Learn to Backcountry Ski in Rondane (Norway)

Private guiding and instruction tailors the experience to your needs

The itinerary features three days of guided backcountry skiing with your own private guide, who will be able to offer your their full attention and benefit of their expertise and local knowledge.

On Day 2, for your first day of skiing you will head up to the plateau for an introductory day tour of around four hours (approx. 10km), offering a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding wilderness as you try skiing both on and off trails. After lunch out on the trail, you return to the lodge in the evening.

This private experience is available for groups of 1-6 persons. Photo: Terje Rakke.

Day 3 and Day 4 are an overnight expedition to mountain cabin, offering an exciting "point-to-point" element to your adventure and giving you the opportunity to further develop your backcountry skiing technique and confidence.

If you wish, you can arrange to try skiing with a pulk as part of your tour - ideal if you are using the experience as a stepping stone to one of our longer and more challenging backcountry ski expeditions.

On Day 3, you will head out for an overnight expedition to mountain cabin. Photo: RRL.

Typical distances covered will be 8-14 km per day, but can be adapted to offer the best possible experience depending on weather conditions and the ability of the group. There are a number of mountain cabin locations which may be used for the overnight expedition, offering considerable flexibility. The mountain cabin offer simpler facilities, with shared sleeping accommodation and dry outside toilet.

A warm welcome in the heart of the Norwegian mountains

The adventure of backcountry skiing and the world-class scenery of Rondane will no doubt be highlights of your trip, but you may well find the warm hospitality and cosiness of the lodge are an equally treasured memory.

For your three nights at the lodge, you will stay in comfortable, hotel-standard rooms with en-suite facilities, with three-course dinner served in the restaurant in the evening. With home-cooked meals, prepared as far as possible from local ingredients, mealtimes will be a real feature of your stay.

Nestled in the valley surrounded by mountains, the lodge offers a comfortable and welcoming base for your tour. Photo: RRL.

The family-run lodge offers a very personal atmosphere for guests, with a common room to gather around the fire in the evening, socialise with other guests at the lodge and relax after the exertions of the day. On return from your overnight ski tour on Day 4, a relaxing sauna experience awaits you. You can even add a hot tub session as optional extra! Are you brave enough for a roll in the snow?

Learn to Backcountry Ski in Rondane combines adventure, comfort and the chance to learn a new skill, all set in a majestic mountain landscape in one of Norway's premier backcountry ski touring regions.

For other arrangements (such as 3 persons requiring separate rooms or for groups of more than 3 persons), please contact us for price information.

Included

Accommodation:

NB: Skiing activities during the experience are private with your own guide. There will of course be other guests staying at the lodge and in the mountain cabin.

• Days 1, 2 and 4: Private superior single, double or triple room (for one, two or three persons) with en-suite WC/shower. Use of sauna is included on Day 4. Luggage can be left in the room when on the overnight expedition.
• Day 3: Shared sleeping accommodation in mountain cabin (usually with bunk beds, sleeping room shared with other members of your group or other users of the mountain cabin as appropriate). Cabin used for overnight expedition will vary depending on weather conditions and ability of the participants but are usually part of the Norwegian Trekking Association network. Standard of accommodation is simple but comfortable, usually with dry outside toilet and heated with wood-burning stove. Cabin may have simple electricity (e.g. solar panels) for lighting, etc.

Dining and social areas at the lodge (Days 1, 2 and 4). Photos: RRL.

Accommodation at the lodge (Days 1, 2 and 4). Bottom photos show sauna. Photos: RRL.

Example mountain cabin accommodation (Day 3). There are a number of possible cabin locations which may be used. Photos: RRL/Nature Travels.

Meals:

• 4 x breakfast (Days 2-5)
• 3 x lunch (Days 2-4). Packed lunch is made from the breakfast buffet at the lodge for Day 2 and Day 3 and from breakfast provisions at mountain cabin Day 4.
• 4 x dinner (Days 1-4). Dinner on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 4 is 3-course dinner served in the dining room at the lodge. Dinner Day 3 is simpler dinner at the mountain cabin.

There is a focus on home-cooked food and local ingredients during your stay. Photos: RRL.

You may also wish to bring some snacks (chocolate, dried fruit) for additional energy when skiing. Some items are available to purchase at the lodge if required.

Instruction, Guiding and Equipment:

• Guided backcountry ski tour (approx. 4 hours) Day 2.
• Guided backcountry ski tour to mountain cabin Days 3-4 (daily distance approx. 8-14km depending on accommodation location and ability of the participants).
• Your guide will provide advice on improving your ski technique as necessary during the tour.
• Hire of backcountry ski equipment (skis, boots, poles, climbing skins) Days 2-4. Hire of pulk can be arranged locally on request if you wish to practise using a pulk when skiing.

Transfers:

• Transfer (approx. 30 mins) on arrival and departure between Atna train station and the lodge.
• Local tranfers as required to/from the start/end points for skiing.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase at the accommodation).

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Recommended minimum age 15 years. Younger guests (min. age 12) with suitable fitness and outdoor experience may also be possible by arrangement. You should have general good health and fitness and be used to the outdoors.

Some previous experience of skiing (downhill or cross country skiing) or other winter activities is an advantage but is not essential.

However, backcountry skiing can be physically demanding and it requires a little courage as a complete novice when going downhill. There is the possibility to change to snowshoes as a backup should this be required, though of course the intention is that the tours will be done using backcountry skis.

As a private experience, the level of challenge of the tour can be very flexible to adapt to the needs and level of the participants and the distances covered can be extended or shortened as appopriate. There are different options possible for the expedition to mountain cabin Day 3/Day 4 to be able to vary the skiing distance and level of challenge.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

This is a fully guided experience and features comfortable, hotel-standard accommodation for three nights of the tour, with meals served in the lodge restaurant. Accommodation for night in mountain cabin is simple but comfortable.

As a private experience, there is no fixed minimum distance to cover and the level of challenge of the skiing days can be adapted to the needs of the participants. The terrain is mostly fairly flat or undulating without significant height loss/gain required during the tours, though there will be some uphill and downhill sections.

This is a multi-day outdoor experience in winter and weather conditions in the mountains may be variable. The skiing terrain can be exposed and backcountry skiing can be physically challenging, especially for novice skiers gaining confidence and improving technique.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

There is no minimum required for this experience. You are welcome to book as a solo traveller (note that price depends on number of persons in the group and also on room sharing arrangements).

Groups

This experience is ideal for groups of up to six persons - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy. The accommodation is traditional, small scale and family owned and is Green Key certified.