Eyjafjörður, late in the afternoon.

For anyone keen to ski Iceland in spring, the Tröllaskagi holds hundreds of summits between 1,000 and 1,500 metres that drop straight into the ocean, forty-five minutes from Akureyri. Here we tell you about the hours between two days on the mountain; the shape of a skiing day is in our account of the heli-assisted ski touring week on the Tröllaskagi.

Back by the fjord, as the light turns

The morning drop opened a face, the skins did the rest, and the afternoon brings you back down to the fjord. Reserved for your group, your base becomes home for the week, with a large shared living space where everyone gathers.

The May light lingers on the water and changes colour every ten minutes or so. You sit, you watch, you say very little. We met you the evening before at the Akureyri terminal, around five, ahead of a forty-five-minute minibus ride and a first dinner together. From the next morning the rhythm is set: the mountain by day, the fjord by evening.

A drop in the morning, then the climb on skins: you ski the Tröllaskagi from the summit to the sea.

The sauna and the hot tub, outdoors, as night falls

There is a moment you look forward to all day: pushing open the door of the sauna facing the fjord, legs still full of the climb. Outside, the hot tub steams in the cold air. You step in, the heat takes hold, and before you lie only the Eyjafjörður, the peaks across the water and a sky deepening to blue.

This is Iceland's bathing culture, a few steps from your room. Muscles loosen, and the talk picks up easily between skiers who shared the same slope that morning. Outside, the light stays on the fjord until well past ten at night.

The sauna and the hot tub outdoors, facing the fjord and the peaks across the water.

The evening table

Full board sets the pace of the week: breakfast, a packed lunch carried into the mountains, and in the evening a dinner cooked by a chef with Icelandic produce.

Every evening the group gathers round one table. You go back over the day, compare notes on the snow, laugh about the afternoon's tumble. Four to five skiers per mountain professional, two groups at most: by the end of the week, everyone knows everyone. A particular diet or an allergy? Mention it when you book and the chef will see to it.

The same table every evening, to go back over one day and plan the next.

Between two days of skiing

Geothermal baths and the whales of the fjord

Northern Iceland lives by its hot water: the North Iceland tourist board lists the geothermal baths around Akureyri and along the coast.

Late in the afternoon, a fast-boat whale-watching trip on the Eyjafjörður can be added as an option, on request and best booked early (not included).

May evenings that stay light

In mid-May the sun sets around half past ten and twilight carries on through the night until dawn. You notice it most as you climb out of the hot tub, close to midnight, with the fjord still in soft light.

On grey days, a fine day of ski touring

Even under low cloud, ski touring keeps you skiing almost every day, straight from the fjord, skins on; the helicopter resumes its drops as soon as the weather allows. Each morning a weather briefing sets the plan: the Icelandic Met Office publishes forecasts and the avalanche danger, and our mountain professionals choose the day's slopes accordingly.

For the best time to ski Iceland, our piece on the Tröllaskagi season covers the spring; for the terrain, summit to sea, read our main Tröllaskagi article.

In brief

• Length · 7 days / 6 nights from Akureyri, 12–18 May 2027

• Skiing · 5 to 6 days, one helicopter drop a day included, ski touring the rest of the time

• Group · four to five skiers per professional, two groups at most

• Accommodation · on the Eyjafjörður, reserved for your group, sauna and hot tub outdoors, large shared living space

• Table · full board, dinners cooked by a chef with Icelandic produce

• Included · guiding, six nights' accommodation, full board, one helicopter drop a day, transfers from Akureyri, safety equipment (avalanche airbag pack, transceiver, shovel and probe)

• Not included · flights, ski equipment, meals and drinks in town, gratuities, insurance

• Option · fast-boat whale watching, on request, best booked early

Frequently asked questions

What does an evening by the fjord look like?

Back from the mountain, you head for the sauna facing the fjord, then the outdoor hot tub. Dinner is taken together round one table, cooked by a chef with Icelandic produce. Long after dinner, the light still lingers over the Eyjafjörður.

Will we see the northern lights, or whales?

In mid-May the nights stay too light for the northern lights. For whales, a fast-boat trip on the fjord can be added as an option, best booked early (not included).

Is this heli skiing in Iceland?

It is heli-assisted ski touring: one helicopter drop a day is included, then you climb on skins and ski down towards the sea. Four to five skiers per mountain professional, two groups at most.

And if the weather keeps the helicopter on the ground?

Ski touring keeps you skiing almost every day, straight from the fjord, and the helicopter resumes its drops as soon as the weather allows. Each morning a weather briefing sets the plan; to follow conditions yourself, see SafeTravel Iceland.

We meet you at the Akureyri terminal, settle you in by the fjord and look after everything between two days of skiing: the table, the sauna, the morning weather briefing. You ski, and the evening is yours.

To plan your week of 12–18 May 2027, discover our **skiing in Iceland** trip and what the heli-assisted touring week includes. Tell us when you would like to come and how many of you there are, and we'll reply within 24 hours.