On the southern shore of Kåfjord — a quieter, lesser-known arm of the great Lyngen system — Olderdalen Ski Camp occupies a straightforward but well-chosen position: close to the water, surrounded by steep mountains, and built around the needs of ski tourers and outdoor travellers who want a simple, genuine Arctic base camp experience. The wood-fired sauna is one of its core features, and for good reason.
The Sauna
The sauna at Olderdalen Ski Camp is a traditional wood-fired structure accommodating up to eight people — large enough for a small group of ski touring companions to recover together after a long day in the mountains. It heats efficiently and reaches proper Nordic temperatures, and the proximity to the fjord means the post-sauna cold dip is as easy as walking a few steps to the water’s edge. At this latitude in winter, the fjord runs cold enough to make the contrast with the sauna genuinely bracing — a full sensory reset.
Ski Touring Country
The mountains around Kåfjord are less visited than the more famous peaks of the Lyngen peninsula to the west, which means quieter ski runs and a more self-reliant atmosphere for those who seek it. The terrain is serious alpine country, with couloirs, ridgelines, and open glacier faces within relatively short reach of the camp. Olderdalen is also the gateway to some of the eastern Lyngen routes and offers good access for travellers arriving from the Finnish border direction via the E6.
Practicalities
Olderdalen village sits on the E6, making it more accessible by car than many of the more remote sauna camps in the region. There is parking on site, a changing room, and direct access to the fjord shore for cold dipping. The camp caters primarily to self-sufficient groups of skiers and outdoor enthusiasts — if you are looking for a no-fuss, functional base with a proper sauna after a proper day in the mountains, Olderdalen Ski Camp delivers exactly that.
