Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (4)
Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (5)
Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (7)

Ski touring course at Vatnahalsen

Learn more about ski touring

Ski touring course at Vatnahalsen

Learn more about ski touring

From USD 1248

Do you want to learn more about ski touring and become better and more confident on skis, or maybe you dream of joining one of our tours in Sunnmøre, Romsdalen, Haute Route in the Alps, or the Norwegian Haute Route in Jotunheimen but need a little more training? We board the train to snow-sure place Vatnahalsen and will stay at the charming Vatnahalsen mountain hotel, a perfect winter destination where we can put our skis at the front door and head straight out. With a limit of six participants per guide, you will receive close follow-up from experienced guides and after this weekend you will be better equipped for the winter.

Highlights

  • Learn route selection, skiing techniques, and avalanche training before this year's peak skiing season
  • Get to know Vatnahalsen as a ski-touring destination

Key topics during the weekend will be skiing technique in different conditions, route choice, trip planning, how to move in avalanche terrain, proper use of equipment, and of course, avalanche training will be a recurring theme. The course is scheduled early in the season to get you ready for fantastic experiences in the Norwegian or foreign winter mountains! 

During the weekend we will stay and eat at the cozy Vatnahalsen mountain hotel. The family-owned hotel offers fantastic opportunities for courses and summit tours. In the surrounding area, you'll find mountains like Tarven, Kvanntjørnnuten, and Skjebergnuten, to name a few. Every day we are served a delicious buffet consisting of Norwegian and local ingredients.

4

3-6

EN

2/6

4/6

2/6

Dates and booking

Thu 20. February - Sun 23. February 2025

USD 1248

Available

Book

Book your own dates
This trip is also offered as a private tailormade trip. Travel alone, with your friends or family whenever you want.
Send request

Opening hours Phone
Mon-Fri : 08-20
Sat-Sun : 14-17
Opening hours Chat
Mon-Fri : 07-23
Sat : 10-18
Sun : 13-21
CET

Safety and levels

Read more

Physical level

2/6 Physical

We need to exert some effort to reach our destination. With a good level of fitness and determination, these journeys are manageable for the majority of participants. Being active in daily life is a beneficial preparation.

Comfort level

4/6 Comfort

Simple to good quality inns, such as small family hotels, B&Bs and agrotourism (farmhouses), usually with private bathrooms.

Risk level

2/6 Risk

Activities/trips with little risk. There are usually few incidents and they are usually of such a nature that they can be dealt with locally.

Training and preparation

You should be comfortable skiing red slopes in ski resorts. If you have a lot of skiing experience, you will get even more out of this weekend. If you don't have much skiing experience, you should book a few weekends in advance in a ski resort.

The guides have extensive experience in holding courses, and the benefit will be great for those who want to learn more about safe and good travel in alpine winter terrain.

To get the most out of this course, you should be in shape to ski tour for three consecutive days. Since we spend time discussing various topics along the way, the length of the tours is designed to be manageable for those who have prior ski touring experience.

Accommodation and transportation

We stay at the unique and cozy Vatnhahalsen Høifjellshotell in double rooms all night. It is possible to stay in a single room for an additional NOK 2.000. 

Vatnahalsen can only be reached by train. Check www.vy.no for train times and to book tickets. 

Other information

  • 24 hour emergency response
  • Guides with first aid training in the field
  • Basic first aid kit available
  • Collaboration with Turlegen.no for medical advice

Høydepunkter

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Day by day

Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen@TheaTorvundLangeland (62)

Day 1:Meeting at Vatnahalsen

Vatnahalsen can only be reached by train and we gather in the evening when the trains from Oslo and Bergen have arrived. Vatnahalsen Høgfjellshotell is a cozy and family-owned hotel at 840moh. Dinner will be served here at 07:00 PM, so arrival by train from Bergen or Oslo at around 5-6 PM is perfect. We spend the evening preparing for the trip the next day, going through the plan for the weekend, and getting ready for the days in the field.

Vatnahalsen can only be reached by train and we gather in the evening when the trains from Oslo and Bergen have arrived. Vatnahalsen Høgfjellshotell is a cozy and family-owned hotel at 840moh. Dinner will be served here at 07:00 PM, so arrival by train from Bergen or Oslo at around 5-6 PM is perfect. We spend the evening preparing for the trip the next day, going through the plan for the weekend, and getting ready for the days in the field.

Vatnahalsen hotel

-,-,D

Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (7)
Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen@TheaTorvundLangeland (25)

Day 2:Ski touring and avalanche course

We start the day with a good hotel breakfast. We look at the weather and conditions but plan to start the day with an indoor session before lunch where we go through topics such as avalanche forecasts, trip planning, maps, weather history, and other relevant topics. After lunch, we head out and go into more detail about route choice, technique, avalanche safety, etc. The weather and conditions determine the route, and together we make a plan for where we want to go. Along the way, we take good breaks and get tips and training in relevant topics related to avalanches and alpine skiing. Back at the hotel, we'll be served coffee and waffles, before taking a hot shower and having dinner in the evening.

We start the day with a good hotel breakfast. We look at the weather and conditions but plan to start the day with an indoor session before lunch where we go through topics such as avalanche forecasts, trip planning, maps, weather history, and other relevant topics. After lunch, we head out and go into more detail about route choice, technique, avalanche safety, etc. The weather and conditions determine the route, and together we make a plan for where we want to go. Along the way, we take good breaks and get tips and training in relevant topics related to avalanches and alpine skiing. Back at the hotel, we'll be served coffee and waffles, before taking a hot shower and having dinner in the evening.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B,L,D

Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen@TheaTorvundLangeland (69)
Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (6)

Day 3:Ski touring and avalanche courses

After breakfast, we put on our backpacks and skis. As the day before, we follow important routines related to avalanche safety. In close dialog with the guide, we will delve into important topics related to ski touring. We'll practice skiing outside groomed slopes, discuss how to make good route choices, and practice the topics the group wants. The evening will be spent as the day before, discussing topics we have experienced during the day, and of course, a delicious dinner served at the hotel.

After breakfast, we put on our backpacks and skis. As the day before, we follow important routines related to avalanche safety. In close dialog with the guide, we will delve into important topics related to ski touring. We'll practice skiing outside groomed slopes, discuss how to make good route choices, and practice the topics the group wants. The evening will be spent as the day before, discussing topics we have experienced during the day, and of course, a delicious dinner served at the hotel.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B,L,D

Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen (2)
Toppturkurs på Vatnahalsen@TheaTorvundLangeland (88)

Day 4:Last day

We head out after a hearty breakfast at the hotel. In the field, we'll put the knowledge we've gained over the past two days to the test, and this day will also be full of educational content. We'll take our lunch outdoors and find great terrain for fun and suitably challenging skiing. We take the afternoon train (historically around 4 - 6 PM) back home from Vatnahalsen.

We head out after a hearty breakfast at the hotel. In the field, we'll put the knowledge we've gained over the past two days to the test, and this day will also be full of educational content. We'll take our lunch outdoors and find great terrain for fun and suitably challenging skiing. We take the afternoon train (historically around 4 - 6 PM) back home from Vatnahalsen.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B, L

Vatnahalsen can only be reached by train and we gather in the evening when the trains from Oslo and Bergen have arrived. Vatnahalsen Høgfjellshotell is a cozy and family-owned hotel at 840moh. Dinner will be served here at 07:00 PM, so arrival by train from Bergen or Oslo at around 5-6 PM is perfect. We spend the evening preparing for the trip the next day, going through the plan for the weekend, and getting ready for the days in the field.

Vatnahalsen hotel

-,-,D

We start the day with a good hotel breakfast. We look at the weather and conditions but plan to start the day with an indoor session before lunch where we go through topics such as avalanche forecasts, trip planning, maps, weather history, and other relevant topics. After lunch, we head out and go into more detail about route choice, technique, avalanche safety, etc. The weather and conditions determine the route, and together we make a plan for where we want to go. Along the way, we take good breaks and get tips and training in relevant topics related to avalanches and alpine skiing. Back at the hotel, we'll be served coffee and waffles, before taking a hot shower and having dinner in the evening.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B,L,D

After breakfast, we put on our backpacks and skis. As the day before, we follow important routines related to avalanche safety. In close dialog with the guide, we will delve into important topics related to ski touring. We'll practice skiing outside groomed slopes, discuss how to make good route choices, and practice the topics the group wants. The evening will be spent as the day before, discussing topics we have experienced during the day, and of course, a delicious dinner served at the hotel.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B,L,D

We head out after a hearty breakfast at the hotel. In the field, we'll put the knowledge we've gained over the past two days to the test, and this day will also be full of educational content. We'll take our lunch outdoors and find great terrain for fun and suitably challenging skiing. We take the afternoon train (historically around 4 - 6 PM) back home from Vatnahalsen.

Vatnahalsen hotel

B, L

What's included in the price

Included

Not included

Changes may occur

We reserve the right to change prices. The day by day program is a guideline and changes may occur. You can refer to our general travel conditions for more information.

Travel insurance

On all our trips, we require you to have full health and accident insurance which will also cover any emergency transport home. Read more about travel insurance.

 

Guides

Equipment list

This list is intended as a guideline, so that we have what we need regardless of the weather we get on the trip. Remember that you can also get used hiking equipment that works perfectly. Get in touch if you have any questions. TIP: We recommend that you have the most important hiking equipment in your hand luggage, for example hiking boots and gore-tex jacket/trousers.

Obligatory

Clothing

We recommend wool underwear for both men and women. Wool sportstop is recommended for women.

Wool or synthetic. Avoid cotton. Remember to allways bring dry socks with you, to prevent chafing. 

Fleece or wool. 

Big and warm! Big enough that it fits over everything else. It must have a hood and cover the butt.

Gore-Tex or similar. Must have a decent hood, and hold out wind and rain. Should have space for midlayers underneath. Ventilation under the arms is recommended. 

Gore-Tex or similar. Must be waterproof and windproof,  zips for ventilation are recommended.

Warm hat for cold days.

Warm ski mittens/gloves.

Footwear
Equipment

Remember new/extra batteries.

High SPF, 30-50. Remember chapstick for lips and nose. 

For protection against cold wind and snow.

Split board, ski touring or telemark skis. Poles with large/powder baskets. Check that your boots fits the bindings.

Make sure these fit your skis.

Make sure these fit your skis and bindings.

With new batteries.

Small, light and in aluminum (not plastic).

0,5-1,0 liter

30 liters or more with attachments for skies.

Recommended

Clothing

For evenings and leasure days.

Equipment

Personal medicines and, for example, band-aids, blister plaster, sports tape, throat lozenges, nasal drops, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen, stomach regulators, etc.
We need to know about all medicines you are taking, in case something happens. 

Tooth brush, tooth paste, small towel, ear plugs, wet wipes, biodegradable soap, etc.

You should be able to bring 2-3 litres of water.

To attach skis to backpack if necessary.

Enables measuring steepness and discharge areas.

Useful

Clothing
Footwear

Or similar. Must be lightweight and with low volume to use inside. 

Equipment

Nuts, chocolate, energy bars, etc.

Note: Although it is a mandatory that everyone has a transmitter/receiver, search probe and shovel on this trip, it is not a requirement that you know how to use this. A good introduction will be given during the days.

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