The Best Ski Resorts for Beginners

Everyone’s got to start their skiing or snowboarding journey somewhere and that’s where Ski Safari comes in! Our team consists of ski veterans who collectively know every nook and cranny of our resorts, relatively new skiers still taking lessons at every opportunity and also parents of kids of all ages and abilities. We can point you towards the best ski schools and safest slopes on our programme, based on first-hand knowledge and experience.

We understand the important details which make a beginner’s ski holiday one to remember. Whether it’s your first time, or you’re finding your ski legs again, we’ll point you in the right direction of the best ski resorts for beginners.

From lift passes to lessons, we’ll listen, offer advice and tailor your trip to provide the ultimate combination of entertaining outdoor fun and unrivalled mountain scenery.

To create your tailor-made ski trip, enquire online or call our team for some expert advice on 01273 224060.

A cosy, picturesque resort that welcomes beginners with open arms. Over 60% of Beitostølen’s ski area is suited for first-timers or those wanting to dust off any skiing cobwebs after a few years off the slopes.

To complement the easy-going and safe terrain is the English-speaking ski school. The school's high standard of tuition makes it ideal for anyone taking lessons (which we always advise for everyone no matter what their ability is!). Due to the gentle nature of the slopes in Beitostølen, it’s also a fantastic place to try off-piste for the first time. It’s a breeze hopping off and back onto the pistes without having to worry about hidden hazards, although we’d always recommend trying it with an instructor first.

What separates Beitostølen from other beginner-friendly resorts is the opportunity to try exhilarating non-skiing activities, perfect if skiing doesn’t quite go to plan or you’re looking to experience something completely different. Some of them are quite unique too, such as snow rafting, airboarding and guided overnight excursions staying in a snow cave that you’ve built yourself.

At the heart of this family-owned resort is a traditional village with a friendly atmosphere. There’s little chance of getting lost with all the crucial amenities a hop, skip and a jump from one another. The après-ski scene is laid-back and includes a couple of warm, cheerful pubs and bars such as Lodge 900, and Bryggerihuset Svingen Bar, which can get lively on weekends with live music, DJs, and dancing.

Surrounded by jaw-dropping views and located at the epicentre of the resort is the 4* Radisson Blu Resort. Everything you need is close by as the hotel is directly across from the main ski lifts, ski school, and equipment rental facilities. Additionally, the village centre is conveniently located right outside, providing easy access to shops and bars.

The Radisson Blu has a wide range of comforts on offer to complete your stay including a wellness centre, squash court, large swimming pool and spa treatments readily available to book.

“Nice resort, very compact. Almost entirely blue & green runs, but quite a lot of variety to them, which was helpful for intermediate skiers wanting to practise different skills.” - Antonia Branston

“Perfect for us. Two adults who had not been skiing for 25 years and a teenager who had never been before. Small resort but not overcrowded - Easy to access slopes” - Wendy Anema

What makes Norefjell so appealing for families and in particular, a family of beginners? Firstly, the short flight and swift two hour transfer from Oslo minimise the time kids spend wriggling around in their seats. Secondly, the slopes are quiet, even in peak times, which puts this resort head and shoulders above its French and Italian counterparts. And thirdly, those quiet slopes are right on your doorstep wherever you stay!

The variety of beginner runs means you’re not limited to one area, bringing a new adventure every day even for those just starting their skiing journey. Once ski school finishes, you'll be raring to practise your newly-learnt skills on the unintimidating green and blue runs.

For those more confident skiers in the family, Norefjell offers a 1000m vertical drop, the largest in Norway, to test the strongest legs. As you ski the long winding runs from the peak to the valley floor, you’ll find it hard not to stop to take in the astonishing views over Lake Krøderen.

To complete the family feel to the resort is the popular mascot, Nore Rein, the friendly reindeer. Skiing has the potential to be a challenge for children on their first time. However, Nore Rein inspires little ones to put on their gear and make the most of the snow.

The magnificent 4*+ Norefjell Ski & Spa will keep the whole family entertained. For the kids (and those with a youthful exuberance) there's a games room with arcade games, pool table and air hockey, a swimming pool and even an indoor climbing wall - for once you’ll be the one driving them up the wall!

While the kids learn the ropes, adults can leave any stresses behind in the hotel's superb spa. Relax with a glass of bubbly in the heated outdoor infinity pool or unwind in the Finnish and Infra Red Saunas whilst taking in breathtaking mountain views. However you like to relax, you'll find it here.

"A beautiful calm resort away from the heavy crowds. The Ski Spa Hotel was perfect for our family stay. We stayed happily cocooned in the hotel during the evenings with the swimming pool and saunas at our disposal." - Amruta Lacy-Colson 

"This is very much a resort for beginners or those looking for a gentler experience... Our family had lessons and raved about the instructors being so nice and friendly in comparison to other European experiences." - Chris Mcintyre-Brown

The journey into Geilo is an experience in itself with a transfer on one of the world’s most scenic train journeys through Norway’s stunning fjord region, concluding at Geilo station in the heart of the resort. It’s a wonderful and comfortable way to start the trip and for an extra treat you can fly into Oslo and out of Bergen, allowing you to see the whole of the famous railway line.

Regular winner of Norway’s Best Ski Resort, Geilo has everything you need for a successful first ski holiday - superb ski tuition, genuine hospitality and first-rate childcare.

Not sure what to expect skiing-wise? You’ll instantly be put at ease by the wide and unintimidating slopes. Most customers stay on the Geilolia side with the gentlest slopes right on the doorstep, and if you’d like to try cross-country skiing as well as downhill, it’s one of the best resorts in Norway with over 340 miles of immaculate trails.

If you find yourself needing a rest from exploring the mountain on skis, Geilo caters for every member of the family by offering a wide range of thrilling activities including dog sledding, horse sleigh rides, snowkiting, snowmobiling, fat biking, luxury spas, ice fishing and more! It’s a genuine winter destination that’s about more than just skiing.

Convenience is key to a successful holiday and it doesn't get much better than staying at the stunning 4*+ Vestlia Resort, situated fifty metres from the ski school, lift and childcare centre.

The hotel is incredibly popular amongst Ski Safari guests and boasts plenty of useful onsite facilities including a restaurant and family-friendly indoor pool. The heated lockers, where you collect your gear each morning, are a stone's throw away from the nearest ski lift.

If you pictured your holiday taking place in more of an authentic wooden cabin, surrounded by pine trees covered in soft, powdery snow, the 4* Geilolia Forest Cabins could be the ticket.

Perfect for families or groups, each cabin holds all the amenities you’ll need for a comfortable, relaxing skiing trip including a real fireplace, a well-stocked kitchen and even a sauna (in most cabins). Don’t worry, convenience isn’t compromised by staying in these luxury cabins. You’re still just a few hundred metres away from ski school, ski lifts, rental shop and creche.

“A really beautiful place to ski with great snow and lots of friendly people - perfect for a beginner like me.” - Tom Booth

“Fabulous for beginners. Excellent instructors, superb facilities and wonderful service.” - Amanda Cowell

Picture this. It’s the last day of your holiday and you’ve just cruised to the bottom of a run that seemed unachievable when you first arrived. That sense of accomplishment will stay with you for months after you get back. To turn this into a reality, Trysil is the perfect resort to visit.

The largest ski area in Norway, Trysil has a good mix of quiet, easy-going green and blue runs, as well as red and black runs, which allow for steady progression as you build your confidence.

Widely regarded as one of Norway’s best family resorts, Trysil has two dedicated areas for children and beginners to safely enjoy learning how to ski or snowboard with a world-class ski school. Lift passes are free for kids under seven, while Valle the friendly snowman is on hand to keep spirits high.

The resort offers plenty of activities off the slopes too. Ice skating, toboggan runs, bowling alleys and decadent spas are just some of the activities available when you take a break from skiing.

The incredible 4*+ Radisson Blu Resort Trysil has everything you need for a successful ski holiday in one place. It’s home to several restaurants and bars, an 8-lane bowling alley, a huge 1,600m2 adventure pool, indoor wave surfing and a spa.

And the best part of staying at the Radisson Blu? You’re able to pop your equipment on and ski right out of the hotel onto the slopes. From there, you can easily glide 200 metres across the snow to reach the lifts and ski school.

Whether you’re a couple, family or group, you’ll be well looked after at the five-time winner of Norway’s Best Ski Hotel.

“Excellent for beginners and intermediate skiers. The Radisson Blu Hotel is ideally situated and offers genuine ski-out, ski-in facilities.” - Paul Chatt

“Great resort. The hotel was fantastic with a great ski-in/out facility. It was close to the ski school which was amazing for our kids with brilliant instructors. The skiing too was ace. Clear pistes and hardly any waits for the lifts. Would definitely recommend.” - Jaimin Patel 

Hassle-free and smooth sailing is the aim of the game when it comes to your first or second skiing holiday. So, how does having everything you need within a five minute walk of your accommodation sound?

Stöten is a great choice for first time skiers looking to build their confidence on uncrowded, gentle slopes, which are particularly easy to navigate due to the compact nature of the ski area. For the more adventurous, Stöten provides a safe introduction to glade skiing (alpine skiing through the trees). You can ski between almost every run, which contradicts the seemingly small piste map.

Burgers, pizzas and chips are some of the classic go-to foods on the mountain. Whilst Stöten delivers this to a high standard, there’s also the unique opportunity to try something new in the way of authentic Scandinavian food such as reindeer.

As with everything in Stöten, non-skiing activities such as snowmobiling are easily accessible and within walking distance of any accommodation.

Secluded, peaceful and premium quality… without the premium price, the 4* Pistbyn apartments are the ideal set-up for a self-catering skiing holiday. The closest grocery shop is a short 300m walk from the accommodation with restaurants also close by.

All apartments have their own private sauna and the on-site drying cabinets are a convenient bonus which means your gear is ready to go skiing when you are the next day!

“Fantastic resort for children and beginners. Lots of lovely long green and blue runs through the forest. No lift queues, friendly staff, great instructors. A particular highlight was the piste side BBQs in the sunshine.” - Lynsey Mckay

“Excellent resort for beginners, very laid back and a lot less expensive than we'd been led to believe from people.” - Chris Sibley

The resort that has it all, Whistler ticks every box. There’s something for everyone - even beginners! Whistler boasts something that very few resorts do; a dedicated mid-mountain learning area. The secluded tuition area makes your transition from beginner to pro (okay, confident beginner) a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Whether you are a novice or an advanced skier or snowboarder, the world-class ski school offers comprehensive lessons for all ages and abilities, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience on the slopes. You’re never too old, or too good, to learn something new.

With such a huge ski area to explore, you’ll come away from Whistler feeling like a genuine skier and with a guaranteed smile on your face.

Off the slopes, there’s a plethora of activities to keep everyone entertained. The bars become a hive of après fun from mid-afternoon at the base of the slopes and there are more restaurants than you could possibly cover on one trip catering to all tastes and budgets. There are plenty of activities to try too, including snowmobiling, ziplines, helicopter rides and bungee jumping. We told you it has it all!

The best all-round hotel to mirror the best all-round resort is the 5* The Westin Resort & Spa. This high-end accommodation is the perfect blend of self-catering and luxury, suited to a group or family looking for that little bit extra.

The hotel is situated at the top of the village stroll, next to the Whistler Village Gondola. All the ingredients you need to create an unforgettable holiday are right on your doorstep. As well as the luxurious spa, you’ll find restaurants, art galleries and boutique shops on-site. Not to mention a grab and go coffee station for your morning caffeine fix.

“Whistler itself is full of a wide variety of runs with almost all lifts having an easy route for beginners as well as more challenging runs. The village has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to cater for any tastes.” - Philip Nockles

“Whistler is a highly recommended resort whether you ski or snowboard, or even if you are a family of non-skiers there are plenty of extra activities to entertain every age and ability. The town has a great buzz to it with certainly some of the friendliest helpful people we have been fortunate to meet. The runs are suitable for all abilities.” - Kate Gibson

If the fear of accidentally taking the wrong ski lift leading to a difficult blue or red run is weighing on your mind, you’ll want to head to Sun Peaks, where every lift will lead you to a friendly green run. As well as providing a safe environment, this also allows mixed-ability groups to ski off the same lifts, meeting back at the bottom to go again.

This isn’t the only aspect that Sun Peaks is renowned for. This resort is considered the ultimate haven for ski-in-ski-out accommodation. Located at the centre of the resort, the “European style” village is home to most of the accommodation and a number of family-friendly restaurants and bars. It’s a similar story on-mountain, with many cafes and eateries accessible on skis. 

Sun Peaks offers an extensive range of non-ski activities, with virtually every option you can imagine available. From dog sledding adventures and fat biking in the backcountry to guided ice-fishing for delicious rainbow trout, the opportunities are endless.

Occupying a prime location in the centre of the village, the 4* Sun Peaks Grand Hotel is nestled at the base of the slopes and has all the facilities you could need. You can swiftly access Sundance and Tod mountains on skis, and a brief walk or ski will take you to the other mountain, Morrisey.

The slopeside pool and hot tubs are a treat for tired legs after a day on the slopes while Mantles is a great option for breakfast, drinks and dinner if you don’t fancy leaving the hotel.

“Sun Peaks has it all. It is a delightful little village with a variety of restaurants, skating rink and shops. The skiing catered to the differing abilities and desires in our party of 10. Plenty to satisfy all standards - We like how it was easy to get back to accommodation without the need for transport so people could start and stop skiing when it suited them.” - Joan Donnelly

“It’s so good - let’s not tell anyone and keep it to ourselves” - Garry Liddell

The age-old question when deciding to go on a holiday in the mountains; “are you going to ski or snowboard?” If you’re leaning more towards the latter, there’s no better place to start or improve snowboarding than Laax.

Laax is well known amongst snowboarders for being the go-to resort to progress from beginner level to a confident snowboarder pulling off newly learned tricks thanks to its world-class ski school and world-famous Freestyle Academy and snowparks. The high altitude of the resorts guarantees a thick coat of snow providing incredible learning conditions throughout the season.

The short transfer time and access to daycare services make this Swiss gem a hit with families too. Along with the fantastic activities available around the resort, including a state-of-the-art science centre, there’ll never be a dull moment in Laax.

A short walk from lifts, bars, restaurants and shops, the 4*+ Peaks Place Apartments make an ideal self-catering option for any first-timers. The spacious apartments benefit from hotel-like facilities including a luxurious pool and a spa and the s’nani restaurant which serves authentic regional dishes.

“A snowboarding paradise - we loved it!” - Ivo Lochtman

“Loved Laax for the skiing/snowboarding. The pistes were great and the links were all brilliant. Super friendly resort, great ski runs and food/drink stops.” - Jane Rees

Excited to get started and not sure what to do next? If you like the look of a resort and want to find out more, request a quotation online.

Or if you require additional information such as the best time of year to experience a resort, or you have a question about equipment hire or accommodation, contact our experts on 01273 224060. We’re more than happy to help and talk all things ski and snowboard with you!

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