Trip Report: Discovering What Puts the ‘Safari’ in a Norway Ski Safari

Since starting at Ski Safari in spring 2023, friends and family have asked me “How can you have a safari on a skiing holiday?” Over five remarkable days, Abbie, Harry, Marnie, Zoe and I were able to experience exactly what puts the ‘safari’ in Ski Safari.

Before this trip, I had never been to Norway but it was somewhere I'd placed on my bucket list because there are so many beautiful areas to see and ski. So the chance to get a first-hand taste of not just one part of Norway, but four was an absolute dream.

With my suitcase packed, it was time to look at our jam-packed itinerary which included: spring skiing in Voss and Myrkdalen, riding two world-famous railway lines, a cruise through a UNESCO world heritage site to Flåm and a stay in Norefjell’s most luxurious accommodation.

To find out more about our Norwegian Ski & Fjord Explorer Ski Safari or to book your own tailor-made trip, call our team on 01273 224060 or enquire online. 

Did you know Voss in Norwegian means convenience? *Quickly searches Google to find out that’s not true* Okay, not really, but it should be. Here’s why:

Following a quick two-hour flight from Gatwick to Bergen, we jumped on a 15 minute bus to the station to catch the train to Voss. Twenty minutes after the train left Bergen station, our native guide, Geir from Norway Home of Skiing, noticed our jaws simultaneously drop at the scenery, to which he commented “This is what Norwegians consider average”... Throughout the trip, we would understand why.

Just over an hour later, the train pulled into Voss station, which is a 15 second walk from the 4* Scandic Voss (depending on what carriage you’re in, it could be 20 seconds). The hotel is also conveniently placed next to the recently built gondola.

The evening’s activity in Voss consisted of a pleasurable tour of the Park Hotel’s world-famous wine cellar, across the road from the Scandic Voss. Compact and rich with history, we learned the cellar holds over 40,000 bottles of wine and were even treated to three different wines to enhance each course at dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. The cherry on top was watching a bright, orange sunset bouncing off Vangsvatnet Lake from our table.

A hearty breakfast the following morning cured any potential sore heads before taking Voss Gondol up the mountain to collect our ski gear. The shop was quiet and uncrowded, a sneak preview of how the slopes would be for the day. The gondola takes less than 10 minutes from the hotel to the mountaintop where you can store your gear and head straight on to the piste, so even though you’re staying off mountain it feels more like a ski-in ski-out experience!

Despite it being late April, the mountain was in excellent condition following a huge snow dump the previous week. Known for its easy-going terrain, Voss’ ski area was the perfect place for Tour Coordinator, Zoe, to take on her first skiing lesson. Here’s Zoe’s take on her mountain debut:

“If I was asked about the best place to learn to ski, I would now recommend Norway, specifically Voss. The terrain was super gentle, making it perfect for beginners, and the ski school was wonderful. They put any initial nerves before my first-ever lesson to rest.

I learned how to ski downhill, stop and slalom, all in the dedicated practice area. Once at the bottom, we glided back up the slope using the magic carpet, which helped me get the most out of my time, instead of potentially faffing about on button lifts.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had my first skiing experience with the breathtaking backdrop of panoramic views of the slopes. A big shout out to Voss' extremely patient instructors who understood everyone in the group wished to proceed at different paces.”

For lunch, we enjoyed good food, great company and stunning 360-degree views of the mountain from Hangurstoppen Restaurant. After refuelling and putting on extra sun cream, it was time to get back out in the glorious sunshine and explore more of Voss’ deserted ski area.

The sensational spring skiing continued at our next destination, Myrkdalen, just a hop, skip and a jump from Voss.

Next up on our ‘safari’ was Myrkdalen which, while not on the Oslo to Bergen railway line, is just 40 minutes away from Voss by bus. As soon as the gang stepped off the bus, we were plunged into a unique winter activity. One that none of us had experienced before.

A (very competitive) game of Human Curling occupied us for the evening. As I’m writing this blog, I’m trying to keep my smug, winner's face at bay. Anyway, enough about me WINNING the competition, it’s time to mention our unique dining experience at the 4* Myrkdalen Hotel. Bubbling away on the table was a creamy cheese fondue and oil hotpot for us to cook fresh vegetables and raw meats in.

Following dinner, we ventured down to the Pudder nightclub at the bottom of the hotel for a quick drink and to sample Myrkdalen's Friday evening après scene.

It was another faultless day of skiing as we dived into Myrkdalen’s varied ski area that had something for everyone. As the majority of the group were intermediate skiers, the mixture of smooth, wide slopes and excellent introductory off-piste runs provided a fantastic blend of challenge and enjoyment.

Experienced skier and Sales Consultant, Marnie, explains how Myrkdalen’s off-piste runs are an ideal place for a nervous intermediate looking to build their confidence and experience something new.

“After a leg injury (non-skiing related), I was quite nervous to head to the off-piste sections, but after some very brief attempts, I got my confidence back and really enjoyed it.

We took the T-bar up to the highest point and headed across to some of the huge sections of untouched soft snow which ended up at the ski lifts, so no hiking was needed! I can’t fault the skiing in Myrkdalen, we were even gifted some good snow conditions, despite being this late in the season. From my experience, I’d recommend it to anyone looking to try or develop their off-piste skiing.”

Being the only snowboarder (and a very average one), I was thrilled to find slushy snow covering the snow-cross area. This gave me peace of mind when attempting jumps and sharp turns, knowing there’d be a soft surface to land on when I inevitably fell over with little style or grace.

All too soon, it was time to wave goodbye to Myrkdalen and travel to Flåm in the most spectacular fashion.

To reach our next destination, Flåm, we took a speedy bus transfer to the Viking village of Gudvangen, from where we crossed the incredible Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord by a boat powered solely by electricity. This meant we not only witnessed the astonishing scenery in the fjords, but we were also able to take in the peaceful soundtrack of waterfalls and wildlife that accompanied the views.

After docking in the tranquil village of Flåm, we checked into the 4* Fretheim Hotel in time for dinner. On the menu; more wine, freshly caught fish and reindeer (sorry Rudolf). The Fretheim is a hotel with a fascinating history, but we'll get to that momentarily.

Following dinner, we strolled into the village centre and came across a local Viking-inspired microbrewery which had been highly recommended by colleagues back in the office. We spent the rest of the evening sampling the craft beers on offer, sitting next to the Ægir BrewPub's roaring fire.

However, upon returning from the pub, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard the distinct sound of a plastic bottle cap hitting the floor in my room… Strangely, I owned a metal bottle and there wasn’t a plastic bottle in sight. Not thinking too much of it, I went to sleep.

When I turned up for breakfast the next morning, I was shocked to find out our Tour Coordinator, Harry, had experienced something equally odd whilst getting his daily dose of Justin Beiber. Harry loved staying at the Fretheim, here's his take on the hotel:

“The Fretheim is a lovely hotel in the quiet, yet unique town centre at the bottom of the valley. As soon as we arrived, I was filled with the ‘out in the wilderness’ feeling you’d expect when visiting Flåm.

The hotel wonderfully combined a modern decor in the lobby and dining areas without losing its traditional touches in the rooms. I can confirm, paranormal lovers would enjoy a stay here, as my music paused without any assistance for the first time ever!

Accompany staying at the Fretheim with a cheeky beer plank at the local Ægir BrewPub and the boat cruise in, I would say it's a must visit.”

On our tour of the hotel, the general manager confirmed the former hotel owner’s cousin, Marthe Fretheim, still “helps run the hotel”, but her presence is a friendly one. Our coincidences and silly ghost stories shouldn’t put you off visiting as the hotel has a warm, welcoming feel to it. Not to mention it being situated in Flåm’s beautiful centre.

Before moving on to our final resort, we drove up to the Stegastein Viewpoint, located 650 metres above the Aurlandsfjord. Even with the mist rolling through the valley, it was well worth admiring the view of the fjord and snapping a few team pictures. In winter, you can make a day of it with a guided snowshoe hike up to the viewpoint for a particularly wintery experience.

Sticking with the theme of sensational transfers, and just as the snow began to fall, it was time to board the world-famous Flåm Railway to Norefjell.

You would think by this point more waterfalls and jagged mountain ranges would seem less impressive, but you’d be wrong. Whilst riding the Flåm Railway, we were greeted with more spectacular scenery, which got better with every twist of the tracks. It was clear to see why this is renowned as one of the world’s best train journeys.

The transfer to Norefjell was as simple as jumping on a train at Myrdal Station, where 30 minutes later a bus greeted us. An hour later we arrived at the magnificent 4*+ Norefjell Ski & Spa. The final stop on our incredible adventure and it’s fair to say we rounded the trip off in style.

Within five minutes of arriving in Norefjell, I had substituted my winter coat and waterproofs for a fluffy robe and swimming shorts, ready to unwind in the luxurious spa. We enjoyed bubbles and beers in the heated outdoor infinity pool, a sitdown in the sauna, and finished up in the cold plunge pool. We quickly dried ourselves and headed up to the restaurant to enjoy a tasty three-course dinner. Not a bad way to spend the final night!

Before we knew it, it was time to catch a train back to Oslo, fly home and tell everyone about our new favourite country.

What a whirlwind of a trip! We all thoroughly enjoyed it and have come away with the opinion that Norway completely overshadows other European countries such as France or Italy. Quiet, staggeringly beautiful and close by - let's keep it our little secret!

As for the question, “How can you have a ‘safari’ on a skiing holiday?” A safari is defined as a journey for exploration, and I think you’d agree we more than met this definition by successfully exploring four areas in Norway in four nights.

Try the Ski & Fjord Explorer Ski Safari which features all the incredible destinations above (Norefjell is available as an optional add-on). We’re all about creating tailor-made skiing holidays to suit you. If you’ve liked what you’ve read and want to experience it yourself, we would be happy to put together a package - call our team of experts on 01273 224060 or enquire online to find out more.

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