FAQs
Sweden Cross Country Ski and Yoga Retreat - Beginners
Travel
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You are responsible for getting to Trondheim airport, where we will meet you.
On arrival day we will collect you from:
Trondheim airport at 16:00
On departure day we will drop you off to:
Trondheim airport at 15:00
We include one timed transfer on arrival and departure. Due to long distances, private transfers are expensive to arrange but if you can’t make the scheduled transfer times, see “What if I can’t make the transfer times?” for taxi costs.
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Flights aren’t included in your trip, but we’ve listed some options that align with the group transfer to make planning easier.
These aren’t official recommendations — just helpful examples. You can book any flight that fits the schedule, but transfers run on time and can’t be delayed, even if your flight is listed.
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers delays, cancellations, and missed connections.
On arrival day we will collect you from:
Trondheim airport at 16:00
Suggested Flight:
LGW 11:50 ✈ TRD 15:15 | Norwegian DY 1341
On departure day we will drop you off at:
Trondheim airport at 15:00
Suggested Flight:
TRD 17:00 ✈ LGW 20:10 | Norwegian DY 765, DY 1310
Not sure if your flight works? Just ask — we’re happy to help.
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Think of the transfer like a train: it runs on time and can’t be delayed.
You are welcome to get any flight that arrives in time to make the transfer. However, to make planning easier, we’ve listed some flight times that align with the group transfer. These are not official recommendations though, just helpful examples.
Please note, if your flight is late or cancelled, you’ll need to make your own way to the start location, but we’ll support you with local transport information on the day.
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers delays, cancellations, and missed connections.
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Yes — a group transfer is included on both the arrival and departure days. This is a shared transfer, running at fixed times to and from a designated location (usually an airport or train station).
There is one transfer each way, and your flight must match the timing. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to make your own arrangements.
The group transfer is included in your trip package. There is no discount if you choose not to use it.
On arrival day we will collect you from:
Trondheim airport at 16:00
On departure day we will drop you off at:
Trondheim airport at 15:00
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If you are flying internationally to Oslo Gardermoen and then connecting with a flight to Røros, you will need to check in separately for each connecting flight. Make sure you have enough time.
You will need to collect hold bags and check them in again for the next flight.
You must pass through security and passport control during each connection and you will need a visa if your connection is in a country that requires one.
You should check before you book that you have time to connect through the airport
What if flights are cancelled or delayed?
Booking with a flight consolidator or agent could provide you with some guarantee against cancellations or missed connections. Check the agent's policies before you book.
If you book direct with the airlines, your transfers may not be guaranteed.
Please note that Gutsy Girls cannot book travel and is not responsible for your travel to Røros and this information is just provided as a guide to help you!
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Missed transfers are rare, but we want to be upfront so you can plan with confidence.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you’ll need to arrange your own transport to meet the group. We’ll support you as best we can — your host will be your main contact on the day and can help coordinate locally. You can also contact our bookings team, available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm UK time, though replies may be delayed outside of these hours.
Even if you booked a flight from our Suggested Flights, group transfers run on schedule and cannot wait for late arrivals.
In some locations, arranging a private transfer is straightforward — but in more remote areas, it can be limited and expensive. That’s why comprehensive travel insurance is essential, not only for delays and cancellations, but also in case you need to cancel your trip before departure.
Make sure your insurance covers travel delays and missed connections — it could save you a significant amount if things don’t go to plan.
The private transfer will cost NOK 2700 for 1 - 4 people.
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You should buy comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book your trip — not just before you travel. This ensures you’re covered in case you need to cancel before departure, as well as for any unexpected issues while you’re away.
Your policy should include cover for:
Travel delays and missed connections
Trip cancellation
Medical emergencies and evacuation
Baggage and equipment loss
All activities included in your itinerary
Travel insurance is a requirement for joining any Gutsy Girls trip, and it’s your responsibility to check that your policy includes the kind of adventure you've signed up for — especially outdoor or sporting activities.
Booking your insurance early gives you peace of mind and protects your trip from the very start.
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If you have the time or need to spend an extra night to make travel options work, we love Oslo!
Ask us for recommendations on things to do.
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We will connect you with others on the trip via WhatsApp, so you may be able to arrange to travel together.
Accommodation
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The hotel we stay at is a cosy family-owned hotel with 47 rooms and a restaurant well known for its great meals. The views are spectacular. You can ski right from the door!
The rooms are simple, light and airy with a mountain style and there are superb views from the dining room and many of the bedrooms.
There's a small pool, excellent sauna and relaxing area. Free Wi-Fi is available in all of the hotel. Downstairs from the cosy lobby, you find the lounge with a bar. In the area there’s also a ski area where you can wax your skis.
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Yes! Hairdryers are shared, so pack your own if you always want access to one.
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No - you could bring some soap flakes / travel wash to wash your base layers if you think this will be necessary!
Food
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The delicious food on this trip is a real highlight. In the hotel we will have a sumptuous breakfast buffet and a plentiful packed lunch for our days out.
Some evenings we will eat a fantastic three course dinner in the hotel, and on two occasions we will have dinner at Brasserie Kerstin, just around the corner, which offers an à la carte menu using local ingredients and local recipes.
One evening we will eat at the waffle hut Knallen, Bruksvallarna's top cabin at 1050 meters above sea level and with a magnificent view of the mountain world.
The hotel is committed to catering for all dietary requirements and allergies.
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We can cater for all dietary requirements and we will request information prior to your arrival.
Activities
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We will be skiing for several hours each morning and afternoon or doing full day tours. We ask that you are realistic in assessing your fitness for this trip. Many people of all ages enjoy cross country skiing. If you lead an active life and perhaps take some time to prepare yourself (see "How can I improve my fitness for cross country skiing?"), you will have a great time. You do not need to be an Olympic athlete! If you exercise at high intensity (gym, swim, run, spin etc) 2-3 times a week you’ll be good to go for this adventure!
If you have any questions about this, please do get in touch before booking, we're happy to help!
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Beginners Weeks
No! This trip is designed for complete beginners. We can’t wait to share the joys of nordic and cross country skiing with you! Working with fantastic ski instructors and guides, you’ll receive excellent tuition progressing your skills throughout the week, learning new techniques and building your mileage to explore incredible remote and snowy landscapes.
Improvers / Intermediate Weeks
Yes, you need to have some previous cross country skiing experience to join this trip. If you have previously been on a Gutsy Girls cross country ski weekend or week or have spent a few days cross country skiing elsewhere, and can move efficiently on cross country skis, you'll be at the right level.
Please note that downhill (alpine) skiing experience is not enough to qualify you for this intermediate trip! The skills needed for cross country skiing are different (though downhill ski experience helps!), so you definitely need to have skied cross country before joining this trip.
Working with fantastic ski instructors and guides, we'll progress our skills further and take on longer tours and distances throughout the week, enabling us to explore more of the incredible remote and snowy landscapes.
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Working on your cardiovascular fitness will help you with endurance and stamina. Walking at a good pace (where you feel slightly out of breath) is really useful, or of course, running or cycling or performing other higher intensity exercise.
Improving your strength, core stability and balance really helps with cross country skiing too. Good balance is essential for weight transfer from one ski to the next. We will be balancing on one ski as it glides – so if standing one one leg is a challenge then practising will help! You could stand on one leg every time you clean your teeth! Activities and sports that challenge our balance can help us develop our balance in a progressive way, including Pilates, yoga and dancing.
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Please see our blog about cross country ski clothing here.
In a nutshell, when we are cross country skiing we are very active and generating heat while out in the cold. While moving we get hot (and sweaty!) but then when we stop in the cold, we cool down quickly. 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. Cross country skiing does NOT require the same sort of clothing as downhill skiing because the warm, padded clothing for downhill skiing takes into account long stretches sitting still on chairlifts at the mercy of the weather - not needed whilst cross country skiing!
We recommend a variety of wool or synthetic base layers, topped by a windproof, breathable waterproof hiking jacket (shell) with a hood, with a warm, insulated jacket in a backpack to put on at rest stops. On your legs, we recommend windproof, water repellent, breathable soft shell type fitted trousers or leggings.
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.
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Yes! You can find it here.
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Yes! Ensure you bring a daypack with you that has plenty of space for layers that you need to peel off and put away. We recommend a backpack of about 25 litres.
It is a good idea to carry a warm, insulated jacket in your bag that you can put on at rest stops to stop you from getting cold, and a spare pair of gloves because wet gloves are the worst! Make sure there is some space in your bag before you begin as you are likely to need to put layers away as you warm up.
It is a really good idea to carry a couple of smaller, lightweight dry bags to keep the clothes in your backpack from getting wet.
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The yoga sessions are slow and restorative to help you recover from a day of skiing!
Other
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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 Sweden it is a “dry” cold which tends to feel less cold than “damp” cold.
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On this trip, everywhere you will visit accepts cards, so you don't need to withdraw any Swedish Krone at all!
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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, mountain biking over the hills, hiking to peaks for incredible views or exploring remote locations by paddleboard, age becomes irrelevant as we are all connected by our experiences.
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Definitely join alone, the vast majority of guests come along to our events and retreats solo.
Our aim is to connect you with like-minded new friends! We are a very friendly bunch, come as you are, we can’t wait to meet you!
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Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides on our day events and trips, 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 amount of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.
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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.
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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.