Norway

• Go with an adventure provider that does everything. Putting together a sail to ski or self guided trip in this region may definitely be possible, but the prices are very reasonable for a fully guided and supported package that will make everything super straight forward. Also, the weather changes quickly this far north and near the ocean, so having an experienced guide who can help choose locations that will best match the conditions will either make or break your trip. 
• Bring ski crampons. Depending on the summit, they will be required. It's also a good idea to have an ice axe and harness for glacial transversing. Follow the packing list provided by the operator closely and make sure you have all the items on the list. Most providers have done a terrific job creating these required gear lists. 
• Book earlier in the season if you want to experience the Northern Lights, though there's no guarantee. Book later in the season if you want to experience the midnight sun. In the early season, there are far more hours of darkness, which will up your chance of seeing the Northern Lights but will also mean less daylight for skiing during the day. In the late season, it will be daylight in the middle of the night, which means no chance for Northern Lights but longer days and more opportunity for bigger summits during the day. You won't have the issue of daylight limiting your trip and will give you more flexibility on what time you leave each morning to optimize for conditions. 
• Take advantage of the unique cultural experiences available in the area beyond skiing. Where else can you visit a reindeer farm, go whale watching, ride on a dog sled, and then snow kite. These are all terrific offerings beyond the skiing that you'll want to look into to extend your trip. You can also spend that time in Tromsø or Oslo exploring the cities, if that is more your thing. 

There is nothing quite like ski touring in Norway. The landscape is incredibly unique. It's hard to describe the feeling of skiing from a summit looking down to the ocean. There are few places in the world where this is possible, and this part of Scandinavia is one the best places for it. 

If you are looking for a truly unique experience, we highly recommend a sail to ski program, something popular in Norway, particularly in the Lofoten and Lyngen regions. This means you are on a floating base camp, and you'll be able to see a lot of the country and ski multiple locations easily. This can be accomplished via an RV or camper van, but it's such a cool experience to travel by sail boat through the region. 

This region and this experience is different from anything else in the world. That is the biggest perk of this trip. It may be challenging to get to, with multiple connecting flights, but it will be a trip that you remember forever.