my personal favourites
The 5 most impressive ski tours in the Lyngen Alps
The Lyngen Alps are a place defined not only by their shapes and peaks, but also by the special structure of the landscape itself. The mountain range forms an elongated peninsula that stretches almost 100 kilometres from the small village of Nordkjosbotn in the south to the north, with a width of around 15 kilometres.
Our accommodation, the Magic Mountain Lodge in Lyngseidet, is located right in the centre of this mountain range - an ideal starting point from which almost all tour destinations can be reached with short journeys of between five minutes and a maximum of one hour.
All in all, the Lyngen Alps offer an almost inexhaustible wealth of touring options. From gentle, sweeping slopes to striking gullies, everything can be found here. The tours I choose during my weeks are challenging, but not extreme. With around 1,000 metres of ascent and descents that are rarely steeper than 30 to 35 degrees, they are easily manageable for most ski tourers - provided you have a solid basic level of fitness and enjoy being active in winter terrain.
Over the years, I have explored many of these routes. Some of them accompany me again and again because they show the essence of Lyngen in a particularly impressive way: Clarity, vastness and the tranquil power of this Arctic landscape. Here are five of them.
Balcony with a view of the Lyngen Alps
1st Storhaugen
Although Storhaugen is not actually located in the Lyngen Alps, it offers an impressive view of their wildest and most glaciated part. To reach it, we take the ferry from Lyngseidet to Olderdalen in the morning and then drive about fifteen minutes further in the direction of Djupvik. This journey already conveys a feeling of vastness and belonging to this special landscape.
The tour itself leads only briefly through sparse birch forests before the terrain opens up and wide, open slopes reveal the view over the Lyngenfjord. The steepness rarely exceeds 30 degrees, which is why Storhaugen is a feasible and safe option even in fresh snow or in more complex snow situations. A tour that is immediately appealing due to its clarity and the expansive view of the Lyngen Alps.
Wonderful slopes - vastness and views
2. giilavárri
Like Storhaugen, Giilavárri is also located in the Kåfjord region. We also reach it by ferry and can set off directly from Olderdalen. After a short, somewhat steeper ascent through the forest, the terrain quickly opens up and leads us into wide, open slopes. The ascent continues through varied, stepped terrain that gradually opens up new perspectives.
From the summit, the view looks back over the fjord to Lyngseidet and across to the impressive glacier flanks around Tafeltinden - a panorama that makes the special vastness of this region tangible.
Magic mountain over Lyngseidet
3rd Kavringtinden - Goalsevárri
Kavringtinden towers directly above the village of Lyngseidet and is just a few minutes' walk from our accommodation. On the way, we pass Skihytta - an unmanned but very inviting hut that is ideal for a short break. After the hut, the terrain changes noticeably: we leave the sparse birch forest and enter open, increasingly steep slopes. These eventually lead us up to the summit ridge of Kavringtinden.
This opens up a variety of rewarding downhill options, which can be chosen depending on the conditions and the group.
A nice alternative is the descent to Kvalvik - or the ascent from there. From this side, Goalsevárri to the south is also an attractive destination. No matter how you organise the tour: The descent is always a special experience.
Brilliant slopes and the dark blue of the Arctic Ocean
4. storgalten
Storgalten is located in the far north of the peninsula and can be easily reached from Lyngseidet in around fifty minutes. This tour combines two characteristic elements of the region: the open, expansive view over the Arctic Ocean and a summit slope that is almost ideal for skiing due to its shape and gradient.
The descent leads down a long, continuous slope over an altitude difference of around 800 metres. We cover a total of 1,219 metres in altitude - an impressive line that starts right by the sea and ends on a striking summit.
Gentle slopes and marvellous views
5. fastdalstinden
After a short drive to Rottenvik, we reach the starting point of the tour on Fastdalstinden. The typical ascent through the birch forest is largely omitted here, as a cleared track makes the route easier. After the first 400 metres or so of ascent, the terrain opens up and we reach the plateau of Lake Rottenvik. From there, the route continues to ascend through increasingly steep sections until we finally reach the evenly sloping summit slope of Fastdalstinden.
Curious? I would be happy to take you and show you the unique landscape of the Lyngen Alps. Here you can find more information about the ski touring weeks in Lyngen!