Ski the fjords and glaciers of Norway’s high arctic

Find fresh tracks on Seiland and Stjernøya islands

JOIN US IN 2024: March 22-29

Northern Norway is famous for its ski touring above fjords, from mountain tops to the seashore. Seiland is an arctic island located north of 70 degrees latitude in the Norwegian Sea. Seiland House, which offers cozy accommodation and excellent access to the surrounding mountains, is accessed by boat from Alta. Alta is accessed by daily flights from Oslo.

Our Seiland House trip features fantastic skiing accessible only by boat, such Seilandstuva which overlooks Norway’s northernmost glaciers and its the island’s tallest peak and most exciting descent

Seiland also offers an opportunity to experience Norwegian culture and traditions. Unlike Svalbard, which had no indigenous population or for that matter no history at all until the whaling expeditions a few hundred years ago, Northern Norway has been home to the Norse and indigenous Samí people for thousands of years. Seiland island is uniquely an intersection of the two Sami cultures, reindeer herding and fishing. Along with several small fishing villages, Seiland also serves as a summer pasture grounds for reindeer herds, isolated from predators (such as wolverine and lynx) on the mainland.

The name of the island must be very old, from Proto-Norse *Sai-aujo (“sea-island”), and the Northern Sami language name Sievju is probably an old loan and reflection of this form. In Norse times the name was transformed first to *Sæ-ey, and then to just *Sei. The last element land means “land” or “island” is a later addition.

Stjernsund is the straight of water separating Seiland from nearby Stjernøya island. Stjernøya’s name (Sami: Stierdná) is also ancient, coming from the word for “star” and referring to the deep-cut fjords and long, thin peninsulas on the north end of the island that give the impression of a star’s rays (at least to the imaginative minds of viking sailors). An exciting 20-minute boat ride brings us across Stjernsund to access some of the best ski tours in the area including Rottenhallen, the island’s highest peak.

Ski touring in northern Norway has become very popular in recent years. The traditional routes are very busy and sometimes the crowding and tracked-out snow make it seem like you’re skiing in the Alps!

A 90-minute ferry ride to Seiland House, a remote ski lodge on Seiland Island, makes all the difference. Seiland House is an ideal departure point for excursions, ascents and descents on untracked slopes of Seiland and Stjernøya Islands, most of which are accessed by a short motorboat ride from the lodge’s dock. Several tours begin right from the front door of the lodge itself.

SKI TOURING DAYS

Our excursions all set off from the sea and reach the peaks of a spectacular landscape of the fjords of Seiland Islands with the taste of the Arctic. Seiland has a good snowpack and interesting tours with outstanding fall line skiing.

A typical ski mountaineering excursion sets off in the morning from Seiland House’s landing by motorboat. We usually cover elevation differences of 800-1300 m (3-5 hours in ascent) and often descend along a different route to a different return point in a neighbouring fjord for pickup!

THE LODGE: SEILAND HOUSE

Seiland House is a guesthouse located in the middle of a fantastic fjord landscape and just in the limits of Seiland National Park. The house is surrounded by stunning nature where steep mountains plunge into the sea.

Here you can find everything from steep, demanding skiing to easy tours in the birch forest. Seiland is, despite its fantastic scenery, a relatively new peak trip destination.

You can go for days in Seiland without seeing people or other ski tracks. A completely unique and different experience than the other big top tour destinations places in Norway.

LODGE FACILITIES

Seiland House provides the boat transfer to access to the different locations, with endless possibilities for authentic “sea to summit” experiences far away from the crowd.

We will enjoy local and international dinners in Seiland House’s restaurant and fresh cocktails and drinks in the Caribbean Bar. Yes you read that right! Our hosts are a mixed nationality Norwegian and Cuban couple, Stig and Diamela.

After skiing, you can enjoy the fjord and river views from the sauna and wood-fired outdoor hot tub. March is still “high season” for the Northern Lights with dark nights, so there’s a likeliehood we will get treated to a spectacular show.