Winter skiing holiday in Voss, Norway. Downhill and cross-country. For all ages.
Whilst offering excellent year-round facilities, Voss has been a ski town for more than seventy years. Situated to the north-east of Bergen, Voss is about an hour and a half by train and offers an excellent range of skiing with about 70 kilometres of slopes served by 20 lifts. There is both downhill and cross-country skiing and a dedicated area for children’s skiing. The network of cross-country trails is extensive
Highlights
• Rail journey from Bergen to Voss • Hangurstoppen • Myrkdalen • Mjolfjell cross-country tracks • Årmotslia
Skiing in Voss
Voss has been a ski town for more than seventy years, and it offers skiing in a way few other places do. Two ski areas lie within easy reach. Voss Resort rises directly above the town. Myrkdalen Mountain Resort lies further up the valley. Together they have around 70 kilometres of slopes and 20 lifts, with off-piste terrain, dedicated children's areas and an extensive network of cross-country trails. Trains from Oslo and Bergen arrive in the centre of Voss, a short walk from the hotels, so the journey is straightforward from the outset.
Downhill skiing at Voss Resort
The gondola to Voss Resort leaves from beside the railway station and reaches Hangurstoppen, at over 800 metres, in under ten minutes. It runs continuously from 09.30 each day and is included in every ski pass. A second base at Bavallen, on the edge of town, is served by express chairlifts. The resort has 40 kilometres of groomed slopes across 24 runs, served by 10 lifts. The runs range from gentle family trails to a giant slalom course and a Super-G course. Two runs stand out. The downhill piste is 3,600 metres long, with a vertical drop of almost 900 metres. The family run is longer still at 4,200 metres, a safe and varied descent that allows skiers of different abilities to ski together all the way down. More experienced skiers can reach Lønahorgi, at 1,410 metres, from the resort, where there is open mountain terrain and forest skiing. On the mountain, Hangurstoppen Restaurant looks out over Voss and the lake, and there are further cafés and a grill restaurant across the ski area. The 2026/27 season is scheduled to open on 4 December, snow conditions permitting.
Evening skiing
On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, more than 10 kilometres of slopes are floodlit, from green through to black. The gondola and the main chairlifts continue to run, along with several of the children's lifts. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings Hangurstoppen Restaurant serves its à la carte menu, so dinner at the top of the mountain can be combined with a last run down in the dark.
Myrkdalen Mountain Resort
Myrkdalen lies at the head of the valley beyond Voss and is known for its heavy snowfall and long season. It is a modern resort with 22 slopes and 9 lifts, including two six-seater express chairlifts. Most of the slopes are wide and open, which makes it a comfortable place to learn, while the terrain parks, ski-cross course and lift-accessed off-piste terrain give more experienced skiers plenty of variety. Myrkdalen is reached from Voss by car or by ski bus, and makes a rewarding day out during a longer stay.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is part of everyday life in Voss, and the village has produced a number of Olympic medallists. There are four principal areas, each with its own character. From Hangurstoppen, at the top of the gondola, 18 kilometres of groomed trails run through gently rolling terrain with wide views over the surrounding mountains. It is the most convenient option for those staying in town, and a gondola-only pass is available for those who wish to ski cross-country alone. Voss Ski- og Tursenter, about fifteen minutes' drive from the town centre, is the local centre for cross-country skiing and biathlon. It has a 5-kilometre floodlit trail, two further 5-kilometre loops from the stadium, and around 20 kilometres of trails through snow-covered forest, suitable for all levels. At Årmotslia, beside Myrkdalen, around 30 kilometres of trails are prepared for both classic and skating technique. The 5-kilometre circuit, lit in the evenings, has long been a favourite with local skiers. At Mjølfjell, classic tracks are set from early in the season on a 6-kilometre trail between the youth hostel and Upsete station. The trail climbs gently towards Langavatn and then runs level along the lake, and suits children and beginners. The Bergen Railway stops at both ends, so you can take the train to Upsete, ski down to Mjølfjell and return by train.
Skiing with children
Voss is well suited to a family ski holiday. Children aged six and under ski free at Voss Resort and can borrow a helmet at no charge. There are three children's areas. Trollbakken sits directly in front of Hangurstoppen Restaurant at the top of the gondola, with a gentle slope and a covered 65-metre ski carpet, and the ski school, ski hire, restaurant and toilets are all close by. Grebbesbakken, at Bavallen, is a gentle 50-metre slope that is free to use, ideal for very young children taking their first steps on alpine or cross-country skis. Badnakrokjen, beside the café at Slettafjellet, has a 190-metre children's lift and open-air shelters, and holds a free children's ski race at midday during weekends and holidays. Myrkdalen has its own children's area at the base of the resort, close to the hotel, with two disc lifts, a magic carpet and four green slopes. Please note that children must be at least 10 years old and 140 cm tall to ride the chairlifts unaccompanied.
Ski school
Voss Resort's ski school teaches every level, from complete beginners to those who want to refine their carving or try powder skiing and ski touring. Private lessons are available for 100 or 150 minutes, or as a full day for those over 13, with shorter 50-minute lessons for children under 12. Group courses run over two, three or five days, and there are dedicated sessions for children aged five to seven. Both Voss Resort and Myrkdalen have ski schools and ski hire, with lessons in alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, off-piste and terrain park skiing.
We had a very enjoyable holiday, thank-you, and wanted to express our thanks for organising such an excellent trip. This is the third you have organised for us, and all three have been outstanding.Mrs P, June 2026
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person and include an Historic double room and bed and breakfast.
From about
£1,900
Holiday Code SCFH06
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Winter skiing holiday in Voss, Norway. Downhill and cross-country. For all ages.
We recommend that you travel on a day with a morning direct flight to Bergen. There are frequent trains from Bergen to Voss in the afternoon which we will book in conjunction with your flight arrival time. The journey takes about one hour 15 minutes to one hour 30 minutes. The route from Bergen to Oslo is considered one of Norway’s most scenic railway journeys and the first part to Voss presents some of the route’s prettiest fjord scenery. In the winter time, there is monochrome, snow-hushed landscape with ice forming along the edges of the Sørfjorden. This is the most dramatic part of the journey; the mountainsides are steep and forested although the track dips in and out of short tunnels. You pass Vaksdal with its large, old flour mill on the water’s edge and then Stanghelle and Dale. Dale is a small industrial village, but famous as the home of Dale of Norway knitwear. At Bolstadøyri the fjord ends. The line turns inland up the Bolstad valley, following the Vosso river, one of Norway's legendary salmon rivers. Eventually the valley opens up and the train route runs alongside Vangsvatnet, the large lake on which Voss sits. Surrounding Voss, in a large mountain bowl, are snow-capped ski slopes. The station is just three minutes’ walk from your hotel.
You have six days to enjoy the mountains in winter. There are ski and boot rental shops in the resort, at the Hangurstoppen (the top station of the gondola) and at Bavallen (the ticket office). Packages can be booked on line and should be done at least 48 hours before arrival. Your ski pass can be booked online, with two, three, four, five and six day or more passes being available. A 5-day pass n February costs about NOK 2,480 per adult with reductions available for youths, seniors and students. Refer to the descriptions of the ski areas on a previous page.
Your evenings can be spent relaxing at the hotel, which overlooks the lake. Rooms are both modern and traditional. The atmosphere of a Norwegian ski hotel is felt in the public rooms; Magdalene Restaurant provides comforting meals made with local ingredients; Fredrik’s Bar offers the warmth of the open fireplace and simpler dishes accompanied perhaps by a local craft beer. Relax in the indoor pool and wellness area.
You return by train from Voss to Bergen to take your flight back to the UK.
We had a very enjoyable holiday, thank-you, and wanted to express our thanks for organising such an excellent trip. This is the third you have organised for us, and all three have been outstanding.Mrs P, June 2026
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person and include an Historic double room and bed and breakfast.
From about
£1,900
Holiday Code SCFH06
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
● Flights UK to Bergen
● Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
● Rail travel from Bergen to Voss and back
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Call us on 01392 441245
We had a very enjoyable holiday, thank-you, and wanted to express our thanks for organising such an excellent trip. This is the third you have organised for us, and all three have been outstanding.Mrs P, June 2026
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person and include an Historic double room and bed and breakfast.
From about
£1,900
Holiday Code SCFH06
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
• Flights UK to Bergen
• Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
• Rail travel from Bergen to Voss and back
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
The journey and how you get there There are direct flights in the winter months from London Gatwick and Manchester to Bergen. The schedule is not daily and the flight times do vary, so check the timetable with us. Also, you may want to arrange the holiday so that you have one night in Bergen at the end.
Call us on 01392 441245
Winter skiing holiday in Voss, Norway. Downhill and cross-country. For all ages.
We had a very enjoyable holiday, thank-you, and wanted to express our thanks for organising such an excellent trip. This is the third you have organised for us, and all three have been outstanding.Mrs P, June 2026
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person and include an Historic double room and bed and breakfast.
From about
£1,900
Holiday Code SCFH06
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
• Flights UK to Bergen
• Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
• Rail travel from Bergen to Voss and back
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
The journey and how you get there There are direct flights in the winter months from London Gatwick and Manchester to Bergen. The schedule is not daily and the flight times do vary, so check the timetable with us. Also, you may want to arrange the holiday so that you have one night in Bergen at the end.
Call us on 01392 441245
Winter skiing holiday in Voss, Norway. Downhill and cross-country. For all ages.
About Vestlandet and Norway's fjordland
Vestlandet contains many of the archetypal sites the visitor associates with Norway: spectacular fjords, colourful fishing ports, stave churches and dramatic panoramas. Vestlandet is a long, thin region in the west of the country, bordering the North Sea and interspersed by jagged inlets from the sea into the mountainous interior: the fjords including Sognefjorden, Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. Bergen is the outstanding jewel as a town in this region, a World Heritage City, with ancient history, attractive buildings, world-class museums and superb restaurants. Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord and is composed of five large arms with fingers, of which Naeroyfjorden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To complement the dramatic natural scenery, there are ample man-made delights in the area too, with charming villages, waterfronts, well-preserved Viking heritage sites and local foodie specialities. You can witness the drama of the Sognefjord by boat from Bergen to Flam on a journey of about five hours. Just north and south of the innermost reaches of the Sognefjord are the outstanding stave churches of Borgund, unchanged since the Middle Ages, and Urnes, the oldest stave church in Norway. The Geirangerfjord is one of the best-known and justifiably so as it contains ten miles of dramatic natural beauty with numerous waterfalls tumbling down the vertical cliff face. The Hardangerfjord runs from the North Sea to the Hardangervidda Plateau and offers a wealth of attractive scenery and pretty towns, with numerous activities. There are also apple orchards and farmland, hiking and cycling. Towards the north of the region is the coastal town of Alesund, whose centre consists mainly of striking Art Nouveau buildings, constructed in the early 20th Century after a fire destroyed most of the old town centre.
Highlights of Vestlandet
Vestlandet is fjord country and the most well-known and spectactular are Sognefjorden, the Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. The seafaring cities and ports of Bergen and Alesund offer a mixture of cultural, food and sightseeing possibilities. Bergen has the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen with museum, shops, galleries and restaurants. There is the KODE museum of art and design and at Troldhaugen you can visit the home of Edvard Grieg. The region is also home to the Flam railway and cable cars take you to mountain tops. Alesund is renowned as an Art Deco town after a fire in 1904 destroyed the old town. From here it is the gateway to the Geirangerfjord and the Trollstigen mountain road. Combine land and water sports as well as spectacular scenery in Vestlandet. You can also visit glaciers in this region and take the Atlantic Road for coastal vistas.
Cultural highlights of Vestlandet
There is a wide range of cultural visits throughout the region: KUBE art nouveau centre in Alesund, Agatunet traditional Norwegian village on the Hardangerfjord, Kinn stone church from the Middle Ages, Alesund medieval age museum, The Vicarage at Nesset childhood home of Nobel Prize for Literature winner Bjornson, Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, Suldal living museum farm, Eldhuset at Undredal on the Sognfjord showing local traditions, pasture farming and goat's cheese production, Sirdal mountain musuem, Bergen school museum, Geirganger timber church, Flam railway museum, Steffagarden on Ona croft from 1793, Visnes mining museum, Hardanger fold museum, Baroniet Rosendal manor house and gardens, Viking exhbition at Eidfjord, Vik historical tour, Kaupanger stave church on the Sognefjord, Trollveggen visitor centre, Viking village at Gudvangen, Borgund church, Osteroy museum, Ardal old church Ryfylke.
Festivals of Vestlandet
Kristiansund has a food festival in June, there is a Viking festival in Avaldsnes in June, Sola holds a kite festival in June, Floro holds the world's longest herring table in June, early July sees the Skudefestivalen the largest gathering of coastal culture in western Norway, Floro holds a sea sports festival in mid July, Molde holds the oldest continuously running jazz festival in the world in July, Haugesund harbour days is a yearly tradition in mid August, The Tomato festival is held in mid August at Finnoy on the Ryfylke Islands near Stavanger, Hardanger holds a music festival at the end of August, Bergen has a food festival at the beginning of September.
Gastronomy of Vestlandet
The mild climate and soils of the region lend themselves to the growing of fruit and berries that produce apple juice, cider and jams. Strawberries, raspberries and cherries are also grown locally. Cheeses are produced in the region including the Tingvoll cheese that has been produced here since 1303. Smoked salmon and cured meats are also local. Clipfish (dried salted cod) in the Alsesund area.
