Across the Hardangervidda Plateau
Hardangervidda, Norway
10–16 January, 2027
7 days
8 guests + 2 guides
Multi-day ski touring experience required
18+ yrs
25,500 SEK
Leveling up your winter expedition skills.
You’ve already done a multi-day ski touring trip and feel ready to take it up a notch? Our Level 2 is five days of winter camping in unknown terrain. Researched, of course, but unknown. As new to our guides as it is to you. We do just one every year – a new location each time. A true expedition in every sense of the word!
Not just tagging along anymore.
This is a stepping stone to independent expeditions in the snow! We’re heading into proper wilderness – no trails, no huts, nothing man-made at all. You’ll participate in the planning, learn to navigate completely new terrain and make decisions along the way. You and your tent buddy are a team within the team. Each duo gets the chance to "lead" the expedition for one day, with helpful advice, of course.
2027: Across the Hardangervidda Plateau
We’re heading into the heart of Norway this time – onto the vast expanse of Hardangervidda. It’s often described as a miniature Antarctica – the largest mountain plateau in Northern Europe. It was right here that explorers like Amundsen and Shackleton trained for expeditions further south. Stepping off the train, it’s easy to see why. The landscape opens instantly into wide, rolling terrain shaped by wind and winter. The glacier dome of Hardangerjøkulen remains visible in the early days, a constant presence on the horizon, before it gradually disappears behind us as we move further out onto the plateau.
In the footsteps of explorers. Scratch that. We make our own trails.
We spend the first and last nights at our cabin in Haugastøl, right at the edge of the plateau. From here, a short train ride takes us up to Finse – a remote mountain station with no road access. Starting high on the plateau, we set out completely off-trail, navigating our own line through the terrain. Over five days, we gradually work our way back toward Haugastøl, following a natural, gentle descent across the landscape.
The sky has never been bigger. The snow is friend or foe.
January is wild and atmospheric on the plateau. The sun stays low, casting long shadows. Blue twilight lingers long into the day. Some days are calm and clear, but we'll run into wind and snow as well. Tackling whatever comes our way is part of the experience – reading conditions, adjusting course, and working with the landscape rather than against it. Daily distances are kept fairly conservative, so we can push a bit further on good days, or shorten the route if the weather turns. We set up camp in open terrain, usually with uninterrupted views in every direction. And you know what that's good for: northern lights – or at the very least, an endless starry sky.
Youths: –1,000 SEK
Deposit: 1,000 SEK at the time of booking
* Pay in full before March 31st
** 7 people or more
Deposit: 1,000 SEK at the time of booking
A winter expedition into the unknown
This tour is about being true explorers, while learning the skills to explore safely in untrailed winter terrain. We incorporate a learning curve towards the knowledge and confidence to eventually go it alone without guides.
5 days of ski touring and winter camping
First and last nights' accommodation in cabin near location
Learn from fun and experienced guides
Top quality gear
Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners
Dates
10-16 January
Transfer times
Pickup: 16:15 at Haugastøl train stn
Dropoff: 10:45 at Geilo train stn
Direct train from Oslo to Haugastøl or Geilo along the beautiful Bergen train line, app. 4 hours.
Prerequisites
Age limit, 18 years
Winter Adventure in Northern Dalarna or another multi-day trip on touring skis.
Unsure if experienced enough, send us an email please.
Payment
1,000 SEK deposit per person at the time of booking, remaining balance due 6 weeks prior to your departure.
Cancellations
Full refund up until 6 weeks prior to your departure. 50% refund up until 3 weeks prior. No refund less than 3 weeks prior.
Accommodation
Shared twin rooms in cabin.
Shared Hilleberg Keron 3 GT tents during expedition.
Dietary restrictions
Just let us know well in advance and we'll sort it out.
Useful Links
We spend the first and last nights at our cabin in Haugastøl, and in between – a glorious 5-day winter camping expedition!
This won’t be a traditional day-by-day itinerary. We have lots of options and keep things deliberately open as we move across the plateau.
Snow conditions, wind, and visibility shape how we plan each day. Some mornings we cover more ground, others we stop earlier and spend a bit more time building a sheltered camp. We’re not following a fixed route – just a general direction, adjusting our line as we go. Overall, we steer away from deeper snow and look for firmer stretches where the skiing is easier.
In general, we cover around 6–8 km per day. Our route adds up to around 30 km over the five days. In good conditions, with stable weather and fast snow, we can venture further – closer to 40 km.
The terrain itself is gentle, with a gradual descent over the days – starting high near Finse and working our way back toward Haugastøl. It never feels steep, but over time the difference becomes noticeable, and the sleds begin to run a little easier.
At times, our route leads us across frozen lakes. When the surface is firm, they make for smooth, open stretches where the skiing feels almost effortless. Other times, wind and drift break things up, and we pick our way across more carefully.
In the early days, the glacier Hardangerjøkulen stays with us. A broad ice dome rising above the plateau, sometimes sharp, sometimes fading into the sky depending on the light. As we move further out, it gradually slips behind us.
Wind shapes much of what we travel through. In places, it forms low ridges and waves in the snow, and the surface can change quickly underfoot. Hard and fast one moment, softer and more uneven the next.
At some point during the trip, we’ll leave the pulks behind for a few hours and head up onto higher ground nearby. From above, the scale of the plateau becomes clearer – or perhaps more abstract. Just wide in every direction, with no obvious boundaries. It’s a chance to see the landscape differently before dropping back down to camp and continuing on.
We don’t bring a communal yurt on this trip. Evenings are usually spent with your tent buddy. But if we finish early and the weather is calm, one of our favorite things to do is to dig out a table in the snow and sit down together outside. Cooking, eating, and talking with nothing around us but open space.
Some days feel longer, others shorter, even if the distance is similar. Conditions, light, and energy all play a part. Decisions are made together as we go, and the route evolves naturally over the course of the week.
We take care of the preliminary planning for this trip (in Level 3, you’ll be part of that stage too). That means going over maps, looking at gradients and elevation, sketching out a proposed line, and thinking through potential risks.
Ahead of the trip, we’ll have a video call with everyone joining to walk through the plan and get to know each other a bit before heading out.
For the expedition itself, we split into tent buddy teams. You and your buddy heat up your own meals and melt your own snow, but it’s about more than just the practical side. You’ll learn how to move through completely new terrain, make decisions, and find your way as you go.
Each duo takes a turn leading the group for a day (with guidance from us). That means working with the map and compass, choosing a sensible line through the terrain, and thinking ahead to where we’ll camp. You’ll consider gradients, keep track of direction, check in on how the group is feeling, and factor in the weather as it develops.
Us in the winter biz like to say: "A plan is nothing, but planning is everything." What does that paradox actually mean?
Planning is crucial. But once we set off, we need to be ready to adjust and make decisions as we go. We’ll learn along the way, and also talk through different scenarios before they happen.
Weather is the obvious one. Maybe it turns and we don’t get as far as planned. Or maybe we need to keep moving to reach a spot with enough shelter to camp if the wind picks up.
Snow conditions play a big role too. A fresh snowfall can slow things down quickly. Breaking trail through deep snow is demanding, especially with a sled, and we might need to rotate more often or repack to make things easier.
Then there’s the group itself. Energy levels shift over time. Some days feel strong, others less so. We adjust the plan accordingly – changing the route, shortening the day, or redistributing weight if needed.
All you need to know, and then some
We have gathered the most important guides for this trip. If you want to delve deeper, there is more to discover in Guides & Articles.