Affectionately known as the ‘Scandinavian Alps’, Hemsedal ski resort is located to the northwest of Oslo, in the Hallingdal Valley. Nestled among spectacular rugged peaks in an idyllic mountain setting, Hemsedal has fantastic skiing and snowboarding, a good snow record and plenty of other activities.

Hemsedal village is charming and very laid-back with a strong Norwegian feel, reflected in its old log buildings, stave churches and mountain dairies. The village is well-equipped to serve visitors, with an array of shops, a post office, petrol station, pharmacy, childcare, and medical and conference facilities.

There are numerous beds to suit all budgets available in hotels, apartments, chalets, upmarket cabins, a mountain lodge and a guesthouse. Ice-skating and tobogganing are among the non-ski activities. There are also many relaxing alternatives, as well as plenty of cafés and restaurants, and bars and discos.

Hemsedal ski resort has well groomed, wide pistes, a vast terrain/snowboard park, and also features designated areas for beginners and children. There are 34 impressive downhill pistes over 36kms of evenly distributed terrain and some challenging off-piste terrain for thrill-seeking skiers and snowboarders. Seventeen lift systems serve all pistes, the longest of which is six kilometres.

For alternative skiing, Geilo is an hour to the south and offers a huge range of cross-country, as well as quality pisted skiing. Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord, is only 85kms to the west and offers an exciting excursion from the slopes. The drive there passes breathtaking scenery.

The ski season at Hemsedal ski resort runs from November to May and the most convenient way to get here is to fly to Oslo and hire a car, or transfer by train/bus combination, via Gol.