Cross-Country Skiing At Rondablikk

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 13 reviews.

Anna Cheer

RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written February 2013
We will definitely be going cross country skiing again! A new skill that we loved, learned during a wonderful week in a beautiful part of Norway with excellent instruction adapted to differing abilities.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Discovering that I was thoroughly enjoying a downhill run rather than being terrified! Realising that I had not fallen over once on the last day. Skiing through thick mist one morning was magical. The exhilaration of dog sledding through a snowy winter wonderland.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ingrid was cheerfully excellent. She was not bossy or critical, but our confidence steadily increased as she gently encouraged us to improve our techniques. She showed us videos of ourselves and led us to work out for ourselves where we were going wrong. She managed to keep a group of differing abilities happy. People who were struggling for whatever reason on a particular day could take short cuts back, people who were forging ahead were given 'extras 'to keep them busy and still Ingrid seemed to be with everyone. Quite a juggling act!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Layers! Even though it was generally around -10C, I was perfectly comfortable in a base layer, fleece and gilet when we were skiing. During lunch stops, we would have got very cold without extra warm and windproof layers. So, you need layers and a backpack big enough to carry them! The equipment instructions in the trip notes were spot-on. We were astonished at how different -10C felt from in the UK in the dry atmosphere of Norway and at how much colder it felt on our one windy day. We did not need our thermal underwear, but if you have a windy week, you might.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Being centre based and walking distance from all the tracks was brilliant for beginners. It meant that we could all do as much or as little as we wanted each day. Go on the optional husky sledding! We had a superb day with Bergsvein, with a running commentary on the way of life and architecture of the region during the beautiful drive out to his remote farmhouse, hitching up our dog teams, four hours of glorious sledding, back to his home for soup (well, he called it that, it was really a delicious casserole, and a vast quantity of it) and back just in time for dinner, which we really did not need after Bergsvein's generous hospitality!
David Gallagher

RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written February 2013
Great snow, but shame about the 'apres ski' ;)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Bergsvein's dogs and Bergsvein. The dog mushing was such good fun. Five stars to Bergsvein for his entertaining manner and his hospitality!
What did you think of your group leader?
Overall, Ingrid was a reasonably good tour leader, but I found it a little surprising that she was quite hands-off in her approach to training; It seemed to be that if you don't ask questions, you won't get much guidance! I'm wondering why it was billed as a 'SKILLS WEEK'.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Food's not issue; There's plenty of it. My plate was empty and stomach full every night. Plenty of meat, fish, veg. Bring booze/beer/wine because the hotel bar is quite expensive (even with Exodus' special price for pints of beer). There's a dutyfree on arrival in Oslo: It's not especially cheap, but good for getting a few beers in, if you don't fancy carrying them with you. That said, while the snow conditions are excellent, the hotel bar really doesn't lend itself well to being sociable (We were the only ones in this hotel).

Ski boots were rubbish (mine were torn and some were missing insoles, blisters were had). Might be an idea to rent/buy your own (but make sure you get them for the correct ski bindings). Minus two stars for the rubbish boots (Two weeks on and I'm still nursing the holes in my instep and toes!!!).
Christopher Richardson

RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written March 2012
skiing matches the weather, great in the sun but can be very uncomfortable when the weather changes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Speeding along when the snow conditions were just right.
What did you think of your group leader?
Superwoman (she is an international athlete who put us to shame by carrying firewood in her packpack. )Very attentive with unbelievable patience. Went above that required with the slide shows/tutorials in the evenings
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Unbreakable flask, and thin layers of clothing, including gloves, which are easy to put on /take off as getting cold isn't fun but getting hot gets you sweaty very quickly which then makes you cold
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Some personal booze supplies as very expensive bar and compeed blister plasters are a brilliant investment
Graham Allen

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written March 2011
This was our second trip cross country skiing and confirmed our belief that we have found a new sport that we love ! There are so many tracks and trails around the Rondablik area that we feel we could go back again to the same area and still have plenty new trips to make. Also an excellent way to get fit.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being outside skiing all day is brilliant, it was fun to venture off the tracks and see signs of wildlife too which include ptarmagan wing prints in the snow and moose tracks.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ingrid is a brilliant leader, very knowledgeable about skiing and patient , her general knowledge of the area and history is also great.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are thinking about cross country skiing DO IT , it is great
Maurice Needoff

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written February 2011
This was the first time we had tried cross country skiing. Already thinking about going cross country skating next year with Exodus. The hotel was comfortable, food very good and plentiful. Ingrid our group leader was excellent.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
29km ski tour through the national park, a mixture of tracks and untracked. Felt like intrepid explorers.
Dog sledding, harnessing your team so that you got to know their different personalities then driving them out. Really exhilarating.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ingrid was excellent. Her friendly manner made everybody feel relaxed so learning how to cross country ski was made all the more pleasurable.
Ingrid instilled confidence in us about our abilities and therefore we felt able to do a 29km tour on our 4th day.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure if you want to do the dog sledding you take plenty of cash as also have to pay for the bus transfer as well as the sledding
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go on give it a try!!!
Neil Whitmore

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: RONDABLIKK SKILLS WEEK

Written January 2011
An excellent introduction to cross-country skiing with a very good instructor. Each day was designed to develop new skills and endurance.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being told that I was getting the technique of kicking off one ski onto the other and that what I really needed was lots of practice.
What did you think of your group leader?
An excellent instructor who dealt with each person individually as well as addressing the group well. She made the learning and the activities fun; and her evening sessions showing videos and teaching us about the nature of cross-country skiiing were very informative.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do some exercise before you go to ensure your fitness levels are good enough to enjoy the skiing and not simply be exhausted all the time. Once you're there, just go for it. You'll fall over whilst trying to get the technique but it doesn't hurt as you fall on snow. Laugh, get back up and have another go.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it!
Emilia Crighton

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AT RONDABLIKK

Written January 2010
An amazing week! This has been my first time cross country skiing and really loved it. The scenary was simply beautiful, the weather very good even if very cold and the group gelled really well.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Skiing at -31C and the 25 km round trip to Rondane
What did you think of your group leader?
Ingrid was really nice. She did look after everyone and ensured that we were all fine. She always had a trick up her sleeve - one wouldn't have expected her to carry marshmallows or wood and fire lighters in the rucksack for the fire!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As it gets very cold in January get layers and the wool body warmers are best as you will perspire inspite of Ingrid's advise on matching your speed and the number of layers. Also have balaclava, sports specs, hand mittens.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As there are no shops with the exception of a small coffee shop, take anything you think you might need with you. And train before you go - it will help you enjoy the scenary and the skiing.