Mountain Adventure Holidays
A Nordic off-track ski touring trip in the Skarvheimen offers a wonderful introduction to travelling from hut-to-hut. Eastern Norway meets western Norway at Skarvheimen in a beautiful mountain landscape of rolling hills, plateaux, and wide valleys scattered with frozen lakes and rocky crags. This is the perfect terrain for 'off-track' ski touring. When asking a Norwegian why they were holidaying in Skarvheimen they replied "Because it is one of the most beautiful mountain areas of Norway".
When you step off the train at Finse, the highest railway station in Norway, you will feel as though you have been plunged into a world of snow and ice! Above this tiny hamlet is the impressive mass of the Hardanger icecap which adds to the sense of Arctic wildness and wide open spaces. Our route takes us from Finse to Breistolen, a lonely mountain hotel on the road between Gol and Laerdal.
We travel on skis with all our needs in our rucksack, but with food, fuel and bedding awaiting us in each cosy mountain hut, we ski with lightweight sacks. Add to this fact that the days are around 15km (9.3 miles) long and you will understand that this is a relaxed trip. However, for the keen skiers there is usually the opportunity to ski more after we arrive at each overnight accommodation.
From Oslo you will take the train north to the tiny hamlet of Finse on the edge of the Hardangervidda. Finse is the highest railway station in Norway. With the opening of the railway the proximity and easy access to both Bergen and Oslo made Finse a popular mountain resort, but during the 1960's and 1970's the tourist traffic declined, as did the village. Today Finse is a tiny community but the Station still operates the oldest and highest situated post office in Norway, founded on 1st March 1904.
Finse sits at 1222 metres (4009ft) and is home to the Alpine Research Centre which since 1972 has attracted biologists, geologists, geophysicists and other researchers from a wide range of Norwegian and international institutions. This tiny community in Norway attracts polar explorers from around the world.
For fans of Star Wars in1979, the entire Star Wars crew stayed nearby including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and local film extras. “The Empire Strikes Back” was partially filmed in Finse and on the glacier. Finse represents the snow planet “Hoth” for thousands of Star Wars fans.
Your guide will meet you at Finse station and from there is a short walk or ski of 500m (1640ft) across the lake of Finsevatnet to the DNT hut where you will spend the first night. Finsehytta is beautifully situated with a view of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier, the sixth largest glacier in Norway. We recommend arriving here at approximately 1630 hrs so your guide can escort you to the hut; the group meeting will be at 1800 hrs
For 'Arrival & Departure' details please refer to the 'Trip Information' section.
After a hearty Norwegian breakfast, we prepare our skis for our tour and contemplate new horizons. Today we leave the Finse hut and head for the hills to travel to Geiterygghytta, our next overnight. The 'hytta', Norwegian for 'hut', is one of the gateways to the magnificent Aurlandsdalen. The well-known and historic Aurlandsdalen Valley was once the main route between the eastern and western parts of Norway. This area is known as Norway's Grand Canyon, a landscape that is often described as wild and breathtaking, rich in plant and animal life, cultural treasures, history and geological features. The geological history of the area goes all the way back to rocks that are older than 1500 million years, however, it was only in 1981 that the landscape was taken into the protection of the National Parks.
We have two options to reach Geiterygghytta which sits at 1224m (4014ft) above sea level. There is a slightly easier version via the Omnsbreen pass which takes the most direct route to the hut, or we may consider skiing through the Kyrkjedori or ‘Church Door’. The Kyrkjedori is a narrow pass through the mountains leading to frozen lakes and craggy hills. Either trail leads to our overnight stop at Geiterhygghytta. The hut is often surrounded by reindeer. In Norway there are approximately 2,600 Sami people making their living from herding reindeer. Traditionally, most Sami people have also supported themselves through fishing, farming and hunting, on the coast and on the larger inland rivers.
Ascent: 666m (2184ft) Descent: 659 m (2161ft) Distance: 19km (11.8 miles) Duration: 5h30 - 7hrs or 23km (14.3 miles) via the Church Door
This morning we wake up to the wide open white spaces that surround Geiterygghytta. We have quite a short and relaxed ski tour today which allows time to consolidate skills and work on technique. Putting on our skis we will head for a mountain lodge which is perched in a wonderfully wild and exposed position on the Arctic plateau.
The Hardangervidda is Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau and Norway's largest national park. In winter there is a network of trails which connect the mountain lodges. Our overnight accommodation is a 'self-service' hut where you will join in the wood-chopping, water collection, and cooking. This is the true Norwegian hut experience! Skiing through the wilderness to reach a cosy wooden hut with the prospect of a wood-burning stove and a large pot of tea at the end of it. It's all great for building team spirit! Once we are settled in there will be time for the more energetic to tick off a nearby highpoint such as Kongshellernuten.
Ascent: 454m (1489ft) Descent: 216m (708ft) Distance: 13.5km (8.4 miles) Duration: 5-6 hrs
Teamwork to start our day as we all help prepare breakfast and organise our lunches. It's lovely to get the wood-burning stove fired up early, and to wake up to the sound of the kettle boiling! The great thing about the self-service huts is that they have a 'help yourself' store of dried and tinned foods. They also have a store of wood, and come with pillows and blankets. It really is an amazing system based on trust and honesty as we make a list of what we use and pay many months later when the DNT Trekking Association sends someone round the huts to collect the 'slips' that list our details and use of food.
Once we have tidied up at Kongshelleren we put on our skis, and head off across the plateau. After we have warmed up our ski legs on the plateau we then have a long descent cruising our way down to a frozen lake, and our next overnight stop at Iungsdalshytta. We will spend two nights at Iungsdalshytta.
Ascent: 148m (485ft) Descent: 514m (1686ft) Distance: 16km (10 miles) Duration: 5-6 hrs
This morning we emerge from our cosy hut at Iundsdalshytta to a wild and remote landscape. Today we will aim for a day tour which will allow time to consolidate skills and technique. You will be able to ski with a lighter pack today as items can be left at the hut which are not required. You can also choose to sit out the ski day and simply relax while gazing out of the windows at the wintry mountains. Your guide will make a decision on the route for the day based on the group energy levels and ability.
Today's ascent and descent will depend on the route chosen, but the average distance is around 12km (7.4 miles)
We awake to see the immense expanse of the lake of lungsdalsvatnet stretching towards the far distance. The word 'vatnet' means 'lake' and you will see many 'vatnet' marked on the local maps as they are very much a feature of the plateau. Putting on our skis we head away from the lakeside to follow a valley which is running north which will take us once more onto the high plateau. By now you should be well used to skiing with the weight of your rucksack on your back, and your ski legs are developing.
After reaching the plateau we head for a series of small lakes which lead us to our second 'self-service' DNT hut. Once again its tea-making and firing up the stove that occupies us on arrival. After a 'cuppa' we can head back out into our white world with the aim of skiing to the top of some of the small summits which are to be found in the area around Bjordalsbu. If the weather is good we should have excellent views all the way to the imposing Jotunheimen mountains. Twenty-nine of the highest mountains in Norway are in the Jotunheimen, including the highest Galdhøpiggen which sits at 2469m (8098ft). Once again our overnight hut is 'self-service' and we will all participate in wood chopping, food preparation and other housework.
Ascent: 684m (2243ft) Descent: 204 (669ft) Distance: 18km (11 miles) Duration: 5-6 hrs
NB: If you are choosing to fly tonight then do check with us before booking any flights as the bus times can change. Any evening flight should be no earlier than 2hrs after this arrival time.
Today is your departure day. The airport at Gardermoen is easily reached from Oslo city centre by bus or train. Full details under 'Arrival & Departure' in the 'Trip Information' section.
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. On this trip we will be staying in Norwegian mountain huts for six of the seven nights. 'Hut' is a misnomer as they are more like cosy mountain lodges. They are either privately owned and run, or more likely they are owned and operated by Den Norske Turistforening, the Norwegian Trekking Association. You can read more about what it is like to stay in the DNT huts here.
All the huts have shared bedrooms with either 2-3, or 4-6 beds. All meals, excellent in quantity and quality, are provided and you make your packed lunch from the breakfast buffet. There are hot showers, usually drying rooms, and often a small shop and bar. The toilets may be inside the main building, or in some cases they are 'dry' toilets which are in a separate building.
We will also be using 'self-service' lodges for two of the nights; these are timber-built buildings set in remote surroundings, with bunk rooms, fully-equipped kitchens, wood-burning stoves, a stockpile of wood (ready for chopping!), chemical toilets and a food store where we help ourselves to supplies. As a group, we will share the tasks of wood-chopping, water collection, cooking, clearing up, etc. We would like to point out that we aim to arrive early in the day at these 'self-service' cabins to ensure that we have a bed. If we arrive late and the cabin is busy it is possible that you will sleep on the floor on a mattress. Consider it a Norwegian form of 'glamping'!
Our prices are based on you having DNT membership; it is, therefore, essential that you arrange membership via this LINK. Membership cards will be needed when we are staying at the huts.
This trip package ends upon arrival into Oslo, this is because in previous years guests have preferred to stay in different locations (IE city centre or the airport and with differing levels of comfort). We therefore won't make group accommodation arrangements on the last night. We do however recommend staying at City Box Hotel, Oslo which is where our guide will stay after this trip. The hotel is convenient for the railway and bus stations. Single rooms are only available on this night.
Twin rooms MAY be available on some nights for a supplementary fee, but at staffed huts only. Please contact us if you wish to discuss the rooming on this trip.
The DNT hut at Finse was fully renovated in 2021 and is clean, cosy, and comfortable. With the railway station just 500m (1640ft) from the hut door it is easily reached on foot or by ski. It is a serviced DNT hut, looking after skiers from all over the world. It provides 174 beds, in rooms and dormitories. There are indoor toilets, showers, and a drying room for kit. The hut serves dinner and breakfast, and snacks at other times. There is a phone signal and wifi, and a small shop with a selection of outdoor items The hut is famous as a training base for polar explorers from around the world. It is not unusual to see a sponsored group ski past with 'Shackleton' emblazoned on their pulks (sledges).
Bedrooms, which require early booking, are normally for between 2 to 3 people, although there are some rooms which have 4 to 6 beds. It may be that we will use dormitories if necessary. Twin rooms may be available for a supplement. Single bedrooms are not possible.
Geiterygg DNT hut sits at 1224m (4014ft) above sea level, in the middle of Skarvheimen. The hut was opened in 1914 and has become a vital hub in an extensive network of trails, connecting routes from Hol, Aurland, Finse and Hallingskeid. Geiterygg is one of the main gateways to the area known as Norway's Grand Canyon. The mountains around the hut are breathtaking, wild, rugged and remote. Trina, her husband, Oolav, and their two young children took over running the hut a few years ago, and they are doing a great job!
The hut at Geiterygg is a 'serviced or catered' hut and has a total of 88 beds. You will not be required to prepare meals, it will all be done for you, and the food is excellent. There are a few rooms with 2 bunk beds, or 4 bunk beds, and there are 44 bunks in a dormitory annex. Both the main hut at Geiterygg and the annex have indoor toilets, showers and a drying room. There is also a very comfortable lounge area and a small shop.
The hut at Kongshelleren is a DNT self-service hut. This means that the hut is supplied with dried and tinned foods, wood, and bedding. The hut, which has 12 beds available between two buildings, is a great location and offers a cosy night in the mountains. As with all the DNT huts it is usually clean and tidy and a comfortable stay. It was renovated in winter 2023 and is now very characterful with some rather nice paintings and furniture. This is the true Norwegian mountain experience, skiing over the snowy landscape, arriving at a remote hut, opening it up and making ourselves at home. We love it!
Iungsdalshytta like all the DNT huts is located in a stunning location in the mountains. This is a 'serviced' hut and the hut staff will prepare our meals which normally include a three-course dinner and buffet breakfast. Meals are cooked by the chefs with special care taken to use locally produced ingredients whenever possible. The hut staff say "Food is always served with a smile at Iungsdalshytta :)" We love staying here as a warm welcome from the hut team awaits us! For 2024 a new shower and 'indoor' toilet block will be added to the main building, no more walking in snow late at night to visit the 'facilities'.
The hut can sleep 48 people in rooms of 2, 4 and 6 bunk beds. Bedding is supplied and you just need to bring a 'sleeping bag liner'. The hut has electricity supplied by its own generator. There is a good drying room, and there is plenty of hot water for showers. The shop has a very small selection of snacks, and ski gear - spare socks etc. The hut dog is a very likeable Collie who just loves to watch any of your skiing films - try it!
Bjordalsbu is a 'self-service' hut which means that it is supplied with wood, and dried and tinned food. As always the huts are located in the mountains in beautiful locations. There are many place names in Norway ending in 'bu' which generally means a mountain cottage or shelter. Bjordalsbu sleeps up to 26 people in rooms of various size. The hut has a wood burning stove which soon heats everything up and is great for drying clothes. We all participate in preparing meals, chopping wood for the stove, and generally doing some housework.
Arrival
You can reach the start of this trip either via Oslo or Bergen. Your train/bus ticket to Finse is not included in the trip fee, and you must make your own arrangements.
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
At the end of the last day of skiing we take a bus from a remote 'stop' to Oslo where we check into a hotel in the city. You can, if necessary, leave on the evening of Day 7 after we arrive in Oslo. (Note: that day 7 accommodation is not included in the price of the holiday to allow for this flexibility) Contact us to discuss this option as your flight must be at least 2 hours after the arrival time in Oslo. We would advise that it is safer to plan on departing on Day 8.
From Oslo city centre you can make your way to Gardermoen airport by bus or train:
By Train
The “Flytoget” airport express train takes twenty minutes from the city centre to Gardermoen airport. You can also take the normal train operated by Vy which is cheaper, but takes a little longer.
By Bus
There are various bus services between the city centre and the various airports. Gardermoen airport can be reached by bus with Ruter. Transfer links to Torp are to be found on the airport website.
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.
If bringing your own skis...
The skis we recommend for this trip are a metal-edged Nordic back country ski similar to the Fischer Transnordic 82 Easy Skin Xtralite with NNN BC bindings or equivalent, and with a side cut of around 82-60-70 mm. It is also acceptable to use skis similar to Fischer Transnordic 66 Easy Skin Xtralite with a sidecut of 66-54-81mm. The term sidecut refers to the width at the tip, waist, and tail. The wider the side cut the more stability, but less glide. The narrower the ski more glide, but less stability. Everything is a compromise.
Boots should be leather or soft plastic, such as the Garmont Excursion, or Scarpa T4, with Vibram soles. Poles should be of touring length and fit snugly into the armpit with the basket on the snow surface. You also require full length climbing skins for this trip. If you have a waxing ski with the new Easy Skin system that allows a 'kick' skin to be attached only in the 'kick' zone, then bring these for days when the waxing is challenging.
For buying Nordic ski equipment online; in the UK we recommend Braemar Mountain Sports and in France we recommend Telemark Pyrenees.
If hiring skis...
It is always recommended to have your own equipment (especially boots) for any remote long distance ski tour. However, it is possible to hire equipment for this trip in Geilo which is a 45 minute train journey away from the start of the tour at Finse DNT hut.
Due to the nature of this being a point-to-point journey it requires the equipment to be returned to the start of the tour the cost of which will be shared between those hiring. You may want to check how many will be hiring and therefore the estimated cost of the return of the skis. Note too that if hiring in Norway you will also need to carry light weight footwear with you in your day pack.
You will need: skis, boots, poles and climbing skins. If you wish to hire this equipment please provide details on your Booking Form so that we can assist you and advise you of the rental cost.
Ski pass...
There is no ski pass required to use the tracks or mountain trails in Norway. You would only be required to purchase a ski pass if a group decision is made to use ski lifts for practising downhill skills if the opportunity arises.
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.
When you leave Oslo you will take everything you need for the trip in your rucksack. Allow sufficient time between your arrival in Oslo and connecting travel to ensure you have your rucksack packed and ready for the week.
You can leave any extra luggage in Oslo in the left luggage lockers at the airport, for more information refer to the 'Left Luggage' section of the Trip Information page. For example you might want to fly wearing footwear other than your ski boots and leave those and a fresh change of clothing in the left luggage lockers? However, you can leave home ready to ski and arrive at Oslo ready to go. It has been done many times, and it works. To avoid the need to pay to leave a ski bag at the airport you can arrive with your skis simply taped together. Or you can overnight at one of the local hotels, most of whom will store ski bags free of charge until you return.
Group equipment - we share out waxes, 1 snow shovel between 2, emergency lightweight shelters, spare ski pole, snow probe, first aid kit, and any repair kit amongst the group members.
Read our Blog for extra tips and advice on packing for a Nordic ski trip.
Equipment
For information on the type of skis required for this trip ski consult the 'Skis - type, rental & ski pass' section of the Trip Information page. Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired in the UK. They cannot be easily hired in Norway.
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 a 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 a minimum number of guests is required before we can confirm that your trip will go-ahead. The minimum and 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. When staying at the staffed cabins we book small mixed dormitories just for our group of 2, 3, 4 or 6 people. There is no single supplement available on this trip. However a single room is possible to book on the last night in Oslo. This final night is not book by us as we have found guests all have different preferences as where to stay so this needs to be booked separately by guests themselves.
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.
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:
Statens Kartverk Lankartdivisjonen 1:50,000 series:
Turkart No. 2241 Finse
Turkart No. 2661 Skarvheimen - Aurlandsdalen
The above will cover almost all of the skiing you will do, however, the last morning is not covered, and if you wish the map for this section it is:
Turkart No. 2529 Laerdal
There is a new series of Nordeca maps which may be worth investigating as being more comprehensive.
All maps are available online via the Map Shop www.themapshop.co.uk or from Stanfords in London www.stanford.co.uk
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.
During this trip you will experience 'touring' in its purest form as you will set off from Oslo with everything you need for the week in your rucksack. It's a great feeling to have everything on your back, a de-cluttering of life and stripping down to the basics.
With this in mind you might like to leave extra luggage such as a ski bag, or luggage for your flight or any onward travel in Oslo. You can you leave luggage in a locker at Gardermoen airport. There are 200 electronic lockers located on the 1st floor in the parking garage P10 next to the terminal building. You can find more information and prices here. There are also luggage lockers at Oslo central railway station which are less expensive, though cost depends on the size of locker you use. The railway station is open Monday–Sunday 0345 hrs - 0130 hrs. We have, however, found that on occasion these are unreliable in that they can be fully booked. There are other private storage facilities in Oslo such as Eelway.
Another option is to book an hotel room either before or after your trip and leave luggage with the hotel. The airport hotels in general all have luggage storage facilities where you can leave items, and often a late flight into/early flight out of Oslo is cheaper than during the day and has the added benefit of providing somewhere to leave luggage or ski bags.
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 13 Apr - Sun 20 Apr Code: SHO1 |
Price: £1960 | Spaces available | Book |
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun 12 Apr - Sun 19 Apr Code: SHO1 |
Price: £2040 | Spaces available | Book |
| From Price | £1960 |
| Holiday Type | Low Impact |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-8 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1800m (5905ft) |
| Countries Visited | Norway |
| Meet In | Finse, Norway |
