Upguides

17/08/2024

Albania is a country where you can see so much in such a short time.

One day, you’re cruising through lush green valleys, and the next, you’re conquering steep, rocky paths. Sure, it can be challenging—the roads can be rough and the climbs challenging—but that’s what makes it an adventure worth having. And don’t worry, if it ever gets too intense, like those Ottoman cobblestones that were practically unrideable, we’ve got a support car ready to help out.

What to Expect on Your Albanian Adventure:

• Stunning Scenery: From towering mountains to serene coastal views, Albania’s landscape is incredibly varied, making each day of biking a new experience.
• Authentic Local Experiences: Whether stopping at a small village for a homemade meal or meeting locals who’ve lived in the area for generations, you’ll get to know the real Albania.
• Challenging, Rewarding Rides: Expect a mix of rough gravel roads, steep climbs, and the occasional smooth stretch where you can catch your breath and take in the views.
• Historical Insights: Riding with a guide like Vladimir means you’re not just biking through Albania—you’re learning about its rich history, from ancient times to the modern day.
• Delicious Albanian Cuisine: After a day of riding, there’s nothing better than indulging in some traditional Albanian food, like tavë kosi—a delicious baked dish made with lamb, rice, and yoghurt. Trust me, the flavours are something you won’t forget.

Gravel Biking in Albania 2024 {Block with button}
6-13 October

Price
2100€ per person (deposit 420€ with the option to pay in full)
240€ for bike rental
7 nights/8 days in a group of 6

Spots are filling up fast, and we don’t want you to miss out. You're not just joining a trip, you're becoming part of an exclusive group of adventurers.

PC: Yahnny Adolfo San Luis YASL Photos & Stories

13/08/2024

For this year, I decided to explore the remote Altay region in Kazakhstan, a hidden gem promising a unique and exclusive splitboarding adventure in its untouched beauty and the promise of an adventure unlike any other. The Altay region is known for its pristine snow, diverse terrain, and unique cultural experiences, making it a must-visit destination for splitboarding enthusiasts.

The mountainous terrain varies by 2000 metres of elevation, making it perfect for early-season splitboarding and offering stunning views from the tree line.

The terrain is not overly challenging and features vast open areas.

While the hunt for powder is our top priority, there are several other reasons to discover the Altay:

• Culinary Delights: Savour outstanding local cuisine from Central Asia.
• Genuine and Cozy Lodging: Stay in heated yurts that blend tradition with modern comfort.
• Prepare for An Exclusive Experience: Enjoy splitboarding in untouched terrain and soak in a traditional Russian banya with only the lodge's guests and us.
• Varied Terrain: Splitboard with altitudes ranging from 700 to 1800 meters and plenty of runs to choose from, suitable for all weather conditions.
• Safety is Our Top Priority: Fully immerse yourself in the adventure without any worries. We have a team of professional local partners and a comprehensive safety plan in place.
• Focus on Fun: Focus on splitboarding, relaxing, and soaking in the gorgeous, off-the-grid environment, thanks to our local partner, guaranteeing joy and excitement at every moment of your trip.

Splitboarding in Kazakhstan 2024
30 November to 7 December

Price
• 2950€ per person (deposit 590€)
• 7 nights/8 days in a group of 6

Got questions?
For more details about the route, gear, accommodations, meals, and your guides, we're happy to help you! Just send us a DM.

02/08/2024

We’re thrilled to offer you an unforgettable experience around the “Roof of Europe,” a journey that promises to bring you closer to nature and let you experience the majestic beauty of Mont Blanc. The diverse landscapes, nearby glaciers, and towering mountains will immerse you in the high altitudes, evoking that unique “Alpine feeling” as you traverse some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. We’ve meticulously designed a route that leads you through secluded cols, far from any traffic, and onto gravel roads, trails, and varied terrains that are perfect for gravel biking.

Who Should Join?
The Tour du Mont-Blanc gravel biking adventure is best suited for those with experience biking two to three times a week and being able to ride different types of terrain.

Tour du Mont-Blanc 2024
• September 9-11, 2024
• Other dates are possible, just get in touch!

Price
• 660€ per person (deposit 132€)
• 3 days/3 nights in a group of 6

Got questions?
For more details about the route, gear, accommodations, meals, and your guides, we're happy to help you! Just send us a DM.

31/07/2024

For the 17th year in a row, we’re heading back to the stunning mountains of Finnmark, Norway, on March 9, 2025, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Some things just never change - the mountains are still breathtaking, the snow is always reliable, and we’ve never missed a year of skiing all the way down to the fjords!

Finnmark remains a snow-safe destination that never disappoints.

So, what’s new for 2025? We’re excited to offer non-stop weeks at our lodge in Låvan for two months straight, fully catered and hassle-free. We’ve got an exciting new destination: Sør-Tverrfjord, accessible only by boat and snowmobile, for a ski-in, ski-out, car-free week. We’re also introducing two ski and sail weeks, using our deep knowledge of the region to explore the most remote parts of Finnmark.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure in Finnmark. We can’t wait to see you there!

PC: Arnaud Mallez

16/07/2024

Hey Friends! We're back! We took a short break after a packed 2023/2024 season and are stoked to share the 2024/2205 season with you 🙌

Here's what's coming up in 2024:
∙September 9-11: Gravel Biking Tour du Mont-Blanc
∙October 6-13: Gravel Biking in Albania
∙December 4-8: Best of Norway First Edition
∙December 7-13: Kazakhstan Backcountry Tour
∙December 7-13: Northern Lights Backcountry Tour
∙December 14-21: Canada Backcountry (heli to/from hut - 2 spots left)*
∙December to mid-April: All-inclusive Ski Season in Maurienne, France (daily, weekends, or weekly)

*The Bill Putnam hut is located in the Adamant Range of the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia.

Got questions? DM or email us at [email protected] 💌

PC:
Arnaud Mallez
YASL Photos & Stories

17/06/2024

Äntligen I Stockholm !

05/06/2024

Escalade ou alpi, de l'initiation à l'autonomie, c'est cet été avec Upguides et ORTOVOX

Infos au 06 83 07 83 19


Victor Charon Clément Bléteau Morgane Bléteau Sylvain Baboud

23/05/2024

We will board the on June 5th and disembark on the morning of June 12th. See you there!

22/05/2024

The Greenland ski & sail trip is SUPER last minute, but 4 people are already interested. The deadline to reserve your spot is May 29th. Comment "JUNE" to reserve your spot.

22/05/2024

Hey Friends! Who's coming with us next month 😊?

Are you ready for an unforgettable ski touring adventure in one of the most stunning Arctic landscapes? Join us in Sisimiut, Greenland, for a unique experience from 5-12 June 2024.

21/05/2024

repost from | One image to sum up 20 days of ski&sail in Greenland.

More than powder, glaciers, views, whales and ocean, a trip to Greenland leaves long lasting memories of simple moments with old and new friends.

So yes, riding a scooter back to Skydancer after visiting the local pub with good friends, that was Greenland 2024 for me 💥

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📢 FLASH SALE SKI & SAIL 5-12 JUNE 2024
Watch for an update to join us next month. We will release all the details tomorrow at 8:15 pm GMT-05:00

20/05/2024

For over 15 years, we've approached our guiding work with professionalism and humility. We know we're not superheroes who can navigate every challenge without a hitch. Instead, we're here to use our experience to help you have the best time possible, with a realistic understanding of what's achievable and not in the mountains. This approach is why so many guests keep coming back to us. We believe it's the right way to guide.

Growth is a natural outcome of doing a good job, but we aim to grow slowly and never lose our edge.

We'll keep doing things our way, knowing it's not for everyone, and we're okay with that, but we hope you'll continue to join us for another 15 years because we love what we do and do it wholeheartedly.

Also, we don't feel the need to flaunt our IFMGA badge—our work speaks for itself 😉

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18/05/2024

Did you miss yesterday's news? If you did, check out the last post about a limited-time offer for a ski & sail adventure this June 😉

Meanwhile, we are soaking in Greenland with not a soul in sight but us 🇬🇱

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17/05/2024

We have exciting news to share: a new limited-time super last-minute adventure that you'll be the first to hear about if you've been following our feed!

Our time in Greenland has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Over the past 2 weeks, we've had the privilege of ski touring various locations with S/Y SkyDancer as our moving home away from home, creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Are you ready for the news? We love it here so much that we're offering a trip to Sisimiut from 5-12 June this year if we can fill the group. S/Y SkyDancer can accommodate 10 guests comfortably.

The Arctic sun will allow us to enjoy more skiing throughout the summer. What do you say? DM us if you'd like to join 🙌

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16/05/2024

If you could dream up a place you'd love to experience at least once, would a ski & sail adventure in Greenland be part of that? Nick and Estella are our gracious hosts of the S/Y SkyDancer, with all the amenities that guarantee a cosy stay and top-notch guiding, making this a sell-out trip. We'd love to hear from you and answer any questions so that don't miss a chance to hop aboard in 2025 🇬🇱

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Eva Borgström

15/05/2024

There's something new every day: a new mountain, fjord, and horizon to look towards from the top - most of all, new friends we've made this week. Thank you for choosing this adventure with us. We'll never forget it ❤️

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Eva Borgström

14/05/2024

Aaaand, we're back with AMAZING footage from Greenland! Our guests have been sharing their footage while aboard S/Y SkyDancer, our floating home away from home. More coming your way 🫶

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Eva Borgström

10/05/2024

We love our skiers and splitboarders ⛷️🏂 ❤️

📸 Alex

09/05/2024

After a long day in the mountains, we slide into our cosy mode at our "home away from home." 🏡 🏔️

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08/05/2024

What do you want to experience in addition to ski touring when considering joining a trip:

😊 Making new friends?
🌎 A chance to visit a new destination?
🥘 Local food experts or a cooking class?
🐾 A mix of activities (e.g. dogsledding, paddling)
📚 Learning about culture and history (e.g. museums)?

We would love to get to know what you want so that we can make our trips better for you ❤️

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06/05/2024

One of the highlights (of many) is the chance to spend with your shipmates. And you learn pretty quickly how to steal time away for yourself when you want those quiet moments. From our experience, we usually see guests stay in touch with each other even after the trip has ended 🥰 Have you ever experienced this?

05/05/2024

We are still in Greenland, with Fred leading the groups. As one week comes to a close, we welcome a new group with us. We are immensely grateful for our guests and the hospitality of Esteslla and Nick of the S/Y SkyDancer, our home away from home in Greenland ❤️ 🇬🇱

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05/05/2024

repost from | End of the first week in Greenland, and we've been incredibly lucky with the weather. So much beauty that it feels unreal.
Wearing colours that are matching the landscape is kinda 😄 nice too 🙏

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Our thoughts:
As one week in Greenland comes to a close, another one begins so that we welcome a new group starting today ✨️❤️

04/05/2024

Can you believe it?! Today is our last full day together with our back-to-back Finnmark groups since March! Our hearts are filled ❤️ We can't wait to share more recaps as we ease into the next trips of the year.

📸 Nicolas Quarré

02/05/2024

This week is our last full week in Finnmark, and we have been with guests (at least one group per week and up to three maximum per week). We are very grateful for another year (almost 16 years!) with our local partners and all the guests who chose to join us again and for the first time ❤️

In the following weeks, we will switch gears (literally) to focus on our gravel biking adventures this autumn. But before we do that, we'll email you a survey on how we can improve and learn more about what you want and don't want from our trips.

We are never beyond learning something new, nor do we claim to be the best, but we sure do try our darndest 😉

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02/05/2024

repost from | A few personal favourites from assignment at the in Finnmark.



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Our thoughts:
Whenever there's a "first time" for anything, there's always a 50/50 chance of getting everything right. One thing we did right was to bring on board to head off the Arctic Splitbaord Festival media team. Capturing a moment takes forethought and split decisions while moving like an athlete. Then, choosing shots and editing can go on for long hours into the evening after everyone has gone to bed. We have a soft spot for photographers and filmmakers. Thank you Marius ❤️

01/05/2024

We're happy when you're happy! Thank you for another great day and for trusting in us to guide your Finnmark adventure ❤️

📸 Nicolas Quarré

01/05/2024

There is a lonely tree that stands on Vassnestinden throughout the seasons, and yesterday we paid her a visit by way of paddling and skiing. Imagine that! For 1000s of years, humans have journeyed far and wide for a chance to experience extraordinary events and places. Sure enough, this little tree has seen many travellers traverse up and down the mountain. If only we could hear her stories! We hope we can add to your lifelong stories so that when you travel back home, you can share them with your family and friends. For 2025, we are taking enquiries so that we can keep the stories going!

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