Backcountry Skiing in the Lyngen Alps: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

The best season to do ski touring is Spring (March to May). Spring provides the best snow conditions, friendlier temperatures and longer days, allowing more hours of skiing. May is the month of the Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon that takes place in locations above the Arctic Circle. For a few weeks, the sun never sets and a different light covers everything.

Most trips in the Lyngen Alps start from Tromsø, a lively and modern city regarded as ‘gateway of the Arctic’. Tromsø makes for a fascinating jumping-off point for all kinds of outdoor activities in the Lyngen Alps, mixing cultural attractions, a vibrant night scene and fresh local cuisine.

There are daily all-year-round flights connecting Tromsø with Oslo, the capital city, and other Norwegian cities. Depending on the season, there are direct flights to Tromsø from European cities like London, Copenhagen, Oulu and Stockholm. For trips taking place in Uløya island, you can take an airstrip at Sørkjosen (1/2 hour to Uloya), or drive 3 hours from Tromsø. You can get detailed information from your guide, and also get in-depth travel information for Lyngen at Lyngenfjord’s official website.

Essential safety gear includes an avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, and an avalanche airbag. All the equipment is available for rent in Tromsø. Before heading out, check the latest avalanche forecast, ensure you are in good physical condition, and verify that your travel insurance covers ski touring. Careful planning of both ascent and descent routes is crucial, as is understanding Northern Norway’s climate and how it impacts avalanche risks. Booking a certified mountain guide will help you choose safe routes, and is a great way to mitigate the avalanche risks and enjoy a safe ski touring experience.

Yes, absolutely. There are ski and sail guided tours for you, most of which last around one week, with group dates for individuals to join.

As for the winter season (December to February), even though it has less hours of daylight, there's one major attraction —at least for Northern Norway destinations— that can tilt the balance in its favor: the chance of enjoying the majestic (but elusive) Northern Lights. The long dark winter nights provide the best conditions to see them. And you can even have the incredible experience of skiing under them!

You can expect 100% ski touring in this region, where the terrain is diverse, so you can find from powder lines, ocean runs, and if conditions allow, even couloirs. One of the highlights of backcountry skiing in the Lyngen Alps is the possibility of skiing from summit to sea, and enjoy the apres-ski either at the sailboat if you book a ski & sail trip, or at a lodge if you book a lodge-based ski touring trip.