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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateSweden
Feb
Learn to backcountry ski from a cabin with no power or running water, then ski out for two nights camping in the Swedish wilderness.
Beginner
Moderate
Back to Basics
From
£2,000
(USD $3,140.00)
No electricity, no trails, no crowds
Learn backcountry Nordic skiing, then put those skills to use on a three day winter camping expedition across Sweden’s remote mountain plateau.
Start at a cosy off-grid wilderness lodge with no electricity, just candlelight, log fires, warm beds and a sauna. Build your confidence on skis, then head onto the Fulufjället plateau pulling everything you need in a pulka sled. Spend two nights camping in sub-zero conditions and explore the remote wilderness.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Learn ski touring technique while exploring the wilderness
Pull pulkas up to Fulufjället plateau for two nights camping in shared tents
Four nights in a wilderness lodge, two nights camping on the plateau
Hearty homemade meals at the lodge and campfire cooking
Wilderness guides and your Gutsy Girls host
Pick-up and drop-off at Mora train station
Activity Overview
Trek through Sweden’s sub-zero wilderness, where only backcountry skis can take you. Backcountry skiing is similar to cross-country skiing but off the beaten track. There are no groomed trails, just you breaking your own path through the snow. Think winter hiking, but you glide across instead of stepping and sinking into snow.
New to winter sports? Jump straight in, you’ll pick this up fast. You just need some balance and to not mind sliding around. Expect to lose control a bit, that’s part of the fun.
Over five days you’ll build your skills, from Bambi-on-ice to confident wilderness skier, ready to tackle a two night expedition camping wild in the snow!
Activity Overview
Ski to a wind-swept mountain plateau, pulling everything you need in a pulka sled through open alpine terrain. Learn how to pitch a tent on skis, then set up the yurt for group cooking. Sleep in sub-zero gear and wake to a vast and silent landscape (except for the sound of other Gutsy Girls laughing about calling this a trip).
Activity Overview
Heat up in the wood-fired sauna at the cabin, then sprint straight into the frozen lake. The shock of ice-cold water after intense heat is surprisingly addictive. No pressure to take the plunge, but most people try it once and go back for more. Oh and this is your shower, there’s no running water!
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Fly into Stockholm Arlanda, then take the train to Mora where we'll pick you up from the station and drive to the wilderness lodge.
First dinner together, a brief on the week ahead, then early to bed.
Breakfast, then equipment fitting. Make the short drive and take your first steps on touring skis in prepared tracks to get the backcountry technique down.
Build a fire along the tracks to grill sandwiches and warm up with soup. Then head back to the cabin for your first sauna and ice dip experience.
Dinner by candlelight at the cabin.
Ski on untouched snow right from the lodge, across the lake and through forest along the shores. Then learn how to pitch tents with skis on and get to grips with pulling a sled.
Pack sleds, check weather conditions, learn more about winter camping skills and plan your expedition route.
Fuel up with dinner, then rest up - tomorrow is expedition day!
Set out to start your expedition! It’s a short but steep ascent up to the expansive Fulufjället mountain plateau.
Keep skiing across the plateau to look for the perfect camping spot.
Arrive at camp and pitch your tent. Dig and shape snow into pathways, wind walls, and even couches in the communal yurt. It's like building a snow village.
Sleep in, then enjoy a hearty breakfast. Leave camp behind for a day trip without your sled.
Ski to the "altar ring" - an ancient monument considered Sweden's highest altar of worship and likely built by the Sámi, who have inhabited this area for thousands of years.
Back to camp to cook, learn more winter skills and catch up after the long day.
Pack up camp and ski back towards the wilderness lodge.
Continue the journey back, making sure to manage your sled on the downhills.
Back at the cabin it's time for a final sauna and ice dip, then last dinner.
Pack up and transfer back to Mora train station to start your journey back.
Rest & Refuel
A cosy off-grid lodge, with wood-fired heaters, lanterns, candles, and a sauna (plus an icy lake) for washing. Shared twin bedrooms, a big kitchen, lounge space and an outhouse toilet. For two nights we’ll also camp in shared Arctic tents - a true wilderness experience.
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We cook together at the lodge. On day trips and the camping expedition, we'll prepare some meals ourselves alongside hearty soups and stews from our wilderness chef. Guides lead, everyone pitches in.
We can also cater for most dietary requirements, but please contact the booking team to check.
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Book now
The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Back to Basics An off-grid cabin with shared rooms, a sauna and outside bathroom. For two nights you’ll share a small two-man tent and camp in the snowy wilderness.
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|---|---|
| Food and Drink |
All meals are included. If your allergy is severe, please get in touch before you book.
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| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate You’ll be active for six to eight hours daily, covering 8–12km on skis. For three of those days you’ll also be hauling a pulka sled loaded with camping kit, which turns what would be a solid ski through forest into a genuine full-body effort. The cold adds its own demands on top: temperatures sit between -5°C and -20°C, and moving in those conditions takes more out of you than the same distance on a mild day would. If you’re working out three or more times a week (running, cycling, spin, gym sessions) and back-to-back active days don’t faze you, you’ll handle this well. You'll Need to Be
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| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No cross-country or backcountry skiing experience is needed. However you do need fitness, balance and a willingness to fall over a fair few times while you find your feet. 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 is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might have to invest in before your adventure! You can also rent winter clothing for this trip so that you don’t need to splash out on heavy duty winter wear. For a full list of what you’ll need to bring and what’s included in the clothing rental, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You'll Need
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| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Mora train station. For alternative routes and travel information, please see our trip guide. |
| Not Included |
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| Trip Code |
SWEDTNBSK |
The answers
Not at all. This trip is designed for complete beginners. We’ll start on simple tracks near our base to build confidence, then head into the wilderness once you’ve got the basics. You need good balance and decent fitness, but no technical skills or ski background. Even downhill ski experience won’t help you massively – this is a whole new technique. If you can handle hiking and don’t mind falling over while you learn, you’re in the right place.
This trip is rated moderate. You’ll be active for 6-8 hours daily, pulling sleds and setting up camp. You need to be able to do medium to high-intensity cardio three times a week for 45 minutes such as running, cycling or spin classes. Walking and yoga alone won’t cut it. If you regularly do workouts that leave you breathing heavily, you’ll be fine.
Amazing – with no artificial light around you’ll get the best views of the stars at night time and possibly even the northern lights. Our gear is designed for the sort of temperatures that you’ll experience and have all been tested in proper arctic conditions. Your guides will teach you everything about staying warm and safe in winter conditions, as well as the art of how to put up a camp whilst wearing skis!
We provide metal-edged touring skis (perfect for beginners and off-track skiing), boots, poles, and all camping gear (including a sleeping bag). You’ll also get your pulka sleds for the expedition and all the technical camping equipment.
If you don’t want to splash out on full cold weather gear, you can also hire a bundle for £150, including a thick coat, three-layer shell trousers, fleece and under jacket.
Think hiking on skis rather than downhill skiing. We’ll cover 8-12km daily at a gentle pace suited to the group. The first few days we ski 3.5-5 hours to build up skills. For the expedition, it’s about 10km with a 3km ascent to reach the plateau. There are downhill sections, but nothing too steep – we take our time and zigzag down slowly.
Our guides adjust pace to suit the group, but this is a challenging trip that requires commitment. There’s no backup transport in the wilderness, so once we’re on the expedition, everyone needs to stick together and see it through. We’re upfront about this because it’s important you come prepared for the full adventure.
We will collect you from Mora train station on arrival day and drop you back on the last day of the trip. You are responsible for getting yourself to Mora train station and tickets can be booked 90 days before via www.sj.se/en.
Transfer times:
The group transfer is included in your trip package. There is no discount if you choose not to use it.
Then you’ll need to come in the night before or fly out of Stockholm a day later. There are worse cities to spend your time in!
Otherwise you’ll need to arrange your own transport to meet the group. In remote Sweden, private transfers are limited and expensive. Our transfers run on schedule and can’t wait – even for flights from our suggested list. This is why comprehensive travel insurance covering delays is essential.
Expect proper cold. We’re talking typically between -5°C to -20°C, sometimes hitting -30°C or heading closer to zero. Swedish cold is dry, so feels less harsh than damp UK winter. You might see sunshine, clouds, wind, and snowfalls all in the same day. Your eyelashes will freeze, but that’s part of the experience. Layer up and embrace it.
Absolutely. Mountain weather can be unpredictable, so our guides adjust daily plans to ensure the best (and safest) experience. We design flexibility into every trip because weather and conditions can change. We always put safety first, but you’ll still get your full adventure experience.
Bring some cash for drinks or snacks before you head to the wilderness cabin. Sweden is expensive, but everything’s included in your trip price.
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