The Polar
Vertical
Five days. Four Arctic mountain zones. One mobile basecamp. Freeride touring above the Arctic Circle, chasing the best snow from Tromsø to the Lyngen Alps, with summit-to-sea descents, 18+ hours of daylight and 1,000–1,500m of ascent a day.
- 11-17 Apr 27
- In the Arctic
- 5
- Days of guided touring
- 8
- Max riders — small group
- 18h+
- Daylight in April
- 69°N
- Above the Arctic Circle
- DOWN
- Demo included
April is one of the prime periods for Arctic ski touring. The snowpack has built all winter, the days are over 18 hours long, and the spring sun hardens the surface overnight into firm, fast morning crust that softens into corn by mid-morning. The Lyngen Alps — one of the best-known ski touring ranges in the Arctic, with 1,800m peaks rising straight from the fjords — are in prime condition.
Snowbusters runs this trip from shared motorhomes, using Tromsø as the hub and the surrounding mountains — Lyngen Peninsula, Kvaløya island, Tamok Valley — as a rotating menu. The motorhomes follow the best conditions, so you wake up at the trailhead and skin up from there. Each day you climb 1,000–1,500 vertical metres on skis or a splitboard, on terrain from mellow snowfields to steep couloirs, far from the crowded resorts. We don't follow the itinerary. We follow the snow.
Alongside the skiing, you sharpen your backcountry skills with avalanche safety training and technique coaching, test the latest DOWN SKIS gear, and get a taste of authentic Norwegian mountain culture between descents.
- 01
- Four Zones, One Basecamp
- 02
- We Follow the Snow
- 03
- 18+ Hours of Arctic Light
- 04
- Lyngen Alps, 1,834m
- 05
- Live in the Mountains
- 06
- DOWN Arctic Demo
Tromsø city peaks, Kvaløya island descents, the Lyngen Alps and Tamok Valley's inland terrain. You are not booking one mountain: you are booking access to a whole region.
No fixed itinerary. The weather changes, the snow changes, the motorhomes move. Snow, weather, avalanche conditions and the group decide where we go.
April in the far north: the sun barely sets. Long touring days, big afternoons and mountains glowing long after dinner.
Peaks rising straight from the Lyngenfjord, with summit-to-sea descents when conditions allow.
Shared motorhomes sleeping 3–4, cooking together and waking up at the trailhead. A shared mountain adventure, not a luxury ski holiday.
Test DOWN's latest freeride touring gear across varied spring Arctic terrain, and leave knowing which ski to ride next season.
Other Dates
Dates & Pricing
- Apr€1,990
- Apr€1,990
Trip Gallery
Freeriders F2 to F3 with Some Touring (T1) ← This Trip
Comfortable on black runs and off-piste terrain, fit, and with some touring behind you. April spring snow is forgiving and the guide calibrates daily terrain to the group — Tromsø city peaks and Kvaløya are ideal for building confidence before the bigger Lyngen days.
Experienced Tourers (T2) ← This Trip
Experienced tourer ready for the Lyngen Alps classics — big ascents, steep summit-to-sea descents and Tamok Valley couloirs, when conditions permit.
Piste Only or Never Toured — Not Yet
You need solid skiing on variable snow, off-piste confidence, some touring experience and the fitness for 1,000–1,500m of daily ascent. New to touring? Start with our Intro into Ski Touring & Splitboarding course.
Four Mountain Zones
- Tromsdalstinden 1,238m — city peaks above Norway's Arctic capital
- Kvaløya Island — summit skiing surrounded by the Arctic Ocean
- Lyngen Alps to 1,834m — the iconic summit-to-sea descents
- Tamok Valley — inland couloirs with a colder, drier powder season
Motorhome Freedom
- Modern, fully equipped motorhomes — heating, kitchen, storage, communal dining space
- Wake up right at the trailhead — no commute, no time wasted
- Motorhomes move every 2–3 days to follow the best conditions
- Typical drives between riding zones of 1–3 hours
Avalanche Safety & DOWN Demo
- Expert mountain guiding — daily Varsom avalanche bulletin assessment
- Companion rescue refresh on Day 2 before any serious terrain
- Avalanche safety training, touring and steep-riding coaching
- DOWN SKIS freeride touring demo across the Arctic zones
Fly to the Top of Europe — The Arctic Begins
Fly into Tromsø Airport (TOS) — directly served from Oslo and many European hubs. Collect the motorhomes, load gear and meet the guide for the full avalanche safety briefing. The motorhomes drive to the first base, at the trailhead of the city peaks. Dinner onboard, with Arctic light still streaming at 10pm. Tomorrow the skins go on at dawn.
1,238m Above Tromsø — City and Ocean Below
Tromsø's own backyard peaks — Tromsdalstinden at 1,238m is accessible directly from the city and offers spectacular spring skiing with Tromsø harbour and the Arctic Ocean visible below. The guide runs the calibration day here: companion rescue drills in the snowfield, then a read of the group's ability and fitness before the bigger objectives ahead. Spring corn snow at its finest.
Kvaløya — An Island of Arctic Peaks
Kvaløya (literally "Whale Island") sits just west of Tromsø, connected by bridge — a 20-minute drive from the city and an entirely different mountain character. Island peaks of 700–900m with the Arctic Ocean surrounding every descent, and the sea always in view from the summit.
The Lyngen Alps — Norway's Greatest Ski Range
The Lyngen Alps are 90km long, topped by peaks to 1,834m, and offer what most guides consider the finest ski touring terrain in the Arctic. Reached from Tromsø by a 1.5-hour drive and ferry crossing, the motorhomes park at Lyngseidet and the guide picks the day's objective. Classic objectives include Storgalten, Ullstinden, Daltinden and Fastdalstinden — all summit-to-sea descents into the Lyngenfjord.
Tamok Valley — Where the Powder Stays
Tamok Valley is Lyngen's inland counterpart — a continental microclimate that runs colder and drier than the coastal peaks, extending the powder season further into April and offering a completely different terrain character. Rounded peaks, long couloirs and big open faces replace the sharp coastal spires. The guide targets the aspects that haven't seen the afternoon sun for the best snow of the day.
Last Skins of the Polar Vertical
The final touring day returns to whichever zone the group votes the week's highlight — typically Lyngen for a repeat of a classic line, or a Tromsø city peak for a photogenic send-off. One last summit, one last descent toward the sea, then a celebration dinner in Tromsø city — the most well-earned meal of the expedition.
Tromsø Harbour, Then Back to Reality
Final morning in Tromsø — the waterfront and a coffee at a harbour café, with the Arctic light still extraordinary in April. Transfer to Tromsø Airport (TOS) for the Oslo connection. The flight south feels impossibly short after a week living in motorhomes above the Arctic Circle.
69°N —
Full Safety Standards
Arctic Mountain Safety
The mountains around Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps are unpatrolled and remote. The guide, an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide or an experienced ski touring guide, checks Varsom.no (the Norwegian avalanche bulletin) and yr.no (Norwegian weather) every morning before any decision is made. April spring avalanche conditions in the Lyngen are real and terrain-specific — the guide's daily assessment is the only factor that determines where the group goes.
There is no fixed itinerary. The zones and peaks named on this page are examples of an ideal week, not a promise: snow, weather, avalanche conditions and the group decide.
Personal travel insurance is not included and must cover backcountry skiing. Austrian Alpine Club (Alpenverein) insurance is a good option — valid in Norway and covering mountain rescue.
Your Guides
Meet your guides
Accommodation & Logistics
Live in the Mountains
Your basecamp follows the snow. You live, cook, travel and ski together as a small crew in shared motorhomes (3–4 per motorhome), waking up at the trailhead. A shared mountain adventure, not a luxury ski holiday.
Accommodation
- Shared accommodation in modern, fully equipped motorhomes
- Motorhomes sleep 3–4 people comfortably
- Features include heating, a basic kitchen, storage and a communal dining space
- A mobile basecamp lets you wake up right at the trailhead
- Option to rent a private motorhome separately (not included in the trip price)
- Cosy, social atmosphere fostering group camaraderie during the trip
Cuisine
- Self-catering in the motorhomes, kept as easy as possible
- We bring pre-cooked meals from Hotovky.cz: warm them up and mix with rice, pasta or gnocchi
- Cooking facilities in every motorhome
- Breakfast options available from Proteinaco.cz
- Snack bars provided by Chimpanzee for on-the-go energy
Getting There
- Travel starts and ends in Tromsø
- Motorhomes serve as mobile basecamps, moving every 2–3 days to follow the best conditions
- Typical drives between riding locations last 1–3 hours
- Option to rent a private motorhome separately (not included in the trip price)
Kit & Included
What You Need
& What's Provided
- 5 days of guiding and coaching with an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide or an experienced ski touring guide
- Shared accommodation in motorhomes
- Touring days of 1,000–1,500m of ascent, with the descents to match
- Coaching on touring, avalanche safety and steep riding
- Demo of the latest DOWN SKIS freeride touring gear
- Transport between riding spots
- Avalanche safety training and protocols
Not included
- All travel expenses to/from Lyngen
- Personal travel insurance (must cover backcountry skiing)
- Rental gear and equipment (we can assist with rentals)
- Food and drinks (budget €25–35 a day for meals)
- Optional private motorhome rental
- Any personal expenses or extras not listed in the inclusions
Minimum of 4 participants: if there are not enough people, you can use the price of your booking towards another trip, or we refund you in full.
Freeride/touring skis with touring bindings, or a splitboard *
Mandatory · DOWN demo skis available
Touring boots, climbing skins and adjustable poles *
Mandatory · skins essential
Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe *
Mandatory every day
Helmet *
Mandatory — no exceptions
Backcountry backpack (30–40L)
Layered technical clothing, goggles, spare gloves
For variable conditions
Headlamp
With spare batteries
Sleeping bag
For the motorhome nights
Freeride: F2 to F3. Touring: T1 to T2. Not for piste-only riders. Not sure what that means? Read our guide to rider levels.
DOWN Ski Demo included
Reserve Your Place
The Arctic
Is Waiting.
Five days. Four Arctic zones. One mobile basecamp. 18+ hours of daylight. Minimum 4 riders to confirm the trip.