Beginner-Friendly Skiing: Learn to cross-country ski with expert guidance in a stunning setting.
Snowshoeing Adventure: Traverse remote, snow-laden landscapes on snowshoes, enjoying the peaceful beauty of nature.
Overnight Cabin Expedition: Embrace rustic living with a night in an off-grid cabin, ideal for stargazing and possibly viewing the northern lights.
Explore Varied Landscapes: Journey from the grandeur of Mount Hanguren to the tranquil Raundalen valley and the stunning Ulvikafjorden.
Lakeside Sauna: Enjoy a relaxing sauna experience by the lake.
Unique Accommodations: Experience varied stays at Voss Hostel, Kårdal Fjellstove mountain lodge, and a mountain cabin.
Join us for a one-of-a-kind adventure in Fjord Norway, where dramatic landscapes of deep blue fjords, towering mountains, and unspoiled wilderness await. Our adventure, accessible to all levels of experience, will take us through four spectacular winter wonderlands, offering an exciting mix of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Our adventure begins on Mount Hanguren, soaring 820 metres above sea level, where you'll learn the joys of cross-country skiing. Guided by experts, you'll quickly find yourself gliding through the snowy landscape with ease. We'll then take our skis to the beautiful Raundalen valley, immersing ourselves in its serene beauty.
Next, we'll explore the wild and remote areas of Ulvikafjorden, an awe-inspiring branch of Hardangerfjord. Strapping on our snowshoes, we'll traverse this breathtaking fjord, encircled by steep mountains, offering the ideal setting for an enchanting winter hike.
A highlight of our trip is the overnight snowshoeing expedition to a remote mountain cabin. Here, away from the hustle of everyday life, we'll experience the simplicity and beauty of living in the wild. As night falls, prepare to be enchanted by an evening of stargazing, with the clear Nordic sky as our canvas.
Throughout our journey, we'll stay in three different locations, each offering a unique perspective of Norway's pristine wilderness. This adventure is more than just a holiday; it's a journey into the heart of nature, filled with breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences.
ACTIVITIES
Cross Country Skiing
Cross country skiing is an excellent gateway to winter sports, especially for those new to skiing. It's quick to learn and done on flatter terrain, similar to hiking on skis. This makes it a fantastic method for accessing remote, snow-covered areas without needing extensive technical training.
With our skilled instructors, you'll start on easy terrain, picking up the basics of this efficient way to traverse snowy landscapes. In just about half an hour, you'll be comfortably gliding along the valley's trails, ready to explore the winter wonderland.
SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoeing is essentially the winter version of hiking. With just a pair of snowshoes and a few basic techniques, you can effortlessly traverse through remote, snow-laden landscapes.
On this adventure, snowshoeing is our main activity, enabling us to trek into breathtakingly secluded areas. It's the perfect winter activity, requiring no technical skills, and immerses us completely in nature's serene beauty.
Overnight Cabin Expedition
One of the highlights of our trip is an overnight snowshoe expedition to a remote cabin. As we journey to the cabin, we'll melt snow for water and warm the space using a wood-burning stove, creating a unique and rustic experience amidst the pristine wilderness. With no light pollution, the location is perfect for stargazing, and we might even be lucky enough to witness the mesmerising northern lights
LOCATION
Voss
Our journey kicks off in Voss, renowned as Norway's adventure hub. Here, we'll dive into the world of cross-country skiing, taking the gondola to experience breathtaking mountain views. Evenings in Voss are for embracing the local sauna culture, complete with invigorating dips in a chilly lake, perfectly blending thrill and relaxation.
Ulvikafjorden
Next, we venture to Ulvikafjorden, a stunning and less-travelled branch of Hardangerfjord. Surrounded by steep mountains, it's an ideal spot for snowshoeing. Our trek will lead us up the mountains, offering spectacular views of the fjords sprawling below.
Raundalen
Our adventure in Raundalen offers a serene escape into nature. This secluded valley, defined by its tranquility and wilderness, features the picturesque Raundalen river winding through gorges and marshlands. Here, we'll immerse ourselves in the untouched beauty of the landscape, engaging in snowshoeing and cross country skiing amidst this idyllic setting.
accommodation
Our chosen accommodations blend comfort with the simplicity of nature, ideal for unwinding after a day of activities. You’ll have the option of a shared twin room or a private room.
VOSS HOSTEL
We'll spend our first two nights at Voss Hostel, located beside a picturesque lake. The rooms are spacious and bright, with a guest lounge for relaxation. The wood-fired sauna by the lake offers a truly Nordic experience.
Kårdal Fjellstove
For the following three nights, our home will be Kårdal Fjellstove, a cosy mountain lodge with stunning views and direct access to wilderness trails. Its warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it an ideal mountain retreat.
Wilderness Cabin
We'll experience one night in a rustic wilderness cabin in the mountains. This communal living space offers us a unique chance to connect with nature and each other in a serene setting.
FOOD
Fuel your journey with delicious meals, all included. Begin each day with a hearty buffet breakfast, enjoy a packed lunch during your adventures, and unwind with tasty dinners at our hotels each evening.
dateS 2024
Sat 16 March - Fri 22 March ⚡️ 1 SPOT LEFT
Price
£1800 | Private single ensuite (shared room at wilderness cabin)
£1700 | Twin room ensuite (shared room at wilderness cabin)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days cross country skiing - with instruction
3 days of guided snowshoeing
Equipment rental - ski boots, skis, poles, snowshoes
6 nights accommodation
2 nights in Voss Hostel
3 nights in mountain lodge
1 night in wilderness cabin
All meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Gutsy Girl host
Local mountain guide
Transfers from train stations
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Drinks
Travel Insurance
Personal clothing / gear (check the link below!)
Check out our packing list below our FAQs here
PAYMENTS
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit, your remaining balance is due 45 days before your trip start date.
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This adventure is rated moderate.
The trip is perfect for beginners, with no previous ski or winter sport experience, however you’ll need a good level of fitness to get the most from this experience.
What to Expect
Duration: Daily, you'll be active for 6-7 hours, split into 2-3 hour sessions or occasionally full-day tours.
Distance: We'll cover between 8km to 15km daily. Consider if you can comfortably walk these distances and on consecutive days.
Intensity: Cross country skiing often feels like "running with skis on" long flat sections and uphill climbs can be physically demanding.
Downhill & Speed: Expect gentle slopes, they aren't very steep, but you will pick up speed. If past downhill experiences left you apprehensive, this sport might not be for you.
Gliding Motion: Cross country skiing is all about the glide, you’ll be aiming to generate speed and momentum! If sliding isn't your thing, this sport might not be for you.
Falling: You’re likely to take a few tumbles when learning to ski, so you shouldn’t feel nervous about falling.
Consecutive Activity: This trip involves several days of consecutive skiing, which can be tiring.
If you have any questions about this, please do get in touch, we're happy to help!
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FLIGHTS
We don't have recommended flights for these trips, you just need to book a flight to Bergen which lines up with our recommended train times (listed below).
You will need a morning flight to Bergen, to give you plenty of time to get the train to Voss, and an evening flight back from Bergen on the way home.
LONDON
The timings of Norwegian flights from London Gatwick work well for this trip, as below, though you may also find others that work as well:
Outbound
Norwegian DY1315
Depart 8:40 LGW London Gatwick
Arrive 11:35 BGO Bergen
(NB in April the timings are 10 minutes later)
Inbound
Norwegian DY1318
Depart BGO Bergen 19:10
Arrive LGW London Gatwick 20:10
(NB in April the timings are 10 minutes earlier)
ABERDEEN
Wideroe also fly directly to Bergen from Aberdeen with flight times that also work with our recommended trains:
Outbound
Wideroe WF395
Depart 12:20 ABZ Aberdeen
Arrive 14:40 BGO Bergen
(NB in April the timings are 20 minutes earlier)
Inbound
Wideroe WF398
Depart 17:55 BGO Bergen
Arrive 18:20 ABZ Aberdeen
You could also consider spending a night in Bergen before or after the trip - it's a great city to explore.
RECOMMENDED TRAINS
To get from Bergen airport to the train station, you will need to take Tram No. 1 which runs every 5 minutes and takes about 45 minutes.
Buy a single tram ticket at Skyss' ticket machines at all Bergen Light Rail stops. Pay using bank card (Visa, Mastercard or Maestro), smartphone or smartwatch.
You will then change to Train R40 departing Bergen train station which runs direct to Voss.
We will meet the following trains from Bergen to Voss:
Depart Bergen stasjon 13:20, Arrive Voss stasjon 14:39
Depart Bergen stasjon 15:28, Arrive Voss stasjon 16:44
Depart Bergen stasjon 16:29, Arrive Voss stasjon 17:49
From Voss station it is a short walk to our first accommodation.
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We can accommodate all dietary needs.
Included is a buffet breakfast, packed lunch and 2 or 3-course dinners.
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Our experiences are created with solo female travellers in mind, connecting like-minded women through sports, nature and adventure. The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-65+ years old, 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 cross country skiing in the wild, age becomes irrelevant, as we are all connected by our experiences.
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You will need personal travel insurance that covers you for cross country skiing and snowshoeing this is a requirement.
We highly recommend you buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your spot to cover yourself should you fall ill or injure yourself before your trip.
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The cancellation will only be effective from the date that the cancellation is received in writing by email. Cancellation charges will be payable as follows:
• Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 44 days or less before the trip
• Cancellation fee of 30% is charged if cancelled 45 days or more before the trip
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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.
Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male.
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 number of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.
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This trip has a maximum of 7 spots, early booking is advised!
PACKING LIST
The weather is likely to be cold and changeable. Of course we cannot predict the weather on any given week, but temperatures around -10°C are considered perfect for cross country skiing, and we may sometimes have temperatures of more like -20°C. This sounds cold, however, for most of the winter in Norway it is a “dry” cold which tends to feel less cold than “damp” cold. You do need enough clothes to stay warm and comfortable though! Please read our blog post for more information on what we recommend you wear whilst cross country skiing (and the same applies to snowshoeing)!
WE PROVIDE
Cross country skis
Ski boots
Ski poles
Snowshoes
YOU WILL NEED
Cross country ski and snowshoeing kit - for more info see our blog post:
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support for snowshoeing. (Preferably something not too lightweight. You don't need stiff soled winter hiking or mountaineering boots, but snow boots that are a bit like soft wellies with fluffy liners aren’t supportive enough).
25+ litre backpack
Base layer thermal tops (a selection which you can layer up) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Long johns (thermal) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Fleece or wool jumper
A breathable, waterproof shell jacket - a hiking waterproof is ideal
Soft shell winter hiking trousers (windproof, water repellent, breathable)
A warm packable insulated / down jacket
A selection of socks of different thicknesses to help you get the best fit in your hire boots (wool is best)
Sunglasses (ideally polarised)
Warm hat
Buff (you might want two - one for your neck, one as a headband)
Ski gloves (2 pairs, ideally, in case one gets wet - normal ski gloves will do - warm mittens are best if you are prone to getting cold)
Thinner gloves in case it is warm (you will get hot if you’re working hard!)
Glove liners and/or disposable hand warmers if you suffer from cold hands
Waterproof trousers (optional - recommended for a cold / snowy week or to keep your legs warm if you have thin trousers)
Off the snow:
Casual evening clothes
Night wear
Toiletries
Swimwear for the sauna if you wish (Norwegians will happily go nude!)
Sunscreen (high factor)
Any prescription medication
Other medication (paracetamol/ibuprofen) is significantly more expensive in Norway so bring some if you need to
Compeed or moleskin for blisters, just in case!
Slippers for the lodges
Other Stuff:
Sleeping bag liner for the hut
Camera
Dry bags for inside your day pack to keep stuff dry
Waterproof case for your phone might be handy
Snacks
Medium sized tupperware for carrying your lunch out on the trails (optional)
Thermos so you can take hot drinks out on the trails
Water bottle (not a camelbak style bladder which will freeze)
If you’re packing light, you could bring soap flakes/wash to hand wash thermals if required