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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateSweden
Dec - Feb
Learn cross-country skiing in Sweden’s snowy mountains, with snowshoeing, yoga, ice bathing and snowcat adventures.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£2,350
(USD $3,689.50)
Your First Time on Skis
This active winter holiday gets you cross-country skiing across northern Sweden. Expert instructors teach you the technique, then you’ll put it into practice on 300 kilometres of groomed trails through snowy valleys and up to mountain viewpoints.
No experience needed, just bring your determination and willingness to learn. Between ski sessions, snowshoe through fresh snow, brave the Swedish ice bath tradition, and unwind with yoga at the family-run mountain hotel.
End each day with great food, sauna sessions, and a snowcat ride to another restaurant high in the mountains.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Expert lessons and guided tours on Bruksvallarna's 300km groomed trails
Guided winter exploration through untouched snow in the Swedish wilderness
Adrenaline-fuelled ride to mountain-top cabin for dinner under the stars
Four evening yoga sessions to stretch out tired legs, plus a plunge into a frozen lake
Cross-country skis, boots and poles - all technical gear covered
Traditional family-run mountain hotel with indoor pool and sauna for post-ski recovery
Breakfast buffets, packed lunches, plus 3-course dinners at hotel, local brasserie, and mountain cabin
Professional ski instructors for lessons and tours, plus your Gutsy Girls host
Pick-up and drop-off at Trondheim airport
Activity Overview
Cross-country skiing takes you to snowy mountain tops, far from the resort crowds and lift queues.
Never tried winter sports? Cross-country skiing is your perfect introduction to snow holidays. It’s a much faster learning curve than downhill skiing; you’ll make real progress over just a few days. Plus it’s easier on the knees!
We’ll be active throughout each day, exploring remote locations and building your technique. It’s a proper full-body workout that engages everything while you glide through snowy landscapes most people never see.
Activity Overview
Swap your skis for snowshoes and tackle the Swedish wilderness on foot. Less technique to master, more time to actually look around and take in the views.
We’ll head deep into forests where the trees are heavy with snow and the trails are wherever we make them. You’re more likely to spot wildlife tracks than other people’s footprints.
Activity Overview
A private dinner in a mountain cabin, just for our group. We’ll take a snowcat (think tank meets ski lift) to get to the top for local food and views that stretch for miles.
Activity Overview
The hotel sits right by a frozen lake, and we’ve cut a hole that’s perfect for a quick dip. The sauna’s a short walk away for when you need to defrost.
Get in or don’t, either way, you’ll get entertainment from watching your fellow Gutsy Girls discover exactly how cold Swedish lake water gets in winter. The swearing is half the fun!
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.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Fly into Trondheim (Norway) and we'll pick you up for the transfer to the hotel. Once everyone's arrived, you’ll meet the group over dinner and your host will brief you on the week ahead.
Fuel up with breakfast, then it’s straight into your first cross-country lesson. We'll cover the basics - how to move, balance, and get comfortable on skis.
Lunch is back at the hotel, then it’s another lesson to build on what you've mastered, before your first ski tour of the week! Later learn all about the different equipment over coffee.
Hit the sauna, then enjoy a three-course dinner at the hotel.
Your morning lesson today combines skill-building with exploration. You'll start putting all those basic techniques together.
Refuel with lunch, then head out for a longer ski tour! When you're back, we'll cover snow safety so you know what you're doing out there.
Enjoy a yoga session, optional sauna, then it’s time for dinner at a local brasserie to taste the local dishes.
Ready for the next step? Today is a full-day ski tour to put all the basics into practice and start covering some distance!
After a packed lunch out on the trail, you’ll continue the tour.
It’s back to base for a yoga session and three-course dinner.
Switching things up today you’ll trade your skis for snowshoes and head up the mountain, making your own trails through fresh snow.
After a packed lunch on the mountain, we’ll then head back for free time at the hotel. Hit the sauna, read, or just chill.
Stretch in a yoga session, then snowcat ride up the mountain for dinner at a mountain hut.
Grab breakfast, then gear up for another full-day ski tour. After days of practice to build confidence, it’s time to explore further afield.
Continue the tour after a packed lunch, making the most of the different terrain.
Head out for a night ski with headtorches before dinner back at the hotel.
Today’s the final full-day ski tour into the mountains.
After a packed lunch you’ll continue the tour, putting together all the ski skills you've picked up over the week.
Enjoy a final yoga session, then settle down for a farewell dinner at the local brasserie.
After breakfast, you have free time until your transfer back to Trondheim. You're heading home with proper cross-country skiing skills under your belt!
Rest & Refuel
A traditional mountain hotel with scenery for days. The rooms are simple, but the location is unbeatable and this family-run place will have you feeling at home from day one. The sauna is great after a long day on skis!
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Hearty buffet breakfasts and packed lunches fuel you through the day. Dinner is served at three different spots - the seriously good 3-course meals at the hotel, as well as two nights at a local brasserie for proper local produce, and one mountain-top hut meal with incredible views.
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Book now
The essentials
| Accommodation |
Home Comforts A family-run mountain hotel with private and shared bedrooms and a hotel restaurant.
|
|---|---|
| Food and Drink |
All meals included, and they’re all outstanding. Expect local ingredients and local recipes. We accommodate most dietary requirements with advance notice.
|
| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Cross-country skiing works like running with skis on. 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 (running, cycling, HIIT, spin), you’ll handle this well. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No cross-country skiing experience needed — and 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 |
This list is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might need 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
|
| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Trondheim airport. Alternative routes and travel information are in our trip guide. |
| Not Included |
|
| Trip Code |
SWEBRUXCSB |
The answers
You can fly direct from Gatwick to Trondheim with Norwegian on the way out. There’s no direct flight home, so the return routes via Oslo.
Suggested Flights
Group Transfer
We include one shared transfer on both the arrival and departure days of your trip.
Not sure if your flight works? Just ask, we’re happy to help.
Not at all. This trip is designed for complete beginners. Cross-country skiing is nothing like alpine skiing – even experienced downhill skiers start as beginners here. You’ll get excellent instruction throughout the week, building skills and confidence on 300km of groomed trails.
You need good cardiovascular fitness. If you exercise at high intensity (gym, swim, run, spin etc) at least 3 times a week you’ll be good to go. Cross-country skiing often feels like “running with skis on” with 6-7 hours of daily activity (and a few breaks!).
You’ll move your body every day for several hours, but you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete. Expect gentle slopes with some speed, plus more physically demanding uphill climbs. It’s not a walk in the park, but we’re not exactly climbing Everest either.
You’ll likely take a few tumbles – that’s part of learning. Falls in cross-country skiing are generally softer than alpine skiing, but you need to be comfortable with the idea of hitting the snow while you get the hang of it.
We provide cross-country skis, boots, and poles. You’ll need your own clothing layers: windproof jacket, soft shell trousers, base layers, and warm accessories.
The yoga sessions are slow and restorative, designed to help you recover from skiing days. Perfect for all levels, including complete beginners.
Private transfers cost NOK 2700 for 1-4 people (approx £200). Group transfers run on schedule and can’t be delayed. That’s why travel insurance covering delays and missed connections is essential.
Temperatures are between about -10°C to -20°C. Swedish cold is dry, so feels less harsh than a damp UK cold at a similar temperature.
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