Best Locations for Skiing in Norway
Norway is a country that is perfectly suitable for skiing, which has been long known for its old tradition of skiing. Fridtjof Nansen, one of the best-known Norwegians in the world and just a legendary personality, was not merely an explorer and humanitarian, but also a skier – a statue dedicated to him was erected at Holmenkollen, a popular ski resort in Oslo that held the 1994 Winter Olympics. This article will help you make up your mind about a spot for skiing in this Scandivanian land, providing you with a list of the best locations for skiing in Norway.
Best Locations for Skiing in Norway
Norway, indeed, abounds with fantastic spots for skiing. This section of our article draws your attention to the places and locations that shouldn’t be missed for sure, when preparing to go on a Norway travel for the purpose of skiing – these places are definitely counted as the best locations for skiing in Norway.
Trysil. While being located right on the border with Sweden, Trysil appears to be among the best locations for skiing in Norway, considering that this is the largest ski resort in the country. Many tourists claim that this site is perfect for families and can boast the most modern system of snow production in Norway – the skiing season lasts here for no less than 150 days in a year.
Geilo. Even though Geilo is frequently overlooked by tourists in favor of its more famous competitors, this resort is definitely worth your attention – it can boast to have the country’s best area for snowkitting. In addition to that, Geilo tends to be one of the country’s oldest ski resorts, while its elevators are capable of serving as many as 25,000 passengers per hour – a perfect choice if you hate queues and fall for skiing. The resort is nestled in the mountains somewhat on halfway from Bergen to Oslo (or vice versa).
Hemsedal. Hemsedal is one of the most popular ski resorts not only in Norway but in the entire Scandinavia. Such popularity of Hemsedal is caused by a large number of slopes with different difficulty levels and an abundance of lifts, which make it easier to ski there. In addition, this location offers more than 100 kilometers of terrain available for off-piste and cross-country skiing. If skiing is not enough for you, you can also find numerous opportunities for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and dog sledding in this location.
Myrkdalen. This resort is located several hours away from Bergen and appears to be very close to Voss. It is also one of the most popular resorts in the western part of the country, as it offers 25 lifts and wonderful opportunities for other sport winter activities.
Kvitfjell and Hafjell. The merger of these two resorts has resulted in the creation of one of Norway’s finest ski resorts. Located just 200 kilometers away from Oslo and 15 kilometers away from Lillehammer, the resort can boast top-quality facilities, such as a huge slalom track (the one that was used during the 1994 Olympic Games) and the Olympic Downhill Run.
Norefjell. This ski resort is located some 90 minutes of drive away from Oslo, which makes it quite a popular place for skiing. This resort hosted the 1952 Winter Olympic Games and can boast to have the highest drop in Scandinavia.
Hovden. When it comes to seeking the best locations for skiing in Norway, one shouldn’t miss Hovden which tends to be the largest ski resort in the southern part of Norway and is located in the Setesdal Valley. The place is attractive for skiers thanks to more than 30 kilometers of descent, 30 slopes, 1,300 meter of terrain, and 10 lifts.
Tips for Skiing in Norway
If you have made up your mind regarding going to Norway on a skiing tour, we suggest you consider these recommendations:
- Always bring a compass and a map along with you and don’t be ashamed to use them.
- Prefer safe routes instead of falling for the extreme ones, packed with unsafe ice and a high possibility of avalanches.
- Make sure you have all the necessary equipment for any kind of situation you might face.
- Make sure that you are ready to face bad weather, even if your journey won’t be a long one.
- Always consider warnings about possible avalanches in the area you are going to ski.
- If anything changes that make the previously planned route or schedule more difficult or dangerous, don’t hesitate to adapt the plan according to the given conditions.
- Make sure that the others (your family members, for example) know about your trip and the route you have selected.
- If you are unsure about the conditions, don’t hesitate to turn back.
Besides, we advise you to read about cross-country skiing in Norway and winter sports in this country!
Share this post: