Swept skating track over Lake Orsa
Orsa, Sweden

Skating in Orsa

A swept track of about 15 kilometres across Lake Orsa, and in the evening your own cabin a stone's throw from the ice.

Trip typeIndependent, a guide on the ice can be booked
IncludedFlight, transport and accommodation
Online serviceIce info and weather updates
AccommodationOwn cabins
PriceFrom €995 pp
The swept skating track on Lake Orsa
The cabins in the snow, right by frozen Lake Orsa
Natural ice track near Orsa, Sweden
Lake Orsa and the cabins, Dalarna
Where you skate

A fifteen-kilometre track, swept across a frozen lake. Beyond that, there's no one.

Every winter a long track is swept on Lake Orsa in Dalarna. You skate there independently, at your own pace.

What you'll actually skate is never fixed in advance. Natural ice can't be planned: through our online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates, so you choose each day where you skate.

That does ask something of you: you need to be able to judge for yourself whether the ice is safe.

Wooden cabins in winter by snow-covered Lake Orsa in Dalarna
Where you sleep

Your own cabin, right by the ice

You stay in cabins at First Camp Orsa-Dalarna. No hotel corridor, but your own place where you gather in the evening and step straight onto the ice in the morning.

The exact layout of the cabins is arranged to match the size of your travel party. Want to know more beforehand? Get in touch.

First Camp Orsa-Dalarna

The cabins, inside and out

Wooden cabin with a terrace and a birch tree, by the lake in summer
Terrace with white garden chairs and a table, overlooking the lake
Living room with a sofa, a dining table and glass doors looking out on the lake
Kitchen with hob, oven and sink, with a view through to the bathroom
Bedroom with a double bed and reading lights, with wooden cupboards above the bed
Bedroom with two single beds on either side of the window
Bathroom with washbasin, toilet and shower cubicle
In pictures

Pictures from along the way

  • Five skaters stand silhouetted against the light on smooth dark ice, with long shadows and trees on the shore
  • Two skaters seen from behind on a swept track with a thin layer of snow, heading towards the low sun
  • Five people on cross-country skis pose on a snowy path between snow-covered spruces, under a blue sky with clouds
  • A person walks across a snow-covered frozen lake towards the setting sun, with footprints in the snow
  • A group of people in sportswear takes a break in the sun by an open wooden shelter, with a frozen lake in the background
  • A swept track on a snow-covered lake runs towards the low sun, with a halo around the sun
How it works

You skate independently, we arrange the rest.

As standard, Orsa is an independent trip: no guide comes along on the ice, but between 10 January and 20 February you can add guidance on the ice. The flight to Sweden, the accommodation in the cabins and local transport are arranged. Through our online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates, plus information about alternative activities and activities you can book in addition.

Flight, accommodation and transport

The flight to Sweden, the cabins and local transport are arranged.

Pay in one go

You pay the full trip price at booking.

Online service

Current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates.

Day by day

What a week looks like

The order is fixed, the details aren't. You decide where you skate each morning, based on the weather and the ice.

The cabins by frozen Lake Orsa in winter
Day 1

Arrival

You arrive at the cabins by Lake Orsa. Time to get your gear ready and take a first look at the ice. Through the online service you can see what the ice and the weather look like for the coming days.

The swept track on Lake Orsa
Day 2

The first kilometres

A relaxed start on the swept track, so you get used to the natural ice and the skates.

Aerial photo of a swept track curving across the frozen lake along a wooded shore, with two people on the ice
Days 3 to 5

The days on the ice

Every day you look at the weather and the ice quality and choose where to go. Sometimes that's the long track across the lake, sometimes you move to one of the alternative skating locations nearby. If skating isn't possible for a while, you get information about alternative activities and activities you can book in addition.

An empty swept track across the snow-covered lake, with the sun low on the horizon
Last day

Departure

Depending on your travel time, there's often still room for one last lap around the lake in the morning before you leave.

The exact number of days depends on the departure date. Once that's fixed, the programme adjusts to match.

What's included

  • Accommodation in the cabins
  • Flight to Sweden
  • Local transport
  • Online service: current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates
  • Information about alternative activities, and activities you can book in addition

What's not

  • Your own skating equipment and winter clothing
  • Safety gear: ice picks and a helmet are mandatory
  • Insurance

Not sure whether something's included? Just ask, so you know for certain.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about Orsa

Is the skating trip to Orsa guided?

Not as standard: the skating trip to Orsa is an independent trip, and no guide comes along on the ice. The flight, the accommodation in the cabins and local transport are arranged, and through our online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates. That does mean you have to be able to judge for yourself whether the ice is safe. If you'd rather not go out on the ice on your own, you can book a guide to join you on the ice between 10 January and 20 February: €100 per day for 1 person, + €50 per day for each additional person, for as many days as you like. There are also guided group trips to Orsa and Falun, on a fixed date.

How long is the skating track on Lake Orsa?

On Lake Orsa in Dalarna a long track of about 15 kilometres is swept every winter. What you actually skate is never fixed in advance: that depends on the weather and the ice quality. Through the online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates.

Where do you stay during the trip to Orsa?

You stay in your own cabins at First Camp Orsa-Dalarna, right by the ice. No hotel corridor, but a place of your own where you sit together in the evening and step straight onto the ice in the morning. We match the exact cabin arrangement to the size of your travel party.

What is and isn't included in the trip to Orsa?

Included are the accommodation in the cabins, the flight to Sweden, local transport, online service (current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates) and information about alternative activities and activities you can book in addition. Not included are your own skating equipment and winter clothing, mandatory safety gear (ice picks and a helmet) and insurance.

How good a skater do I need to be?

You don't have to be a competitive skater, but you do need to be able to skate independently and in control. If you're unsure about your level, Joey will think it through with you beforehand.

How much do you skate per day?

That's up to you: you skate independently and plan your days yourself. How many kilometres that adds up to is never fixed in advance - that is determined by the ice, the weather and the route of that day.

Is Orsa suitable for my first skating trip to Sweden?

As standard, Orsa is an independent trip: no guide comes along on the ice. That does ask that you can judge for yourself whether the ice is safe. If you'd rather not do that on your own, you can add guidance on the ice between 10 January and 20 February. Through the online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates. Still, it remains natural ice: good preparation is part of it. There are also guided group trips to Orsa and Falun, on a fixed date.

What happens if the ice in Orsa isn't good enough?

Natural ice can't be guaranteed. Through the online service you get current information about the ice, all alternative skating locations and weather updates, so you can move to other suitable ice yourself. If skating isn't possible, you get information about alternative activities and activities you can book in addition.

Which skates do I need?

You bring your own skating equipment. For natural ice we recommend touring skates. You also need winter clothing you can spend a whole day outdoors in; ice picks and a helmet are mandatory.

Dates and price

Choose your own period

The price starts at €995 per person for 4 days with two of you. Pick your arrival and departure day below and you'll see straight away what your period costs.

Once the calendar loads, you pick your period here and book directly. If that doesn't work, email schaatsennovakse@outlook.com or message +31 6 17467643.

Rather ask a question first Practical travel information

Also curious about Falun or Finland?

Falun and Finland are independent trips too. At Falun, as at Orsa, you can add guidance on the ice between 10 January and 20 February. You book Falun as a complete package with flight, rental car and accommodation, and you choose your own arrival day. There are also guided group trips to Orsa and Falun, on a fixed date.

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