Mountain Adventure Holidays
Join us skiing 'off-track' and journey through an arctic wilderness carved by glaciers, across frozen lakes, and wide open spaces where the reindeer roam. This is an ideal opportunity to develop your Nordic off-track skills with a view to more ambitious hut-to-hut tours elsewhere in Norway.
We start this trip in Kvitåvatn simply because it has everything we need for the perfect 'off track' touring skills week. Kvitåvatn is a mountain plateau of outstanding natural beauty, with a stunning view of the highest mountain in southern Norway, Gaustatoppen (1883m / 6177ft) and Lake Kvitåvatn.
After three days of skills based tuition and short tours, travel down the valley to Rjukan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for the heavy water sabotages during World War II. From here we take the Krossobanen cable car to access the Hardangervidda National Park, Europe’s largest mountain plateau, for three-days 'off track' touring skiing point-to-point staying over night at the unmanned DNT Helberg Hutte and onto the Rjukan Fjellstue where we learn all about the Norwegian resistance fighters.
This trip is ideal for any skier who has already cross-country skied on tracks and is now looking to learn or to refresh their nordic 'off-track' ski skills.
Nordic 'off-track' skiing is cross-country skiing away from marked and pressed trails. There will be an emphasis on travelling, turning and controlling speed in a variety of snow types. We will teach you how to use waxing skis, and climbing skins for hills as well as give you tips and ideas on how to manage your equipment and clothing. The skis are wider than those used for track skiing holidays, and the boots chunkier, sturdier and warmer. The ski hire for this trip is locally based and is of excellent quality.
This part of Norway, which sits on the edge of the Hardangervidda, was immortalised in film in 'The Heroes of Telemark' based on the true story of Norwegian resistance fighters in 1943 battling to prevent the construction of an atomic bomb. Skiing across this wild plateau you will truly appreciate what they endured living in the winter wilderness for many months. Our day of this trip is a rare opportunity to fully immerse yourself in this historic event where a local from Rjukan will join our group to tell us about the 'Heroes of Telemark' raid mission and our final ski tour is an opportunity to ski the route the saboteurs took to reach the heavy water plant.
Enjoy our article on Crossing the Hardangavidda: hut-to-hut ski touring in Norway.
Our guide for this trip meets the group at Oslo Gardermoen airport. He will drive the group in a mini bus directly to our accommodation in Kvitåvatn. A welcome meeting takes place at approximately 1830 hrs to discuss the itinerary and answer any questions you may have.
Kvitåvatn is a plateau situated above the town of Rjukan, a lush valley in Telemark, Eastern Norway. While making your way up the 10 km (6.2 miles) long road from Rjukan, and its 5 hairpin bends, enjoy stunning views of the Rjukan Valley as you gain 600 metres (1968ft).
Our accommodation is at the Kvitåvatn Fjellhytter our base for the next four nights. The 'fjellhytters' are cabins built in traditional Norwegian style. Our evening meals, lunch packets, and breakfast will be taken at the Gaustablikk Fjellresort. The cabins have a stunning view of the highest mountain of southern Norway, the Gaustatoppen (1883m / 6177ft) and Lake Kvitåvatn.
Kvitåvatn has a few shops including; a small supermarket, bakery, ski hire and sports shop. For 'Arrival' details please refer to the Trip Information section.
Located at 945m (3100ft) above sea level, Kvitåvatn, has excellent snow conditions offering direct access to 85 km (54 miles) of prepared cross-country ski tracks, Nordic 'off track' touring for all levels, as well as 35 km (22 miles) of lift assisted alpine downhill runs.
The village itself is small with many buildings of typical Norwegian style. Alpine slopes and groomed Nordic tracks rise either side of our accommodation which lead onto the plateau and mountains beyond. After arranging the ski hire we head out to the nearby nordic tracks around the Kvitåvatn lake.
Kvitåvatn has all the terrain we need to prepare us for the touring days ahead. We'll first check our equipment and make a short tour to the lake revisiting essential nordic travelling techniques used for classic 'track skiing' to ensure that we are happy with this before beginning our 'off-track' adventures. We will be out all day with packed lunch.
We will include some off-track elements today, and it's important you are comfortable skiing over a variety of rolling terrain and snow types for our touring days later in the week. After our ski day enjoy time at the Gaustablikk Fjellresort, including the bars, restaurant and wellness area with pool, jacuzzi and sauna.
Today we will spend half a day on the nursery slopes around Kvitåvatn to focus primarily on the different downhill ski techniques required to give us the skills needed to confidently enjoy basic 'off track' nordic ski tours. We will work on controlling speed, direction and on traversing slopes which can then be transferred 'off track'. Focus will also be given on mastering longer descents with confidence and if appropriate the introduction and basics of the 'telemark turn'.
Video feedback will be available and can be reviewed after the ski day in the comfort of your group cabin.
After lunch we will then head out on a short tour to apply and consolidate our new skills from the morning.
Putting into practise the skills from the previous two days we will complete an easy day tour from Kvitåvatn. The aim will be to explore the local area 'off track' taking in a variety of terrain and different snow types. On route we will stop and coach further on nordic techniques for going up and downhill. Due to the mix of open countryside, tree cover, pistes and tracks the touring options around Kvitåvatn offer the perfect playground for coaching and practice. There will be plenty of opportunities to put into practice the downhill mountain techniques learnt on the slopes enabling you to confidently traverse and descend slopes 'off track'.
We set off today for our 2-day hut based ski tour from Rjukan to the lovely Helberghytta situated high up on Norway's largest national park, the Hardangervidda.
You will carry everything you need in your rucksack for the two days giving you the experience of complete autonomy. This in our view is to be savoured as it is great to un-clutter and realise you can survive with all your needs in your rucksack.
We transfer from Kvitåvatn down to Rjukan then regain the height by taking the Krossobanen cable car up onto the Hardangervidda. The Krossobanen was built in 1928 and was a gift from Norsk Hydro, so the townspeople could get up to see the sun during the winter. Also in the mountains above Rjukan, you can see a few giant mirrors that reflect sunlight down to the town during the sun-starved winter months.
The view over Rjukan from the upper station is fantastic, with the mountains rolling away to the south and west. From the top of the cable car we ski steadily north climbing into wild open terrain as we cross the plateau at 1080m (3543ft) to reach the cosy DNT Helberghytta or 'hut' located by Våervatn lake. This relatively easy route offers the perfect terrain to practice our Nordic travelling techniques, use of waxes and climbing skins. Upon arrival at the hut there will be the opportunity to look at building snow shelters, snow holes and if the weather allows a night ski!
Distance:10km (6.2 miles)
We wake this morning to enjoy the peace and tranquility of Hardangervidda and the views back across to Gaustatoppen which are stunning.
The cabin was named after Claus Helberg, who was a driving force behind DNT's self-service cabins in the mountains and opened in 1993. The opening of Helberghytta made an old gateway to the Hardangervidda more accessible.
After breakfast we pack up the cabin, check the ski wax required for the day to ski across the plateau approximately 13km to reach our next accommodation for the night, the Rjukan Fjellstue situated at 840m above sea level (2755ft) on the edge of the Hardangervidda, the perfect base surrounded by astonishing mountain views and traditional Norwegian architecture for our next two nights from which to explore the region from.
During World War II, Vemork in Rjukan (close to our accommodation tonight) became the centre of one of the most important and daring sabotage missions – the heavy water sabotages that prevented the Germans from developing the ingredient they needed to build atom bombs. Vemork was once the world’s largest power station and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our Lodge tonight has its own exhibition of the Heavy water sabotage and we have booked their knowledgeable local guide to take you back in time with a talk on the Saboteur's trail.
Distance 12.2km (8 miles) Ascent 280m (918ft)
Our final ski tour takes in the 'Saboteurs' Trail', the path the world-famous Norwegian resistance used during the World War 2, the night they ought to blow up the heavy water plant at Vemork. The tour starts from Rjukan Fjellstue and travels through varied forest and mountain terrain.
Follow the footsteps of the Heroes of Telemark and this important moment in history when Norwegian saboteurs went from months of self survival on Hardangervidda. Enjoy views of the spectacular natural gorges which makes the tour even more special. Along the way you will have impressive views of Rjukan and the Norwegian Industrial Workers' Museum.
We then head to Kvitavtn to return our ski hire / equipment and if time allows we might fit in another ski.
We return to the Rjukan Fjellstue for a second night. A superb finale from developing those off-track skills to putting it all together with completing a two day hut-to-hut trip and full mountain day tour.
Distance 8-10km (5-6.2miles)
Today is departure day and after breakfast we transfer by taxi from Rjukan to Oslo Gardermoen airport which is included in the trip fees.
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.
On all of our trips we aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, comfortable, characterful, family run accommodation. We take time to research, update and view the best options available to us.
For this trip the first four nights will be spent in our own traditional Norwegian ski touring cabin as well as access to the Gaustablikk Fjellresort for meals and wellness facilities. The mountain cabins or 'Fjellhytters' are on a 3/4 board basis (bed, breakfast, dinner and self made packed lunches) and have 3 bedrooms suitable for up to 8 people but for comfort we will only use a maximum of 6 beds per cabin. A single room maybe available in the Kvitåvatn Fjellhytter for an additional fee.
One night will be spent in the unstaffed / self serviced DNT Helberghytta. It has shared bunk rooms with 4 beds. As we will be only spending one night in a DNT hut it's not necessary to be a DNT member for this trip.
Then last two nights will be spent at the Rjukan Fjellstue on a twin share basis, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. Single rooms are available here.
Please contact us if you wish to discuss the rooming on this trip.
The Kvitåvatn Fjellhytters are located about 500m (0.3 mile) from Gaustablikk Fjellresort, close to cross-country ski trails, service and the ski slopes at Gausta Skisenter. The Kvitåvatn Mountain cabins are of a high standard and offer our group the perfect base for our off-track adventures.
As a guest at Kvitåvatn Fjellhytter, you will have access to all the hotel's facilities at Gaustablikk Fjellresort, including bars and restaurants and a wellness area with pool, jacuzzi and sauna.
Image credit: Kvitåvatn Fjellhytter
We book two cabins for our group. Each cabin has 3 bedrooms (1 double room & 2 bunk bed style rooms), 1 bathroom with a sauna, 1 extra toilet, ski storage, an open floor plan between kitchen and living room, and a patio with lovely views of Gaustatoppen. Additional showering facilities are available in the wellness area.
The cosy DNT Helberghytta or 'hut' is located by Våervatn lake. 'Hut' is a misnomer as they are more like cosy mountain lodges! The huts are either privately owned and run, or more likely they are owned and operated by Den Norske Turistforening, which is the Norwegian Trekking Association.
The DNT huts are brilliant, stocked with food, and logs for the fire, and it's a great experience to spend a night in a remote location like this. This hut is not staffed so you can expect to do some of the chores, such as collecting water, and lighting the fire, and preparing dinner, all good fun and part of the mountain experience. We have no luggage tonight, we suggest that you carry a few snacks with you, along with a few extra items for your overnight.
DNT Helberghytta has shared rooms with bunkbeds with 4 beds. As we will be only spending one night in a DNT hut it's not necessary to be a DNT member for this trip.
Rjukan Fjellstue, or mountain lodge, sits on the edge of the Hardangervidda and is famous for its ties with the film 'Heroes of Telemark', and also with the true saboteurs who carried out raid on the heavy water plant at Rjukan during World War 11. The lodge even has its own exhibition on the subject of the saboteurs, and in the summer gives guided tours along the saboteurs trail. In the yard at the Fjellstue there is the cabin which was used as a backdrop during the filming of a TV series about this extraordinary story of endurance and bravery in an arctic wilderness. Today the lodge is run by Henny & Bjørn who love to share their passion for the local history and nature.
The lodge which sits at 840 m (2755ft) has 42 rooms, with 100 beds, and also has two self-catering cabins. Several of the rooms are newly renovated in 2021. Some rooms have their own toilet en suite, while others share a toilet and shower in the common areas. The cabins each have their own toilet and shower.
We collect your travel information approximately 6 weeks before departure, and will update you at that time of any changes to the information given below. You can contact us at any time to discuss your travel.
Arrival
To reach Kvitåvatn and make your journey easier, we have included a return taxi transfer from Oslo Gardermoen airport direct to our accommodation. We expect to meet at about 1400 hrs and the expected journey time is 3h20. The departure time from the airport may be brought forward once we have everyone's travel details. If you are arriving by air we recommend you fly to Oslo Gardermoen Airport. If you choose to fly to Torp Airport it takes 2h20 by train to travel to the meeting point at Gardermoen Airport.
Travelling to Oslo by Train: There are options for rail travel to Norway from all major European cities. For example from the UK you can overnight in Copenhagen, Denmark, however, there are many possibilities. The easiest way to book is via Rail Europe or The Train Line. If you're travelling from the UK or USA then take a look at the multi-day pass travel system provided by Eurail. If you would like to book each stage as an individual journey you can view the example given below which shows how to get from the UK to Copenhagen, in Denmark.
Travel from London, England, to Brussels, Belgium using the Eurostar. These tickets can be purchased up to 6 months ahead of your travel date. Then book a train from Brussels, in Belgium to Gothenburg, in Sweden, (Gotëborg) adding a stopover in Copenhagen, Denmark. For this you can use the German Railway website. A full day on the train sees you arriving in Copenhagen in the evening.
The final leg of your journey is from Gothenburg Central Station, in Sweden, to Oslo, Norway, and this can be booked using Vy the Norwegian rail network. All the trains have Wi-Fi, charging points and a restaurant car.
Departure
On your departure day our group transfer back to Oslo Gardermoen Airport will leave after breakfast at about 0730 hrs. This means an arrival time at the airport of approximately 1100hrs
If you would like to spend extra nights in Oslo, the capital city of Norway, we can recommend several city centre hotels. Single rooms are available in each of the following options:
The City Box Hotel, Oslo which is where our guides stay between trips. The hotel is very reasonably priced, convenient for the railway and bus stations. The hotel also offer washing facilities if you are running trips back to back and need to launder clothes.
The Thon Hotel Opera is a very short distance from the central railway station and, indeed, the Opera House. It is approximately 100 metres (328ft) from the railway station. Karl Johan high street, the main shopping thoroughfare, is a two minute walk from the hotel.
The Thon Hotel Spectrum is also central and approximately 600 metres (1968ft) walk from the central railway station.
These last two hotels are part of the Thon hotel chain. We would normally recommend family run hotels, but they are not easily found in central Oslo and we feel that the Thon group do provide good accommodation which is easily reached from the railway station. You will be able to book either of these online.
If you would like inexpensive accommodation in Oslo we can recommend the Perminalen Hotell. The hotel has a choice of accommodation ranging from bedrooms to same gender dormitories. It is approximately 850 metres (2788ft) from the central railway station.
Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. Note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter temperatures in Scandinavia are 'according to the locals' becoming warmer, which is why we now run trips in the months of January, and February, as well as the traditional ski touring months of 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°). Clearly there is the potential for temperatures to drop much lower, but rarely lower than -15°C (5°F).
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!
If you are booked on one of our 'Advanced' or 'Challenging' point-to-point journeys and we experience very cold temperatures eg -15°Celsius (5°F) then we would expect you to be able to be efficient and keep moving and to manage your comfort.
The skis we recommend for this trip are similar to the Fischer Transnordic 66 Easy Skin Xtralite (formerly the Fischer E99), metal-edged Nordic touring skis with NNN BC bindings or equivalent, with a side cut of 66-54-81 mm. You can use a wider ski such as Fischer Transnordic 82 Easy Skin Xtralite (formerly the Fischer E109), and with a side cut of around 82-60-70 mm, but what you gain in stability you lose in glide. There are many compromises to be made and decided upon, which will also involve personal preference. The term sidecut refers to the width at the tip, waist, and tail.
Boots should be leather. There is no need to have plastic boots with telemark bindings for this trip. Poles should be of touring length and fit snugly into the armpit with the basket on the snow surface. Note you also require climbing skins for this trip. If you have your own equipment and would like to discuss it's suitability for the trip then please contact us.
We will organise your ski rental on your behalf in Kvitåvatn where the equipment is of excellent quality. The skis are Fisher 99's with 75mm cable binding, leather boots and skins. The hire cost for skis, boots, poles and full length climbing skins in 2023 was 980 NOK for the 6 days. It is important that you order your skis, boots and poles as soon as your trip is guaranteed.
There will be one day when we use a lift and this will be around £49 / 580 NOK, which includes the plastic smart card. There is no ski pass required for the cross-country skiing element of this trip.
For buying Nordic ski equipment online; in the UK we recommend Braemar Mountain Sports and in France we recommend Telemark Pyrenees.
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
Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Type of Skis'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The skis and boots required for this trip are metal-edged Nordic touring skis with NNN BC bindings similar in width to the Fischer E99, side cut 66-54-61, or Fischer E109, side cut 82-60-70. The 'sidecut' refers to the width of the ski in millimetres; at the tip, the middle, and the tail. You should avoid any skis that are narrower than the E99, so less than 54mm in the middle or 'waist'. Any narrower and the skis are not appropriate for off-track skiing. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.
For buying Nordic ski equipment online; in the UK we recommend Braemar Mountain Sports and in France we recommend Telemark Pyrenees.
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.
This trip is an ideal opportunity to develop Nordic off track skills with a view to more ambitious hut-to-hut, week long tours elsewhere in Norway.
To join this level of 'off track' trip you should have completed at least two weeks of 'classic' skiing on prepared tracks at an intermediate level or above OR appropriate downhill experience on 'blue slopes' as an alpine skier plus one week of classic track skiing. You should already be at a standard where you are confident about controlling your speed and direction on cross-country skis and have a solid ‘snowplough’ and can confidently snowplough turn. You should be able to ski under control on a variety of terrain both uphill, and downhill. This trip may include some steep sections with bends, as well as some narrow tracks. You should enjoy being in remote and wild mountain areas and have a good fitness level. You should be comfortable with winter weather, which may include snowfall and cold winds. For this reason we expect a degree of self-sufficiency in terms of keeping yourself warm, and dry. You should be happy to ski on a variety of snow including perfect fresh tracks, AND tracks less than perfect which may be ‘firm and icy’. On our point-to-point trips you will be expected to carry a medium sized daypack. We use ‘waxing’ skis and 'climbing skins', although you do not need previous experience of this type of ski we would expect you to understand the principle and be prepared to follow the guidance of your Instructor. Time on skis will be 5-6 hours per day covering approximately 10-20 km (6.2-10.4 miles) per day.
Read more about our ski grades.
A single room is available whilst staying in Kvitåvatn Fjellhytter. The single supplement is £365. 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. When staying at Helberghytta we book small mixed dormitories just for our group for 4 or 6 people.
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.
Your ski guide will be a professionally qualified BASI Nordic Instructor at the least and may also be a BASI Telemark Instructor. They will hold the Winter Mountain Leader Award, or the International Mountain Leader Award or have the ability and relevant experience to navigate in winter conditions. While in no way interfering with the tour, coaching along the way in ski technique and 'grip waxing' will help you ski more effectively and with less effort. We are always mindful of safety in cold conditions and wilderness areas.
We recommend bringing one medium sized kitbag to transport your luggage, plus a 35 - 40 litre rucksack with waist and chest strap for skiing. In Kvitåvtn you will be cabin based therefore you can bring what you wish, however, you must be able to lift your main luggage easily to carry it to the cabin and up the steps. Whilst on the 2-day tour to the Helberghytta you will be able to leave travel clothing etc in your main bag at the cabin in Kvitåvtn.
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.
Your ski guide will have the maps required for this trip, but if you would like to arrive with your own maps we have listed those which cover the route:
Around Kvitåvatn / Gaustablikk:-
Gaustatoppen – Rjuken (Telemark) 1:25,000 (2657)
For a smaller scale and to have the Helberghytta / Kvitåvatn & Gaustablikk
Hardangervidda Øst DNT hiking map 1:100,000 (2556)
And for a larger scale map for the Helberghytta:-
"Rjukan 10025" The tourist series: Hardangervidda Sør-East 1:60,000 from Telemark Turistforening.
All maps are available online via the Map Shop www.themapshop.co.uk, from Stanfords in London www.stanford.co.uk or with https://en.kartbutikken.no/
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 often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
The DNT system of cabins in Norway is a wonderful concept. 'DNT' stands for Den Norske Turistforening, which translates to the 'Norwegian Trekking Association'.
According to the DNT local member associations operate 550 cabins across Norway. They maintain a network of about 22,000 km (13,730 miles) of marked hiking trails and about 7000 km (4375 miles) of branch-marked ski tracks. Each year, volunteers work a total of more than 800,000 hours maintaining this system.
DNT Cabins are either 'staffed' or 'self-service'. Staffed cabins usually have showers, and drying rooms for damp clothing. They also have a licence to serve alcohol and normally sell a few basic items such as snacks, batteries, first aid items etc. If you wish further details about your particular trip and the accommodation please look at the individual accommodation items which have a hyperlink to the cabin website for further information.
Staffed cabins
Staffed cabins serve all meals; breakfast, dinner and a picnic lunch which you make yourself from the breakfast buffet. Meals are excellent in both quality and quantity. Almost all of them have showers and electricity, either from the power grid or from a local generator and you will be able to charge electrical items. They are very cosy and traditional in style and are just as comfortable as a rustic hotel. Staffed cabins are open only in certain seasons.
Self-service cabins
The self-service cabins are equipped with all that we need for cooking and sleeping. Firewood, gas, kitchen utensils, table linen and bunks with blanks or duvets and pillows. We do require you to bring a 'sheet sleeping bag liner' for reasons of hygiene. The cabins are also stocked with tinned and dried food which means we do not have to carry provisions! It is not possible to 'reserve' beds in self-service cabins and it is a case of 'first come, first served'. We aim to arrive in good time to secure the necessary number of beds which are usually in rooms with between 2 - 8 bunk beds. If we arrive late in the day and the cabin is already crowded then as 'members of the DNT' you will have priority over non-members in terms of acquiring a mattress. Please note this may be a mattress on the floor, think of it as camping, but with a roof!
In the self-service cabins we look after ourselves: fetch water, cook food, wash up and chop wood. At the cabin we fill out a payment form which details everything we have used. The DNT then contact us on our email addresses and we make payment for your stay.
You can read more about the DNT system and what to expect in terms of accommodation at the cabins in our Blog.
Food
On all of our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes.
If you are vegetarian catering for your diet is not generally a problem. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy/intolerance we would ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation as soon as possible. A diet that is not related to an allergy/intolerance or beliefs cannot be catered for. It is simply not possible for mountain accommodation to deal with many variations in diet while providing meals for groups.
In addition, if you have an allergy/intolerance we would suggest you bring/purchase suitable snacks as a supplement to the picnic lunches. At times finding gluten free bread, for example, can be an issue. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance please contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. 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.
New European Travel Regulations from mid 2025
If you are a guest travelling to one of our European holidays you may be impacted by a significant change to travel regulations expected to be in place from the middle of 2025. The new EITAS scheme will start operating this year and, whilst a start date is not yet confirmed, it is likely to affect our summer holidays in 2025 and any winter holiday thereafter. As your holiday approaches we recommend that you check for updates on the website HERE.
We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
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.
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
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 Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. 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.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun 23 Feb - Sun 02 Mar Code: KVT (PV1) |
Price: £2545 | Full | |
|
Sun 23 Feb - Sun 02 Mar Code: KVT1 |
Price: £2545 | Limited availability | Book |
|
Sun 09 Mar - Sun 16 Mar Code: KVT2 |
Price: £2645 | 2 more to guarantee | Book |
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun 22 Feb - Sun 01 Mar Code: KVT1 |
Price: £2650 | Spaces available | Book |
| From Price | £2545 |
| Holiday Type | Nordic Touring 'Off Track' |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-8 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1883m (6177ft) |
| Countries Visited | Norway |
