Voss

Voss is a small resort at the heart of Hordaland, in Norway, and has gained a reputation of being the adventure capital of the country.  It is home to two ski centres and is surrounded by some of the most majestic countryside found anywhere in Norway, consisting of rivers, mountains, lakes and fjords.  It offers a ski holiday experience suitable for all levels of skiing expertise, from complete beginner to seasoned expert.

The resort is of one the skiing world’s best kept secrets.  The runs are well-maintained and never crowded.  They are particularly suited for beginners and children, with specialist children’s instructors easy to find and hire.

There are not a huge number of runs; you could quite comfortable ski the entire resort in one, thigh-twinging day, but the runs are so pleasurable and comfortably isolated repeated use infrequently becomes dull.

Voss strives to be friendly and trusting, something it readily achieves.  The equipment hire shop is small but that means a personalised service is what you will experience.  Some of the equipment is old and old-fashioned though.  The lift-system up to the heights is also somewhat in need of a refurbishment to bring it in line with modern standards although it is perfectly safe.  You should never need to queue to use it though.

The resort is a very family-orientated place.  The lower altitude (just over three thousand feet) means that children who suffer from altitude sickness (as the younger ones are prone to do) shouldn’t have to worry.  The instructors are attentive, patient and speak excellent English, and will not allow your children to be let loose on even the gentlest of slopes without be certain they have learnt the correct techniques.

Voss is not the place if you are expecting a highly energetic night-life.  The village is a very quiet place with only basic restaurants and hotels.  Don’t expect the kind of accommodation and bars you’d be hopeful of finding in Alpine resorts.  The town only has one mountain-based restaurant, and that’s a very basic fast-food joint.  Voss is a place to relax and enjoy fluster-free winter sports, not for thrill-a-minute white-knuckled killer slopes and rampant partying until the early hours.

The resort has around thirty miles of prepared pistes.  It is a very reliable venue for snow and World Cup Events are frequently held in the area.  There are also possibilities for cross-country skiing and hiking.  If you want to mix your skiing with other activities, you can brave the cold at the outdoor swimming pool at Prestegardsmoen, or visit Myrkdalen, just under twenty miles north of Voss, which has terrain parks and children’s play areas.  In the summer the Voss Rafting Senter is open for the adventurous who want to experience the turbulent waters of the Melsvatnet river.

If you want to improve your skiing, or introduce the non-skiers in your family to the slopes, then a ski holiday in Voss could be just the thing.  With its unhurried and relaxing, family-orientated approach, a ski holiday in Voss is both a peaceful and snow-tastic experience.