The ultimate ski and sail trip
The snow has been better this season than for years and everyone is coming back from the slopes with tales of knee-high powder. Some will have gone a step further with snowcat skiing trips to British Columbia or heli-skiing in the Himalayas. Now you can trump them all with a ski-sail expedition within the Artic circle.
The Lyngen Alps stretch for 80km along Norway's northern coast. From February to the end of March, the aurora borealis creates a natural fireworks show; from mid-April the daylight is constant.
Against this spectacular backdrop, where the mountains plummet straight into the sea, Esclaes Polaires organises week-long ski-sail expeditions.
Sailing along ice and snow-filled fjords, you are dropped off each morning in a different spot. You will be accompanied by a guide who will have planned the route the night before, taking into account the changeable weather conditions and snow quality.
There are, of course, no chairlifts. During each four to five hour trek you'll climb to 1,000m, ski down glaciers and burn more calories than you thought possible.
Depending on the size of your party, there are four luxury vessels, ranging from a sailing boar to a sizeable cruiser. Each is kitted out with drying rooms, ski lockers, DVDs, TVs and enough hot water to ease the most tired of muscles. You can even go fishing for cod.
Most evenings the boat will be moored next to a pontoon, and after supper (all meals are prepared by your on-board chef) you can leave the vessel and explore the nearby coastline or village, depending on where you have berthed.
Some nights are spent at anchor, giving you the chance to experience the extraordinary sense of isolation that this rugged landscape engenders.
Prices range from £6,400 to £12,300, depending on the boat you charter. Flights to Norway are not included.
For more information, visit: http://www.arctic-destination.com/
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