UKC

Looking to so some ski touring in Norway (something like a 4 day hut to hut but flexible about staying in one spot too). Ideally we'd then like to do a couple of days of both downhill skiing and ice climbing. Is there any where that would accomodate this type of trip? Or would we be looking at different areas for each activity? We are new to ski touring and starting to research so any help and advice about locations/time of year/logistics etc would all be appreciated. Thank you!

You might be better thinking cross country rather than touring in Norway. There is a lot of cross country skiing, and you can easily put together hut to hut trips. For example a 3 or 4 day hut to hut trip on the Haardangavida (immediately N of Rujkan) is very possible.

Lillehammer. There’s an English language guidebook to climbing in the area:

https://www.needlesports.com/Catalogue/Books-Media/Guidebooks/Scandinavia/L...
 

There are a few small downhill skiing centres, and hundreds of kilometres of cross country ski tracks. And it’s a shortish train ride from Gardermoen airport.

Definitely. Last winter we did a weekend trip skiing Lillehammer to Elverum with a night in the DNT Sandfloten Hut just over half way. Good transport links both ways to the airport. And the buffet breakfast of champions at the Best Western at the airport

You've put this in the skiing forum, and it sounds like skiing is the priority?
What do you mean by ski touring?
Ski touring with an emphasis on the touring or on the skiing?
Have you knowledge of how to manage avalanche terrain? Do you know how to use avalanche safety gear?
Will you have a car?

I don't think anyone who goes to Norway for ski touring goes to the south. The good stuff is on the west coast and in the north, and you can find ice climbing in all those places.

But, if you're new to ski touring and you really want to ski, I suggest going on a guided trip.

So as others have pointed out... you need to define the ski-touring.

Basically ice-climbing is nearly available everywhere in Norway (conditions depending, naturally).

Ski resorts are more or less known (especially if you like bigger resorts and good skiing or at least good skiing infra). Albeit some of the miniscule resorts with only a lift of two, might actually offer the best skiing experience (good amount of untracked terrain, and no one else around... if that is your thing).

So The big hubs for downhill skiing are Trysil (biggest resort in Norway), Hemsedal and the few resorts close to Lillehammer. But Narvik Ski resort is not bad either (smaller, but really good terrain). The smaller resorts... IDK, as said, they might have really good skiing... but services and amount of terrain might be limited... and those that now... well, ain't talking... but I have heard of rumors.


For ice climbing, Hemsedal has even it's own guidebook... From Lillehammer, you need to drive, but I'm fairly certain that within 1-2h drive you will have more ice that you can shake a stick at. Trysil might be a was on that regards. Narvik has enough ice for a lifetime, the super classic Henrikkefossen (WI-4) is around an hour away, and I'm sure there is stuff closer.

As for touring, if you mean more in the sense of xc-skiing (but slower), then stuff like Rondane a bit north of Lillehammer would prolly be suited for both Lillehammer and also Trysil. For Hemsedal, I'm not sure, but I'm fairly certain again a  bit of a drive will get you to vast wilderness with most likely a hut or two (manned or not, IDK) for some touring. Fairly certain you have something like that in Narvik vicinity.

And if you mean more like alpine ski-touring/-mountaineering... well, that might be a tad harder to accomplish... as a lot of the huts are on the flat fjell-touring terrain... so either the long distances are gonna suck on them alpine-touring skis... or the downhill portion on nordic touring rigs .

Narvik might actually have the best "option" for this... around 1h east... so around Riksgränsen or Abisko (in SWE). I'd say that depending on your conditions/ambitions, 4 or 5 full days tour might be enough to get you to the top of Kebnekaise (highest peak in Sweden) and back to civilization. So drop car in Abisko, and with train+bus (via Kiruna, perhaps a taxi as well) get to Nikkaluokta. From there it's a day to Tarfalla-hut, or Kebnekaise Fjellstation. Following day to the summit. And depending on skills, conditions the next few days head northwards via the Huts on Kungsleden... to reach Abisko (where your car awaits). Bonus is, that if the weather is faul in around Narvik... changes are, it'll be good in Abisko or Riskgränsen. And both offer also ski resorts (Riksgränsen is really good). And the day touring potential around there is amazing... and there's even ice climbing.



 

The Tromso area is excellent for day tours up mellow peaks, I believe there is decent ice climbing and there is a very small resort in Tromso (I've not been to it, too many peaks ski)