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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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Bergo Hotel, Beitostølen

A family-run mountain idyll
 
For a friendly winter holiday and the ultimate in convenience, come to the self-contained, family-run village of Beitostølen – the ‘home’ of cross-country skiing, where there is a distinctly laid-back atmosphere, as well as downhill pistes, ideal for family skiing.
Bergo Hotel. 7 nights
Bergo Hotel. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A winter holiday in Beitostølen -

for downhill & cross-country skiers alike
Situated in the very heart of Norway, with wonderful views over the Jotunheimen National Park, Beitostølen is a truly unspoiled – and quite unique – mountain village. With the imposing Bitihorn mountain as a backdrop, this is not only a cross-country skier’s paradise – it’s where the professionals come to train at the start of each season – but also offers some good downhill runs as well as a host of other snow-based activities for you to enjoy.
Beitostølen’s unique appeal and wonderfully laid-back atmosphere stem largely from the fact that it remains very much a family concern. Steinar Hovi built on his ski-guiding credentials back in the 1960s, at first offering equipment hire to visitors, then adding some simple accommodation not long after. From these humble beginnings, the village was born, and – to this day – most of its facilities and amenities, including the hotels, downhill pistes and cross-country trails, are owned, maintained and operated by the Hovi family. There’s a huge sense of pride in the family business, meaning that customer service and the enjoyment of guests is given paramount importance.
 

Our expert says

"If you fancy somewhere friendly, informal and relatively low key, then it’s hard to beat Beitostølen in the Norwegian Highlands. Everyone was on first-name terms, nothing was too much trouble, and everything was within very easy reach. Everyone I met was firmly committed to having fun!"
Rebecca Bruce, Inntravel snow holiday expert
 

Winter activities

There’s no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of the trails and pistes and explore at a pace that suits you.
  • Best for: beginners, improvers, intermediates & advanced
    The 320 kilometres of cross-country trails – suitable for all ability levels – radiate from the village and up onto the surrounding plateaux, enabling you to explore deep into the Jotunheimen National Park. You can take advantage of the chairlift to get a head start for these high-level trails, which are well worth exploring for the far-reaching views.

    Trails: 320km to 1400m (both classic and skating)
    Cross-country skiing
  • Best for: beginners, improvers, intermediates & families
    The whole village clusters around the base of the downhill ski slopes, with the Bergo right at the heart of it all, meaning that Beitostølen’s downhill slopes – excellent for beginners and intermediates, as well as for families – are just across the road from the hotel. There are more downhill pistes, primarily red and black runs for more advanced skiers, across the valley at Alpinsenteret (only a 15-minute journey away by free ski bus).

    Pistes: 16 pistes to 1110m (comprises green 4, blue 6, red 6, served by 7 lifts). Access to a further 8 pistes (red 4, black 4, served by 2 lifts) on other side of valley (6km by free ski bus).
    Downhill skiing
  • Husky tours, snowmobile safaris & more
    You can also try one of a number of other activities, including husky tours, snowmobile safaris and snow-rafting, so – all in all – this makes for a very relaxing and friendly place to stay, where everything is very close at hand.
    Husky tour
  • Special events
    There is a special programme of activities throughout the festive period for both adults and children. On Christmas Eve, you can enjoy a special buffet; then, at New Year, another big buffet dinner is served, along with a firework display in the centre of the village, and dancing.
 

Where you stay

Beitostølen (altitude: 900m) is a truly unspoiled and quite unique mountain village set beneath imposing Bitihorn Mountain. Unusually, the village was created thanks to the dream of one man, Steinar Hovi, who opened a ski school here in 1965. A ski hire shop, accommodation and eateries followed over the decades, but the village remains very much a family concern – Steinar’s sons, Atle and Bjørnar, are now at the helm – and it is this which makes it so friendly and laid-back. Everything is within easy reach. There are a number of supermarkets, restaurants, sports and souvenir shops, plus a handful of bars and cafés, a bank and an ATM.
Bergo Hotel

Bedrooms

 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
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  • 7 nights: 20 December - 19 April 2020

    Start Friday & Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Adults 8-15 yrs 4-7 yrs 2-3 yrs
    20 Dec - 22 Dec £1260 £895 £490 £428
    27 Dec - 29 Dec £1145 £815 £445 £390
    03 Jan - 26 Jan £995 £695 £390 £340
    31 Jan - 02 Feb £1075 £765 £420 £365
    07 Feb - 09 Feb £1130 £798 £440 £385
    14 Feb - 16 Feb # £1260 £895 £490 £430
    21 Feb - 22 Mar £1095 £780 £430 £375
    27 Mar - 29 Mar £995 £695 £390 £340
    03 Apr - 05 Apr £1195 £850 £465 £405
    10 Apr - 12 Apr £995 £695 £390 £340

    Includes all elements of the holiday itself (accommodation, meals and any additional elements as described), plus flights (usually, but not always, from London) and onward travel as described.

    # Supplements apply on 16 Feb; please contact us for details

    Prices for children are based on sharing a room with 2 adults

    Included travel: British Airways Heathrow–Oslo (2h15) (out dep 1240, home arr 1810; hold luggage included), connecting journey by bus from Oslo Airport (3h45)

    Prices are subject to availability and flight supplements may apply. Book early for Christmas, New Year and school holidays. We can also book different flight routes (see flight section below). Please contact us to discuss any pricing implications.

  • Room upgrades (supplement per room per night)

    Bergo Hotel
    Family apartment (sleeps 4-6 pax): 20 Dec - 19 Apr 2020 £22
    Single room: 20 Dec - 19 Apr 2020 £25

  • Cross-country skiing; adult High season Low season
    6 days’ classic ski hire £48 £48
    Downhill beginner/improver; adult High season Low season
    6 days’ ski hire, 4 x 90-minute lessons & 6-day local area pass £365 £365
    Downhill intermediate; adult High season Low season
    6 days’ ski hire & 6-day local area pass £240 £240
    Downhill all levels; child (7-15yrs) High season Low season
    6 days’ ski hire, 4 x 90-minute lessons & 6-day local area pass £315 £315
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Oslo Gardermoen

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend Oslo Gardermoen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book onward flights and connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen) Loganair,  SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Amsterdam KLM 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Bergen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Copenhagen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Stavanger SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) Flybe 
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Durham Tees Valley - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian,  SAS 
    Edinburgh - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian 
    Gatwick - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Stockholm) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Oslo (Gardermoen) British Airways,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Oslo (Gardermoen) Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian,  SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Copenhagen SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Heathrow SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Stockholm SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend Oslo Gardermoen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of alternative flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated above, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice if you would prefer to fly via a different route to the one included in our standard arrangements. A supplement may be payable for other flights.

What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 lunch packs
    7 breakfasts
  • use of cross-country trails
  • detailed documentation
  • flights from Heathrow (regional options available)
  • return bus from/to Oslo
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Mr P Thomas
    London
    05 April 2017

    Great food.

    The slopes are great for beginners. Mostly very quiet with plenty of room.

    Don't stay in the apartments. Live music from the pub underneath which can go on until 2.30 in the morning makes it unbearable. 

  • Mrs K Kellock
    Dumfries
    31 March 2017

    We loved the location of the hotel so close to the slopes, both downhill and cross country. The ski school is excellent and perfect for even very young children. Our youngest was 6yrs, wish we had come earlier! We thought the holiday experience was fantastic. We found the people so friendly and was lovely to meet so many nice Scandinavian people.

  • Anon
    23 February 2017

    The least strenuous trails (eg for the first day) are:

    The lower section of Green 1, combined with Green 7 and back via Green 4. In the other direction Green 1 is rather a tedious long haul uphill (but lovely to ski down) and Green 2 involves some quite taxing (if you are not very fit) steeper sections.

    From the top of the chairlift, the sections of Blue 1, Blue 5 and Red 1 connecting with the southern section of Blue 3 are all very easy trails as are Blue 2 and the return run to the village via Green 1.

    The complete loop of Blue 1 involves a bit more climbing, but is not really strenuous.

    When you leave behind the chairlifts and ski out along the trails you enter a different world - calm, quiet and breathtakingly beautiful.

  • Mrs V Silvester
    Maidenhead
    19 February 2017

    In fresh snow and sunshine, there can't be many better places than Beitostolen for cross country skiing, along tracks which are newly cut every day. Don't miss the handful of huts on the loipe network where you can refuel with waffles and hot chocolate!
 

FAQs

  • If you are travelling over Christmas or New Year, or during school holidays, you should definitely pre-book lessons. After you’ve booked your holiday with us, we’ll send you a link to a list of packages that we can arrange for you in advance.
    Sometimes we can’t make bookings on your behalf. In these cases you should phone or email the ski school well before your holiday to arrange a date and time; do not wait until you are on holiday to make arrangements. 
  • This is quite common in Norwegian hotels, and is essentially a DIY packed lunch – you take what you’d like from the breakfast buffet, and can even bring along a flask to fill up with coffee.
  • Living far from the capital ourselves, we know better than most that flying from London can be a bind, so we are very flexible with our travel arrangements. Call or email us, and one of the team will be happy to list the different options available to you, and any price implications.
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport with at least three months' validity to travel to Norway, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • The most widely spoken language is Norwegian. The currency is the Kroner. Norwegian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/18/2019 3:44:09 PM