Norway’s Winter Magic: A Family Break in Mountains and Fjords
Ski into a Norwegian spring break for adventurous families
Duration
6 days
Season
March-April
Best suited for
Families who want to experience real winter at their own pace.
Winter fun doesn’t have to mean fighting through the crowded slopes of Aspen or the Alps. In Norway, skiing isn’t about showing off; it’s about belonging. Perfect snow conditions lie waiting in flawless silence. Boutique mountain hotels and fjord-view lodges combine tradition with modern comfort, inviting guests to experience Norwegian cosiness (‘kos’) at its best.
Turn your spring break into a chance to experience the magic of the Norwegian winter just before it tips over into spring. This journey offers a choice of two skiing destinations on the Oslo-Bergen railway: Geilo, for families seeking family-friendly alpine and cross-country skiing in a quaint mountain village; and Finse, for families hoping to connect with their inner explorer in the high mountains. From the mountains, continue westward to Voss and the fjords, where adventure and relaxation go hand in glove.
Impact Statement
By travelling slowly, engaging meaningfully with local hosts, and choosing experiences grounded in nature and heritage, you are invited to build lasting memories as a family, while contributing positively to the places you’re exploring. Through local value creation and low-impact travel choices, the journey supports the UN's SDG 12. Our hope is that you'll leave with more than beautiful photographs: that you'll return home with renewed energy, strengthened bonds, and an understanding of how travel – conscious travel – can be a force for good for future generations.
Your itinerary
Itineraries are designed by our travel curators to give you the most rewarding experience possible. They can be tailored to your specific wishes when you make an inquiry. Days 1-4 in this journey offers a choice of Geilo or Finse.
We recommend adding a night in Oslo and/or Bergen, at the beginning or end of your holiday. This makes for a gentle easing in and out of Norway and lets you experience two special urban environments.
Days 1-4
Begin your spring break in mountain village Geilo
Option 1, Geilo (794m asl)
Who it’s for: In the North, March and early April offers the ideal combination of snow-covered slopes and hills, brighter days and milder temperatures. Geilo offers alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and easy access to fun indoor and outdoor activities. Ideal for families with children of all ages, or anyone seeking comfort, flexibility and variety.
Geilo, with its population of roughly 2700, is known as one of Norway’s most versatile ski destinations with a range of winter activities, and not only skiing. The town centre has a cosy atmosphere, a selection of cafes, restaurants and shops, indoor pool and spa, bowling and live music at neighbouring hotels. Much of the local industry revolves around artisanal cheese-making.
At Geilo Mountain Lodge luxury means warmth rather than excess. Expect perfect snow, short queues, and moments you’ll carry with you way beyond the holiday.
Relax by the fire in the lodge’s snug library with board games, cards and jigsaw puzzles, or head out for your first skiing adventure.
Take a late afternoon ski on the floodlit slopes or go for a short cross-country round along lighted trails. Rest assured all practical details such as skis, gear rental and transportation will be taken care of, and your local host will gladly connect you with the local ski resort facilities.
In the evening, join your hosts for apéritifs and and storytelling, followed by a local tasting menu.
After breakfast, your guide takes you to Geilo Ski Center, where perfectly groomed slopes and modern lifts make skiing easy at every skill level. Families can ski together, switch between beginner and advanced runs, and pause for lunch at one of the cosy hillside lodges. Private instruction can also be arranged.
Alternatively, head out on snowshoes or a Nordic-ski tour through Geilo’s serene winter landscapes together with a local guide. Glide through forests, follow frozen lakes, and pause for a simple picnic by the fire. Ice fishing is an option if the conditions are right.The perfect introduction to Norwegian outdoor life (‘friluftsliv’).
For animal loving families, dog sledding can be arranged as a day adventure, or in the dark under the starry sky, with the sound of the dogs’ paws patting through the crunchy snow.
Rounding off a day in the outdoors with Nordic wellness: an ice plunge in a frozen lake complete with sauna is how Scandinavians stay healthy through the winter.
Days 1-4
Begin your spring break in the high mountains of Finse
Option 2: Finse (1222m asl)
Day 1: Wild Winter Beauty – Polar Exploits on Top of the World
Oslo-Finse: 4.5 hours
Get off the train from Oslo at Finse, the highest point on the Bergen Railway, which is only reachable by train, on foot, or on skis. Surrounded by glaciers and endless snow, Finse feels like another world; a place of raw wilderness and resilience.
Finse is perched above the treeline in a remote, snow-blanketed wonderland. It’s a true playground for modern-day explorers. Survey the wide-open landscapes and hear enthralling stories about global explorers like Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton, who prepared for their expeditions here.
You’ll instantly understand why Finse served as the film location for Hoth, the icy planet in Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.
Check in to Finse 1222, a mountain lodge recently upgraded for modern travellers by Snøhetta. Sink into a lounge chair in a modern design setting that truly honors the hotel's fascinating past.
Look out over the frozen Finsevann Lake, take in the stillness, and let your eyes savour the magical ‘blue hour’. Dinner is made with local ingredients, and inspired by mountain traditions.
After breakfast, set out with a local guide for a ski tour on the mountain. The route will be tailored to local weather conditions as well as your skill level, from gentle terrain to more challenging high-mountain crossings. The crisp air, panoramic views and deep silence make this a truly special day.
For confident skiers, ski sailing is a thrilling way to harness the wind. Let yourself be pulled on skis by a small sail across the open snowfields. A private guide will ensure that you can rise to this challenge safely. For others, a guided snowshoe walk or short ski trip with hot drinks outdoors is equally rewarding.
Return to Finse 1222, and the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon buns. Warm up in your bathtub overlooking the snow-covered landscape and get lost in a book in front of the crackling fire.
After dinner, if the weather is clear, you can venture outside with a head-lamp. As you acclimatise to the darkness, turn off the lamp and look up – you might get a glimpse of the brightest starry sky you’ve ever seen.
Enjoy a slow morning in clear mountain air before continuing by train towards the King of Fjords. The Flåm Railway will take you on a steep, cinematic journey past frozen waterfalls and snow-covered peaks.
At the other end, you’ll embark on a cruise through Norway’s UNESCO-protected fjord landscape, Nærøyfjord, where children can have fun spotting tiny farms and waterfalls while parents enjoy the serenity. The final stretch to Voss is by road.
Day 5: Voss
Enjoy an active winter day
Voss & The Fjords
Personalize and book the Norway’s Winter Magic journey
Personalized itinerary
This journey is curated to best suit your family's wishes for a spring break ski journey to Norway. It can be booked as proposed or further personalized to you.
Worry-free booking
With our flexible terms, we hope to provide you with all the certainty and adaptibility you need when booking a well-deseved escape.
Pricing
The indicated price per person is based on a family of four travelling together. Read more about our pricing here.
Would you prefer to have a spring break itinerary fully tailored to you?
Our travel curators create bespoke itineraries based on your wishes.
Karl Marcus Halvorsen
Travel Curator
