Womenski! Cross Country Ski Holiday for Women

This holiday is based in a very special hotel in the winter wonderland of Espedalen, run by our welcoming host Grethe and her family, who have been running this hotel for generations. It is situated in the Peer Gynt Ski region, a unique area steeped in history, and situated 800 - 1500 metres above sea level. In March we usually have a very stable climate and reliable snow conditions. The surrounding panoramic views are stunning, and the sunrises and sunsets from the hotel are unforgettable.

Call 07585 974323 or email anita@surfsister.co.uk to register your interest!

Ski Level

We aim to offer 2 groups, one for beginners and one for intermediate skiers, many who will be returning again! We do recommend a reasonable degree of personal fitness and flexibility for you to really enjoy the ski ing. Please feel free to talk to Anita about a recommended program prior to this holiday, but women of all ages and physical ability are able to join in.

If you are new to Cross Country Ski ing, our collaboration with GB Nordic will enable you to have instruction with Pam, who is a fantastic ski instructor, with infinite patience and experience of bringing the best out of even the most nervous beginner! After a one or two days, most women will feel able to go on more “Intermediate” journeys. It s thrilling how far you can travel, once you have the basic movement, and are reasonably confident on stopping! By running 2 groups, there will be the flexibility to choose your level of challenge on any day, as well as experiencing an element of technique workshops as appropriate, with the aim of enabling everyone to improve your ski technique to allow you to get maximum enjoyment from the the hills and valleys of Espedalen. 

Our typical day

Our day begins with a choice. Either join Anita for half an hour of early morning pre breakfast yoga/pilates style stretching, or simply come down later for a leisurely breakfast served Norwegian buffet style, which means you can eat as much as you like. Grethe’s spread is a legendary smorgasbord of delicious local cheeses, meats, fresh bakery products, and fruits. All special diets are catered for, and you just keep going back to fill up your plate. For the full day’s out, we will also assemble our own packed lunches.

Those of us who choose to hire the waxing type of skis then head out to the hotel ski room to wax our skis and prepare for a day out in a winter wonderland.

Even if you have never used 'waxing skis' before you will be guided what to do, if you want to try them. A waxing ski is the traditional type of ski used in Norway, and precedes the new 'skintec' and 'fish scale' skis which you may have previously used in the Alps or Scotland, and suit the warmer climate of those regions. There are “fish scale“ style skis available, for women who just want to put on their skis and go, but also more nervous skiers prefer to use them, as they go slower on the descents. You can, of course, change your skis at any time throughout the week. For those who enjoy the thrill and silence of the gliding waxing skis, there is a whole world of discussions about which colour wax needs to be used, according to the temperature, and the forecast for the day.

We can ski every day from the front door, amongst a variety of terrain from birch woodlands, to plateau, and mountains, which means we can choose the best tracks for the weather on the day.

Most days we take a packed lunch with us, and will take time to stop for a few breaks during our ski journey. In most instances, the normal pattern is to leave around 09.30 10.00 hrs, ski for approximately 12 - 15 kms, ( 8 - 11miles ) then return mid to late afternoon to enjoy a sauna, and swim before dinner. However, we will be able to be flexible, and there is always a choice to come back to the hotel for lunch, and take half a day off to relax, swim, or perhaps go for a walk.

GB Nordic

Dalseter is a large and bustling hotel, but there is always a great atmosphere with other guests. It has a feeling of a large international cross country ski ing community, and every year Grethe hosts several weeks for GB Nordic, a not for profit organisation. The groups engender an inclusive atmosphere, and we are welcome to join any of their evening lectures.

Transport

Most women will fly to Oslo. There are early morning flights from Manchester and Bristol (KLM) London Gatwick (Norwegian) and, if you prefer to travel beforehand, later flights with SAS.

Public transport is easy from Oslo airport, shuttle into the city every 10 minutes, and there is a train to Lillehammer every hour. We can arrange a pick up at around 4pm on the Saturday, from Lillehammer, which will allow a train connection from Oslo to Lillehammer for those catching the early Saturday flights, but some flexibility for any women who who like to spend some time exploring either Oslo, or Lillehammer, prior to their holiday. To make return travel more convenient, there will be a minibus booked by Grethe on departure day, to enable everyone to easily catch the late morning/ early afternoon flights.

Kit

We will send a comprehensive kit list, once you have decided to book your holiday, but you do not need to buy any specialised clothing. If you have good quality winter walking clothes and gloves, these will suffice. Walking boots are useful for getting around outside, but the specialised boots, skis and poles can all be hired at a low cost. You will only need a small rucksack to carry extra layers and food/drinks. A pair of ski goggles may come in useful, if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Costs

2025 Prices TBC