Hemsedal Customer Reviews

A lovely resort with long sweeping runs from top to bottom. Brilliant views on top in all directions.

The Hemsedal Resort was a stunning place to visit. It wasn't too crowded, and we never had to wait long at any of the lifts. The ski trails were beautifully kept, nice and wide, and with so many trails to choose from. The resort buildings were well maintained, clean, and lots of choices for food and drink! The Ski School was also fabulous. Our daughter was going down black trails and off jumps in the snow park by the end of her time with her class and instructor.

SkiStar had an app which showed daily which slopes and lifts were open and times of opening and closing and any events that were running during the week. Daylight hours are less in Norway, maybe because of this there were 2 nights where Holvin lift was open until 7 with limited but good floodlit runs - a night ski 6-8:30 and an early morning 7:30. As the sunrise is not until 8:30 this was an ideal if cold, opportunity to see the sunrise. The variety of runs were ideal and true to their colour although we never tried the few black runs available. There are three mountain tops, as you look at the hill, from right to left, the tops are Roni 1225m, Tinden 1345m and Totten 1450m. It is possible to ski from Totten to the base on good green runs via a chair, a button and a T bar. It is possible to move across the mountain in a day with blue and green runs - alternatively there are harder options. Our first day was limited by wind, and higher lifts were closed. None of the lifts are covered and there are no bubbles or gondolas. Chair lifts, buttons and T bars are the order of the day - and therefore the ability to cope with the cold! The free ski bus runs every 30 minutes between the Lodge, Fyri and Hemsedel Centre which is about 2km away. On two occasions we skied down a long, enjoyable quiet blue run to Hemsedal, a short walk to cafes and shops and then the bus back to continue skiing. Restaurants in the resort are varied and each have their attributes. There is only one pure mountain restaurant Fjellkafeen, two hotels will serve just drinks or meals which are on the slopes, then 4 restaurants close to the base.

Hemesdal as a ski resort was fantastic for beginners and intermediate skiers, I cant speak for advanced skiing as we are not. The resort opens at the beginning of December and doesn't really get busy till after Christmas so we didn't spend any time waiting for lifts etc. Its one of the biggest and best resorts in Scandinavia and most people we met had come across from Sweden and other countries to Ski. All the bars and Après ski didn't really open till New year so if you go at Christmas it is quieter. I would definitely go back and highly recommend.

We stayed at the foot of the ski runs at the Alpine lodge. This can provide for most of your needs including various restaurants and a supermarket. Facilities are excellent. Hemsedal town is 2km away. Take the walking route as the road is dangerous if walking. The apartment was superb and well kitted out. We ate our lunches and breakfast in the apartment. The children’s area was at the base adjacent to the lodgings. Very convenient with excellent ski schools. The runs were varied and good. Primarily a family resort with high standards. We cannot fault this resort as a family experience. It’s a pity that I must mention that everything is very expensive. So don’t come here for a budget holiday; but if the budget can be stretched come to Hemsedal for a first rate family learner experience.

Although smaller than some alpine resorts, Hemsedal works so hard to make up for this with several snow parks, fun rides, self-timed slaloms, ski cross course plus varied runs of all abilities, good easy off-piste, efficient lifts, beautiful scenery, great food, and very polite people. Excellent grooming and snowmaking ensured the runs were still in good condition in mid April. Accommodation was good quality. Although prices were on the high side, quality is also way higher than many Alpine resorts. Overall a great week’s skiing for a family with teenagers and mixed abilities.