Cool Holidays Coming Your Way
Come and Join us this Winter
Be the first to book a Go Beyond winter supported holiday. With three different holidays to choose from we are sure you find a holiday that you like.
A Closer Look at Norway
Norway, part of Scandinavia, has attractive and dramatic scenery.
Balsfjord, 60km from Tromso, part of the northern coast of Norway, where we will be staying, has some of the most visually impressive coastlines in the world.
As Balsfjord is located in the Arctic Circle, we will have the opportunity to witness one of nature’s most beautiful wonders, the Northern Lights, or norðrljós, as the Vikings called them.
This holiday will enable us to experience this sublime part of Norway in different ways. A reindeer ride, a fjord cruise, an island tour, by cable car and by pony.
A fantastic trip in the Arctic Circle.
Where you’ll be staying…
This house is situated in Balsfjord, about 60 km far from Tromso. It has four bedrooms, a cosy living room with a fireplace and a piano, a big fully equipped kitchen and a bathroom.
From the large balcony we can enjoy beautiful sunsets on the fjord and great northern lights in the wintertime.
There are beautiful mountains around the house and a sauna close to the water where you can often see orcas, porpoises or seals in the fjord or watch sea eagles flying over it.
There are also cats, hens, horses, a dog, and some Norwegian sheep around the grounds of the house.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Travel from London to Tromso, via Oslo, travel to our accommodation via mini bus, settle in.
Day 2 – Go sledding with reindeer and experience Norway’s indigenous Sami culture on a half-day tour from Tromso. Ride in a sled pulled by reindeer and led by a Sami guide, keeping warm with a provided thermal suit. Learn about the history and culture of the Sami people from your guide and take in the spectacular arctic landscape. Afterwards, we will sample some local food and listen to joik, traditional Sami music.
Day 3 – Visit the Arctic University Museum of Norway.
Day 4 – A Bird and Wildlife Arctic Cruise of the fjords. A fjord cruise from Tromso practically ensures that we can see some of the Arctic region’s most wonderful wildlife. Sail the Arctic waters in a classic wooden boat while searching the sky for seabirds and sea eagles and the water for dolphins, pilot whales, and more. Our guide will explain wildlife behaviour while we keep warm with a hot bowl of soup and freshly caught fish.
Day 5 – Arctic Island tour by minibus. Experience the untamed beauty of the Arctic wilderness! Northern Norway will surprise with its unique landscape of fjords, mountains, beaches and picturesque villages. During this 5-hour round trip of Kvaloya island, we will experience the landscape, and enjoy homemade sandwiches, hot beverages, a knowledgeable guide that will show us the most beautiful spots in the area. These breaks are also an excellent opportunity for spotting wildlife, like reindeer, moose and sea eagles.
Day 6 – See the town of Tromso by Cable Car. The Cable Car is Tromso’s most popular tourist destination. It runs from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen. From the large outdoor terrace, you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Tromso the virtually endless sight of islands, fjords, mountains, and the open sea.
Day 7 – Pony trek on a Icelandic pony from the accommodation. The perfect way to spend the final day of our holiday.
Day 8 – Travel back home from Tromso to London, via Oslo.
The Alpine Adventure in Detail
You may have tried our great, summer adventure holidays in France, Spain and the UK, a time to experience activities that push your boundaries and at the same time enjoy the wonderful surrounding countryside in the golden sunshine.
Well, we thought we would add a frost-sparkly twist by having an adventure holiday in the wintertime, based in the French Alps.
Working with local activity provider, Undiscovered Mountains, we have put together a holiday that will excite you, challenge you and inspire you. Activities included for this holiday are ice climbing, cross country skiing, igloo building, husky sledding and snow shoe walking.
You can experience all that the mountains can give us, clean air, white snow, pristine landscapes and magnificent changing views.
Where you’ll be staying…
We will be staying for seven nights in the cosy Auberge des Ecrins, which is in the French Alps, forty minutes drive from the town Gap, in the south-east of France.
The auberge is situated in the Champoléon Valley and has cosy twin bedrooms and a fantastic restaurant serving top quality French cuisine.
Food, glorious food!
We will be fully catered for by the restaurant in the auberge. This will include a relaxing breakfast with the best French coffee and croissants, a picnic lunch and evening dinner, all prepared by cheffe de cuisine, Elizabeth Morrison, who uses local and traditional recipes working with the seasons of the year.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Travel from London Heathrow to Marseilles, travel up to our accommodation via mini bus, settle in.
Day 2 – Igloo Building
Day 3 – Ice Climbing
Day 4 – Husky Sledding
Day 5 – Rest day
Day 6 – Cross Country Skiing
Day 7 – Snow Shoe Walking
Day 8 – Return to London Heathrow from Marseilles
Find Out More
Whether you are a seasoned skier or a beginner, this Alpine adventure in the French Alps, is for you. The holiday will include 5 full days of skiing with ESI ski instructors, a Husky sledding ride, access to a swimming pool and ice rink and full support from our Go Beyond team (our support ratio will be 2 guests per 1 Go Beyond team member).
The holiday will be based in the ski resort of Orcières, which is situated at the edge of the Ecrins National Park, in the Champsaur Valgaudemar valleys, in the south-eastern part of France.
You will stay in the cosy, alpine, independent family-run hotel, Hotel Les Catrems, on the sunny southern slopes boasting spectacular mountain views. The perfect place to immerse yourself in nature’s snowy peaks and enjoy your skiing holiday.
Where you’ll be staying…
The Hotel les Catrems is a cosy, alpine, independent family-run hotel, with an ice rink and swimming pool, fantastic bar and restaurant, all with a friendly atmosphere.
Each comfortable bedroom is clad in wood and has stunning mountain views. The hotel is central in resort with direct access to the slopes and a short 10-minute bus ride to the ski school.
Food, glorious food!
The French are known worldwide for their delicious cuisine, and we will be spoilt for choice with the Hotel les Catrems breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinner.
Breakfast will consist of cereal, fresh fruit, bread with jams and honey, yoghurts and eggs, fruit juices and tea, not forgetting of course, everyone’s French favourite, croissants, pains au chocolat and fresh, black coffee.
The hotel will prepare a healthy picnic lunch for us so that we can enjoy eating together on the slopes and make the most of our time in the clear, mountain air.
After a day’s skiing, we can look forward to a 3-course dinner as we gaze out at the spectacular snowy panoramic view from our warm and cosy table. The evening meal is an authentic and traditional Alpes affair; expect such dishes as, Savoy Fondue, Bourguignone Fondue as well as the local Champsaur Valgaudemar Valley specialities.
Your holiday will include the following:
- 7 nights of half-board accommodation;
- 7 picnic lunches;
- 6-day ski pass for Orcieres 1850 with access to swimming pool and ice skating;
- 6-day ski and boot hire;
- 5 days of ski lessons (morning 2.5 hrs and afternoon 2.5 hrs) with qualified ski instructors;
- 1 rest day;
- 1-hour session husky sledding – an option on the rest day (either driving own sled or as a passenger in sled);
- Return flight from London to Lyons, accompanied and supported by our Go Beyond team;
- A ratio of 2 guests to 1 Go Beyond support staff member;
- Support from our Go Beyond team during the holiday.
Get in touch
To enquire about any of our winter holidays please contact Ian in the office on ian@gobeyondholidays.com or by telephone on his French phone 00 33 9 73 21 31 18.
