Mountain Adventure Holidays
Learn to cross country skiing in Norway, the true homeland of Nordic skiing. Venabu is the perfect cross country ski area, set on the edge of the Rondane National Park with views to the mountains. The trip offers top quality instruction which will get you gliding in good style through this stunning winter landscape. Our base is situated in the middle of the Venabygdsfjell plateau, a snow-sure area with fantastic nature, a stable climate and great skiing trails.
WARNING: Be prepared to adopt the Norwegian way of doing things and 'relax'. This is without doubt a great week for unwinding, whilst playing in the 'white stuff'.
"We had such an amazing New Year week in Norway that we are doing it again"
This ia a perfect opportunity to start the year with a healthy glow to your cheeks, and fresh mountain air in your lungs. The trip includes celebrations and entertainment at your hotel, with a special meal and champagne to welcome 2020. With luck you may even see the Northern Lights - now that would be a fabulous start to the New Year.
This week is specifically aimed at those who are new to nordic skiing. The terrain and environment is perfect. We teach you the appropriate skills and technique required to tackle a variety of terrain. The skiing will be entirely on way marked tracks which are regularly machine prepared by the hotel staff who offer us daily 'insider' knowledge about the best areas to ski. As an added bonus, there is sometimes a herd of reindeer in the vicinity, which adds to the wonderful Arctic ambiance of these wild mountains.
Venabu offers 140 kms ( 87.5 miles) of prepared trails in varied mountain terrain, with summits up to 1400m (4592ft). The area lies to the north of the Olympic town of Lillehammer and immediately east of the main railway from Oslo to Trondheim.
This evening your ski instructor, who will be a fully qualified BASI Nordic Ski Instructor, will meet you at your hotel to have dinner with you. Due to the Norwegian tradition of eating early, normally around 1830hrs, we find that it is often more relaxing for your instructor to give you a full briefing the following morning over coffee.
With regard to travel please refer to the Arrival & Departure section which is under 'Trip Information'.
Every morning enjoy a leisurely beautifully displayed Norwegian buffet style breakfast. We will then head for the ski room to prepare for our day.
We love the atmosphere in the ski/waxing room as everyone chats about the day ahead, and discusses which wax to apply to give the best performance. Be prepared for lots of tales of derring-do and adventures from the day before as we mingle with the other guests and the locals.
With our skis ready for action we head for the tracks and a day of learning and exploring around the stunning landscape around Venabu. Our instructor will lead you through achievable exercises introducing you to the art of 'classic style' cross country skiing, what we call 'diagonal stride'. Day by day we add to this technique giving you the confidence and ability to travel on progressively longer tours out and back from our hotel.
Venabu offers everything we love about Norway. With 140 kms (87.5 miles) of trails to explore we have plenty to choose from, and with a variety of terrain from birch woodlands, to plateau, and mountains, we can choose the best tracks for the weather on the day. The main trails are flat or gently undulating, and are the perfect training ground for beginners and racers alike.
Our ski teachers know that we all learn at different rates and it's our job to ensure that everyone makes the most out of their 6 days of skiing with us and progresses at their individual pace. Each ski day can easily be adapted to different levels of 'new to nordic' skier.
We take a picnic lunch with us if the weather is good, and if it is chilly we may opt to enjoy lunch in the hotel lounge, where you can take advantage of the free teas and coffees. If you feel the need for extra energy for the afternoon ski you might indulge in the traditional Norwegian waffle, with jam and cream. After lunch we head back out for more fresh air and ski time, but our approach in the afternoon is usually quite leisurely as we like you to have time to relax and enjoy consolidating your new found skills and technique.
By mid-afternoon we are ready to head for our hotel, and the chance to relax in the sauna, or just enjoy the lounge area with its views to the mountains. It is a holiday after all!
Today you will transfer from your hotel to Ringebu station for the train journey to Oslo airport. Many of our guests opt to spend an extra night in Oslo to enjoy this cosmopolitan city. You could, of course, choose to begin with a night in Oslo at the start of your journey.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, characterful, family run accommodation. In most cases we have known the management for many years, and it’s like visiting old friends. Our suggested accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. We have given details of our favoured hotel and the one we intend to use below. If unavailable we will book alternative accommodation of similar standard.
The trip fee is based on two people sharing a room. If you are travelling on your own your booking will be based on a twin bedroom sharing with someone of the same gender. All rooms are en suite with shower, and toilet, and are non-smoking.
However, on this trip, single rooms are available on request, but will incur a supplementary fee. We recommend booking as early as possible to secure a single room as these are always limited in number. Please contact us for details.
Depending on availability at the time of booking your accommodation will be at the Venabu Fjellhotel or the Spidsbergseter Hotel. Both hotels are built in the typical Norwegian style, are family-run and enjoy a very relaxed and hospitable atmosphere.
At both hotels the food is excellent and there is always a good selection of vegetables, salad and vegetarian options. We have opted for ‘self-made’ packed lunches everyday so we have complete flexibility with plans for our skiing day; lunches are made from the breakfast buffet, in the Norwegian tradition – a chance to experiment with all sorts of tasty sandwich fillings!
Venabu always captures the hearts of those who stay there. It is a simple hotel built in typical Norwegian style, family-run and with a very relaxed and hospitable atmosphere. It is without doubt the 'atmosphere' at Venabu that our guests love. A true cross country ski hotel where everyone 'lives and breathes' Nordic skiing. The meals are a highlight of the week, copious Norwegian style buffets for both breakfast and dinner.
Facilities include a superb dining room, with views to the Rondane Mountains, a bar, saunas, dedicated space for yoga/pilates classes, a fitness room, and TV lounge. There is also a large ski waxing room with ski hire and shop, as well as a souvenir shop. All rooms are en suite with shower, and toilet and are non-smoking.
Rooms at the Venabu Fjellhotel come in two categories with the East Wing being the standard rooms (included in our price) or rooms in the newer West Wing which are larger, but normally have twin beds rather than a double bed. If you are interested in upgrading, for which there will be a supplementary fee, then do contact us for prices.
The Spidsbergseter Hotel has a great 'ski' atmosphere along with very comfortable rooms, lovely facilities including; a spa with swimming pool, jacuzzi and saunas. The dining room serves delicious meals making good use of local produce. Breakfasts are served Norwegian buffet style with much to choose from.
The hotel also has a 'cafe' which is open all day for coffee and cakes. Adjacent is a gift shop with a wide range of Norwegian products, and cross country ski waxes, and clothing. It is possible to organise optional extras here such as husky dog sledding. The hotel also has a cosy 'waxing' room for preparing our skis each morning, where hot fruit juice is free to guests!
Norway is easily reached with various international airlines offering direct flights from the UK and elsewhere in Europe to Oslo Gardermoen airport. Flights can also be taken to Torp airport, but please note you will need to allow enough time to transfer to Oslo Gardermoen for your train journey north.
The train station at Oslo Gardermoen is located inside the airport terminal and is just a few minutes from the arrivals area. It makes connecting to your train for your journey to Ringebu very easy. On your arrival day a transfer from Ringebu train station to your hotel is included in your trip cost, and also from your hotel back to Ringebu on your departure day.
Arriving
If you are arriving to Norway via Oslo you have the choice of either taking the hotel bus or public train north to the fabulous landscape of Venabu.
If travelling by train then you will need a ticket from Oslo to Ringebu where you will meet a private taxi car/ small bus to take you to Venabu (this taxi is included in the trip price). The train journey is a delight in itself offering great views of the Norwegian countryside. The trains are modern and comfortable and have drinks facilities, and free wifi.
All train timetables are published just 3 months in advance. Tickets are easily purchased on line at Vy.no and if you book in advance there is a considerable discount with fares from around 500 NOK for the return journey. You can choose to collect tickets on the train or have them sent to your phone which makes taking the train north very easy. You should aim to catch the 1429 hrs train from Oslo Gardermoen (Lufthavn) airport to Ringebu, arriving at Ringebu at 1652 hrs or if departing from Oslo S (central) the same train will leave at 1402hrs.
The private hotel bus leaves Oslo Gardermoen (Lufthavn) airport only on Saturdays and goes direct to Venabu Fjellhotel. The bus corresponds with the SK804 flight in from London Heathrow. Information for the platform number is given at 1340 hrs at the bus information desk in the arrival area and aims to will leave at 1400 hrs. The cost of this is 430-490 NOK each way. If you would like to take the bus please contact us for details.
Departing
Trains are expected to depart Ringebu at 0629 hrs, arriving at Oslo airport at 0901hrs, and a second train leaving Ringebu at 1209 hrs, arriving at 1432 hrs.
The return airport bus leaves Venabu every Saturday at 0915hrs from hotel and aims to be at the airport by 1300 hrs.
Please ensure you book your ticket early as the trains can be fully booked and you will not be permitted to travel.
Please check all travel arrangements with us before you book your flights and trains. You can, of course, take alternative trains both on the arrival and departure days but this may incur a small supplement if it requires a special journey by the hotel taxi and is out with the hours of the group transfer.
It is a condition of booking that you have appropriate insurance for your chosen activity, including emergency helicopter rescue, repatriation, medical costs, as well as trip cancellation/curtailment insurance in the event of you being unable to join/complete the trip.
Please read the relevant clauses which are numbered 10, 11, 11a, 12, and 22 and are set out in our Terms and Conditions.
We also recommend your insurance covers you for baggage loss/damage. Tracks and Trails Ltd are unable to accept responsibility for the loss or damage to any client equipment or luggage.
If you are booking on behalf of other people it is important that you ensure that insurance has been arranged by all others included in your Booking Form.
You should bring all insurance documentation with you at the time of the activity. If you fail to provide proof of insurance we reserve the right to ask you to leave the trip.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter temperatures in Scandinavia are 'according to the locals' warmer in recent years than previously which is why we now run trips in the months of January, and February, as well as March and April. Even in January when the daylight hours are short we find that we have more than enough time for skiing. We have never yet had guests feeling they were losing out in terms of ski hours by booking in January or February. There is a special pleasure to starting your ski day in the sunrise, and skiing back with the sunset.
Historically temperatures in December have averaged -8°Celsius (17.4°F), in January -9.7°Celsius (14.5°F), in February -9.2°Celsius (15.4°F), in March -6.6°Celsius (20.1°F), and in April -2.3°Celsius (27.9°).
We have found over the years that these temperatures have not been unpleasant nor have any guests had problems dealing with the weather as it is generally a 'dry' cold, and of course this helps create great snow and therefore great ski tracks. If we do experience a cold snap where temperatures drop then we ensure that everyone is appropriately clothed and kitted out for the ski day. In this respect energy snacks and a thermos with a hot drink are a great comfort!
King Bore - 'King of Winter' from Nordic mythology says he can't promise anything, but in Venabu they begin to prepare the tracks as soon as they have enough snow in December and continue until mid-April or after Easter. Venabu has a good reputation as a 'snow sure' venue, and we have found that to be true. It offers 140 kms ( 87.5 miles) of prepared trails in varied mountain terrain, with summits up to 1400m (4592ft).
Your instructor will help you organise your ski rental at Venabu. We use 'classic' style cross country track skis for this trip. You can choose to bring your own, however, do check with us first to ensure they are suitable and the correct type of ski and boot.
At Venabu we do things the Norwegian way, and our hire skis from the hotel are all fitted with NNN bindings (New Nordic Norm Bindings) and are 'waxing' skis with metal edges which are more effective for snowploughing and control of speed. This is a great opportunity to learn the art of 'waxing' and your instructor will provide daily waxing sessions to ensure you get the best out of the skis. Grip waxes are the traditional way of travelling on skis, and give greater glide than 'fishscales'. Your Instructor will explain anything you need to know.
The total ski hire is 690NOK for 6 days and payment is made directly to the rental shop at the hotel, credit cards are accepted.
Please make a note of your equipment hire on our booking form. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height from the floor up to your armpits for ski pole hire.
In Norway there is no charge for using the ski tracks and you do not need to buy a ski pass.
Your safety while skiing is our top priority. All skiers are requested to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by the International Ski Federation, or FIS. The aim is to make you, the skier, aware of how to avoid risks, take responsibility and act thoughtfully while on the cross-country ski tracks.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in.
Equipment
This trip uses metal-edged ‘classic’ style track skis. If you are bringing your own skis they must fit in the tracks, so should be a maximum of 66mm at their widest point. You can use track skis which are 'waxing', 'fishscale' or 'skintec'. You can also use track skis without a metal edge, or half metal edge. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.
Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Trip Information'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop is provided in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page.
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
For each of our trips there is a minimum number of guests required to book before we can 'guarantee' your trip will run. It depends on the particular trip in question, but it is normally 4. The maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page.
We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.
When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £175.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides and instructors who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your guide/instructor has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment.
For our walking, family, and snowshoeing trips your guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. For our running trips your guide will be an International Mountain Leader, and an experienced mountain 'trail runner'.
If you have booked on a cross country ski trip you will be with a fully qualified professional BASI Nordic Ski Instructor or equivalent. BASI is the British Association of Snowsport Instructors.
For this trip where you are centre-based, in other words where you are staying in the same accommodation all week, you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, please note that not all the hotels we use have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom and this might involve climbing several flights of stairs. We would suggest that luggage with wheels is generally a good idea.
On this trip your lunches are included in your trip fee. In Norway it is traditional to make up your own packed lunch from the breakfast ingredients. Breakfast is normally a buffet with a large range of food on offer with more than enough interesting items to prepare a tasty sandwich. You will be supplied with paper to wrap them in. You can also ask to have a thermos flask filled with a hot drink. On some of the days at Venabu we may return for a late sit-down lunch in the restaurant, although this will depend on our ski plans for the day.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes that reflect the culture of the country and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for the traditional food of the region.
If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance to a certain food type which will make you ill the accommodation will cater for this as best they can, eg gluten free, nut free, lactose free.
If you are vegetarian then this is not a problem as the hotels/refuges are used to being asked for vegetarian meals. Our accommodation will try to cater for those with vegan diets but in remote refuges in the mountains this is more difficult. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet please contact us. Gluten-free diets will be possible with regard to the evening meals, but we would advise that you bring along some gluten-free snacks for your breakfasts and lunches.
If you have a 'special' diet which is NOT because of an allergy or intolerance, and is not 'veggie' then we apologise, but we cannot cater for this. The accommodation on the popular routes will be catering for many people each evening, in some cases up to 70/80 meals per night, 7 days a week, and realistically they cannot produce many different meal options unless the food will result in illness.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water. At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU, such as Norway. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance. Also note that if/when the UK leaves the European Union that the EHIC card may no longer be valid. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
Due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. These are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards in terms of the service we offer our guests. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means that your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements.
There may be occasions when our partners have helped book your accommodation and organise the logistics for your trip. On these occasions your hotel may have recorded your room reservation in the name of one of our partners.
We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same package as Tracks and Trails Ltd. The price will be the same, though occasionally they may be operating in a different currency. Your itinerary and the items that are included, or not included in your trip fee, will also be the same.
We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. If you have any questions about this policy please contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| From Price | £0 |
| Holiday Type | Cross Country Ski Instruction |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 9 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1200m (3936ft) |
| Countries Visited | Norway |
| Meet In | Ringebu, Norway |
