Kviar Ski Lodge
Six days of world class skiing and cozy dinner by the fire in the evenings
Borea has opened up a lodge in the center of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. The beautiful abandoned farm of Kvíar is a cozy haven for skiers to enjoy a great atmosphere after a fulfilling day out. The house was built in 1921 and in 1948, the last inhabitants left this isolated place in search for a better life.
In the remote fjords of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve you experience the solitude of skiing from one fjord to another, with not a single soul in sight except your skiing partners. The area is only accessible by boat and the snow reaches down to sea level in every fjord.
Kviar Lodge is a great getaway and the perfect stepping stone for our trips both in winter and summer. We use our comfortable speedboat and RIB boat to shuttle us to the best skiing locations in the area. At the end of the day, the boat picks us up and heads back to Kvíar where mouth-watering dinner awaits. Life is simple in Kvíar and you'll be taken back in time as you enjoy how people lived in the area more than sixty years ago.
I wanted to thank you. I have traveled for ten years to ski in places all over the world. I've worked with a lot of different outfitting & adventure companies and even more guides. You are honestly up there with the coolest guides of all time! This experience you have created with Borea Adventures is a standout. Thank you for tolerating us and providing us with such an amazing experience. We have all been deeply moved.
Rachael Burks, professional skier
We urge you to take at least one day to enjoy skiing in the backcountry around Isafjörður where great couloirs and open slopes await fresh tracks.
Included:
- Airport transfers in Isafjordur for guests arriving on the day of departure
- All food. We can cater for people with dietary restrictions
- Accommodation in Kvíar Lodge for five nights in made up beds
- Boat transport for skiing. It can be a mixture of our speedboat Bjarmi and our RIB boat
- Transportation to and from the Kvíar Lodge
- Professional guiding for six skiing days
Not included:
- Travel to and from Ísafjörður, Iceland unless specifically mentioned in itinerary.
- Personal medical insurance
- Personal equipment
- Alcohol
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging. You have a wide range of skiing to choose from and not everyone has to ski the same terrain.
Please note: This plan is just to give an example. Since we have a fast boat, we can change it as we please depending on where the best snow is and what people want to do. There are still a lot of un-skied lines that are perfect to explore on this trip.
Day 1
Departure after lunch on our speedboat Bjarnarnes from the harbour in Ísafjörður. Our destination is Kvíar, where we plan to spend few hours searching for good snow and going over some safety issues with the guide. You should eat well and dress accordingly before getting on board the speed boat and keep your ski gear ready. Well deserved dinner will be ready when the group comes off the mountain to the farmhouse.
Day 2
A short boat ride will take us to the head of Lónafjörður Fjord where we shoulder our packs and with skins on, we have many options. Either head to Rangali and skin up Rangalaskarð Pass where we get a god view over Hornvík Bay on the North side, or up from Miðkjós and skin up to the peaks of Snókur and Breiðuskarðahnjúkur for some beautiful ski runs. We take a boat ride back to Kvíar where a great meal awaits us. We might spend half an hour on the beach picking mussels (fr. moules) for starter before heading back. We´ll light up the sauna to relax sore muscles.
Day 3
After a hearty breakfast we get going on the big Zodiac to Veiðileysufjörður where we plan to ski over to Lónafjörður Fjord. We make at least two long runs that day and end in Rangali, one of the most beautiful fjordscapes in Iceland. We end with a boat ride back to Kvíar Lodge for a well deserved dinner and drinks.
Day 4
We plan to spend the whole day exploring the mountains in Hrafnfjörður (e. Raven's Fjord). The head of the fjord holds some amazing cruising grounds with smooth runs all the way from the tops. The highlights are from the top of Hvítserkur and Mt. Bláfell and from the pass between Bláfell and Mt. Hattarfell. For those that want something really steep, there is an option to ski the West face of Hattarfell. Only been done once before.
Day 5
On the last full day we plan to make a short boat ride over to Höfðaströnd Beach and skin up to the top of Mt. Tröllafell (e. Troll Mountain) with a mixture of steep couloirs and open runs. There is a lot of un-skied territory on that side that we can also look at and make some nice first descents.
Day 6
Our passenger boat arrives early for a pickup and transfer back to Ísafjörður, where we get ready for a some skiing in the vicinity of town. There are many options for a traverse or steep couloirs very close to town.
We also encourage you to stay an extra night in Ísafjörður and maybe ski one more day in the surrounding mountains.
- Skis, shoes, poles and skins. Make sure the glue on the skins is good. If wearing new boots, make sure you have tried them out few times to see if the fit properly. Blisters are never fun.
- Avalanche gear (beacon, shovel and probe). It´s a must to carry all three items. We have few beacons and shovels that you can rent for small fee. Just ask us before leaving home.
- Thermal underwear, at least two sets of shirts. Wool or synthetic. No cotton!
- Wool or fleece thermal mid layer, take two thin layers instead of one thick one.
- Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket.
- Thermal jacket (down or fiber) optional.
- Wool / fleece hat.
- Two pairs of gloves and one pair of mittens.
- 3 to 4 pairs thick wool / synthetic skiing socks (not too thick).
- Casual clothes to wear in the evenings.
- Slippers or crocks to wear inside.
- Soft hiking boots.
- Sleeping bag is provided.
- Soft travel bag (no hard suitcases).
- Dark sun glasses.
- Sunscreen / after sun cream.
- Swim suit and towel for the sauna.
- Backpack. 30-40L is the right size. Make sure it has ski straps.
- Personal medical kit to include personal medication and i.e. band aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don't forget regular medication you may need (e.g. Asthma, bring your inhaler, even if you do not always need it).
- 1 litre water bottle.
- Small thermos.
- Don't forget your camera!
1. How much touring is done every day?
