Where to Ski in Norway at Half Term

It’s a country we know well - most of our team have skied there, we’ve been sending customers there for over 10 years, and our I even used to live and work there! Based on our extensive experience, we’ve picked five of the best ski resorts for half term skiing in Norway, so if you're thinking of swapping the school runs for ski runs, take a look at our selection below.

February half term is the most popular time to ski, so booking well in advance is essential if you want to secure your preferred accommodation in the resort of your choice, and at the best price.

To see what savings are available, take a look at our Norway half term ski offers, or call our team on 01273 224060 for parent-to-parent advice on where to ski and stay.

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

Tucked away in a wooded section of the Scandes mountains, Norefjell offers a gloriously tranquil break from the world of work and school. As you ski down gentle slopes, you'll overlook pristine frozen fjords and mountainous terrain covered in dense forest while enjoying a crowd-free ski area.

Norefjell's secluded location creates a real sense of remoteness and getting away from it all without compromising on convenience. Ski-in ski-out accommodation, an on-site rental shop and a short transfer time to the resort (2 hours from Oslo airport) make for a totally stress-free experience. Off-the-slopes activities focus on relaxing in the spa and indoor swimming and rock climbing, making ski holidays in Norefjell a great choice for families.

We couldn't talk about Norefjell without encouraging you to stay at the excellent ski-in ski-out 4*+ Norefjell Ski and Spa. After your day's skiing, this first-rate hotel offers plenty to keep both adults and kids occupied. For youngsters, there is an indoor climbing wall, swimming pool, air hockey and pool table, while for adults we chiefly recommend heading for the adult-only hotel spa. Here you can enjoy incredible views of Scandinavian hills and forests from luxurious infinity pools, plunge pools and hot tubs.

"Great place for a first ski holiday for the children, plenty of beginner slopes with friendly, English speaking ski instructors. Excellent quality accommodation." - Jenny Thompson

"A beautiful calm resort away from the heavy crowds. The Ski Spa Hotel was perfect for our family stay. There are no shops or restaurants within walking distance other than those in the hotel but we did not have any problem with this. We stayed happily cocooned in the hotel during the evenings with the swimming pool and saunas at our disposal." - Amruta Lacy-Colson

With so many families flocking to the mountains across Europe during the February half term, competition for lessons, accommodation and rentals can be intense. If you want to ensure that you get all you're looking for from your family ski trip, we couldn't recommend anywhere more highly than Geilo. This multi-award-winning resort delivers everything our customers ask for season after season.

In Geilo, you can expect unintimidating slopes, friendly lift attendants, a world-class ski school, superb childcare for youngsters over six months and plenty of fun non-ski activities for all generations. Even during busy periods like half-term, the slopes are wonderfully quiet, and you'll never have to compromise on lesson sizes - max ten skiers for adults and even fewer for children.

Enjoy a private and secluded family stay in a classic wooden cabin set amid snow-laden trees at the 4* Geilolia Forest Cabins. The cabins are beautifully furnished with pine, stocked with firewood and range from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom cabins, sleeping between four and fourteen people. In spite of the natural feel, you won't be foregoing access to the ski area, with the accommodation situated only a few hundred metres from the lifts.

If you'd prefer half-board dining and a plethora of on-site facilities, we recommend the 4*+ Vestlia Resort. This long-time favourite of Ski Safari customers offers a stupendous breakfast buffet and restaurant food as well as hosting an indoor family pool, 1,000 m² spa area, children's indoor play area and an astounding collection of historic Norwegian works of art.

"Geilo, and the Vestlia Resort, was a perfect location for our first family skiing experience. We deeply appreciated the personal attention and friendly nature of the ski resort. We went early in the season and it was quiet, but there was plenty of snow and the slopes were empty." - Gary Denman

"Great skiing for all the family, cute little village, friendly locals and fabulous views." - Rebecca Ralph

If you and your children are good skiers and looking for a bit more of a challenge, the best place to head to is Kvitfjell. The resort was developed for the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics and, if you're feeling confident, you can take on the Olympic and World Cup-standard downhill runs. There's also highly accessible in-bounds, off-piste areas with sparse tree lines that offer a perfect introduction to off-piste skiing.

Ski holidays in Kvitfjell aren't just for experts though. The ski area offers plenty of gentle terrain for less technical skiers which is perfect for building confidence and learning your turns. With so much fantastic skiing (along with some of the best snowfall in Norway), you might expect heaving crowds at the bottom of the chairlifts. Not so with Kvitfjell. This superb resort remains largely a well-kept secret and is particularly unknown in the UK ski market.

The 4* GudbrandsGard Hotel combines all-round ski-in ski-out convenience with stunning views of Rondane National Park and the river Lågen. Situated mid-mountain and next to the ski runs, you can walk right out onto the slopes, perhaps after enjoying a filling breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant. It also has on-site ski rentals and is an ideal place to stay for couples and families alike, with rooms ranging from doubles to six-person suites.

"Good resort for families with plenty of nice blue and red runs. Quiet pistes and short lift queues despite it being half-term." - Phil Haigh

"The resort is absolute ski in/out and is brilliant. The slopes are generally not too challenging so ideal for those new to skiing or like me of an age where nice cruising is the order of the day. We went mid January and the slopes were basically empty - brilliant if you're used to skiing Austria or France." - John Greenhalgh

If jostling for space on the slopes and waiting around in long lift queues sounds like the kind of ski trip you'd rather swerve, then Myrkdalen should be high on your list for half term. Even during peak dates, this serene and remote resort in the centre of Norway's fjord region remains blissfully uncrowded. Together with its gentle and wide runs, this makes the skiing feel safe and enjoyable, particularly benefitting families and beginners.

Myrkdalen is conveniently easy to reach, with short flights to Bergen from the UK followed by a two-hour bus transfer to the resort. Once you’re there, everything is in one place in the compact base area so you don’t have to worry about getting around. The lifts, rentals, ski school and cafes are all within a minute’s walk.

The modern 4* Myrkdalen Hotel is truly ski-in ski-out, sitting in the heart of the resort and right at the bottom of the main chairlift. Kids will love the pizza restaurant and playroom while parents will love the convenience of having ski school on the doorstep.

"Amazing resort, perfect for families and beginners. Hotel is genuinely ski-in-ski-out and everyone was super friendly. Had planned to do some of the trips but enjoyed the skiing so much we didn't leave the mountain! Slopes are great, no queues for lifts and a good variety of slopes... Ski lessons were brilliant - we had a range of instructors and they were all excellent." - Andy Burgess

"We really liked this resort as it was the first time our 2 children had skied (aged 11 and 13) and we wanted convenience. The Myrkdalen Hotel was a 1 minute walk from the ski hire shop, ski school meeting point and the slopes. The resort had a large nursery slope which was ideal for learning. Whilst the children were in ski school there were enough lovely blue and red runs to keep us occupied and the slopes were amazingly quiet for February half term." Nicky Hills

While we've been singing the praises of lesser-known resorts, sometimes the popular verdict can be something to go by. Trysil is by far the most visited Norwegian resort among British skiers, and for good reason. It's the largest ski area in the country and boasts more than 40 miles of varied ski slopes, forming a well-planned network of runs that make it easy for skiers of different abilities to ski together.

Trysil's forte is its gentle, cruising green and blue runs and wide open spaces that will make your family's first few turns feel safe and stress-free. For more experienced skiers, Trysil has plenty of challenging blacks and off-piste opportunities. Getting between the runs is simple, with 31 ski lifts providing quick access to the entire ski area.

The locals in Trysil are some of the best hosts you'll find anywhere and most speak perfect English. From the hotel desks to the lifts to the ski school, communication will be easy and above all warm and friendly. If you're taking a short half term break, you'll want to settle in quickly and the Norwegians will effortlessly make you feel at home.

We would be hard-pressed to recommend anywhere better to stay during the half term holidays than the ski-in ski-out 4*+ Radisson Blu Resort Trysil. This five-time winner of Norway’s Best Ski Hotel is a true all-rounder. With everything from a bowling alley to several bars, restaurants and even an adventure swimming pool with a glass climbing wall, the whole family will stay entertained off the slopes as well as on them.

"It is getting more difficult to review Trysil with every year we travel there because it feels more and more a second home. There is always something to do on the mountain for every level of skier. We visited Trysil three times already and maybe will come back again." - Olga Charlesworth

"Trysil provided us with a superb family holiday, where we found there were options for everyone - a good skier, a new snowboarder, and a hesitant intermediate - all had a great time." - Pamela Owens