Winter adventure in northern Dalarna
7 days of ski touring and winter fun in remote forests and fells
to watch these woods filled up with snow
In Rännkölen and Anjosvarden nature reserve we’ll traverse tranquil wilderness of majestic pines crusted with snow, frozen mires with sparse trees, and the
odd ‘fäbod’, old abandoned houses from a time long gone.
a vast alpine plateau
Fulufjället national park is a mountain plateau of flat snowy expanses. After a few days of tour skiing at lower altitudes, we tackle the ascent and spend two nights winter camping on the vast wind-swept plains.
Geared up for wintertime in the wild
Metal-edge touring skis made for off-the-track skiing and ski boots provided. We stay in a remote rustic wilderness lodge that will act as a base for our excursions. We cook our meals together and bring along packed lunches and thermoses for the day.
our skis point towards winter camping
During the week, we work up our skiing skills and familiarity with zubzero temps towards two nights camping on the mountain plateau. We strap on sleds with everything we need to stay happy, warm & fed, and head out for a true winter expedition.
In good hands
No cross-country skiing experience needed. It’s pretty much like hiking but on skis. Your snow loving guides will take you across frozen mires, through forests and up a mountain – teaching wildlife, snow and the area’s cultural heritage along the way.
What You'll Get
A Complete Package from Start to finish
The itinerary for this amazing winter adventure is adapted so you can fly in the same day and fly out on the last day.
Included
- Tour skiing guides
- Top quality gear – touring skis, ski boots, gloves, goggles, sled, Nordic skates etc.
- 5 days of tour skiing
- 6 nights accommodation in the Navardalen wilderless lodge working as our base. Two of those nights are spent winter camping.
- Breakfast, lunch, snacks & dinners. Soft drinks, coffee & tea
- Pick-up and drop-off in Mora
Winter clothing kit for rent
- PowerHoudi – Polartec® fleece hoodie
- Mr./Mrs. Dunfri – Primaloft® lightweight synthetic down (mid or lighter reinforcement layer).
- RollerCoaster Jacket – Fully featured mountaineering shell jacket.
- RollerCoaster Trousers – Waterproof and breathable 3-layer shell pants for skiing and mountaineering.
- Arctic Puffer Jacket – Padded with Primaloft® synthetic insulation that provides incredible warmth.
What to Bring
- Shell clothing (available for rent)
- Mid-layers for skiing (available for rent)
- Reinforcement layer/puffer jacket (available for rent)
- Base layers for skiing
- Beanie & gloves
- Day pack
- Warm sweater
- Wool socks
- Shoes for winter
- Cozy clothing for cabin chill time
- Towel (and swimwear for sauna)
- Sunglasses, sun block & toiletries
- Camera/phone plus pre-charged power banks
Not Included
- Pre-order alcoholic beverages if you choose
Price per person
7 DAYS
23,200 SEK
Trip Information
Dates 2024:
14–20 Jan
21–27 Jan (fully booked)
28 Jan–3 Feb
4–10 Feb (fully booked)
11–17 Feb (1 spot left)
18–24 Feb (fully booked)
25 Feb–2 March (fully booked)
3–9 March (1 spot left)
Group size: Max 10 persons plus 2 guides
Minimum age: 18 years
Fitness level: Medium. If you are fit enough to go hiking for a few hours, you’re fit enough for this trip.
Prerequisites: No previous tour skiing or skating experience required.
Accommodation: Off-grid wilderness lodge. Shared cosy rooms, 2 persons per room. Grand area for cooking and hanging out.
Travel to locations: 1 hour drive from Mora train station to Navadalen Wilderness Lodge. 30 min from lodge to Rannkilen, 1 hour to Anjosvarden nature reserve. 1 hr 45 mins to Fulufjället.
Safety: Some of the skiing areas have poor cell phone reception, we carry a satelite phone in case of emergency.
Payment: We charge 1,000 SEK deposit per person at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 2 weeks prior to your trip.
Itinerary
We spend the week in a perfect location for our Scandinavian winter activities. Our rustic cabin and close-by Rännkölen are are at semi-high altitudes and a bit further away we find the alpine plateau of Fulufjället national park. We choose where to head for the day depending on weather and snow conditions.
Into the deep forests of northern Dalarna
In a remote valley completely surrounded by tall wooded hills, we find lake Navar. On the banks of the lake is a charming grand cabin, a cottage and a sauna – our home for the next week.
Navardalen is located northwest of Mora in the Dalarna region. We are in the land of boreal forests, mountains, lakes, mires and folklore. This is the part of Sweden we have in our mind’s eye when thinking of a time long gone, where many of our traditions have their roots.
We’re far, far away from anyone and anything, and it’s a lovely rustic and cosy atmosphere. Wood-fired heaters will keep us warm. Lanterns and candles give us light. A sauna and melted snow is our “bath”.
We have a wild magical winter landscape right on our doorstep for practicing our skiing and subzero skills. Gradually building up to our crowning achievement – a proper winter camping expedition on skis.
Rännkölen & Ribbåsen
Rännkölen is a stunning open landscape of snow-covered frozen mires and sparse trees, surrounded by deep boreal forests with tall ancient pines. It’s an ideal area for our first steps on touring skis with small variations in altitude and actual tracks to follow.
We filled our thermoses with coffee and tea this morning, packed some firewood and find somewhere along the tracks to grill sandwiches on the fire along with a warming cup of soup.
Down in the valley after our skiing trip, we take a stroll around the Ribbåsen “Fäbodar”. They are small log houses, where farmers used to bring their cattle for grazing. Farmhands would stay in these little cottages all summer long, and most of them date back to the 1700s. A whole culture emerged from this way of life with cooking traditions, superstitions and folk music. This region is famous for these idyllic settings and their cultural heritage.
Fulufjället National Park
Once we have the confidence and skills we need, we head off for a three-day expedition across the Fulufjället mountain plateau, close to the Norwegian border.
The skis have built-in “skins”, which gives them a good grip when going uphill and it’s surprisingly easy, but strenuous. After a 3 km ascent, an expansive plateau of wind-swept snowy plains awaits. These are true alpine conditions, white as far as the eye can see, no trees and an amazing vista of the lowlands spreading out below.
Each of us pull a sled with everything we need to stay warm while winter camping. A lightweight yurt gives us a sheltered place to cook, hang out & be merry in the evenings. The solitude up here and the sounds of the wind sweeping past our tents is hard to describe in words.
We may also dig a bivouac for those who are keen to spend the night in a cosy little hut made of packed snow instead.
Downhill is the tricky part of tour skiing and we’re not expecting you to master any fancy manoeuvres. We take our time and move as slow as we need to, zigzagging down to the valleys below. Once completed, you are sure to feel an amazing sense of achievement – a true winter expedition!
Nordic skating on lake Orsa
This is a very much a maybe on this trip, but if weather conditions are too severe to ski one day, we may head to the lowlands and lake Orsa.
Flying across frozen lakes on touring skates is one of the best feelings winter has to offer. Yet so few outside of Scandinavia ever get the chance to experience it. There is a reason – Nordic skating requires goldilocks type conditions. The ice has to be thick enough, but it cannot be covered with snow. It also takes a bit of practise to be able to move fast.
In this particular spot we’re in luck! The ice on lake Orsa will definitely be very thick, but it may be snow-covered. However, the skating club around here plows a long wide track on the ice. It’s not the same as glistening clear ice, but the surroundings are very beautiful in their own right. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn, and we’re quite sure you’ll be prepared and inspired to return a different time to ideal skating conditions. We’re planning Nordic skating tours further south in 2024, but you do need to be comfortable on a pair of skates to join.
Getting Here
Getting here
You have a couple of options for pickup depending on your means of travel. We pick you up from Mora train station at 17.30 and drive for one hour to the Navardalen Wilderness Lodge.
On your last day you can take a late flight out, or stay the night somewhere close to your place of departure. We drop you off in Mora 12.00.
Sweden’s main airport. Served by all major airlines.
Train from the airport to Mora for 17.30 pick-up, 3 hrs 25 mins. sj.se
Combining with a visit to Stockholm? Take Arlanda Express to the city, 20 mins. Train from from Stockholm Central to Mora, 3 hrs 45 mins. sj.se
We very much encourage arriving to Västerås or Mora by train to save our precious environment!
Pick-up in Mora 17.30.
Meet us at at Navardalen wilderness lodge around 19.00. Contact us and we will send directions.
Note! You will need winter tyres on your car to drive in Sweden during this time of year.