Beitostolen Ski Holidays

Beitostølen (say it bait-oh-st-er-len) is one of seven resorts in Southern Norway’s Valdres region. On the edge of the dazzling Jotunheimen National Park (which translates to ‘Home of the Giants’ because of its soaring peaks), it’s a small village, set along a quiet main road and brimming with Scandi charm. Comprised of a handful of hotels, cabins, shops, well-loved bars and eateries, the selection isn’t overwhelming, but this is all part of Beito’s appeal as a peaceful, unintimidating resort.

Located immediately above the village, the ski area is equally intimate and welcoming to children, incorporating a special kid’s slope and the expansive Peppes snow park. More terrain can be found 10 minutes away at Raudalen on the western side of the valley. A regular bus runs between the two and there’s a free car park if you’ve brought your wheels.

XC skiing - the favourite Norwegian pastime - is by far the area’s specialty, with glorious park trails that have frequently been the venues of FIS cross country & biathlon world cups. It helps that snow is practically surer than in the Antarctic here – starting in the autumn and sticking around till May.

What Beito lacks in nightlife it more than makes up for in the uniqueness and variety of its activities, which range from snow “rafting” and air-boarding to climbing and winter horse riding. The friendly locals (you’ll struggle to find anyone who doesn’t speak excellent English) take great pride in their history and culture, so you’ll find plenty of handmade souvenirs, intriguing tours and local produce (the local cheese factory was the first in the country).

Ideal for first time skiers, the slopes around the village are mostly gentle and often deserted – with two long greens from the top of the Ola-Express (Knuteløypa and Frognerbakken), a handful of gentle blues (we like Stolheisbakken and Olabakken) and a couple of reds on either end of the area to aspire to.

The separate Barneland children's area, served by a super slow T-bar, allows little ones to pick up the basics undisturbed. Beito-Aktiv, the main ski school, is routinely recommended for its fun-loving, English-speaking instructors.

If you’re travelling with a mix of beginners and more advanced skiers, the ski pass also covers the slopes in the Raudalen ski area, where confident snow lovers can spend most of the week tackling red and black FIS-approved runs, bumps, and some seriously good off-piste.

If your group’s split between the two areas in the day, night skiing always makes for a fun reuniter, with the green and blue runs around the Ola-Express usually floodlit twice a week. You’ll also find rails, boxes and kickers of different difficulties in the Peppes Snow Park.

Cross country is where this place really comes into its own, with a whopping 320km of tracks winding into the glorious national park and an internationally acclaimed World Cup arena. Thanks to a variety of difficulty levels, those who want to have a go for the first time are well looked after and can progress miraculously quickly (Beito-Active run a number of XC courses). Even if you’re skiing Alpine-style by day, it’s worth trying the slender skis for size on the late night track that’s floodlit until 10pm.

In a village that takes only about 5 minutes to cross, après in Beito is more laid-back than loud. It’s about hunkering down in one of the resort’s four friendly pubs, an ample measure of Gløgg in hand and an ear to one of the frequent live bands. That is, unless you’re here at Easter, when drinking spots are notorious for being as heaving as anywhere in Val or Verbier...

Arnold’s is without a doubt the most animated of the pub set – with a base-favouring DJ who’ll get the blood and the fists pumping. The nearby Svingen Pub is something of a Beitostølen institution; some of Norway’s finest artists come here to sing and strum and the staff will find you a new favourite beer from their collection of 50. Further up the mountain, Aasgaard Stogo is an authentic octagonal hut where spirits and beers flow throughout the day.

The best grub’s found down on the main road, where the slick Bare KOS is highly esteemed for signature dishes like monkfish and risotto and Caféen continually delights with Spanish small plates and exceptional coffee.

For all the fine food and drink, there are also plenty of engaging activities to get stuck into. Furry friends and modern gadgets feature heavily, with winter horse riding, reindeer sleigh rides and dog sledding, snow rafting, SMX snow biking, and snowmobile circuit racing (with mini snowmobiles for kids).