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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 625m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[5]

One of Scandinavia's largest ski centres and the most popular in Norway, Hemsedal continues to expand and improve its services. The original small town of Hemsedal is an attractive centre with a small selection of quality shops and restaurants, located about two kilometres from the ski slopes, where there is a separate and growing Alpine village slopeside, operated by the same company that runs five of the largest ski resorts in northern Europe. The two are linked by a pleasant cleared walk away from the road, or by ski bus. Many Norwegians arrive in their own cars.

Hemsedal's success is thanks in good part to its exciting and varied terrain which includes some of the most expansive and challenging terrain in Norway. The resort is also well equipped for beginners and is one of Scandinavia's leading destinations for families.

As one of Norway's leading resorts, Hemsedal boasts some of the country's most testing terrain and has been the site of a World Cup Super Giant Slalom. In common with other Scandinavian ski areas, a number of issues unique to the region should be taken in to account when booking. It can be very cold – in to double figures below zero in mid-winter - so it is best to come prepared with good thermals, although these can also easily be purchased locally.

Normally, however, temperatures average around -7C in mid-winter and reach a norm of zero by Easter. The amount of daylight also changes dramatically with a little more than six hours in December and January but nearer twelve hours by the start of spring. It can also be very expensive to purchase food and drink, with some items costing more than others, so check carefully menu item costs or prices in shops prior to purchase if your budget is not unlimited.

Beginners

A good choice for beginners in many ways, particularly if you stay slopeside. There are excellent nursery slopes separated from the main ski area and then long easy runs on the mountain to progress on to, with modern lifts providing easy rides up the mountain to get started. The ski school has a good reputation with English widely spoken.

Intermediates

Intermediates have the most to enjoy at Hemsedal, which is a moderate sized ski area by Alpine standards but one of the few areas in Scandinavia that can keep most skiers satisfied on the piste for a week without needing to search out more challenges.

There's a choice of more than 40 runs graded easy to intermediate, the longest an impressive six kilometres (nearly four miles). There is night skiing on Tuesday to Friday as well as Sunday nights, from 6-9 pm.

Advanced

Hemsedal has some of Scandinavia's most challenging expert terrain, including a World Cup run and some good mogul fields. The Totten run is the resort's most challenging, descending for two kilometres (a mile and a quarter) and pitching at up to 55%.

To make the most of the opportunities available you will need to sign up with the ski school for one of their off piste courses or ski touring adventures. If snow conditions are good its worth signing up for a 'fresh tracks' package, available twice weekly, which includes breakfast on the mountain and first access of the day to the Hemsedal and Såhaug slopes (graded red and black). Breakfast is served from 7am in the Skistua restaurant, lift opens from 07.30am.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding is big in Hemsedal and the resort reserves an entire trail to create its terrain park. This offers three lines graded from the easiest (blue) through intermediate red, to most difficult. There are two half pipes, several quarter pipes and corners as well as big jumps and other jumps, fun boxes and rails.

Other Activities and Facilities

Cross country skiing is naturally popular here and there are 130km machine-groomed trails through the valleys and forests, and 80km marked mountain trails. From most apartments and cabins in the valley you can enter straight onto the groomed valley trails. There are also 12 km of floodlit tracks at night, open every day.

Other activities available in the area include dog sledding, ice-climbing and sleigh rides. There's a small bowling centre, computer game machines and a golf simulator in the Experten Sportsbar in the base village. Hemsedal village has a variety of shops, bank, post office, library and the tourist office.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Hemsedal has a few good ski bars at the base of the slopes and a wider selection in the village for what is known in Scandinavia as 'After ski’. Immediately after the lifts close the slope side bars are busy, but they are quieter later in the evening through the week as most guests tend to socialise in their accommodations, partly because of the high cost of buying a drink.

In the base village the Stavkroa after ski venue and the Experten Sportsbar offers pub meals and big screen ski movies and the Hemsen nightclub. The Oxen restaurant here provides quality meals in a very pleasant atmosphere.

Hemsedal village two kilometres away offers a wide range of restaurants, bars and night clubs, some with a sophisticated atmosphere. Bar(t) operates four bars over two floors and is open to 2am but guests must be at least 23 years old. The Fjellbekk nightclub in the Skogstad Hotel is open Thursday to Saturday between 10pm and 2am and guests must be aged 25 or over. Club Famous is the club's private 'whisky-room' with an assortment of high-end whiskeys.

Families

Hemsedal has Norway's largest children's area with seven slopes and eight lifts, and many additional facilities and elements and a weekly activity programme for the children. This area will be further developed for next season. It includes the new Gaupeland kindergarten where there'll be a new outdoor playground, and well trained staff from the ski school will take care of your children.

The Kindergarten accepts children from three months and provides helmets for children who can ski free of charge up to age seven. Ski school is divided in to children's groups for five and six year olds, seven to nine year olds and those ten and over. Children are divided in to different ability groups and can look forward to both ski lessons and fun activities such as learning terrain park technique.

Piste Map for Hemsedal

Accommodation in Hemsedal

• Fossheim Hotel - 4 star,
• Molla - 3 star, self catering
• Skarsnuten Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Skarsnuten Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Skogstad Hotel - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Staven Apartments - 3 star, bed & breakfast

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