PlanetSKI Heads to the Arctic Circle

23rd April 2022 | James Cove, Narvik, Northern Norway.

Last modified on April 24th, 2022

We’re about to ski in one of the most northerly ski resorts in Europe, Narvik in northern Norway. It is worth a visit for the flight alone.

I have written about flights to the mountains before.

Usually bemoaning delays and flight cancellations, or remembering when flying used to be glamorous and exciting.

Mostly it is a humdrum and tedious affair in the 21^st century and an ordeal one wants to end as swiftly as possible.

Not so the flight to Narvik that is 2,000 miles north of London as the crow flies.

Image c/o Googe Maps

Fortunately I was not flying with crows, but was an excited skier with a window seat on the left, 26A, with Norwegian.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

The first hint of what was to follow came as we hit land near Bergen after crossing the North Sea.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

The flight into Bergen has some breath-taking scenery with the snow capped mountains in the distance.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

We were soon over said snow-capped mountains, heading east to Oslo.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

Once the snow vanished the scenery remained stunning.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

After Oslo things took on a more wintry sight again as we headed directly north towards the Arctic.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

I have never spent so long looking out of the window of any flight I have ever taken.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

Apart from the beauty it raised my expectations of what was to come – skiing in the Arctic Circle.

Something I had been wanting to do for many years.

This trip was first planned in 2019 for the winter of 2020, and then Covid-19 came along.

In fact the flight to Narvic is my first time in a plane since January 2022 as all 46 of the ski resorts I have visited in the Alps this season have been reached by car or rail.

Not a bad welcome back to the skies.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

Even when the clouds appeared the formations kept my attention as we sped toward the Arctic Circle.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

All to soon (in my opinion) the plane began to descend into the clouds as it approached Narvik’s airport of Harstad.

I wondered what the scenery would look like.

Heading to the Arctic Circle, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

I was not disappointed as we broke through.

And in the distance more snow-capped mountains – this time in the Arctic Circle itself.

Narvik is in Nordland county and located along the Ofotfjorden in the Ofoten region.

The town lies on a peninsula located between the Rombaken fjord and the Beisfjorden.

For more about the town and what it offers see here: Norway – Home of Skiing

So, what’s on the agenda now I am here?

Firstly, skiing.

The area looks small but perfectly formed.

Narvik, Norway.

Then we are taking a scenic train ride towards Riksgrensen in Sweden for a spot of snowmobiling.

We’re visiting the wolves at The Wolf Lodge which is a large wolf enclosure at the Polar Park, an arctic wildlife centre.

We’re taking in The War Museum that commemorates the Battle of Narvik in 1940, one of the most important battles in this part of Europe during World War Two.

Then we’re going to ski some more.

And then a bit more too perhaps – there is 1,000m of vertical to be had.

To say I am excited is somewhat of an understatement.

I am in the Arctic Circle, and I can’t remember feeling this excited since I landed in Argentina to ski in the Andes for the first time, or arriving at Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand to ski its surrounding peaks.

Only Narvik is far closer from the UK and much easier to reach, with one of the most fabulous flight routes I have ever taken to go skiing.

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