Cross-Country Skiing Day

For more than 5 000 years, skis were the preferred — and in some places the only — means of winter transportation for the people of the north. And not without reason: in the Arctic the land is covered by snow and ice for more than six months of the year, and the easiest and most energy-conserving way to move around was on skis.

In today's society, where everything is measured by time and efficiency, the car and the snowmobile have taken over the role as the preferred means of transportation. Skiing has become a spare-time activity — an activity practised by millions of people, not only in the Arctic but around the world.

When experiencing nature is the goal, there are still few things that can compare with skiing. It makes it relatively easy to move through the landscape, and it is slow enough to give you time to take in and enjoy all the impressions that nature gives you. The only odours you can smell are nature's own scents, and the only sounds you can hear are your skis quietly gliding through the snow, accompanied by nature's own silent calmness.

We would like to invite you to join us on a day trip in the natural areas surrounding Karasjok, or on a longer trip into the beautiful, calm and fascinating landscape of the Finnmark Plateau.

How the day goes

A day trip on skis starts at Engholm Lodge. We introduce you to the skis and other equipment you might need, and we show you some skiing techniques and how to wax your skis. Then we either start out directly from the lodge or travel by car to a good starting point for the day. Since this is a cross-country skiing trip, it can be both on and off tracks, and when the time is right we find ourselves a nice place to make a fire and enjoy our lunch. Coffee or other hot drinks are also a natural part of a ski trip.

Good to know

If you have never been skiing, or if you feel uncertain about your skiing skills, we can give you a 2–3 hour cross-country skiing course.