Lofoten Backcountry: An Unbound Private Island Experience

Time to pay dues to an amazing trip this spring in Lofoten, Norway. It’s very hard to put in words how epic this trip was. Spectacular views, wonderful memories and the best group of adventurers I could hope for. Our guides were super friendly and accommodating, the food was amazing and everywhere we went we were treated like family. I have had the fortune to join PowderQuest on many trips over the years, there is a reason why I keep coming back, this trip was a no brainer and it exceeded expectations!

I did not want to fly back home. Every day, I flip through the photos on my phone that take me back to one of my best trips. Oh yes — I’ve traveled all over… heli-skied in Canada for 26 weeks, ski toured in the USA, Zermatt, and Lebanon. But this magical place — this mid-April tour with PowderQuest — stands out. Lofoten is mesmerizing. Where else can you wake up in a beautiful home, on your own private island, grab a healthy breakfast, hop on a boat, and head out with wonderful friends and amazing, friendly, responsible ski guides? You skin up from sea level to a 1,000-meter peak — and then ski all the way back down to the sea. Then Viking Mateus awaits on his boat with cold beer to take you back home for a Nordic sauna session, followed by a 30-second dip in 4°C water. Oh — and a minor detail — on the way back, we encountered 11 orcas, docked next to them, and spent the next hour admiring these incredible mammals, with soaring eagles flying overhead, escorting us. That wasn’t in the itinerary. Navigating through the majestic fjords was out of this world, and at one point, we stopped for just 10 minutes and my girlfriend threw a line into the icy northern sea — and pulled up a 7 kg cod! A first for her. What a treat. The staff became family within five days, and it was hard to walk away at the end of the tour. Yes — I have to go back. And I have to take my loved ones there to experience heaven on earth.

When asked about our Norway trip, I always say “ probably the trip of a lifetime “ The nature is so overwhelmingly beautiful that one feels full just looking. It is pure unaffected beauty that leaves you deeply moved. Add to that an impeccably organised daily schedule, super capable and personable staff, beautiful and comfortable accommodations, and truly delicious meals prepared daily by a shy but very skilled chef. Every day was an unforgettable experience. If you can think of a heavenly beautiful piece of music, then you can get the feeling this place conveys. I don’t think anyone wanted to leave and I personally could barely hold my tears when saying goodbye.