Skate skiing at Koenig Ludwig Lauf, Germany

The Ammergau is highly regarded as one of the best ski spots in the Alps, and quite rightly so. The vast network of trails means you can explore a landscape and feel like you're the first person to come across it. The Ammergau is also home to one of Europe's most famous cross-country skiing races; the Koenig Ludwig Lauf in Oberammergau, the 50km race that has just celebrated its 40th anniversary. 

This 8-day holiday will see you train and then enter the race, with the opportunity to enter the 23km race if 50km seems like a bit much. During the early stages of the week you'll get to train on actual sections of the track, ranging from the Lourse Dickelschwaig to the Ettaler lap or the Sonnenloipe, each of which will end in a visit to a town or village where you'll be able to relax with a well-deserved coffee. There's also the chance to train on the only night track, if you feel you need more practice. This trip requires a good grasp of basic skating style and is suited towards those looking to improve their technique. You'll be covering around 15-20km each day, so you'll need a good level of fitness.

Here's brief overview of the itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrive in Oberammergau
• Days 2 - 7: 5 days of skate skiing (this includes the race day), a day for race registration and a free day
• Day 8: Depart