Cross-Country Skiing in Skabu, Norway

Experience Overview

When it comes to cross-country skiing, the low-mountain village of Skåbu, Norway, is the best place you’ve never heard of. Wedged between three national parks, it offers extraordinary diversity in its well-maintained trail network, with easy tracks through sheltered forests and more demanding routes that climb higher into the open mountain plateaus. Explore them with expert guides, who craft a flexible itinerary based on the local conditions and group’s skill level. In the evening, return to the welcoming Skåbu Fjellhotell, enjoying the delights of its standout gourmet restaurant – just reward for a day on the skis. Please note: Each departure has two different ski grades and two guides. Check the Dates & Prices tab to ensure you book the right trip for your skill level. For more on our ski grades, check the Essential Info tab.
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Skåbu Fjellhotell) — Six days of guided cross-country skiing — Group normally 4 to 14, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Transfers by train and minibus
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Skåbu Fjellhotell) — Six days of guided cross-country skiing — Group normally 4 to 14, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Transfers by train and minibus
Trip For You
Each departure has two grades of skiing, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. The specific grades vary depending on the departure (trips could be: Grades 1 and 2, Grades 2 and 3, or Grades 3 and 4). Please check the Dates & Prices tab to ensure you are picking the right week for your skill level. Please contact us ahead if you prefer to assess which grade is more suitable to your physical conditions and ski experience. For most of the skiing, you are on full-day tours, returning at the end of the day. Below is a guide to the different grades: Grade 1 Beginners: Equivalent to Activity Level 1 (Easy) A week for complete beginners. We start with the basics, including how to stop using the snowplough technique and how to turn. You are on skis for at least five to six hours a day with a focus on learning, getting comfortable on skis and building towards longer tours through the winter landscape. This grade is recommended to people who have not skied cross country before or only skied for a couple of days. Grade 2 Improvers: Equivalent to Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) These weeks are ideal for those who have enjoyed at least one Grade 1 adventure and grasped the basics, including a snowplough and kick turn. They offer coaching to refresh and improve technique and typically ski a little further than Grade 1 weeks, and over more varied terrain. In some cases, these weeks are acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing. Beginners should be very fit and proficient in sports that develop balance. Please contact us if you wish to book a Grade 2 trip but have not skied before. Grade 3 Intermediates: Equivalent to Activity Level 3 (Moderate) A Grade 3 week is ideal for those looking to push on, tackle some slightly steeper terrain and cover more ground each day. Typical groups will have a few weeks of skiing behind them, be very comfortable with the basics including snowploughing and kick turns, and happy on longer day tours. There will still be coaching on these weeks, at the required level. Grade 4 Advanced: Equivalent to Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging) Choose this grade if you can tackle ‘ups and downs’ competently, manage a controlled snowplough descent, execute kick turns on steeper slopes and ski at a lively pace. You should also be able to get up swiftly and easily by yourself after a fall. The mix of track and off-track skiing varies. Worth knowing Ski style: We use 'classic' cross-country skis for this trip as the terrain is more suitable for this style. However, 'skating' cross-country skis are also available at no extra cost. We need to know your height, weight, and normal shoe size at the time of booking.Bringing your own skis: You can choose to bring your own skis; however, please check with us first to ensure they are the correct type of skis and boots and are suitable for this itinerary. If you book flights with us, there may be an extra equipment cost to ship them.Ski pass: It is not necessary to purchase a ski pass as there is no charge to use the tracks.
Group Description
To explore the Skåbu landscapes, we have two expert ski guides per trip. The hotel owner is our main ski guide and acts as the tour leader, managing the transfers to/from Vinstra train station on arrival and departure.
Eating Drinking
Dinners are mostly two-course gourmet menus, put together by award-winning chef Lukasz B. Socha, though we have a five-course menu on the final night. His food is solely created from local produce (most of it from the hotel farm). For example, you might be served Skåbu elk with mashed potatoes and vegetables, plus cheesecake for dessert. All meals are served with bread, and the hotel is experienced in serving hungry skiers. For lunch, you make your own packed lunches from the produce at the buffet breakfast. The hotel does have paper bags and a few thermos bottles to lend out. However, we strongly recommend you bring your own reusable lunch box and thermos to cut down on waste and ensure availability. Vegetarians can be catered for – please let us know at least three weeks before departure if you have any dietary requirements. Worth knowing As there is no coffee shop around, you should bring snacks if you think you might want them throughout the day. However, coffee, cakes, drinks and snacks are available all day at the hotel (payable locally).
Transportation
Transfers between Vinstra railway station and the hotel are in a private minibus.
Joining Instructions
Key information Hotel: Skåbu Fjellhotell, Skåbuvegen 23-207, 2643 Skåbu, Norway Phone: +47 61 29 55 00 Recommended arrival time: You need to arrive in Oslo on the morning/early afternoon of Day 1 Airport: Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen (OSL) Getting to the start hotel To reach Skåbu Fjellhotell, you must arrive at Oslo Airport on the morning/early afternoon of Day 1. From here, you take the train to Vinstra railway station (exact timing to be confirmed before departure). Your train ticket is included, but there will be no representative to meet you at Oslo Airport. Arriving at Vinstra, you are met by our local representative, who transfers you to the hotel by minibus. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight On your return, you take the reverse journey with a minibus transfer to Vinstra railway station and a self-guided train to Oslo Airport for your return flight home.
Weather Information
Skåbu is around 2,855ft (870m) above sea level; at this height, snow can lie from November to May, with fresh snowfalls at any time. Average daytime temperatures in winter range from 0C to 10C (32F-50F), though they can fall as low as -25C (-13F). At Christmas and New Year, daylight hours are limited, with about six hours of good light plus twilight. By mid-February, this increases to about eight hours and by mid-March there are about 12 hours of good daylight. In winter, you can hope for periods of clear bright weather and in February and March it can become surprisingly warm in the sun. Equally, you need to be ready for the occasional stormy day at all times.
Spending Money
All meals and activities are included on this trip. You just need extra for drinks and personal expenses, such as souvenirs.
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for your guide(s) at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a reasonable starting point, we suggest each group member contributes 250-300 kroner (US$25-US$30). If you switch guides midweek, you may want to divide your contribution as you see fit. We also recommend each person leaves 250-300 kroner (US$25-US$30) for the hotel staff, which can be handed to your guide/tour leader.

Highlights