CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: TRINS & THE THREE VALLEYS

8 days from GBP899 to GBP929 including flights
Tripcode: CXT

Countries Visited: Austria

Essential Information

Trip Profile

Beginner weeks will mostly include track skiing. Intermediate weeks will involve some off-track routes depending on the ability of the group.

Price Includes

Return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck with Thomsonfly, airport transfers (for group flights only)
7 nights half board at the Hotel Wienerhof
6 days of ski instruction and guiding
One cross-country leader per grade

Optional Activities:
Downhill skiing in Steinach
Self-guided snowshoeing
Tobogganing
Visit the wonderful city of Innsbruck

Accommodation

Hotel Wienerhof ***hotel

Hotel Wienerhof is a comfortable base situated in the heart of the village of Trins. The traditional main building has a cosy dining room and separate bar, while just across the narrow village street the second, more modern, building houses a sauna and enhanced relaxation area (no charge) along with the opportunity for a massage (chargeable). The hotel is renowned for its food; most evenings we have three choices of main course, plus a vegetarian option, and there is always a plentiful salad buffet. Complimentary tea, coffee and cake are served each afternoon. Austrian-twin and single rooms have shower and WC and may be in either buildings.

Food

7 breakfasts and 7 dinners included.

Reality Check

Activity Details Cross-country skiing is an increasingly popular winter pastime. Compared to those used for downhill, the skis are longer, thinner and lighter with bindings that allow you to lift up your heel. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) covering flat and hillier terrain enabling you explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. In Trins, there are three grades of skiing offered, ranging from beginner to intermediate and advanced. Availability varies and depending on the dates there may be one leader offering cross-country skiing and one leader running our Winter Walking trip (see tour code CAT for details).

Please check the grade of skiing that applies to your selected week on the specific departure date icon on the Dates & Prices page

Your Safety All active winter holidays involve some element of risk, from a possible slip on an icy pavement to the possibility of sustaining an injury as a result of the winter activities. Exodus does everything it can to safeguard against any dangers however participants must be prepared to accept some level of risk as part of the holiday. On the first few days of a beginner's cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails and terrain carefully, avoiding steep slopes. In spite of this you should expect to fall over on the flat! Unlike downhill skiing, where falls can happen at speed, most cross-country falls happen at slow speeds or from an almost static position and cause no injury. In the rare case that an injury is sustained this may, at worst, involve broken bones. When properly instructed, cross-country skiing is a safe and enjoyable sport.

Grade 1 - Beginners Recommended for beginners or those who feel the need to improve basic techniques. We teach you the essentials and explore gently undulating terrain. All or most skiing is on prepared tracks. More experienced skiers are welcome, but please be aware that the pace will be set for the beginners. Towards the end of the holiday you might ski 10 - 15km or more a day, at a gentle pace.

Grade 2 - Intermediates and confident beginners A mix of flat and hillier terrain. Grade 2 weeks are for people who have enjoyed a Grade 1 holiday, grasped the snowplough and now want to improve technique. We ski a little more quickly and over more challenging terrain than on a grade 1 trip. Acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing, but you should be very fit and have experience of other sports that develop balance: ice skating, roller-skating or downhill skiing. Most of the skiing will be on tracks but there may be some off-track skiing.

Grade 2+ - Intermediates (unsuitable for beginners) On these holidays there is not enough flat terrain for us to accept beginners. Suitable for clients who have done a couple of weeks with us, have developed their snowplough and can cope fairly confidently with undulating tracks.

Normal group size and age

Normally min. 5, max 14 Minimum age 14.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

Cross-country skiing: will involve intensive instruction, and our groups are carefully graded to ensure participants have similar levels of experience.
Cross-country ski grades: 1 Beginners | 2 Intermediates (suitable for confident beginners) | 2+ Intermediates (not suitable for beginners) | 3 Advanced | 4 Strenuous | and for Cross-country Skating levels: 1 Beginners | 2 Intermediates - For full explanations of Cross-Country Grading and Levels please see below or check here to view the full Winter Grades page.

Winter Activities: It's about seeking out alternative ways to have fun in unspoilt locations, you won't find standard skiing or snowboarding breaks here.

For those clients who wish to travel with a group of other solo/single travellers, on certain trips we have set aside departure dates that are specifically recommended for clients booking individually. Solo departures are aimed at taking away that concern that you may be the only solo traveller when you arrive overseas. Look out for the solo departures (marked with a grey icon's') by checking the notes in the dates and prices table.
However, please note that we inform any couples, or friends travelling together, who enquire about these dates that the trip is recommended for solos, but we do not refuse bookings from non-solo travellers, and we are therefore not able to guarantee that a solo departure will be exclusively made up of solo travellers.

Grade 1 Beginners. Recommended for beginners, or those who feel the need to improve basic techniques. We teach you the essentials and explore gently undulating terrain. All or most skiing is on prepared tracks (loipe). More experienced skiers are welcome, but the pace will be set for the beginners. Towards the end of the holiday you might ski 10-15km or more a day, at a gentle pace. Throughout the week you will be taught how to snowplough and different techniques to have you gliding along the tracks in no time.

Grade 2 Intermediates and confident beginners. A mix of flat and hillier terrain. Grade 2 weeks are for people who have enjoyed a Grade 1 holiday, grasped the snowplough and now want to improve technique. We ski a little more quickly and over more challenging ground than on a grade 1 trip.
Acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing, but you should be very fit and have experience of ther sports that develop balance - ice-skating, roller-skating or downhill skiing. Most of the skiing will be on tracks but there may be some off-track skiing.

Grade 2+Intermediates (unsuitable for beginners). On these holidays we will be skiing on some steeper terrain. Suitable for clients who have done a couple of weeks with us, have developed their snowplough and can cope fairly confidently with undulating tracks. Also suitable for those wishing to progress onto a skating week.