On these backcountry ski trips with tents and pulks, we venture deep into the white wilderness for adventure and magnificent scenery. It is a ski holiday with an adventurous edge – perfect for anyone who enjoys being part of a group, has a positive attitude and is looking for a genuine outdoor adventure. It is a combined introduction course and guided trip with focus learning the basics of winter campiing and back country skiing.
All trips/coruses begin at Brekkeseter in Høvringen, right next to Rondane National Park. We do not determine the exact route in advance, as we adapt our plans to the wind, weather and snow conditions to create the best possible experience under the circumstances.
The trips are suitable both for participants who have never tried this type of expedition before and for those with previous experience. At the beginning of every trip, we spend a full day testing equipment, planning the route, packing and practising ski technique as required.
After two nights at a comfortable hotel, we pack our equipment into the pulks and head into the mountains for four days, including three nights camping in varied landscapes of forests and high mountains.
Experience and Fitness
You need a reasonable level of physical fitness and energy to be active throughout the day. Once we reach our campsite, there is still work to be done: pitching tents, building snow walls for shelter and melting snow for water before finally getting into our sleeping bags.
You should therefore have a positive attitude, be in good physical condition and preferably have done some training before the trip. This will help you get the most out of the experience and absorb all the new skills and knowledge you will gain along the way.
By a reasonable level of fitness, we mean that you should be able to walk up stairs without becoming out of breath and be capable of walking 15–20 km in hilly terrain in a day, with breaks along the way.
It is difficult to say exactly how far we will ski each day, as this depends heavily on the wind, weather and snow conditions. As a general guide, however, we expect to cover approximately 10–20 km per day.
You do not need extensive experience with backcountry skiing to participate, but you should have tried either cross-country or alpine skiing before and feel comfortable skiing downhill and stopping safely.
Throughout the week, the guide will provide ongoing instruction in ski technique based on each participant’s individual experience and needs.
Food and Accommodation
For trips in the Rondane National Park area, we spend the first two nights at Brekkeseter in Høvringen, where meals are provided by the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation is either in hotel rooms or rooms in a cabin next to the hotel with shared toilet/bath. This allows us to focus entirely on preparing for the expedition and improving our ski technique.
Camp life is an essential part of the days we spend out in the mountains. Each day, there are shared tasks that everyone helps with. These include building a camp kitchen, constructing snow walls for shelter, preparing a toilet area and melting snow for drinking water and cooking.
Rondane Skisenter provides all the main meals. If you have a special diet or food allergies, please contact us before booking so that we can assess whether we are able to accommodate your requirements on this particular trip.
You should bring plenty of your own snacks to supplement the breakfast, lunch and dinner provided during the expedition. Meals in the mountains primarily consist of good-quality freeze-dried food.
As a general rule, accommodation is shared by two participants per room at the hotel/cabin and by two to three participants per tent, depending on the size of the group.
A single room can be selected as an optional extra when booking, although we cannot guarantee availability for every departure.
The Area
Because our routes vary from week to week and from year to year, it is difficult to provide a single description of the exact areas we may visit.
2027 Departures
Week 6: 6–12 February 2027
Week 7: 13–19 February 2027
Week 10: 6–12 March 2027
Week 11: 13–19 March 2027
Week 12 / Easter: 20–26 March 2027
Tailor-Made Trips
On request, we are happy to arrange trips at other times for smaller groups, companies and other private groups.
Contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Weekly Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, group dinner and introduction to the trip. Overnight at hotel/cabin.
Day 2: Equipment testing and preparation. Overnight at hotel/cabin.
Day 3: We set off on our expedition with tents and pulks. Overnight in a tent.
Day 4: Ski expedition with tents and pulks. Overnight in a tent.
Day 5: Ski expedition with tents and pulks. Overnight in a tent.
Day 6: Return to the hotel and farewell dinner. Overnight at hotel/cabin.
Day 7: Departure for home.
Please note: The itinerary may be changed depending on wind, weather and snow conditions.
Price
Per person in a shared room: 16.500 NOK
+ 1200 NOK for single room at hotel/cabin.
What Is Included?
- 3 nights at the hotel/cabin, with meals served at the hotel, sharing a room with one other participant.
- 3 nights in a shared tent (2 people per tent)
- Full board, including breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Shared expedition equipment, including first-aid equipment, cooking equipment, fuel, pulks and tents
- Small groups of 4–8 participants
What Is Not Included?
- Transport to Høvringen
- Backcountry skis with steel edges, boots and poles (available to rent when booking)
- Winter sleeping bag with a comfort rating down to -20°C (available to rent when booking)
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Sleeping mat with good insulation (combination of
- Drinks during the hotel/cabin portion of the trip
- Snacks – please bring plenty for the days spent in the mountains
- Travel insurance with appropriate coverage, including repatriation and expenses in the event of illness or injury (mandatory)
Getting There
A convenient option is to fly to Oslo Airport Gardermoen and take the direct transfer to Høvringen on Saturdays from week 6-10. You can book the one-way transfer when booking this tour.
Another option is the 14:29 train directly from the airport terminal to Otta Station. The train journey takes approximately three hours. From Otta, you will need to take a taxi up into the mountains, which takes approximately 25 minutes. If several participants choose this option, we are happy to help coordinate shared taxi transport.
For the return journey, the train departs Otta Station at 11:29. So you need to take a taxi around 10.30 from Høvringen. We help you with contacts etc. We recommend booking your train ticket well in advance. Tickets are normally released approximately three months before departure at www.vy.no.
