Worldloppet Trips Overview Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga Marcialonga & King Ludwig Japan Sapporo France Transju' Finlandia & Tartu Sweden Vasaloppet Seefeld & Engadin Norway Birken Iceland Fossavatn Australia - Kangaroo Hoppet New Zealand - Merino Muster
Sight-Skiing Trips Overview Austria & Italy Norway Slovenia & Italy Factory Trip: Austria & Slovenia
World Cup Trips Overview Tour de Ski Falun World Championships Holmenkollen World Cup - Norway
Self-Guided Overview Austria & Italy: Seefeld & Seiser Alm Norway: Oslo & Lillehammer Canada: SilverStar & Sovereign Lake Canadian Rockies: Canmore, Banff & Lake Louise Montana & Yellowstone Vermont
About Who We Are Trip Leaders Cultural Activities

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Lumi Experiences

As the world’s premier cross country ski travel company, Lumi Experiences offers boutique trips that introduce travelers to winter cultures where nordic skiing is a part of everyday life — from Sweden to Slovenia. It’s a ski vacation like no other.

Lumi Experiences was founded by Minnesotan cross country ski Olympian Garrott Kuzzy, who is currently based in Innsbruck, Austria.

Along with a fun-loving team of local trip leaders, Garrott shares his passion for skiing and travel with people who want to experience snowy villages, crackling fires, forest gnomes and warm apple strudel.

After a week with Lumi Experiences you will be physically healthier, mentally calmer and totally invigorated. Our guests rave about their expert trip leaders, wholesome meals, comfortable accommodations and local libations poured and savored often. That’s what it’s all about!

 

Ways to Travel

Lumi specializes in small group experiences for people who love cross country skiing, whether you’ve been skiing for years or getting out for the first time. Our range of trip styles includes:

Sight-skiing Trips

Week-long guided group adventures to some of the world’s renown cross-country ski destinations.

Sight-Skiing Trips →

Worldloppet Trips

Guided group trips that are similar to our Sight-Skiing trips, but with the opportunity to ski a marathon or two.

Worldloppet Trips →

World Cup Trips

Unique access and opportunities at international Nordic World Cup & World Championships events.

World Cup Trips →

Self-guided Trips

For just you and your crew. We take on the lifting and logistics, so you can relax and explore.

Self-guided itineraries →

Trip Protection

Follow the link to learn more about travel insurance →

 
Mandli Quote small right.png
“Our Lumi Experiences trip had an exceptionally talented group of trip leaders. It was well planned and full of fun surprises that enhanced the experience. Sledding was a hoot, and skiing to our hotel afterwards was awesome. I love the Dolomites and the Tyrol. Austrian curling was a blast. First class care and attention to detail made this a trip of a lifetime for us.”
— Jane & Mike Mandli
 
 
 

From the Founder

Lumi Experiences is a small travel company offering cross country ski vacations to some of the world's renown destinations. We see cross country skiing and travel as a way of life and want to share that experience with you.

Does your ideal vacation include skiing fresh corduroy beneath snow-capped peaks? Someone to wax your skis for you? A hotel close to the trail with a relaxing sauna? Raising a cold beer with friends to celebrate the day? You have come to the right place.

Take advantage of our of expertise in cross country skiing and professional travel design. We take care of the details and logistics so you can relax and enjoy your vacation. Fill out the form below for a personal follow-up and more information about our trips. We would love to host you on your next ski vacation.

See you on the trail,

 
 
 
 

Founder, Lumi Experiences

 

Looking for more? 

Send a quick message to receive a detailed itinerary of any of our trips, or simply to say hi. We look forward to hearing from you!

 
 

WHO WE ARE

Lumi is a collection of people passionate about cross country skiing, travel and sharing our favorite places and experiences with new friends. Here are a few of the faces behind Lumi:

 
 

Garrott

Lumi Experiences was founded by Garrott Kuzzy. After traveling the world as a member of the US Ski Team and competing in the Vancouver Olympics, Garrott has spent the past decade sharing his favorite destinations and experiences through active travel. Garrott and his team of expert trip leaders would love to host you on your next ski vacation.

Nathan

As Lumi’s Guest Communications Manager, Nathan helps to prepare skiers for their trips abroad. He lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, skiing and snowshoeing for half of the year and swatting bugs while biking, paddling, and hiking the other half. Prior to Lumi he helped create nature areas with a local land trust and ran the Copper Harbor Trails Club, one of the Midwest’s top mountain biking destinations. He is a Board Member for the North Country Trail Association and loves inspiring others to get outdoors. Ask him about the time he skied under the 5-mile long Mackinac Bridge during the polar vortex.

 
 

Trip Leaders

Lumi’s trip leaders are your main point of contact during your trip. These local experts know the trails, communities, languages and cultures of each place you’ll visit on your trip. Looking for advice on a trail to ski or a suggestion for where to eat dinner out on the town? Your trip leaders are ready to assist with any and all questions you may have. They all share a deep passion for skiing and many have skied professionally for much of their career. In addition to leading the way for each day’s ski, they’ll help wax your skis, coordinate transportation, assist with race logistics and otherwise make your trip as comfortable and fun as possible.

Learn more about Lumi’s trip leaders.

 
 

Trip Levels

Sight-skiing - Levels 1-2

For skiers of all levels who want beautiful skiing, delicious cuisine and cultural experiences during their vacation, but no ski racing, please! These small group trips are all led by local, expert trip leaders who would love to share their home trails in Norway, Slovenia, Italy and Austria with you.

These trips are designed for those with basic levels of fitness who would like more cultural enrichment and ‘down time’ opportunities.

World Cup - Levels 1-2

Travel with Lumi Founder & former Olympian Garrott Kuzzy to international Nordic World Cup and World Champs events for unique access, opportunities & insights. Plus all the cultural experiences, cross-country skiing, and top-notch hospitality you’d expect on other Lumi trips!

These trips are for those with moderate to high levels of fitness who enjoy watching ski racing and then skiing those trails themselves. There are plenty of cultural enrichment opportunities, and many are focused around skiing.

Worldloppet - Levels 2-3

As an official tour operator of the Worldloppet, an organization of cross country ski marathons around the world, the following trips include the opportunity to participate in a Worldloppet event, with the support of Lumi’s local, expert trip leaders.

These trips are designed for those with moderate levels of fitness who enjoy active adventures. There are still opportunities for cultural enrichment and ‘down time’.

Self-Guided - Levels 1-3

We get it, you’re independent and want a bit more flexibility with the program or simply prefer to travel with the companions you choose. We’ve designed and set up everything for you including a selection of routes, maps, hotels, luggage transfers and a point person to get you ready to glide.

These trips are rated at all levels because it will depend on how easy or difficult you would like to make it.

Non-Skier - Level 0

If you enjoy being outdoors in the snow, but strapping pieces of wood to your feet and walk-running does not sound like fun, we still greatly encourage you to come along. We have hosted non-skiers on Lumi trips, and they have enjoyed cultural enrichment and ‘down time’ opportunities, as well as alternative outdoor winter activities that still provide a chance to play in the snow.

Preparation

We welcome both skiers and non-skiers on Lumi trips. As Lumi trips are not “learn to ski” trips, we recommend that skiers should feel comfortable going downhill and be able to use the basic snowplow form to stop.

If you are new to skiing, we recommend taking lessons closer to home before arriving on your trip. Most guests bring their own skis on Lumi trips, though it is also possible to rent skis on-site on several trips.

Ski days are flexible and allow you to go at your own pace. There are also options for various distances and terrain on all trips.

 
 

Why Choose Lumi?

As the world’s premier cross country ski travel company, Lumi Experiences offers boutique trips that introduce travelers to winter cultures where nordic skiing is a part of everyday life — from Sweden to Slovenia. It’s a ski vacation like no other.

Does your ideal vacation include skiing fresh corduroy beneath snow-capped peaks? Someone to wax your skis for you? A hotel close to the trail with a relaxing sauna? Raising a cold beer with friends to celebrate the day? You have come to the right place. Take advantage of our expertise in cross-country skiing and professional travel design. We take care of the details and logistics so you can relax and enjoy your vacation.

Small Group Sizes

Our trips are popular for couples, families, groups of friends and ski clubs. We typically have up to 20 guests, which allows for more intimate experience and greater opportunity to connect to the destination.

Cultural Activities

Every Lumi trip has opportunities to learn about a region’s food, history and culture - sometimes at the same time. We believe culture and cuisine are intertwined so we ensure guests experience intimate cooking classes and meals at historic local restaurants, as well as side adventures to important cultural landmarks and other activities to make your vacation even more fulfilling.

Trip Leaders

Our local trip leaders are friendly, outgoing and always interested in sharing their knowledge. They are skiing pros who speak the local languages and share their personal connection to the region, helping make each trip one-of-a-kind.

Active For Everyone

Lumi’s trips are accessible for all levels of fitness. Trails on each trip are groomed for both classic and skate techniques. Typical daily outings range from 5 km to 25 km depending on your skills and interests. Many trail networks feature out-and-back loops so you can choose your own adventure with the help of Lumi’s trip leaders, ensuring you get the most out of your day on the trails.

Not interested in skiing? Winter walking paths and optional cultural activities allow non-skiers to experience the best of each destination we visit.

Self-Guided & Custom Group Trips

Lumi offers self-guided and custom group trips many of the same destinations our group trips visit, as well as other locations across Europe. Our self-guided and custom trips are popular for families, groups of friends and ski clubs who want to offer a special opportunity for their members to experience skiing abroad.

Support Non-Profits, NNF, and Events

We support the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) which provides training, finances, and opportunities for Nordic athletes in the United States. Notably, Lumi’s partnership with the NNF helped provide a financial platform to continue the Trail to Gold Fellowship (T2G), where talented US women coaches with World Cup coaching experience work towards correcting a gender inequity in coaching at the top-level of the sport. We helped fund T2G Fellowships by donating a portion of each traveler’s entrée for their trips to the 2023 Nordic World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Our partnership with NNF is representative of the strong sense of continuity and camaraderie that courses through all of the US ski community, and one made possible by a unique perspective in our community.

 

FAQs

 

  • What is a typical day like? Most days are spent entirely skiing, with easy to moderate activity levels on trail networks with beginner and intermediate levels. All trails are groomed with multiple sets of tracks, and skate and classic skiing are usually available. On long skiing days, guests will get to recharge in lovely trailside huts filled with warm food and drink. There are also bus stops along the way to shuttle anyone back early.

    There are some days with downtime where guests can choose to ski only half a day and also experience a cultural outing to a fortress, or museum, or pursue the city. If you would like a more detailed idea of a typical day, reach out via email or the contact form and we can send an itinerary.

  • We want to emphasize that the only shared quality our guests have is a love for activities outdoors in winter. There are no ‘typical guests’ at Lumi - we welcome families, friends, singles, couples, ski groups, and non-skiers. 

    Here are some guest statistics from the 2023-2024 trips: 

    Gender ratio - 55% female, 45% male

    Age ranges - 0-21 years old (5%), 22-40 years old (15%), 40-50 years old (60%), 50-80 years old (20%).

    Booking type - Couples 45%, Singles 15%, Families 20%, Groups 20%

  • Trip Levels

    Our trip level guidelines should help you decide which trips will be right for you. You aren’t expected to stay in peloton formation with other guests, and we do have some flexibility in pace. Check out our Trip Levels page for more information.

    E-skis

    Are there such things? One could say Lumi does provide a type of e-ski - chairlifts. Many days start with taking a chairlift up to the beginning of a lovely, long downhill slope.

    Non-Skiers

    Those who want to join our wonderful ski trips should know we are ski-focused. However, we greatly encourage non-skiers to join as well. There are cultural enrichment and ‘down time’ opportunities, as well as alternative outdoor winter activities that still provide a chance to play in the snow.

  • One of the most common questions we get is about the weather. Acknowledging that each trip will have slightly different conditions because of the different geographical locations, we can generally say to expect cold winter conditions (0-17°C / 32-0°F). We recommend packing layers so you can remove or add as necessary on the trail, as well as checking the forecast a few days before your trip. We will also provide general climate averages on detailed itineraries sent to you after booking, as well as a detailed packing list. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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