Norway cross country skiing holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
Our skiing tours are designed to have a low environmental impact. While flying to and from Norway can account for a significant share of a trip’s carbon footprint, we make conscious choices to reduce the impact of the journey itself. By using local accommodation and services, choosing sustainable transport where possible, and exploring Norway on skis, we aim to offer memorable experiences that bring you closer to nature while treading lightly on the environment.
We use public transport whenever it’s possible. The lodges have minibuses to pick up guests at the railway station and even sometimes at the airport. The local economy benefits from our guests buying goods and services locally, like ski hire and activities. We use sustainable transport whenever possible on all our tours.
Cross-country skiing offers a unique opportunity to experience nature up close and enjoy the peace and beauty of the winter landscape. As long as we respect the environment and leave no litter behind, we can enjoy these natural surroundings while keeping our impact to a minimum. Always leave nature as you would like to find it!
In these areas, ski trails are regularly groomed using trail-grooming machines and snowmobiles, making them suitable for ordinary cross-country skis. Despite the use of machinery to prepare the trails, cross-country skiing generally has a lower environmental impact than alpine skiing. It does not rely on ski lifts or artificial snowmaking, as many downhill ski resorts do. It is a wonderful way to explore Norway’s magical winter landscapes in a peaceful and environmentally conscious way.
The trips are self-guided. Except for the luggage transfer, you are not supported by cars or snowmobiles that make noise and pollution to the area. Where transfer is needed, we use local bus companies and taxis.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Cross-country skiing offers a unique opportunity to experience nature up close and enjoy the peace and beauty of the winter landscape. As long as we respect the environment and leave no litter behind, we can enjoy these natural surroundings while keeping our impact to a minimum.
By skiing, you will be a part of nature in a way. Most of the time you are in high mountain areas with great views. Parts of the trail run through Rondane National Park, with no groomed tracs, just marks. Skiing doesn’t cause any sort of pollution itself. Always leave the environment as you would like to find it yourself!

You stay at a traditional ski resort and even one night at a self-service cabin with no electricity. The Troll Trail passes through relatively level terrain, starting at Høvringen, ending at Lillehammer (The 1994 Olympic village). Most of the time you are in high mountain areas with great views. Parts of the trail run through Rondane National Park, with no groomed tracs, just marks.

The Norwegian Nature Diversity Act has the purpose of protecting biological, geological and landscape diversity and ecological processes through conservation and sustainable use, and in such a way that the environment provides a basis for human activity, culture, health and well-being, now and in the future.
The act allows you to ski wherever you want, as long as nothing else is announced. This gives numerous possibilities for exciting excursions! Private ground and cultivated land, however, should not be trafficked, and…
- Nature must not be damaged!
- Always bring back your litter, never throw rubbish outdoors
- There might be stricter access to protected areas
- Show respect for people and animals

Always leave nature as you would like to find it! Cross-country skiing is a great way to explore the magical scenery and tranquility of the natural winter environments.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT
Discover Norway is a small, privately owned Norwegian company based in Lillehammer. Our office is located in FABRIKKEN, a shared workspace bringing together around 30 small businesses within the arts, culture and adventure industries. The community encourages cooperation, resource sharing and the development of creative local businesses. The premises are close to public transport, and the businesses share a focus on responsible resource use and recycling.
Whenever possible, we choose locally owned accommodation in smaller communities. This helps direct tourism revenue to local businesses and supports jobs and services that contribute to vibrant, year-round communities.
You ski on the same trails as the locals. At the small accommodation sites you’ll meet the owner working at the hotel. Most of the staff are locals. As a result of all this, the money generated will stay within the community and provide local employment. The hotels make grate effort in using local food. You will get to know local specialties of food, like reindeer, moose and trout.

INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We believe that tourism should create positive experiences for both visitors and the communities they encounter. As a self-guided tour, The Troll Trail allows guests to explore at their own pace, enjoy nature and discover local culture independently.
The Lillehammer region, covering Lillehammer, most of the Gudbrandsdalen valley and the surrounding mountain areas, is a certified Sustainable Destination. The certification Sustainable Destination is a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry must cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.