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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateNorway
Dec - Apr
Learn to cross-country ski in the Norwegian mountains. Snowy tracks, expert coaching and yoga for tired legs.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£1,400
(USD $2,198.00)
Ski, Stretch, Sauna, Sleigh
If you’ve never experienced a snow-covered mountain landscape, then it’s time to change that.
This four-night active adventure will take you to some of Norway’s most incredible and remote locations. Learn to cross-country ski, huddle around cosy fires, and dare yourself to take an ice dip at our mountain hotel.
Our expert instructors will teach you everything you need to know, then you’ll practise your new skills during all-day ski tours.
In the evening, we’ll unwind with yoga, saunas and even a horse-drawn sleigh ride. This is followed by a three-course dinner at the hotel restaurant that hits the spot every time.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Daily lessons, guiding and equipment hire included
Stretch and strengthen after active days on the mountains
A polar plunge and sauna with mountain views
A horse-drawn sleigh ride through snowy forests
Warm up the traditional Norwegian way
Family-run mountain hotel with panoramic views
Breakfasts, packed lunches and three-course Norwegian dinners
Qualified ski instructors and your Gutsy Girls host
Pick-up and drop-off at Ringebu train station, with direct trains from Oslo Airport
Activity Overview
Cross-country skiing is our winter sport of choice, and we’re getting more women into it.
Unlike downhill skiing, cross-country takes you across rolling terrain into remote locations miles from crowded resorts. There are still hills, but you learn how to power yourself up them and control the speed coming back down. The learning curve is faster than downhill skiing too, so you’ll progress quickly and access beautiful, wild winter landscapes most people never see.
All trips include ski and boot hire, expert tuition, and experienced guides. It’s a serious full-body workout with long, active days exploring wilderness away from other tourists. Our itineraries build your skills while making the most of your time with us.
Activity Overview
Stretch out any aches with three yoga classes designed for post-skiing recovery.
If you’ve never stepped on a yoga mat before, don’t worry. The sessions cater to all levels with an expert teacher who will adapt poses to suit the group.
Activity Overview
Wrap up warm under blankets and see the forest from a different angle with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow.
Afterwards, warm up again with a glass of glögg and some traditional Norwegian biscuits in the lounge while sitting around the open fire.
Activity Overview
Lower yourself into the lake through a hole cut in the ice, then get straight into the outdoor sauna to warm up again. It knocks the breath out of you for about ten seconds, then you feel brilliant. It’s optional, but worth doing at least once. The indoor sauna is yours to use as often as you like for the rest of the trip.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Fly into Oslo on a morning flight and hop on the train to Ringebu, a scenic route through snow-covered landscapes.
Dinner at the hotel, followed by a holiday briefing and ski boot fitting.
Introduction in the ski room, followed by a beginners' lesson and short morning ski tour.
Lunch, then back out for more skiing.
Stretch in a yoga session, then dinner.
Early yoga session before breakfast to set you up for the day. After breakfast, we'll teach you uphill and downhill techniques to add to your cross-country ski repertoire.
Lunch, then head out for a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the frozen forest. Afterwards, cosy up around the fire for a traditional Norwegian drink.
Time for a sauna, gym session or to simply chill in the lounge, followed by dinner.
Full-day ski tour begins (make sure to take your packed lunch).
Eat on the trails, then continue skiing. Return to the hotel for an ice dip and use of the outdoor sauna, followed by a yoga session.
Farewell aperitif, then our final dinner.
Free time to ski and explore the trails independently, or relax at the hotel until your transfer to Ringebu train station. Make up your packed lunch before you go, for the journey home.
Say goodbye to Ringebu as you jump on the train and head back to Oslo.
Rest & Refuel
We're based in a family-run traditional mountain hotel with spacious rooms and big views across snow-covered landscape. You can also ski right from the front door into the National Park, so there’s no driving to any start points.
As well as private and twin ensuite rooms, there's a yoga studio for post-ski stretches, a games room for downtime, a bar, and a cosy lounge with a crackling fire - everything you need after big days in the mountains.
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Fuel up with hearty breakfasts, packed lunches on the trails, and three-course dinners showcasing proper Norwegian cuisine.
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Availability
The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Home Comforts A traditional mountain hotel with private and shared bedrooms, hotel restaurant and cosy family-run charm.
|
|---|---|
| Food |
All meals included. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us before booking.
|
| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Cross-country skiing works like running with skis on. The long flat sections and uphill climbs demand real cardiovascular effort, and you’ll be doing six to seven hours of it daily across 8-25km of terrain. Sessions are split into morning and afternoon most days, but the distances stack up, so a solid fitness base matters. If you’re doing medium to high-intensity cardio three or more times a week, such as running, cycling, HIIT or spin, you’ll handle this well. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No cross-country skiing experience is needed, this trip is designed for beginners. Some downhill skiing experience can help, but skinny skis with a loose heel are a different beast entirely, so you’ll still be starting at the beginning. Beginner is the skill level. It’s not an easy trip. Check the Fitness Level above. Not sure what level you are? Our Trip Rating Guide explains how we score fitness and skill. |
| Packing List |
Below are a few specialist items you will need or might have to invest in before your adventure. For a full list of what you’ll need to bring, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You'll Need
|
| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Ringebu train station. For alternative routes and travel information, please see the trip guide. |
| Not Included |
|
| Trip Code |
NORVENXCB4 Include this code in any message and we’ll know exactly which trip you mean. |
The Answers
No, this trip is for complete beginners. Our instructors teach you from your first lesson and build up your distance over the weekend, finishing with full-day tours
This trip is rated moderate. You need medium to high-intensity cardio exercise at least three times a week for around 45 minutes. Think running, HIIT sessions, cycling, or spin classes – activities that get your heart pumping. Cross-country skiing feels like “running with skis on” during flat sections and uphill climbs.
Yes, while you’re learning. Everyone does, and soft snow makes for fairly painless falls. You do need to be comfortable with the gliding motion and picking up speed on gentle slopes.
Layers. Merino or synthetic base layers (never cotton), thin warm mid-layers, a breathable waterproof shell jacket and windproof soft shell trousers. Bring a warm insulated jacket for breaks too. We provide skis, boots and poles. The full packing list is in the trip guide.
Three evening yoga sessions with our instructor to stretch out tired legs, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the forest with biscuits and glögg around an open fire. There’s an indoor sauna to use all weekend, plus one outdoor sauna session with an ice dip.
Fly into Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), then take the train to Ringebu station (around 2.5 hours). We’ll meet you at Ringebu and drive you the last 20 minutes to the hotel. Train tickets aren’t included (roughly £30 each way) and you book them yourself — see below.
On vy.no/en or sj.no, search Oslo Lufthavn (Airport) to Ringebu for your travel date, then book the below trains that align with our transfer:
Train times for 18-22 Dec, 3-7 Jan, 11-15 Jan, 17-21 Jan, 21-25 Jan, 25-29 Jan, 29 Jan-2 Feb trips:
Train times 22-26 December:
Train times 26-30 December:
The journey is roughly 2.5 hours and it’s a direct, scenic run, so there’s no changes to worry about.
Our transfer runs between Ringebu station and the hotel on arrival and departure days.
Transfer timings for 18-22 Dec, 3-7 Jan, 11-15 Jan, 17-21 Jan, 21-25 Jan, 25-29 Jan, 29 Jan- 2 Feb trips:
Transfer times 22-26 December:
Transfer times 26-30 December:
Our transfers runs on a fixed schedule. If you miss it, you’ll need to arrange your own way to the hotel.
This is exactly why we ask everyone to have travel insurance covering delays and missed connections, it’s non-negotiable on our trips.
Due to the reduced train service on Saturdays over winter, there will be a transfer service between the hotel and Oslo Airport.
The journey costs 670 NOK (£53) and can be paid directly to the hotel. Spaces must be reserved in advance so please get in touch with the Booking Team to secure your place.
If you catch a later train, we can arrange a taxi between Ringebu station and the hotel:
Email us to book the taxi. Bear in mind that a later train on arrival day means you will miss dinner, and we cannot refund it. Travel insurance covering delays is strongly recommended.
Around -10°C in January, sometimes dropping to -20°C. By March it’s warmer, between -5°C and 5°C, and the snow is still there.
Yes. Mountain weather changes quickly, so our guides adjust each day’s plan around the conditions.
Everywhere you’ll visit accepts cards, so you don’t need Norwegian Krone cash at all. Budget for drinks and any personal extras – Norway can be expensive for alcohol and snacks. All meals, activities and equipment are included in your trip price.
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