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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1850m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[3]
Advanced:		[2]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Beitstolen is a compact resort with an excellent snow record and is normally open from November to May. Its reputation for reliable snow cover is such that the International Ski Federation has asked the
resort to stage the season-opening pre-Christmas cross country World Cup races every year until at least 2013. Located in the Jotunheimen National Park, north west of Norway's capital Oslo, another big plus for skiers arriving on charter flights is its proximity to Fagernes airport, only 40km away – one of the shortest transfers in skiing. The small ski area has a reputation for uncrowded slopes with doorstep skiing from your accommodation in many cases.

Beginners

A good choice for first timers, Beitostolen has a snowsure nursery slope conveniently located right by the resort and an excellent English speaking ski school staff to teach you. The small area has plenty of
gentle progression runs to move on to once you have mastered technique, with a friendly and unintimidating atmosphere. All runs lead back to the base area so you won't get lost. We can provide an option to buy a beginners pack including lessons, equipment and lift ticket at a discounted price on the cost of buying these separately.

Intermediates

Intermediates should be able to keep entertained for a week in Beitstolen with the local slopes complemented by the nearby Alpine Centre (15km away) and served by a ski bus which operates three times a day. Most of the terrain is easy to moderate with runs up to 1.4km (nearly a mile) long. There is regular floodlit night skiing.

Advanced

With only a little over 200m of lift served vertical locally, advanced skiers will not find many challenges at Beitstolen. There's more choice at the Alpine Centre 15km away: this was the host of the World Telemark Championships in 2005. The area has a reputation for its abundant powder snow however, especially down through the woods, with lots of chutes and other natural terrain features to bounce off. It's worth signing up for an off-piste tour with a local guide to make the most of what's available.

Snowboarding

Beitostolen is rather well equipped for boarders with an uncrowded fun park which has a half pipe, jumps, rails and fun boxes. It's a great place to practice technique on these terrain features without feeling under pressure from crowds of experienced riders behind you waiting to take their turn.

Other Activities and Facilities

Outdoor activities available include dog sledding on a 10km long circuit, snowmobiling, tobogganing, horse-drawn sleigh rides and snowshoeing. Modern fun sliding sports like airboarding – a kind of inflatable sledge, and snow rafting – when you ride down the slopes in a group inside an inflatable boat, are available. Cross Country skiing is of course big here, as it is right across Scandinavia, and there are 150km of trails locally. There's also a swimming pool, plus a supermarket and bakery.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Après ski usually starts in Arnolds Pub located at the base of the Ola-Express ski lift in the resort centre which often has live music. The Lobby Bar in the Radisson SAS hotel is a favorite with locals and
visitors alike, thanks to its cosy and intimate feel. However Svingen Pub is probably Beitostølen's most popular meeting place, at the corner of Bergo Hotel. There's live music here every weekend, when the resort gets busy with Norwegians escaping their weekday work schedule.

There are half a dozen restaurants to choose from, including the new Café & Restaurant Beitostölen in the Bitihorn Apartment Hotel, the Bergo Hotel restaurant and the Brasseriet Restaurant. Another option is to go to by snowmobile or sleigh ride to dinner in a tepee. Later on there's dancing in Jegersalen at the Bergo Hotel, or there's a nightclub situated on the lower level of Radisson SAS Resort which has the longest bar and the biggest dance floor in the area.

Families

Beitstolen is a well designed, compact resort, making it easy for skiers to stay close. On the slopes the ski school provides lessons for children from three years old at a dedicated children's ski area with special child-sized lifts. Free ski equipment and lift tickets are provided for children aged up to six.

Beitstolen has an outdoor play centre called 'Children's Corner' designed for children who are out of nappies and aged from two years, but this available for a maximum of two hours per day. Special family- orientated activities are organized daily by the resort from 3pm including options such as mini-snowmobiling, dog-sledding and family ski races.

Piste Map for Beitostolen

Accommodation in Beitostolen

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