Winter guide
You don't have to go far to find true winter wilderness, where reality matches the fantasy.
Best places to go cross country skiing
Imagine a dish full of oysters perfectly chilled on ice, and there you have your world of cross country skiing. Wild, winter wildernesses far from the powder poser and chalet chic brigades. For superb readymade trail or ‘loipe’ networks, the Nordic countries are amongst the best places to go cross country skiing, although head into Finnish Lapland for real off the beaten track wilderness skiing. Just you, the moose and the reindeer. Further south, the French Pyrenees have some of the sunniest winter days and the Dolomites or Austrian Alps are always magnificent. But for hot cross country, head to Chile’s volcanoes. Molten lava waiting for you at the top, and a thermal spa waiting for you at the bottom.
1.
Austria
2. Chile
3. Estonia
4. Finland
5. Germany
6. Norway
7. Pyrenees, France
8. Switzerland
9. The Dolomites, Italy
2. Chile
3. Estonia
4. Finland
5. Germany
6. Norway
7. Pyrenees, France
8. Switzerland
9. The Dolomites, Italy
Austria
1. Austria
North of Innsbruck, five villages make up the Seefeld region, renowned for having hosted the Winter Olympics twice, with over 300km of cross country skiing trails. Further south, in the Stubai and Zillertal mountains of the Alps, you’ll find a find a few more remote spots, skiing across meadows and valleys from one chocolate box village to another. They like their spa hotels here too. And with spas come saunas.
Chile
2. Chile
Cross country skiing from volcano to volcano in Chile. It doesn’t get much cooler or, given that some of the volcanoes are active, hotter than this. Serious ski touring territory, so experience and fitness is recommended but, with the support of expert mountain guides, you’ll traverse some of the most extraordinary mountain landscapes in the world, such as Corralco, Araucarias, Villarrica or Pucon, staying in cabins along the way.
Estonia
3. Estonia
Although it has a strong tradition of winter sports, Estonia is still off the beaten track when it comes to skiing. However, as cross country is part of the local culture plenty of trails await, and you’ll be able to take in both wild landscapes and historic sites with a whoosh of your skis. You can explore tracks around the 14th century walled city of Tallinn, as well as the remote landscapes of Otepaa, home to snow wrapped forests and hearty cuisine.
Finland
4. Finland
Go for the guided wilderness option, traveling from hut to hut in far northern Finnish wilderness on the edges of Russia, with your bags transported for you. Skiing through untouched heathland, across frozen lakes and deserted forests, it all feels frozen in time. Or go for the slightly softer-round-the-edges Finnish Lapland, to combine cross country with other winter activities, including the Northern Lights, in Pallas Ylläs NP.
Germany
5. Germany
The Black Forest is about more than fairytales, forests and fattening cuisine. It’s a top-notch cross country skiing destination, too. You’ll get away from the tourist crowds and glide through snow-laden pine forests and across wide open valleys, with traditional village guest houses providing a warm welcome after days out on the trails.
Norway
6. Norway
The birthplace of cross country skiing. The 70km Peer Gynt Trail is a wild, winter wonderland, as is the Espedalen Valley, and the never ending Rondane and Jotunheimen National Parks. The winter sports hub is Lillehammer, home to the 1994 Winter Olympics. The trails systems are superb, as are the guides who take you into remote valleys, across lakes and through the ultimate in peace: a snowy, soulful Norwegian Wood.
Pyrenees, France
7. Pyrenees, France
Following age old thoroughfares through isolated valleys of the Pyrenees NP is this cross country skiing Shangri-La. Although the traditional pistes, some of France’s sunniest, attract crowds, the 100km of trails around the 1,400m high plateau of the Cerdagne and Capcir regions proffer serene snowy solitude. No trip is complete without visitng the UNESCO-rated Cirque du Gavarnie, perfect for ski touring.
Switzerland
8. Switzerland
Switzerland is classic ski country, and attracts winter sports nuts from far and wide to sample the Alpine trails and slopes with a backdrop of dramatic mountains, deep valleys and pretty villages. The jewel in the crown? The Engadin Ski Marathon, an annual event when skiers from across the globe gather for a challenging 42 km cross country ski race.
The Dolomites, Italy
9. The Dolomites, Italy
Seeing the jagged rose-tinted Dolomites against a winter blue sky is simply dazzling. Right up in the north of Italy, the cross country skiing tracks around the Alta Pusteria region are just stunning, with the landmark Three Peaks Nature Park now a UNESCO site and world class cross country skiing location. Flying into Innsbruck in Austria is often a good way to access the mountains, shared with their Tyrolean neighbours.
Our Cross country skiing Vacations
Cross-country skiing vacation in Finland's eastern wilderness
Guided country skiing vacation through remote eastern Finland
From
€1140
7 days
ex flights
Cross country skiing vacation in the Dolomites, Italy
A famously beautiful range of jagged peaks
From
US $2049 to US $2249
8 days
ex flights
Venabu cross country skiing vacation in Norway
Independent cross-country skiing in dramatic landscape
From
£2049 to £2289
8 days
inc UK flights
Norway cross country skiing vacation
Nordic skiing - The Troll Trail from Rondane to Lillehammer
From
NKr 16200
9 days
ex flights
Cross country skiing vacation in the French Alps
Cross country ski through stunning landscapes in the Alps
From
€724
5 days
ex flights
Peer Gynt ski touring vacation in Norway
Cross county skiing The Peer Gynt Trail - Lillehammer Norway
From
NKr 14450
7 days
ex flights
Travel Team
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More about Cross country skiing
The cross country skiing season is sometimes different from that of downhill, because it doesn’t rely on snow cannons and resort openings.
One of the aims of this cross country skiing vacation guide is to show people who love the mountains and wilderness in summer that they can also revel in them in winter.
Ski touring vacations differ from cross country in that they are more hard core.
Cross country skiing vacations in Austria are a true celebration of the outdoors and mountain culture.
Cross country skiing vacations in Germany take you to that most magical of landscapes – the Black Forest.
What better way to get acquainted with a Norwegian winter than strapping on some skis and making your way across the frozen countryside – taking it slowly and eschewing faster-paced downhill shenanigans? Read on to find out the ins and outs and the dos and don’ts of cross country skiing vacations in Norway.
This 365 sq km region of mountainous terrain in northeastern Italy offers perfect fodder for winter sports, and all with a pretty spectacular backdrop, too.
From being safe on the mountains, what to pack to reminders on the importance of having an expert leader or guide, these cross country skiing vacation tips are invaluable.
Responsible ski vacations are ones that don’t wreck the landscape and also tie in with local communities in a positive way.
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