Ski Guides in the Arctic Mountains
We are a small, specialized guiding company operating in Northern Norway and Finnish Lapland, offering ski touring, freeride guiding, avalanche training, and other Arctic outdoor experiences with a strong focus on safety, local knowledge, and personalized service.
About Arctic Mountain Guides
Guiding since 2007
Arctic Mountain Guides is a small, specialized guiding company based in northern Finland, offering guided ski touring, freeride skiing, avalanche education, and Arctic outdoor adventures in northern Norway and Finnish Lapland. Our main operating areas include the world-renowned Lyngen Alps, Kvaløya, Tamok, Malangen, and the surrounding mountains of Troms.
Our goal is simple: to provide safe, memorable, and authentic mountain experiences while helping our guests discover some of the finest ski touring terrain in the Arctic.
Our Story
Arctic Mountain Guides was founded by two experienced mountain enthusiasts with a shared passion for ski touring and the Arctic wilderness. After years of exploring and guiding throughout northern Norway, we wanted to create a guiding company focused on small groups, flexible itineraries, and personal service.
We believe the best mountain experiences come from combining careful planning, local knowledge, and the freedom to adapt each day to the weather, snow, and avalanche conditions. This approach allows us to consistently find excellent skiing while maintaining the highest possible safety standards.
Our Guides
Our guides, Pasi Ikonen and Mika Salovaara, have extensive experience in ski touring, mountain travel, avalanche safety, and Arctic wilderness environments. They hold internationally recognized qualifications and continue to develop their professional skills through ongoing education and guiding experience.
With detailed local knowledge of the Lyngen Alps and the surrounding regions, they carefully select routes that match the group's abilities while making the most of current snow and weather conditions. Their goal is not only to guide you safely but also to share their passion for the mountains and create an enjoyable and rewarding experience for every guest.
Our Commitment to Safety
Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Every trip is carefully planned according to the latest weather forecasts, snowpack observations, and avalanche conditions.
Our guides are trained in avalanche safety, wilderness first aid, and emergency response, and every guest receives a thorough safety briefing before heading into the mountains. By keeping our groups small, we can provide personalized guidance, make better decisions in the field, and ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone.
GUIDES
Pasi Ikonen
Pasi is an experienced ski guide and Arctic Explorer. In 2008, he became the first Finn to ski, unsupported and from the coast, to the South Pole. Although a big achievement, he says that it is often just as cold where he lives, full time, in Finnish Lapland, with his British wife, Anna. They are based in the tiny village of Hetta, 300km inside the Arctic Circle. The high arctic tundra not only provides a perfect training base for Polar Expeditions but it is also a great location for dog mushing. Hence, not surprisingly, quite a bit of their time between December and March is taken up by running safaris with their 250 Alaskan Huskies.
- ISIA International Ski Instructor certification
- Avalanche Safety: Extensive training and certification in avalanche safety and rescue techniques. FINLAV Avalanche Technician
- Wilderness First Aid: Certified in wilderness first aid and emergency response
Mika Salovaara
Mika is an experienced ski guide and has been guiding since 2001, with extensive experience in the Arctic regions, particularly area around Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps in northern Norway. Known for his expertise, passion for skiing, and dedication to safety, Mika has guided many adventurers through some of the most challenging and breathtaking terrains in the Arctic. His guiding philosophy is centered on safety, enjoyment, and respect for nature. He believes that every ski tour should be an unforgettable adventure.
- Canadian Ski Guide Level 1
- Avalanche Safety: Extensive training and certification in avalanche safety and rescue techniques. Mika is a EAS European Avalanche Professional, FINLAV Avalanche Technician
- Wilderness First Responder: Certified in wilderness first aid - WFR and emergency response