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Think ski holiday, and chances are you picture crowded lifts, schnapps-fuelled après and a battle for the best line down the mountain. But travel a little further north and you’ll discover something different. Norway does skiing its own way – quieter slopes, cinematic landscapes, and a food scene that might just reset your expectations of what mountain dining can be.
Forget the tired stereotype of reheated pizza and soggy chips. In Norway’s resorts, food is a source of pride. Chefs here aren’t just passing through on a seasonal gig; they’ve chosen the mountains as their stage. The result? Nordic cuisine served at altitude with as much care and flair as you’d expect in a top London restaurant – only here, it’s often part of an affordable half-board package. Think Arctic char in Gausta, fillet of reindeer in Narvik, or even Voss’ local delicacy of sheep’s head if you’re feeling adventurous.
Chefs in the Norwegian town of Geilo
Paul Lockhart
Andy Hemingway, Scandinavia Product Manager at Ski Safari, knows it better than most. He lived in a Norwegian ski resort for five years and has been heading back every winter for over two decades. “The quality of ingredients and the high standard of cuisine often comes as a surprise to our customers,” he says. “It almost always exceeds expectations – fresh seafood, unique game dishes, Nordic-inspired desserts, and brilliant options for dietary requirements too.”
It’s not just the food on the plate, though – it’s where you’re eating it. Resorts like Geilo, Myrkdalen and Norefjell are home to stylish hotels where après ski doesn’t mean sticky beer jugs but candlelit dinners paired with serious wine lists. The Gaustablikk Fjellresort at Gausta even hosts internationally recognised chefs throughout the season, while Voss boasts one of the world’s most famous wine cellars, with over 47,000 bottles and guided tastings on offer.
Of course, food and drink are just one part of the story. Skiing in Norway means fewer lift queues, a laid-back atmosphere, and backdrops that feel more epic than anywhere else in Europe. Fjords glint beneath you, forests roll on for miles, and you’ll often get entire runs to yourself. It’s skiing with space to breathe – and space to savour.
The top of Gaustabanen in Gausta
Gaustabanen
And then there’s the way you book it. Since 1996, Ski Safari has been creating tailor-made ski holidays from scratch. Every member of the team has skied in Norway; Andy himself has lived it. That means advice based on first-hand experience, not guesswork. You’ll speak to the same person each time you call, and thanks to their strong local relationships, prices often come in lower than you’d think – from just £565pp for seven nights including flights, transfers and accommodation. No surprise, then, that Ski Safari has been voted the UK’s Best Small Tour Operator five years running.
So maybe this winter is the time to swap schnitzel for reindeer, beer halls for wine cellars, and crowded pistes for wide-open views. Try skiing the Norwegian way – you might never look back.
Prices starts from £565 per person for 7 nights including flights, transfers and accommodation.
Try Skiing the Norwegian Way by calling 01273 224060; requesting a tailor-made package;
For more information, visit skisafari.com, Facebook, or Instagram.
