FAQs

Norway Improvers Cross Country Ski Adventure

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Travel

  • You are responsible for booking your own travel to Tyinkrysset bus stop where you will be picked up at 21:20.

  • Book your tickets on the Vy website (https://www.vy.no/en) - which is easy to use and has an English version. 

    Oslo to Tyinkrysset: Bus departure from Oslo Gardermoen 16:45 → Arrival Tyinkrysset 21:15 hotel pickup included from bus stop

    Return: Hotel drop-off to Tyinkrysset: 9:45
    Bus to Oslo: Departs 10:00 → Arrives 15:00

    There is a more regular bus service from Olso Central bus station and Bergen bus station. If you get in earlier you will need to arrange your own transfer to the hotel (approximately NOK 80 (£6/€7) per person per way). Contact the Bookings Team for more information.

  • We do not provide specific suggestions for international flights, but there are plenty of options to choose from. Ensure your flight gives you enough time to connect with domestic transfers.

  • The bus journey is approximately 4.5 hours.

  • The transfer takes approximately five minutes.  

  • On arrival day, we will collect you from: Tyinkrysset bus station at 21:20.

    On departure day, we will drop you off at: Tyinkrysset bus station at 9:45.

  • Yes, private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost of approximately NOK 80 (£6/€7) per person per way. Please contact us in advance to arrange this.

Accommodation & Food

  • We stay at a newly renovated mountain hotel with 28 rooms and 15 apartments. Each room has a comfy bed, private bathroom with shower, mountain views from large windows, a window sofa for morning coffee, free WiFi, and a flat-screen TV. The hotel has a cosy restaurant, terrace, and is literally steps from the trails. It's not fancy, but after long mountain days you'll appreciate the comfort and those views.

  • Yes, towels are provided and hairdryers can be borrowed from reception for the length of your stay.

  • Laundry facilities aren't available at the hotel. Pack travel wash or soap flakes if you want to handwash clothes during the week.

  • The food is a highlight. The hotel chefs take pride in what they serve, using local ingredients from the nearby Valdres region. You'll get a mountain breakfast buffet each morning to fuel your days, packed lunches for the trails, and three-course dinners served each evening in the restaurant. Expect hearty Norwegian mountain food - warming soups, local meat and fish, dishes designed to refuel tired legs.

  • We accommodate most dietary requirements with advance notice. Just tell us early as sourcing specialty ingredients in the mountains takes planning.

Activities

  • You need prior cross-country skiing experience and solid fitness. We'll be skiing 6-8 hours daily, covering 15-25km with real elevation. If you train regularly and want to push yourself, you're ready. If you're still building your base fitness, you're not.

  • This trip isn’t for beginners, do our beginner's week first.

  • If you're comfortable with basic cross-country techniques and ready to level up, this is for you. We'll refine your skills over longer, more challenging routes that test your endurance and technique. 

  • No. Cross country and alpine skiing are distinct and very different from one another. Any prior ski knowledge is certainly a help, but the techniques and equipment used in cross country skiing is not the same, and foundational training for cross country is essential.

  • Functional stretching designed for recovery after demanding days on the trails. Wear comfortable, stretchy clothing.

  • Build cardio endurance through running, cycling, or swimming – longer sessions over varied terrain. Add hill work, squats, lunges, and core strength training. The fitter you arrive, the more you'll enjoy pushing your limits.

Gear & Packing

  • We provide everything you need to skiing:

    • Cross-country ski shoes

    • Cross-country ski boots

    • Cross-country ski poles

  • You know from previous experience what you need to wear and how hot you can get, despite what the temperature is doing outside. Here’s a reminder though:

    The mistake people often make is overdressing, getting too hot and sweaty whilst moving and then cooling off quickly and then feeling cold and damp at every stop. In addition, when we’re skiing with a group we may stop more frequently or for longer than you would if you were alone.

    We recommend a variety of wool or synthetic base layers, a thin mid layer, then topped by a windproof, breathable waterproof hiking jacket (shell) with a hood. We also recommend carrying a warm, insulated jacket in a backpack to put on at rest stops. On your legs, windproof, water repellent, breathable soft shell type trousers or are perfect, with enough room underneath for a base layer. You don’t need the same level of clothing as you do for downhill skiing as you’re not having to deal with queuing and riding lifts up the mountain.

    We recommend avoiding cotton clothing as it gets wet and cold and doesn't dry fast.

    Other vital items are warm socks, sunglasses, sunscreen, waterproof and insulated gloves, a buff and hat.

  • Yes! You can find a detailed packing list here.

  • Yes, bring a small daypack (around 25L) for essentials like water, snacks, and extra layers. You’ll need to put jackets and layers on whilst stationary, but need to pack them away whilst you ski.


    A lightweight dry bag is also recommended to keep things dry during activities.

Other

  • The weather in Tyin can vary and temperatures vary from month to month. While Norway gets cold, it's a dry cold that often doesn’t feel quite as harsh as long as you’re wrapped up warm. Be prepared for snow, wind or sunshine, depending on the season.

    An up to date weather forecast can be found in your customer booking portal.

  • Most places in Norway, including the hotel and ski resort, accept credit or debit cards, so there’s no need to carry cash. If you'd like, you can bring a small amount of local currency for personal expenses, but it’s not needed.

  • There is no upper age limit for our adventures - we have women up to 70 years old join us.

    The Gutsy Girls community is filled with fun, friendly and supportive women from 18-70+. We never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!

    As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years old, with around 60% in their 30s-40s. After a day learning to cross-country ski, snowshoeing to peaks for incredible views or exploring remote locations by dog sled, everyone’s ages become irrelevant as you bond over shared experiences.

  • Absolutely! Many of our participants join solo, and it’s a great way to meet new, like-minded friends. We’ll connect you with other participants via a WhatsApp group before the trip.

  • Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides, however we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available!

    Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.

    We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the amount of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.

  • If the weather affects the planned activities, we will adjust the itinerary as needed. Safety is our top priority, and we always have backup options for indoor or alternative activities.

  • Our itineraries are never set in stone.  Our guides will often swap things around to make the most of the given weather conditions on each day and taking the current forecast into account. 

    Please be flexible with our guides who work hard to ensure we are able to have adventures and stay safe at the same time.

  • Our hosts are volunteers who are passionate about our mission and want to help more women get outdoors. They're not professionals in the sports or from the countries the trips are based in. Instead, they are there for you. Our guides on the other hand are employed by our local partners in-country and are there to teach you epic activities, lead your sessions and answer all your questions.

  • Tipping is not compulsory on our adventures, but if you've had a great trip and brilliant service, a tip for your guide or host is always appreciated. We recommend giving €20-€30, or whatever you can or feel is the right amount.