Off Track Nordic Ski Holidays and Tours
Holiday and tour dates
2025
NEW: Introduction to Off Track Holiday
22nd February – 1st March 2025
holiday guaranteed, last 2 places remaining
Venabu’s Off Track Ski Safari Holiday
15th – 22nd March 2025
Off track day tours:
Off track day tours are available in the weeks:
Dates coming soon!
To book day tours just them as “extras” when you book your stay or Classic Holiday. Our booking system will present you with this option.
Prices:
Intro to Off Track Nordic Ski Holiday
2025 price
From: 20 950 NOK
Per person, based on a twin/double room share
Ski Safari Off Track Nordic Ski Holiday
2025 price
From: 22 750 NOK
Per person, based on a twin/double room share
Off Track Nordic Day Tours
2024 prices
390 NOK per person, per day if you are swapping a guided morning of your Classic holiday to an off track day tour.
1050 NOK per person, per day when adding to your hotel stay or booking an off track day tour in addition to the five mornings guiding included the Classic holiday.
Price includes transport for guiding
Booking
- Easy online booking
- Optional account to manage your booking
- No deposit required, card details secure your place*
- Choose your preferred type of room
- Solo travellers – option to share a twin room, contact us
- Add any extras as you book
*late cancellation charges may apply, please read our booking terms and conditions
Cross country ski grades
Introduction to Off Track Holiday
This holiday will suit intermediate cross country skiers who have:
- an effective snowplough on track
- efficient classic cross country technique, on track
- the ability to get up independently after a tumble in deep snow
- ski fitness for ski tours of 15-20 kms
Ski Safari and Off Track Day Tours
We rate our Ski Safari and day tours as advanced, suitable for experienced cross country skiers.
Guests should be confident that they can:
• control their speed and line downhill
• have an effective snowplough
• ski uphill effectively off track
• be able to ski in variable snow conditions away from the tracks
• get up independently after a tumble in soft snow
• have good ski fitness to ski off track with a day pack, on consecutive days, upto 25-36 km long tours
Small group size
Minimum 4, maximum 8.
Minimum age
Off track nordic skiing holidays in Eastern Norway
Venabu´s off track nordic ski holidays and tours are a superb ski experience.
Here at Venabu we have superb off track nordic terrain that can be explored by skiers at different levels. In response to demand we have redesigned our off track offers. Now there are even more ways to discover the beautiful winter landscape around Venabu.
You can develop your skills and explore further afield, enjoying stunning off track tours to suit your experience and fitness.
NEW holiday: Introduction to Off Track Nordic Skiing Holiday
Develop your nordic skiing and gain the experience to take you further into the mountains.
This new week-long, hotel-based holiday combines elements of high quality ski coaching with beautiful off track tours. The tours are carefully chosen for your skill development during the week. There will be plenty of skiing!
The tours are around 15km long and make a good introduction for intermediate skiers who are curious about off track skiing. The skills and experience you gain can open a new world of skiing to you.
Returning in 2025: Venabu’s Off Track Ski Safari Holiday
Exciting nordic skiing
Enjoy six days of adventurous nordic skiing. On these day tours you will discover panoramic summits and ski in wild reindeer country. Join us for ski adventures to remember.
Our Off Track Ski Safari Holiday is a hotel-based, guided nordic ski holiday for experienced skiers.
See below for more information.
Off Track Nordic Day tours
Enjoy longer days out on your skis
Join us for off track nordic day tours during your stay or Classic cross country ski holiday.
In March we can ski further afield as the days are longer. If you would like to join our off track tours without committing to a full week then our day tours are for you!
We offer these additional tours for one-two weeks in the season. After on introductory day on the Sunday, the plan is for these tours to run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, though this may change with the conditions.
Adventurous nordic skiing
We aim to ski off track as much as possible on our off track tours and holidays. However, we do use the tracks to connect the fun places we like to ski. Some tours may be on track to take you to more remote places that would otherwise be inaccesible, such as the Trolløypa.
The character of the tours is adventurous, and can be challenging, at the grade. You will be skiing in some beautiful, wild and remote areas so guests should have experience of skiing in the mountains. These tours suit confident skiers with some off track experience and good fitness.
Beautiful and remote places made accessible
Our ski guides are skilled and experienced. The equipment we use is well suited to the terrain: we ski on stable, metal-edged nordic skis and use backcountry ski boots. This combination is light, fits in the tracks and gives good stability for descents on variable snow.
“Thank you all for a most wonderful week of skiing!”
“Everything was fabulous. We will be back for sure!”
Esther and David (UK)
Introduction to Off Track Nordic Ski Holiday
22nd February – 1st March 2025
Price from NOK 20 950
holiday highlights
- Discover these Norwegian mountains in winter: rolling terrain, summits, forests and wild open land
- Six days of expert ski coaching and guiding: develop your skills and enjoy beautiful tours
- Nordic ski tours of approximately 15 -20km
- Small group size, maximum of 6 guests
- Ski carrying only a day pack, returning to our comfortable hotel each night
- Delicious, plentiful food and our traditional Norwegian Dinner on Wednesday evening
- Ideal for solo travellers, share you ski holiday with like-minded people
- Venabu, Norway, has a good snow record
- Eco-certified hotel
Holiday itinerary
Day 1. Arrival day
19.00: Dinner is served.
After dinner we will meet to issue ski equipment.
Day 2
8.00 Breakfast is served. At breakfast there is plenty of time to make up a packed lunch for the day.
We’ll meet after breakfast for our briefing before gathering in the ski waxing room to wax our skis.
This is a warm day up to find your ski legs and revisit the foundations of good nordic ski technique. We will start with a ski tour in rolling terrain and then see how we can develop our skiing to be more efficient – so that you can cover greater distances with more ease.
19.00 Dinner is served.
Day 3
8.00 Breakfast is served
Descent skills and a tour.
Good descent skills are fundamental and often the biggest challenge to off track skiers. Your instructor will develop your descent and ascent skills in good conditions. As your confidence builds through the week you’ll learn how to tackle more variable snow.
19.00 Dinner
Days 4 - 7
8.00 Breakfast is served
We use a mix of coaching sessions and ski tours during the week to develop everyone in the group. Rather than formal ski lessons much of the coaching will be out on tours, your instructor will find the best terrain for the skills that the group is developing. There will be plenty of skiing!
On some days during the week there may be two ski sessions, returning to the hotel in between, on other days expect to be out all day. We will aim to include two full day tours and possibly more, depending on the group. We can also use transport to help us explore further afield from the hotel.
19.00 Venabu serves its special dinner: ‘A Taste of Norwegian Tradition’.
Day 8. Departure day
8.00 Breakfast is served
Departure after breakfast
This introductory off track holiday will suit:
- Intermediate cross country skiers who enjoy day tours in beautiful, wild landscapes
- Intermediate skiers who would like to develop their off track skills
- Skiers who like to ski with a day pack and return to the comfort of a hotel each night
- Cross country skiers who would like to build experience, perhaps preparing for multi-day or hut to hut tours
- Solo travellers: Venabu’s friendly, inclusive atmosphere make our ski holidays ideal for solo travellers
Read about the full range of cross country skiing holidays at Venabu.
What’s included
Introduction to Offtrack Nordic Skiiing Holiday
- Expert ski coaching and guiding on six days
- Seven nights accommodation.
- Breakfast and dinner, which are substantial! Packed lunch made up at breakfast
- Thermos filled with your choice of hot drink
- Venabu’s “Taste of Norwegian Tradition” dinner is served on Wednesday evening
- Ski hire and ski wax
- All transfers for guiding
- Return transfers to and from Ringebu. Optional airport transfer is available, visit our travel page for more.
- Use of saunas and yoga room. Yoga classes and sports massage are available (optional extras) during the week to help you recover and relax
“Brilliant!”
Ava and Christine (UK)
Off Track Ski Safari Holiday
15th – 22nd March 2025
Price from NOK 22 750,-
holiday highlights
- Discover these Norwegian mountains in winter: rolling terrain, summits, forests and wild open land
- Six days of expert ski guiding, making this wild area accessible to our guests
- Small group size
- Ski carrying only a day pack, returning to our comfortable hotel each night
- Delicious, plentiful food and our traditional Norwegian Dinner on Wednesday evening
- Ideal for solo travellers, share you ski holiday with like-minded people
- Venabu, Norway, has a great snow record
- Eco-certified hotel
Holiday itinerary
Day 1. Arrival day
After dinner we will meet for the holiday briefing and to issue equipment. We will talk about the week ahead and answer any questions.
Many of our guests choose to stay an extra night before the start of the holiday, to give them an extra day. They ´free ski´ for the day, to find their ski legs, before the start of the itinerary. This night can be added when you book your holiday.
Day 2
8.00 Breakfast is served
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Dynjefjellet 15km
This tour weaves through the ski area before ascending Dynjefjellet, 1151m, one of our local peaks. The views from the top are spectacular: to the Rondane and even to the Jotunheimen in the West. We then descend through trees to the summer farms and pastures before threading our way back to the hotel, between the tracks.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Dinner is served.
Day 3
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Svabudalen 20-25km
We depart on a remote tour today. A short minibus transfer takes us to the start point from where we ski into the Rondane National Park. We aim to visit Svabu, a hunting cabin that nestles behind the peak of Ramshøgda.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Dinner
Day 4
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Trolløypa and Måsaplassen, 25km
On this tour we follow the Trolløypa between Venabu and Måsaplassen. This is a marked track that is prepared once a week later in the season. It is a remote route all the way and takes us through wild reindeer country. We cross the river Remma, where we often stop for lunch creating a ‘picnic bench’ in the snow and perhaps having a fire.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Venabu serves its special dinner: ‘A Taste of Norwegian Tradition’.
Day 5
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Rondablikk 36km
If we have very good weather and a strong team we may ski the section of the Trolløypa between Rondablikk and Venabu. It is a long and impressive day.
After a minibus transfer through Gudbrandsdalen to Rondablikk. The route takes us around Furusjoen lake and into the Rondane National Park. We pass above the DNT cabin of Eldåbu and on, before making a welcome return to the tracks for the final 10km or so to Venabu.
There are many superb tours in the area, so if we need to change our choice of tour there are great options to suit the conditions and the team.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Dinner
Day 6
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Gunstadsætra 20-25km
A minibus transfer takes us out to our start point. We then ski into wild reindeer country again, below Muen and past the site of the old DNT cabin, Gråhøgdbu, before skiing alongside the impressive canyon of Dørjuvet.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Dinner is served
Day 7
8.00 Breakfast is served
9.00 Ski waxing and preparation
9.30 Departure, some days may have earlier starts
Venåssætra 20-25km
A minibus transfer takes us out to our start point. We then ski back to the hotel through forest and over the open plateau.
15.30-17.00 Return to the hotel
19.00 Dinner is served
Day 8. Departure day
8.00 Breakfast is served
Departure after breakfast
Please note that while we ski off track as much as possible there will be on track skiing during the tours.
Planning to bring your own skis? We do ski in the tracks to access the best snow, we recommend that you have skis and bindings that will fit into the tracks, please see below.
The itinerary described above illustrates typical days and tours. It is likely to change to adapt to the snow and weather conditions, and to the needs of the group.
This holiday will suit:
- Experienced cross country skiers who enjoy longer day tours in beautiful, wild landscapes. See our ski grades page.
- Skiers who like to ski with a day pack and return to the comfort of a hotel each night
- Cross country skiers who would like to build experience and prepare for multi-day, hut to hut tours
- Solo travellers: Venabu’s friendly, inclusive atmosphere make our ski holidays ideal for solo travellers
What to expect
Expect to be out for about 6 to 8 hours in total. We give approximate distances for the tours. This holiday is graded as advanced. It’s important to understand that when skiing off track it’s the snow and weather conditions that determine the time for the tour and how ‘easy or difficult’ it feels. On each tour we may make adjustments to take account of this.
Ski equipment
Thinking of bringing your own ski equipment? If you prefer to bring your own boots and/or skis please check that they are compatible with our BC bindings and/or fit into the tracks (max width 60, for example the trusty Fischer E89 model).
We have found that guests who have wider mountain skis and/or plastic boots don’t have such a good experience and may develop blisters, even with familiar boots. This is because we use the tracks, and may cover a few km on the flat, to access the best skiing. We’ve also found that mountain skis used solely with climbing skins aren’t appropriate.
There is a better group experience if everyone is on similar equipment, as outlined above. For this reason we include ski hire in the price of the holiday.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Read about the full range of cross country skiing holidays at Venabu.
What’s included
Venabu’s Off Track Ski Holiday
- Nordic ski tours with expert guiding on six days
- Seven nights accommodation.
- Breakfast and dinner, which are substantial! Packed lunch made up at breakfast
- Thermos filled with your choice of hot drink
- Venabu’s renowned “Taste of Norwegian Tradition” dinner is served on Wednesday evening
- Ski hire and ski wax
- All transfers for guiding
- Transfers to and from Ringebu, airport transfers are available, see our travel page for more
- Use of saunas and yoga room. Yoga classes and sports massage are available (as optional extras) during the week to help you recover and relax
“Brilliant!”
Ava and Christine (UK)
Off Track Day Tours
To book simply add day tours as “add ons” when you book your stay or Classic Holiday.
Our online booking system will guide you through the process.
Adventurous skiing, a day at a time
These day tours offer an excellent opportunity to experience longer off track, nordic ski tours, and conditions, as a step towards a full week’s holiday or hut to hut tours. For the day tours we visit many of the same beautiful areas mentioned in the holiday programme for the Venabu Off Track Holiday, below.
A good level of skiing is required, and we grade the tours as advanced, please see the grade description though the fitness requirement is not so demanding as you’re able to have a day or two off. 😊
What to expect:
We are likely to be out for about 6 to 8 hours in total. We give approximate distances for the tours. It’s important to understand that when skiing off track it’s the snow and weather conditions that determine the time for the tour and how ‘easy or difficult’ it feels. On each tour we may make adjustments to take account of this.
The itinerary described below illustrates typical days and tours. It is likely to change to adapt to the snow and weather conditions, and to the needs of the group.
“Fantastic holiday!”
“We had a fantastic holiday, new snow, fantastic tracks, superb hotel, food out of this world, staff so helpful and polite. Already booked for Christmas.”
Questions about your holiday?
Get in touch