Cross country skiing in Norway
| country: | Norway |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 21 Dec, 28 Dec 2009: 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 20 Dec, 27 Dec |
| price: | From £775 - £955 (8 days) including return flights from the UK, from £635 - £875 excluding flights |
read 6 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Expert instruction and skiing for all levels in the heart of Norway's Telemark ski region.
Kvitavatn lies at nearly 1000m above the town of Rjukan, boasting superb views of Gausta (1883m), the highest mountain in southern Norway. To the north stretches the vast plateau of the Hardangervidda.
There is an endless range of skiing possibilities with 120km of varied tracks through forests and open country, as well as a good selection of downhill runs. The off-track touring is excellent and takes us above the tree line where there is a vast expanse of wilderness to explore - the summit of Ornenipa can be reached at around 1300m. The quality of instruction makes this an ideal venue for beginners.
For intermediates and the advanced your skiing will be fine-tuned and there is the opportunity for higher level ski tours. Stretching sessions are offered after skiing each day and every evening we arrange presentations covering topics such as winter survival, ski waxing and safety in the mountains.
Optional activities: Downhill skiing, Self-guided snowshoeing or skiing, Visit to Rjukan to its numerous shops and cafes.
Accommodation: The informal atmosphere of a mountain lodge. Meal arrangements include breakfast buffet, self-made packed lunch and self-service dinner. The main building has a lounge and a large dining room with spectacular views of Gausta. Standard accommodation is in a separate building, 30 metres from the main lodge. We use 3/4-bunk rooms, and 2-bunk rooms (supplement payable), all with washbasin only, while shower, sauna, toilets and drying-room are shared. In an adjacent building, there are six comfortable twin-bedded rooms with private facilities (supplement payable).
Kvitavatn lies at nearly 1000m above the town of Rjukan, boasting superb views of Gausta (1883m), the highest mountain in southern Norway. To the north stretches the vast plateau of the Hardangervidda.
There is an endless range of skiing possibilities with 120km of varied tracks through forests and open country, as well as a good selection of downhill runs. The off-track touring is excellent and takes us above the tree line where there is a vast expanse of wilderness to explore - the summit of Ornenipa can be reached at around 1300m. The quality of instruction makes this an ideal venue for beginners.
For intermediates and the advanced your skiing will be fine-tuned and there is the opportunity for higher level ski tours. Stretching sessions are offered after skiing each day and every evening we arrange presentations covering topics such as winter survival, ski waxing and safety in the mountains.
Optional activities: Downhill skiing, Self-guided snowshoeing or skiing, Visit to Rjukan to its numerous shops and cafes.
Accommodation: The informal atmosphere of a mountain lodge. Meal arrangements include breakfast buffet, self-made packed lunch and self-service dinner. The main building has a lounge and a large dining room with spectacular views of Gausta. Standard accommodation is in a separate building, 30 metres from the main lodge. We use 3/4-bunk rooms, and 2-bunk rooms (supplement payable), all with washbasin only, while shower, sauna, toilets and drying-room are shared. In an adjacent building, there are six comfortable twin-bedded rooms with private facilities (supplement payable).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly from Heathrow to Oslo with SAS (13:05 - 16:20); transfer by road to Kvitavatn (approx. 3 1/2 hours). |
| Day 2-7: | Six days cross-country skiing. |
| Day 8: | Return transfer to Oslo. Fly Oslo to Heathrow (15:10 - 16:25). Flight times subject to confirmation. |
travellers' tales
Ingrid, the instructor, was fantastic... The snow conditions and weather were perfect, and the trails varied and interesting. The hotel was great, very friendly staff and very comfortable, and the food was plentiful and well prepared. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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Our cross-country skiing holidays in general avoid large alpine ski areas, and are less dependent on snow cannons, graded pistes and ski lifts, creating significantly less environmental impact than alpine skiing holidays. Using skis that are longer and lighter than alpine skis, our cross-country day tours explore the magical scenery and tranquility of the natural winter environments. Journeys further afield may utilise public transport and the local economy benefits from our groups purchasing supplies and ski hire directly.
Our accommodation occupies a unique setting overlooking a frozen lake with magnificent Mount Gausta as the backdrop. Environmental policies in place at Kvitavatn Fjellstoge include recycling waste materials, energy saving with night heating, requesting suppliers limit cardboard and the number of deliveries, as well as recent upgrades to the refrigeration and freezer system in order to save water. Towels are only changed mid-week upon request and cleaning materials are ecologically friendly where possible. We have teamed up with Friends of Conservation to support projects at Ranthambore, India, Nava Kiran Orphanage, Nepal and on the edge of the Masai Mara, Kenya. Water consumption in our UK office has been reduced by 30% since 2005, and the range of materials recycled by the office has been broadened. All electricity is supplied from renewable sources such as combined heat and power, and hydroelectric, and regular audits are carried out to compare our energy consumption with received benchmarks set up by the Carbon Trust. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |