7 Reasons to Take Your Family Skiing in Norway

We've picked out seven reasons why Norway ticks every box for carefree family skiing. And because we know that arranging a ski trip during the school holidays can be tricky, we’re on hand to help every step of the way to take the stress out of planning.

We can advise on the best resorts and accommodation based on personal experience, when and how to travel, and help book all the extras including lift passes, ski hire, ski school and activities.

We have some excellent Norway ski offers during the Christmas, half term and Easter holidays, or for personal advice and a tailor-made price, enquire online or call our team on 01273 224060.

By Andy Hemingway, Sales Manager / Norway & Sweden Product Manager

While learning to ski at the foot of imposing, towering peaks can be daunting for first-timers, Norway’s gentle and undulating landscape makes it the ideal destination to take your first turns. Ski runs that wind their way through snowy forests, down low hills and valley sides are the perfect setting for you and your kids to practice safely and build confidence on the slopes.

There is no great jump in difficulty from the nursery slopes to the longer runs either. Once you've built up your technique, you'll find plenty of undemanding green and blue runs to enjoy further up the mountain. In fact, in many resorts, you can ski all the way from top to bottom on green runs!

If you're looking for a resort with heaps of gentle terrain, then our vote goes to Geilo. The beginner area at Vestlia is excellent for learning to ski and there is easy progression onto the meandering green and blue runs that run down the gentle valley sides.

You can be sure to find beginner-friendly skiing in most Norway resorts. But don't think it's just for first-timers - once you have honed your technique you'll find plenty of more challenging runs to take on too!

If you’ve previously skied elsewhere or you’ve heard the horror stories of long, uncontrolled queues at lifts, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quiet of Norway's resorts. Despite growing in popularity every year, Norway still enjoys the benefit of being relatively undiscovered by UK skiers.

The uncrowded slopes mean you'll have a more enjoyable time skiing as a family - you won't have to worry about losing each other amidst the crowds, feeling cramped for space on your descents or waiting in long queues at the lifts or in restaurants.

While many of our Norwegian resorts are blissfully quiet, Myrkdalen in particular stands out. Opened in 2003, it offers wide-open ski runs, set amid beautiful fjords and frozen lakes. Our customers find that they progress extra fast, taking on steeper runs without worrying about dodging other skiers.

Norway has become our biggest destination since we added it to our programme 10 years ago. As word spreads, the more popular resorts do now sell out over peak periods - but even at capacity, you’ll find plenty of space on the slopes!

If you're first-timers or looking to improve your skills on the snow, Norway has some superb ski tuition for all ages, there to guide you and your kids as you find your feet on the slopes.

The instructors in Norway are a delight to ski with and are keen for you to enjoy your time spent in the resorts. You'll find no language barrier, as the instructors speak perfect English - along with everyone else in the resort too! And to give you an even better experience, class sizes are usually small when compared with other ski destinations.

In most resorts, courses are divided into three to four levels of ability, from complete beginners to those looking to take on more challenging runs. You may be surprised at how quickly your kids get the hang of it, and with classes catering for skiers as young as four in many resorts (from three years in select resorts - please enquire), Norway offers a fantastic introduction to skiing for even the smallest family members. 

You won't have to worry about the lack of snow or tricky conditions in Norway. Renowned for snow-sure skiing from December to April, the conditions are so reliable that many resorts offer a snow guarantee - they'll refund your lift pass if there isn't enough coverage, making it a great early or late-season choice.

The best months for snow are February and March with an average depth of around a metre. The northerly latitude means that the snow lasts longer and makes for some world-class conditions, with Hemsedal, Kvitfjell and Myrkdalen being particularly good. The reliable snowfall across the whole season means you can book with confidence, knowing the snow will be piled high on your arrival and no late changes to your travel plans.

Norway has some excellent accommodation options for families, with warm, friendly atmospheres around the resorts, and facilities to keep both adults and kids entertained.

Many of the larger hotels have great indoor activities like the bowling alley and cinema at the 4*+ Vestlia Resort in Geilo, the 16-metre-high climbing wall at the 4*+ Norefjell Ski and Spa,  and the 1,600m² Adventure Pool and indoor surfing at the 4*+ Radisson Blu Resort Trysil. Kids are well-catered for in the restaurants too, with some offering dedicated buffets for younger children at breakfast and dinner.

For ultimate convenience, the accommodation in Norway is mostly ski-in ski-out. To walk out of your hotel and straight onto the slopes is a joy. In resorts like Geilo, Norefjell and Myrkdalen you'll find ski-in ski-out accommodation halfway up the mountain or right at the base of the slopes next to the lifts and ski school meeting points. So you won't have to worry about lugging equipment long distances or long treks for the kids in the morning or after the day's skiing.

We're certain that the whole family will have such a great time skiing that you won't want to come off the mountain in a hurry. But if you're looking for some added fun or thinking of things to keep the kids occupied, then Norway has you covered. Take a ride reindeer-sledding in Beitostølen, travel to back-country forests to see incredible wildlife in Narvik, or go on a once-in-a-lifetime fjords cruise from Myrkdalen.

Why not combine your ski trip with a city stay in Oslo and or Bergen, both easily accessible from many of the resorts with a magical railway journey? You can even make your way up to the north of the country to see the spectacular northern lights in Tromso, an experience which is bound to create treasured memories for the whole family.

Norway has an undeserved reputation for costliness. While food and drink prices can seem high compared to the UK, the relatively cheap upfront costs make it a smart option if you're looking for great value family skiing.

You can stay at some outstanding ski-in ski-out accommodation with excellent facilities in Norway for much lower prices than you'd find in France, Italy or Switzerland without losing out on quality. Many hotels offer half board so you only have to budget for lunches and drinks. For extra savings, opt for a self-catered cabin or apartment and learn to cook some Norwegian specialities.

Our favourite picks for the best value are the 4* Myrkdalen Hotel, which has a range of family-friendly room types, high quality restaurants and an unbeatable location at the base of the slopes, and if you’re looking for a touch more luxury the 4*+ Vestlia Resort is a superb option with fantastic spa and pool areas.

When compared to the Alps, you'll typically find that there is not much difference when it comes to prices while on the mountain. Costs are also fairly consistent between towns and ski areas, so you won't be shocked by the bills when you arrive at the resorts after a city stay.

If the prospect of skiing with your family in Norway has piqued your interest then we have a fantastic range of offers during school holiday dates at Christmas, half term and Easter.

For personal advice and a tailor-made price, enquire online or call our team on 01273 224060.