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Where are they?...

• 1. Alpine Ski Touring in Lyngen
• 2. Backcountry Skiing and Winter Camping in Abisko
• 3. Cross Country Skiing in Eastern Finland
• 4. Backcountry Skiing and Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
• 5. Cross Country Skiing in Hossa and Kalevala
• 6. Backcountry Skiing and Tipi Camping in Eastern Lapland
• 7. Discover Cross Country Skiing in Rondane

Cross country skiing and ski touring have become increasingly popular in recent years, as travellers become more aware of the negative environmental impact of downhill resorts and discover the enormous potential of this quieter, less intrusive way to enjoy the beauty of the winter landscape.

The Nordic countries are some of the world's top destinations for cross country skiing and ski touring, with thousands of kilometres of well-prepared tracks and waymarked trails as well as endless possibilities for off-track adventures:

• Sweden's fjäll landscape in the north offers tremendous hut-to-hut touring and winter camping possibilities, bringing you deep into the mountain wilderness surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.
• Finland's quiet forests and tranquil wilderness areas are perfect, both for our cross country tours travelling between local guest houses steeped in tradition and with a warm welcome, sauna and excellent food awaiting at the end of the day, or for our challenging expeditions into the wilderness of Finnish Lapland.
• Norway's stunning landscapes are a wonderful backdrop to your adventure as you head to the far north for a classic traverse of the Finnmark Plateau or the dramatic peaks of Lyngen.

Cross Country Skiing in Hossa and Kalevala. Photo: UT.

Nature Travels offers a range of cross county and ski touring holidays, from introductory-level tours to challenging ski touring expeditions.

Take the plunge for a cross country or ski touring adventure - you'll discover it's one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy the winter!

If you have children, have not skied before or would just like to ombine cross country skiing with other winter activities, you may like to consider oose one of our winter log cabin experiences such as Winter Log Cabin Getaway in Päijänne Tavastia. Equipment is available to hire from your hosts and the surrounding forests offer opportunities for cross country skiing right from the door.

Our option for ski touring in Sweden is located in the far north of Swedish Lapland.

Backcountry Skiing and Winter Camping in Abisko (8 days/7 nights)

A wilderness expedition with a very high level of physical challenge, this tour uses pulks to transport the equipment and takes you deep into the wilderness of Swedish Lapland for a week of backcountry skiing off the trails, camping wild for five nights of the tour. The tour begins and ends with night in comfortable accommodation at Abisko Turiststation.

Ski equipment and camping equipment are all included, and tours are possible throughout the winter season, from the deep midwinter of December to the lovely, light early spring days of mid-May.

Suitable for those used to the outdoors and looking for a challenge and who have a very high level of fitness and stamina. Previous ski experience is required, though previous backcountry ski touring experience is not essential.

Backcountry Skiing and Winter Camping in Abisko. Photo: WH.

Unlike our other options for ski touring, which use backcountry or cross country skis, one of our ski tours in Norway is an Alpine tours using Randonné where you will climb with skins before fastening your heels and skiing down (the really fun part!).

Norway is also the setting for Discover Cross Country Skiing in Rondane, a self-guided tour ideal for beginners learning to cross country ski but with the flexibility to adapt the distance and level of challenge for more experienced participants also.

Alpine Ski Touring in Lyngen. Photo: LOC.

Alpine Ski Touring in Lyngen (8 days/7 nights)

Alpine Ski Touring in Lyngen is a peak-touring experience running weekly between February and May. Often chosen as a private tour for small groups of friends, some tour dates are offered as "open" tours where individuals are also welcome to book. Please see tour information under "Dates" for details.

Located in the Lyngen region at the very top of Norway, this is a challenging and adventurous experience which can nevertheless be adapted to suit a very wide range of levels from novice to expert (private tours can offer great flexibility to accommodate any level of experience and ability, while public tour dates will have more defined criteria for participation).

Set in some of the most dramatic scenery in the world, and with accommodation in comfortable apartment and meals prepared for you in the evening, this is a bucket-list ski trip of the highest order!

Discover Cross Country Skiing in Rondane. Photo: MON.

Discover Cross Country Skiing in Rondane (7 days/6 nights)

Learn to cross country ski in one of Norway's most beautiful mountain areas on this self-guided tour between comfortable accommodation. The week combines day tour and point-to-point elements. Day tours are completely flexible in length and level of challenge, while the cabin-to-cabin days have very manageable distances (6-8km) with your main luggage transferred.

This is a wonderful choice for novices seeking an introduction to cross country skiing but still with the sense of achievement and adventure that comes with moving between different overnight locations.

Participants with previous cross country skiing experience can choose to extend the minimum distances to make a more challenging tour, and the week also includes the option to add extra activities such as dog sledding and snowshoeing.

Tour dates are flexible between February and April and accommodation is at three traditional, welcoming mountain lodges along the route.

In Finland, we offer tours using cross country skis with luggage transfer, and tours using backcountry skis carrying full pack and/or using pulks.

Cross Country Skiing in Eastern Finland (8 days/7 nights)

This is a guided cross country skiing tour using two guest house locations during the week and suitable for adults or older children (min. age 15) with previous cross country skiing experience who re comfortable skiing daily distances of 10-30km with light daypack.

This experience features a combination of day tours from fixed location and one point-to-point day moving to new accommodation, when luggage transfer is included, meaning you will be skiing with only a daypack during the day. Accommodation each night is in traditional, local guest houses rather than wilderness cabins as for many of our other ski tours. Your local hosts offer a warm welcome and insight into the culture and cuisine of the area and of course, being Finland, sauna is an important feature of each evening! Ski equipment is available to hire as an optional extra.

Cross Country Skiing in Eastern Finland. Photo: AKA.

Cross Country Skiing in Hossa and Kalevala (7 days/6 nights)

A little further north, in north-east Finland, this tour also offers an option for "classic" cross country ski tours between guest houses and cabins and also with luggage transfer included. The two 7-day itineraries offered here both require previous cross country skiing experience but are at two different challenge levels - one covering around 100km during 5 days of skiing, the other around 150km. As with the Eastern Finland tour, there is also a focus on local cuisine and culture (including visit to reindeer farm) as well as plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Finnish tradition of sauna at the end of the day!

Backcountry Skiing and Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland (8 days/7 nights)

In the far north of Finland, we offer two itineraries for hut-to-hut exploring the Lemmenjoki and Halti regions.

Backcountry Skiing and Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland. Photo: WH.

These tours are physically challenging and take place in very remote areas, with accommodation in simple wilderness cabins, but do not require previous ski touring experience, so can be a good option for participants with good level of fitness seeking to participate in a real winter expedition but without the requirement for technique necessary for other options such as the King's Trail in Sweden.

Backcountry Skiing and Tipi Camping in Eastern Lapland (7 days/6 nights)

For those who enjoy the extra dimension that winter camping brings to a trip, this tour in the remote north-east of Finland is a wonderful adventure, requiring a high level of fitness and love of the outdoors but, as the skiing is not technical, suitable for participants with limited ski experience.

Backcountry Skiing and Tipi Camping in Eastern Lapland. Photo: UT.

You will be skiing with your own pulk through remote protected areas, with overnight accommodation along the way in communal tipi heated by lightweight wood-burning stove. A wonderful opportunity to experience the stark beauty of the Lapalnd wilderness in wintertime, with very good chances for Norhern Lights during your tour.