Ski
SKI TOURING SNÆFELLSJÖKULL VOLCANO

Skiing one of the volcanoes in South West Iceland isn’t just about the slopes. It’s about the stunning views and majestic backdrops. And stories that start with: ,,When I skied that volcano in Iceland…”

from: **129.990 kr.** per group
Inquery

Trip dates Up on request
SeasonJan-June
Duration5-6 hours
DifficultyIntermediate ski touring

Tour Overview

Snæfellsjökull volcano combines great skiing in glaciated terrain with unforgettable views over the ocean. This volcano is located at the very edge of the west peninsula and surrounded by ocean on three sides. This is the perfect ski tour for people that would like to add great scenery to their ski tour!

We meet up at Arnarstapi, a small town at Snæfellsnes peninsula at 09:30. From Arnarstapi we car-pool to the start of the ski touring (10min of driving). Before embarking on this ski tour we have a quick safety briefing on glacier travelling.
The ski touring to the top takes about 3-4 hours, gaining around 1000m elevation depending where the snow-line starts.
The summit of this ancient volcano sits at 1446m with unforgettable panoramic views over the ocean. From the top we ski back down past crevasses and through lava fields all the way back to the car.
On the way down we can expect variable snow conditions.

Distance hiking: approx 5km
Elevation gain: approx 1200m

Practical information

Below are details about the tour. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Requirements

Fitness level: Moderate, comfortable to move 250-300m in elevation per hour over 5-7 hours.
Experience level: Advanced beginner, some prior experience but lacking confidence in the discipline.

For this tour you have to have the ski skills to ski easy off piste ski slopes in variable snow conditions: powder, hard snow and corn snow.

Price

Private tour
Prices per group are:
1 person – 129.990 kr.
2 persons – 139.990 kr.
3 persons – 165.000 kr.
4 persons – 185.000 kr.
5 persons – 205.000 kr.
6 persons – 225.000 kr.
7 persons – 245.000 kr.

Meeting point and time

We will meet you at 09:30 at the gas station in Arnarstapi. From there we carpool to the location where we start the ski accent.

What to bring

Skitourning jacket and pants
Skitouring equipment
Showel, probe and transceiver
Warm jacket down or synthetic
Hat
Gloves
Goggles
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Lunch / snacks and water
Small backpack for personal equipment

If you do not have your own ski equipment or avalanche rescue equipment, equipment rental is available with by our partner Fjallakofinn outdoor store.

What’s included

Crampons
Ice axe
Harness

What’s not included

Transport (contact us if you do not have your own vehicle)
Lunch and drinks
Travel and accident insurance
Ski touring equipment
Avalanche safety equipment

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

Below are answers to some of the questions we get regarding the tour. If you do not find the answer, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

What happens to my booking if the weather or conditions are bad?

In case it is not possible to operate the tour due to weather or conditions we try the following things:

Move the tour to a different date if that works for you, change to a different activity if you agree on that. If none of the above is possible and we have to cancel the tour due to weather or poor conditions, we will refund you the tour.
In how much advance should I book my tour with you?

The short answer is: the longer the better. We have limited resources of guides and sometimes we are fully booked.
For less technical tours like Glacier hiking, Glacier hiking and ice climbing, and alpine trekking tours we can usually accommodate you with a short notice. For more technical tours like Waterfall ice climbing, Rock climbing and alpine tours longer advance is better to secure a spot.
Short notice can be 24 hours before departure and longer notice is at least two weeks before.
What is the best season for the activities you offer?

The best season depends on what activity you choose. The appropriate season is stated at the top of each tour. To break it down:

Glacier hikes and glacier ice climbing
Available the whole year. This activity is not dependant on weather or conditions. The only time we have to cancel or post pone these activities is when the weather is really bad.

Rock climbing and alpine rock climbing
Rock climbing is a summer activity available May-October. This activity is highly weather dependant and not possible when the rock is wet or when it is raining. If you are interested in rock climbing outside of the season, it is possible if we have really good weather days. Please contact us for further information.

Ski touring
The best ski touring in the south-west part of Iceland is usually around spring time. The ski touring season is usually between Feb-May, however it is possible to ski outside the season if conditions are good or we ski the glaciers like on the tour “Ski touring Snæfellsjökull”. If you are interested to ski outside of the season please contact us for further information.

Waterfall ice climbing and alpine winter climbing
The main season is from late November to late March. Iceland has a maritime climate and temperatures fluctuate through out the season making this activity highly subject to weather and conditions. In case we have poor conditions for ice climbing we can always substitute the waterfall ice climbing with ice climbing on the glacier.

Alpine trekking
Snæfellsjökull can be climbed almost the whole year, appart from the darkest month of the year, December.
Other bigger mountains like Eyjafjallajökull and Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest summit of Iceland, have the best conditions from early spring to late summer.
Do I need any prior experience to participate in your tours?

Since all of our tours are private we are able to adjust the difficulty and and experience level needed for each tour. However, for some of your tours it is advisable that you have have some background in the activity:

Glacier hiking and glacier ice climbing
There is no prior experience needed for those tours

Waterfall ice climbing
It is possible to try waterfall ice climbing if you do not have any prior ice climbing experience. We would choose an easy climbing route with easy access. If you have never done ice climbing before it is worth looking into our Ice climbing and glacier hiking tour on Sólheimajökull.

Ski touring
For our ski touring tours you have to be a competent off-piste skier and able to ski down in various conditions.

Rock and alpine climbing
No prior experience is needed for single pitch rock climbing. For multi pitch climbing it is advisable that your climbing level is at 5.7-5.8 and you have to know how to belay a lead climber.
Can I request a tour that is not on your website?
Yes, without a doubt. Private guiding is what Asgard is all about and if you can dream your adventure, we can make it happen. If you do not find your perfect adventure on our website, do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]!

Examples of private tours we have done in the past:
- Expedition planning and support
- Cross country ski touring
- Expedition and polar training
- Private hiking, day tours and multi-day tours
- Location management and safety on film projects
- Private tours for photographers
- Alpine trekking on glaciated summits
- Multiday tours in Greenland
Do you offer pickup service?

In general we only meet our guests on location, or car pool from a central location in Reykjvaík. However, if you do not have your own car and can not meet us on location please get in touch.