Iceland: A Trip Leader’s Perspective

Lumi Trip Leader Anna has skied trails across Europe, including at Germany's König Ludwig Lauf Worldloppet

Written by Anna Milazzi, Lumi Trip Leader and Trip Development Manager

Sometimes you get an opportunity where you don't have to think twice. As a Lumi Trip Leader for the past five years, I’ve had the chance to share some of Europe’s most scenic cross country ski destinations with Lumi guests from around the world. So when Garrott asked me if I would lead Lumi’s trip to Iceland for the Fossavatn, my answer was immediately: “Yes!”

Enjoy crisp tracks and sunny skies for the Fossavatn's classic events

After sharing many beautiful ski destinations with Lumi guests, I had the opportunity to discover and share the unique skiing and landscape in Iceland two winters ago. I was excited to lead guests on this trip, plus I was keen to learn from Icelandic residents what makes their small island nation in the North Atlantic such a special place for skiing, seafood, geothermal baths and saga-steeped cultural identity. Read on to learn more about why Iceland is such a fun destination to visit – even for non-skiers.

A Life Built Around Skiing

Prior to joining Lumi, I earned my skiing credentials racing for Salomon’s marathon team out of my hometown of Villach, Austria, close to the three-country corner where Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet. My mother is from Austria and my father is from Italy, so I grew up with both languages and speak both fluently. Our family spent time on the ski trails of all three countries, learning what makes the trail networks and cultures unique, all tied together with the thread of cross country skiing. As I grew up, my racing experience and interest in tackling some of Europe’s most notable Worldloppet ski marathons, including the Marcialonga and Vasaloppet, introduced me to trails across the Alps and Scandinavia. After concluding my racing career, I was excited to join Lumi Experiences first as a Trip Leader, a role that has evolved into Lumi’s Trip Development Manager, helping to design and improve our selection of trips each winter.

Preparing For Your Trip: Learning the Icelandic Way

Before every trip, Lumi’s trip leaders gather on location for what’s known as a “Dry Run.” Typically these take place in the weeks leading up to a trip and allow leaders to reacquaint themselves with the communities and trails we’ll be visiting with guests soon after. Beyond skiing the trails, we also meet with Lumi’s local partners to discuss details like dietary restrictions, ensure bus pick-up and drop-off logistics, take note of new shops or activities and otherwise double-check the plans for the entire trip and make adjustments as needed to improve the trip experience for our guests. 

Florian, Anna and Isley led Lumi's Iceland Fossavatn trip in 2025

The Dry Run is also a chance to gel as a team. For the Iceland trip, we had three trip leaders: me, Florian – Lumi’s long-time wax tech for many of the central European trips – and Isley, a new Lumi leader, long-time Iceland resident and certified Iceland guide, who is also a professional nature photographer. Isley’s first-hand experience living and working in Iceland perfectly balanced my experience leading Lumi trips, and we quickly learned when to rely on each other’s expertise and share our knowledge. Working with Isley was like having a private Icelandic tour guide as she showed us her favorite spots, from the giant Dynjandi waterfall to a small, family-run restaurant hidden on the harbor in Ísafjörður, known for their local seafood. No amount of online research can replace local knowledge gained by living it yourself and I was grateful for Isley’s local expertise.

A Familiar Experience, Yet Totally Unique

Lumi trips all share several things in common no matter the destination: comfortable lodging close to the ski trails, local expert trip leaders, ski waxing, delicious regional cuisine, logistical support and cultural experiences that enhance each trip. Whether leading a Sight-Skiing trip in Slovenia & Italy or a trip to the famous Vasaloppet in Sweden, Lumi leaders work hard to make the experience as seamless as possible. It’s a point of pride to answer questions before they come up, and to see smiling faces at the end of a refreshing day on the trails – even before everyone tries the local schnapps we occasionally serve after a day’s ski.

Ski Iceland's windswept landscapes just below the Arctic Circle

Lumi’s trip to Iceland is no different in this regard. However, unlike many Lumi trips in the Alps or in Scandinavia, with abundant trail options that offer many days of skiing at different networks, there are relatively few ski trails in Iceland, so the trip includes a lot more non-skiing activities. Lumi’s Iceland trip balances skiing with sightseeing in ways that make it a great option for non-skiers as well. 

Something that struck me in Iceland was how few trees there are throughout the country. This makes for expansive views of the surrounding mountains from the trails and the Ísafjörður fjord below. Skiing in Ísafjörður is unique in many ways because all of the trails start and end in the same place, meaning you can ski as much or as little as you’d like at your own pace, without worrying about holding up the group.

Try a traditional Icelandic waffle at the Litlibær hut on your journey between Ísafjörður and Reykjavik

Iceland's imposing landscape has long been shaped by volcanoes and glaciers

Because the trip happens in April, you can ski until late into the evening. Many guests participate in the 25 km Fossavatn skate event, which is two days before the classic Worldloppet Ski Marathon. The skate event starts at 5:00 PM when it’s still light outside. Because Ísafjörður is just below the Arctic Circle, “Golden Hour” lasts for about three hours – pretty much the time it takes to ski the whole event. Three hours of relaxed sunset skiing in April is truly magical. If you’re lucky, there’s even a chance of seeing the Northern Lights after the sun sets.

Garrott & Jim Kuzzy finish the Fossavatn's 25 km sunset skate event at 8 PM with plenty of daylight to spare

In addition to the ski trails, I was impressed by Iceland’s volcanic mountains, deep fjords and untouched landscapes, not to mention its stunning waterfalls that are more accessible than those back home in Austria. The trip spends the first two days exploring Iceland’s Westfjords region on our way to ski in Ísafjörður, all with local expert Isley sharing fun details about each destination. There are stops to view and hike to several waterfalls, photograph and marvel at the fjords, and even to soak in natural hot springs.

Guests visit the Dynjandi Waterfall in Iceland's Westfjords Region

Celebrating at the Fossavatn Ski Marathon

Iceland’s northerly latitude means it’s one of the last places you can ski in Europe, even long into April when most other countries have swapped skis for bikes or hiking boots. The Fossavatn Ski Marathon, the last Worldloppet event of the season, takes place at the end of our trip in Iceland and is one of the highlights of our trip. 

Skiing Iceland's Fossavatn is a fun mother and daughter activity

Super Florian prepares skis late into the night for the Fossavatn Worldloppet event

For me as a trip leader, I love cheering for our guests, celebrating their achievements and listening to their stories after the race. But a successful race day also needs a lot of preparation behind the scenes. While our guests rested after our pre-race dinner, Florian and I worked in the wax room late into the night, waxing skis for the next day's conditions. This is a big part of being a Trip Leader, and it makes seeing everyone cross the finish line smiling even more special.

Extending My Trip in Iceland

Just after the trip, my sister Kathi, who is also a Lumi trip leader, joined me for a few extra days to explore Iceland. I often hear about Lumi guests who extend their trip either before or afterwards to wherever they travel. Sometimes it’s to explore a city like Munich or Venice, other times it’s to continue skiing elsewhere. It was fun for me to be able to do the same after this trip. In addition to visiting more hot springs and exploring by bike, we were rewarded with something incredible: the Northern Lights! For the first time in my life, I got to see this amazing natural phenomenon. No other destination that Lumi trips visit is as likely to see auroras as Iceland. I’m so glad I was able to witness it for myself with my sister. It’s a moment we’ll both remember for a lifetime.

The northern lights dance over Ísafjörður

Gearing Up for the 2027 Ski Season

What fascinates me most about Iceland are its incredible variety of landscapes. Within just a few kilometers, you can see black lava fields, green hills, glaciers and hot springs. I still think back to this trip with a big smile on my face. I look forward to returning later this winter to lead Lumi’s 2027 Iceland Fossavatn trip. It’ll be a fun way to wrap up my season after leading Lumi’s Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga and Sweden Vasaloppet trips earlier in the winter. I love all of Lumi’s trips. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite. They’re all unique in their own way. If I’m asked, I’ll often joke that my favorite is the one I’m currently leading – which is actually the truth! 

There is still space on the Iceland and Sweden trips, as well as Lumi’s sight-skiing trips to Slovenia & Italy and Oslo, Sjusjoen and Lillehammer in Norway. If you’d like to join me in Europe this winter, reach out to reservations@lumiexperiences.com to receive a detailed trip itinerary or to sign up. I look forward to sharing the trails with you soon!

Raise a glass with family and friends after completing the Fossavatn Ski Marathon in Iceland