Cross-Country Skiing: Kvitavatn

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 34 reviews.

Tim Searle

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written February 2009
I usually travel independently but thoroughly enjoyed this organised group trip - I felt happy to both join in with the group activities and do my own thing without any misgivings. Norway is a beautiful country and Kvitavatn is in a great part of it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting out into some wonderful mountain scenery on skis and snow shoes. I've done several walking trips in Norway but the chance to explore the mountains in winter was a real treat.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both leaders, Ilse and Mary, were very capable and supportive. I was a first time skier and, aged 47, didn't expect to pick it up quickly. Fair to say that I met my expectations but both leaders gave me tremendous support, moral, technical (and at times physical !) without which I would never have got off the nursery slope. They were knowledgeable of the area and the activities, sociable without being intrusive, and unfailingly polite and helpful during some long days.
All the staff in the lodge were also very friendly and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you've never skied before, do some exercises and try to improve your balance before coming out. Cross-country skiing is tiring, much more so if you fall a lot.
I went in early February and the area was fairly quiet, snow was good and there was plenty of daylight. Mid-February is busy with Danish families on half-term and then the main season continues into April but Norway almost never feels crowded.
Although it's primarily a skiing holiday the area is good for many winter sports including ice climbing and snow shoeing. If you struggle with the skiing don't be afraid to give yourself a break and try the snowshoes - or 'freedom shoes' as I now call them ! They will take you anywhere and are not at all hard to use.
Kvitavatn is a family resort rather than a 'live-it-up' place with lots of night life and apres-ski. If you want alcohol then bring it with you (there's a supermarket in Rjukan and a free skibus from the lodge) but my advice is to enjoy the hills and forget the booze most of the time. A hip flask is the best bet !
Arrival at the resort isn't until about 1.00 am after a 3 hour coach trip from Oslo Gardemoen. There is food on arrival but it may be good to take something with you on the coach.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food was excellent and plentiful - the sort of place where you have a meal and a week later you feel hungry again.
I would definitely go again and even do the same trip.
Exodus Response
Hi there,
Just a quick response here to the comment regarding the flight arrival time and subsequent arrival in resort. This certainly was not ideal and for the season 2009/10 we were able to obtain much more civilized flight times that allow guests to arrive in resort in the early evening and will endeavour to do the same for 2010/11.
Many thanks
Tom

- Exodus Staff
David Rawson

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written January 2009
Hi,All in all and excellent holiday. The centre/hostel is very clean and comfortable, the food was quite good, with the exception of the Christmas dinners, which were excellent. THe Danish party on Christmas eve, although aimed at the kids, was good fun for adults too. All the staff were very friendly, welcoming and helpful.The ski equipment was good quality and reasonably priced. I had skis which were too short for a couple of days which did spoil my enjoyment, and I think they could have been exchanged after the first day, with hindsight. The instructors were friendly and helpful and tried to make it fun and give everyone some of their time, as required. THe group I was with were all really nice people and enthusiastic about doing winter sports, this made for a good group dynamic.I would recommend this holiday to anyone interested in XC skiing, indeed I will most likely do this holiday again. Over Christmas, the valley in which the resort stands does not get any sunshine at all (until Mid Jan') - please be aware of this and I think it's something that Exodus should highlight.Regards,David
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being where the real Heroes of Telemark survived to perform their heroics in WWII
What did you think of your group leader?
Helpful & Friendly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Note that over Christmas the valley get no sunshine, so don't expect Alpine type weather. The temperature was -14C one of the days, so with no sun, this does feel cold.
Take advantage of the sauna from day 1, it's very relaxing and quite sociable, but be aware that it's mixed.
Read the kit list and ensure you take everything that is recommended.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Make sure you take something to read as there is not a lot to do after the evening meal.
Bernadette Balfe

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written January 2009
Kvitavatn is a good place – kind of special and kind of ordinary at the same time. It was built by an ex army champion skier who sounds like a bit of a legend. Apparently he went about salvaging antique timber buildings in an equally antique Mercedes bus, and there’s an interesting collection. Now it is run with an air of warm efficiency by a Danish co-operative. If, like me, you don't take the grading too seriously and go along with only a casual career in roller skating under your belt, be prepared for some hard work and a lot of falling over. At Kvitavatn you don’t want to be hanging around at the ski school trying to learn how to snow plough – you really want to be up on the hills in the sunshine skiing through forests of Christmas trees, and that requires a little bit of skill as well as enthusiasm. Thanks to Ilse for the patient coaching, to Chris for the confidence building, to Cyril for the helpful tips en route, and to the guy in the bar (well, not really a bar – drinking in Norway is a wicked forbidden activity) who told me ‘that’s good if you’re black and blue all over; it means you’re trying’! With everyone's help I managed to survive a mid week morale collapse and by the end of the week was feeling really energetic. I’d definitely do this again, but not as a complete novice. Bern Balfe
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Peter Hutchinson

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written April 2008
The Kvitavatn area was blessed with more snow than even the Norwegians have seen for many a year. The plentiful snow combined with good weather and the long daylight hours at this time of year made for an excellent week of skiing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Skiing off track on virgin snow up and over the hills without a sole in sight apart from our own convivial group. The highlight of the trip was an ascent of Ornenipa mountain in such conditions. We spent the day in glorious sunshine and the mountain gave views extending for 100 km or more. The descent gave an excellent opportunity to practice telemark turns - the icing on the cake for cross country skiers!
What did you think of your group leader?
The leader was a true professional. She knew the area like the back of her hand, gave useful coaching on technique, and was very sociable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't expect to lose weight on this holiday. The skiing may be strenous but the food at the Kvitavatn lodge is plentiful and tasty and the self service arrangement conflicts with any hopes of controlling the calories! You will probably save money however. Lunch is made up from the breakfast buffet and there are no cafes en-route.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy skiing while you can before global warming gets too much of a hold!
catherine harris

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written April 2008
Excellent holiday, all the staff were very friendly and helpful, senic area great for off track skiing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
watching the morning light glowing on to the near by mountains.
What did you think of your group leader?
superb her local knowledge was excellent. She took an intrest in us all personaly. Very good coach with a fun approch to teaching.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring gaters. The cost of alchol is high in norway so buy duty free on the flight out. The hotel has an excelent family atmoshere with a games room,tv room childrens play hut. There are pulks to hire as well as down hill skis there is a ski school and of coures sledding. In rujkan
although i didn't go there is a leisure center with pool sauna spa ect which can be reached by the free ski bus
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip was great my only complaint was the group size we had a group of 14 too one leader which i think is too many people. It would of been better if there were 3 leaders between the 28 of us as it would of allowed more flexablity as some members of the group were very inexperinced and as such we spent a lot of time waiting for them. A begginer intermediate and advanced group would mean that we would have a better choice on how physical a day we wanted and could more group appropriatly with less worry over size of the group.
Andrew Muston

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

Written March 2008
Great holiday with a very good base and 1 great leader and 1 OK. However group sizes were too large for being out in mountainous terrain. That needs a serious review in terms of safety. It has a knock on effect in terms of enjoyment, but it is the safety issue that is the real point.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being out in the mountains
What did you think of your group leader?
Ilse Alt is superb and you should value her incredibly highly. It is however unfair on her to give her groups that are too large.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
prepare to enjoy yourselves, but watch group size.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Group size!!