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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateNorway
Dec - Mar
Learn to cross-country ski on the edge of Rondane National Park. Five days on groomed trails, plus husky sledding, a sleigh ride, snowshoeing and yoga.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£2,350
(USD $3,689.50)
An Active Winter Retreat
A week learning to cross-country ski on a mountain plateau in central Norway. No experience needed.
Our instructors start you on the basics on day one. By the end of the week you’ll be skiing full-day tours of up to 25km, on tracks that start at the hotel door.
Between ski days you’ll snowshoe out to a frozen waterfall, drive your own husky team and take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, then five yoga sessions stretch out tired legs. The sauna is there when you want it too.
Home for the week is a family-run mountain hotel at 1,200m, with three-course dinners and an open fire.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Daily lessons and guiding with equipment hire included
A day out to a frozen waterfall
Evening classes to stretch out after active days
Drive your own husky team through snowy landscapes
A horse-drawn sleigh ride through snowy forests
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 covers flat and rolling terrain, with the occasional hill to power yourself up and then ski back down. You’ll glide along prepared tracks instead of riding lifts, so you cover real distance and see a lot of mountain in a day.
It’s a good first winter sport. You’ll make progress quickly and each day builds on the last, from finding your feet in your first lesson to full-day tours by the end (plus it’s friendlier on the knees).
Activity Overview
After a long day skiing, there’s nothing better than unwinding in a relaxing yoga class. Our in-house instructor will guide you through a gentle flow, helping you stretch out those muscles and reset for the next active day.
Activity Overview
You’ll have the opportunity to try out husky sledding on this trip too. You’ll get an introductory talk about the sport, the dogs and what to expect, then a team of dogs from the local kennel comes to us. Each guest will have the opportunity to drive and be a passenger during the hour-long tour as you head out into the wilderness.
(Please note that later in the season, there may not be enough snow for the dog sledding; if so, it will be replaced by another activity, or more skiing).
Activity Overview
For one full day, we’ll escape the ski tracks and make our own during a snowshoe adventure into the forest. Winding through the snowy trees, we’ll explore another part of the Nordic wilderness, and if possible (depending on conditions), visit the spectacular frozen waterfall, Myfallet.
Activity Overview
Cosy up under a blanket for a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the frozen forest. Then head back to the hotel for traditional biscuits and Norwegian glögg (non-alcoholic mulled wine) around the roaring fire.
Activity Overview
A hole is cut in the frozen lake and you lower yourself in, then head straight to the outdoor sauna to warm back up. Completely optional, though we would nudge you towards it. The indoor sauna is there for the rest of the week too, as often as you like.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Fly into Oslo on a morning flight (or the day before if that works better).
Take the two and a half hour train to Ringebu through snowy mountain valleys. We'll meet you at the station and drive you up to the hotel.
Dinner together once everyone's arrived. Your guide will brief you on the week ahead, this is the time to ask questions and get your skis sorted.
Start at the ski stall learning how to clip on your skis, then go straight into your first lesson. Practise what you've learned on a short morning ski tour.
Enjoy a packed lunch back at the hotel, then head out again for more skiing with your instructor right there to guide you.
Yoga session to stretch out tired muscles, then dinner and an easy evening (or not, the gym is also there too).
Breakfast, then out to the nearest snow-covered hills for a lesson in uphill and downhill technique.
Head out on the trails, then add a few more layers and take a horse sleigh ride around the forest. Enjoy a hot drink by the fireplace afterwards.
Enjoy a post-ski yoga session before a three-course dinner.
Start the day with morning yoga to wake everything up before breakfast. Then it’s a full day cross-country skiing out in the national park.
Finish your ski tour and pack away your skis. Later, challenge yourself to an ice dip, then warm up in the outdoor sauna.
Enjoy a special Norwegian three-course menu.
Head out on a morning ski trip to put all your ski skills into practice. Then it's time for a dog sledding adventure where you get to meet the huskies and drive your own team!
Enjoy a hot lunch to warm up. Once your food's settled, head out on a sunset ski trip.
Warm up in the sauna, then refuel with a three-course dinner.
Yoga first, breakfast second. Today we’re swapping skis for snowshoes as we hike to a frozen waterfall.
Lunch on the trail, then finish up your snowshoe route.
Enjoy a chilled evening before your three-course dinner.
Fuel up at breakfast for your longest full-day ski tour yet.
Complete your ski tour and head home for some well-earned downtime. Sauna, nap, or just sit and look at the view. Then stretch out with your final yoga session.
Farewell drinks before our last dinner together to celebrate your achievements this week.
Final breakfast and free time until your transfer to Ringebu station. Don't forget to make yourself a packed lunch and fill your thermos before you leave.
Take the transfer back to Ringebu station to start your journey home.
Rest & Refuel
A traditional family-run mountain hotel with views across the plateau. Private and twin rooms all have ensuite bathrooms. There's a yoga studio, sauna, gym, bar and a lounge with an open fire.
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Breakfast is a buffet, lunch is packed for the trail and dinner is three courses, often with local Norwegian dishes. All dietary requirements are catered for.
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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 are included, from dinner on arrival day to a packed lunch for your journey home. If you have a severe food allergy, please get in touch before you book.
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| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Cross-country skiing feels 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 over consecutive days, so a solid fitness base matters. If you’re doing medium to high-intensity cardio three or more times a week, like running, cycling, HIIT and spin, you’ll handle this well. You'll Need to Be
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| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No cross-country skiing experience is needed. While some downhill skiing experience helps on the slopes, skinny skis with a loose heel are a different beast entirely, so you’ll still be learning from scratch. 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
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| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Ringebu train station. For alternative routes and travel information, please see the trip guide. |
| Not Included |
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| Trip Code |
NORVENXCB7 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 the basics in the first lesson and build up your distance through the week, finishing with full-day tours.
This trip is rated moderate. Cross-country skiing often feels like “running with skis on” and long flat sections and uphill climbs can be physically demanding. You’ll need medium to high-intensity cardio three times a week for around 45 minutes. Think running, HIIT, cycling or spin classes that get your heart pumping. Walking and yoga won’t cut it for the cardio demands.
Expect a few tumbles while learning, it happens to everyone. Cross-country skiing is all about perfecting a gliding motion across snow, so you’ll need to be comfortable with sliding and the occasional fall.
If this makes you anxious, maybe consider our snowshoeing adventures instead.
We provide cross-country skis, ski boots and poles for the entire week. Our equipment is high-quality and suitable for beginners. You’ll need to bring your own clothing and personal gear – check our comprehensive packing list for exactly what to wear and pack.
Five yoga sessions, a snowshoe hike to a frozen waterfall, an afternoon of dog sledding with your own team and a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Dog sledding and the sleigh ride depend on the weather, but if they can’t go ahead, we’ll organise another activity instead.
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) → Ringebu for your travel date, then book the train that arrives at Ringebu in time for our transfer:
Our transfer runs between Ringebu station and the hotel on arrival and departure days.
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.
Book directly at vy.no/en or sj.no. Tickets go on sale 60–90 days before travel, so make sure to set a reminder in your calendar. Budget around £30 each way.
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.
Expect temperatures around -10°C in January, sometimes dropping to -20°C. By March, days sit between 5°C and -5°C.
Norwegian winter is a “dry” cold that feels less harsh than damp UK cold.
Yes. Mountain weather changes quickly, so our guides adjust each day’s plan around the conditions. You’ll still get to do every activity where conditions allow.
Everywhere you’ll visit accepts cards, so you don’t need Norwegian Krone at all, just a card that can do international payments without incurring a charge. Budget for drinks and any personal extras – Norway can be expensive, especially when it comes to alcohol and snacks. All meals, activities and equipment are included in your trip price.
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