Nordic Ski in Norway for New Year

Norway can be reached by train from within Europe or with the various international airlines offering direct flights from the UK and elsewhere to Oslo Gardermoen airport. Flights can also be taken to Torp airport, but note you will need to allow enough time to transfer to Oslo Gardermoen airport for your train journey north.

The train station at Oslo Gardermoen is located inside the airport terminal and is just a few minutes from the arrivals area. It makes connecting to your train for your journey to Ringebu very easy. On your arrival day a transfer from Ringebu train station to your hotel is included in your trip cost, and also from your hotel back to Ringebu on your departure day. 

Arriving

If you are arriving to Norway via Oslo you have the choice of either taking the hotel bus or public train north to the fabulous landscape of Venabu.

If travelling by train you will need a ticket from Oslo to Ringebu where you will meet a private taxi car/ small bus to take you to Venabu (this taxi is included in the trip price). The train journey is a delight in itself offering great views of the Norwegian countryside. The trains are modern and comfortable and have drinks facilities, and free wifi.

Tickets are easily purchased on line at Vy.no and if you book in advance there is a considerable discount. You can choose to collect tickets on the train or have them sent to your phone which makes taking the train north very easy. You should aim to catch the 1429 hrs train from Oslo Gardermoen (Lufthavn) airport to Ringebu, arriving at Ringebu at 1653 hrs. Train tickets should be purchased as soon as possible as they can be 'sold out'. Some services may not be available for purchase until 60 days before departure.  Details of discounts, including those for Senior Citizens, can be found here

The private hotel bus leaves Oslo Gardermoen (Lufthavn) airport on Saturdays and goes directly to your hotel. The bus departs at 1345 hrs. If you would like to book the hotel bus please contact the hotel on venabu@venabu.no The cost for 2026 will be 650 NOK one-way.

Travelling to Norway 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 www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. If you're travelling from the UK or US 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 then using the UK to Copenhagen, Denmark, as an example here is how.

Travel from London, England, to Brussels, Belgium using the Eurostar www.eurostar.com, these tickets can be purchased up to 6 months ahead of your travel date. From here you can book a train from Brussels, Belgium to Gothenburg, in Sweden, (Gotëborg) adding a stopover in Copenhagen, Denmark. For this you can use the German Railway website int.bahn.de. A full day on the train sees you arriving in Copenhagen for an evening walk around the city before dinner if you would like to use this as a stop over. 

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 website www.vy.no.

All the trains have Wi-Fi, charging points and a restaurant car.

Departing 

Trains or buses are expected to depart Ringebu at 0917hrs, arriving at Oslo airport at 1301hrs, and a second train leaving Ringebu at 1212hrs, arriving at 1432hrs. 

The private hotel bus to the airport leaves Venabu every Saturday at 0930 hrs, aiming to arrive by 1245 hrs. The cost for 2026 will be 650 NOK one-way.

You can, of course, take alternative trains both on the arrival and departure days but this may incur a small supplement if it requires a special journey by the hotel taxi and is out with the hours of the group transfer. 

It is your responsibility to ensure any insurance taken out is appropriate for your trip and the activity you will be undertaking. Tracks & Trails cannot advise on insurance policies or be held responsible if, in the event of a claim, your insurance is inadequate. 

Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue It is a condition of booking you are insured for mountain rescue, medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. The exception to the mountain rescue insurance requirement is if the trip is taking place in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Ensure your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude can be checked in the 'At A Glance' box on the trip page. 

Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance Insurance should be booked as soon as we confirm your trip is going ahead. Deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the minimum numbers required. In this case we offer a full refund or the option to transfer to another trip.

Baggage Loss/Equipment Damage We advise insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage.

All the above is detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further information on insurance options click here.

When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in. 

Equipment

This trip uses ‘classic’ style track skis. If you are bringing your own skis they must fit in the tracks, so should be a maximum of 66mm at the widest point. You can use track skis which are 'waxing', 'fishscale' or 'skintec'. You can also use track skis with a metal edge, or half metal edge. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.

Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Trip Information'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop is provided in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page. 

• Wax Cork and Ski Scraper - only if using 'waxing' skis, these can be bought at the hire shop

• Ski ties - to hold your skis together, useful but not essential

• Waxes - if required, these will be supplied by Tracks and Trails

• Rucksack - 25 to 30 litres with waist and chest strap. You need space to carry your kit, and an item of group kit

• Rucksack waterproof cover or liner to keep contents dry

• Water container - 1 litre, drink tubes and bottles stowed on the outside of your rucksack usually freeze in winter

• Head torch - plus spare batteries as we may be skiing after dark

• Whistle to summon help

• Emergency foil blanket

Clothing 

• Waterproof jacket - essential, this must keep you dry during a day of continuous snowfall or at least as dry as any waterproof jacket ever keeps you!

• Waterproof trousers - in case of heavy snowfall

• Trousers - lightweight, windproof and warm 

• Thermal top - long sleeves

• Thin fleece - long sleeves

• Waistcoat - fleece/wind stopper 

• Gloves x 2 (one thick and one thin)

• Over-mittens for colder days can be useful

• Warm hat

• Sun hat

• Head/ear band 

• Duvet jacket (or second warm layer)

• Scarf or 'Buff' for neck

• Socks - 2 or 3 pairs

Comfort

• Lip salve

• Sunscreen - essential

• Sunglasses - essential

• Goggles - or Nordic Ski Visor

• Snack bars/chocolate

• Tissues - we recommend biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish

• Anti-bacterial hand wash

Personal First Aid

• Personal medication 

• Blister plasters (e.g. Compeed)

• Painkillers/anti-inflammatory

• Glucose tablets/Energy gel

• 2 x Rehydration sachets - eg Dioralyte

• Throat lozenges

• Antiseptic cream/spray

Documentation 

• Mountain Rescue/Ski Insurance documents - compulsory

• Passport

• Credit card

• Cash - Norwegian Kroner

• GHIC - if travelling from UK for medical cover

Additional Items

• Attire for New Years Eve - there is no requirement to 'dress up', but our guests usually like to make a special effort on the 31 December. It really is up to you whether to stay 'casual' or to dress 'smart'.

• Slippers for use at accommodation

• Clothing for use at accommodation

• Hair dryer if required (it is not standard for Norwegian hotels to provide one)

• Travel Kettle if required (it is not standard for Norwegian hotels to provide one)

• Swimwear for sauna

• Camera/ Book/Music

• Toiletries – soap/shower gel; not all accommodation supplies these

• Ear plugs - if room sharing

• Small thermos for hot drinks

• Short gaiters for snowy days

• Micro-spikes/boot grippers - optional, for icy conditions on the street/car park

**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**

Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit

We use 'classic' style cross-country track skis for this trip. At Venabu the skis from the hotel are all fitted with BC NNN bindings (Back Country New Nordic Norm Bindings) and are either a 'waxless' skis, sometimes called 'fishscale' with metal edges which are more effective for snowploughing and control of speed or they may be a 'waxing' ski where we use grip waxes. You can, of course, bring your own skis and we are available if you would like to discuss whether they are suitable for this trip. 

You should book these as soon as possible via your Tracks and Trails Account. We require your height, weight, normal shoe size (your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots)

Ski hire for winter 2026 is 895 NOK for 6 days, this includes, skis, poles and boots. There will be a small increase for winter 2027. There is no charge for using the ski tracks in Norway, and therefore no ski pass is required. 

In the area around Venabu they begin to prepare the tracks as soon as they have enough snow in December and continue until mid-April or after Easter. The area has a good reputation as a 'snow sure' venue, and we have found that to be true. It offers 140 kms ( 87.5 miles) of prepared trails in varied mountain terrain, with summits up to 1400m (4592ft).

Your safety while skiing is our 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. 

• Respect for others
  A cross-country skier must ski in such a manner that they do does endanger or prejudice others.

• Respect for signs, direction and running style
  Trail marking signs must be respected on any trail marked with an indicated direction. A skier shall proceed only in that indicated direction and ski in the indicated running style.

• Choice of trails and tracks
  On cross-country trails with more than one packed track, a skier should choose the right-hand track. Skiers in groups must keep in the right track behind each other. With free running style, skiers shall keep to their right-hand-side of the trail.

• Overtaking
  A skier is permitted to overtake and pass another skier to the left or right. A skier ahead is not obliged to give way to an overtaking skier, but should allow a faster skier to pass whenever this is possible.

• Encounter
  Cross-country skiers meeting while skiing opposite directions shall keep to their right. A descending skier has priority.

• Poles
  A cross-country skier shall make the utmost effort to keep their poles close to their body when near another skier.

• Control of speed
  A cross-country skier, and especially going downhill, shall always adapt their speed to personal ability and to the prevailing terrain and visibility and to the traffic on the course. Every skier should keep a safe distance from the skiers ahead. As a last resort, an intentional fall should be used to avoid collision.

• Keeping trails and tracks clear
  A skier who stops must leave the trail. In the case of a fall, they shall clear the trail without delay.

• Accident
  In case of an accident, everyone should render assistance.

• Identification
  Everybody at an accident, whether witnesses, responsible parties or not, must establish their identity. 

On many trips there will be an element of 'group kit'. This kit will will be minimal and usually a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example, on a week-long trip you may carry a shelter for one day before passing it to the next person. If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items, such as a snow shovel, probe, spare ski pole etc.

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 your own room.   Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £240 for Winter 2027 dates and £255 for Winter 2028 dates.

Expect to ski on a mixture of both flat and rolling terrain on prepared cross-country ski trails with parallel grooves. You should already be at a level where you are confident about controlling your speed and direction, and have a good ‘snowplough’. You should be able to ski under control on a variety of terrain both uphill, and downhill including some steeper terrain and narrow tracks and be confident about tackling corners while skiing downhill. All of our trips include quality instruction, but for these trips you need to have a good ‘kick and glide’ to be able to travel competently and at a steady pace. You should have a good level of fitness to ensure that you are comfortable with longer days in winter weather, which may include snowfall and cold winds. 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 small daypack. We do not always use skis with metal edges so it is important that you have good control on descents and while turning. In Norway we normally use ‘waxing’ skis and although you do not need previous experience in this 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 15-25 km (9.4-15.6 miles) per day with an occasional longer day.

The statistics given on your itinerary relating to ascent, descent and distance should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required. This is a guideline to help you decide if, based on previous experience, your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip. We ask you to note that the even the most modern of technology can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance.

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. There is pleasure to starting your ski day in the sunrise, and skiing back with the sunset. Temperatures in December average -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°). Temperatures be lower, but rarely below  -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 great ski tracks. If we 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) we would expect you to be able to be efficient and keep moving and to manage your comfort.

Food On 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 ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation. 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 If the accommodation has a problem with the water supply they will post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water, otherwise it is normal to drink from the tap. Hotels - It is not uncommon for restaurants to charge for tap water at the evening meal. If this is the case then Tracks and Trails will cover the cost. Mountain Huts - If your trip features a stay in a mountain hut/refuge and the tap water is not potable then Tracks and Trails will cover the cost of bottled water at the evening meal. Sparkling water is not included in this option and any cost should be covered by you.

Plastic credit or debit cards or smartphone pay systems are increasingly accepted throughout the areas where we run trips. Some countries, such as Norway, are moving towards a cashless society. However, in Europe, in the mountain areas where we run trips, a small amount of cash in the local currency is useful. For example, if you stop at a family-run mountain cafe or farm they may not accept cards or smartphone systems, and cash will be necessary. We recommend having enough cash in the local currency to pay for a few snacks and drinks. Whether to bring cash or not is at your own discretion.

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in your luggage. If your trip does not include luggage support carry a paper copy with you, but separate from your passport. You should check passport requirements with 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 2026 If you are travelling to Europe you may be impacted by a change to travel regulations. In the last quarter of 2026, the European Commission will roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorisation system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. It is your responsibility to check for updates with regard to the introduction date.

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country

If your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut a slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be useful for recharging phones etc. This type of accommodation will generally have electricity, but it may be limited in supply, and it is not always possible to charge items.

Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. 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. We advise you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number. 

GHIC For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). The GHIC gives access to state healthcare in Europe either free or at a reduced cost. The GHIC is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.

EHIC 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 should apply for a GHIC.

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 operate a zero tolerance for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all items from the mountain, this includes toilet tissue, and those items you consider to be bio-degradable.

The waste water in mountain huts, also known as refuges/rifugios, often runs into nearby streams and rivers with a potential impact on the eco-system, though in many places steps are now being taken to avoid this. Whether or not your trip involves staying in a mountain hut we would nevertheless recommend you consider nature friendly sunscreens which only contain mineral UV-blocking ingredients such as oxide, and titanium dioxide.

You can read our Sustainable Travel Policy here.

Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means the price of our trips can change overnight. We have undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. 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. 

If you would like help preparing for your adventure you could consider booking a Quick Fix session with personal trainer Kate Brown. This is aimed at those who want to get ready for any of our winter activities. Your booking with Kate will involve a 45 minute 1:1 video consultation and action plan. You can read more about her ethos and experience here.

We also offer free training videos on our YouTube channel:

Best Strength Workout for XC Skiing | Physio-Approved Ski Prep Exercises

Cross-Country Ski Warm-Up Guide | Essential Mobility & Activation Exercises

Cool Down for XC Skiers | Prevent Injury & Boost Recovery

Or if you would like to read our blog on suggestions for preparing for either cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing click here

On this trip your lunches are included in your trip fee. In Norway it is traditional to make your own packed lunch from the breakfast ingredients. Breakfast is normally a buffet with a large range of food on offer. You will be supplied with paper to wrap your sandwiches, but you might like to bring a lunch box. Bring a thermos flask for hot drinks.