Great skiing or your money back

Norway’s largest ski resort, Trysil, will offer skiers their money back if snow conditions are poor in a new pledge for this season. Those skiing from November 15th to December 14th are guaranteed at least 8 km of slopes with a total drop of 620m. The same also applies for the period of April 21st to May 1st.

In high-season from December 15th through to April 20th, the resort is guaranteeing a minimum of 20 km of pistes, also with a drop of 620m.

Managers at the resort near to the Swedish border are so confident of good conditions that they have promised to refund all costs including accommodation, ski school, rental and passes.

Innovation Norway’s Country Manager, Catherine Foster, says: “This is a fantastic promise from Trysil and shows how confident we are that there will be snow in the Norwegian resorts this season.

“With un-crowded pistes, a long season and virtually no lift queues, Trysil is ideal for beginners and experienced skiers to enjoy. This is an ever-popular destination and easy to get to from the UK”

Only a two hour drive from Oslo, Trysil boasts 32 lifts and 71km of slopes and is perfect for families and more experienced skiers as there are runs to suit all abilities. With a great range of accommodation and fantastic après-ski, it really is a must for any ski enthusiasts. Also new for this season is a fun-filled family park at the Trysil Turistsenter where young and old can try out rails and jumps. The season officially opens on November 15th.

For more details, go to Skistar.com/trysil.

Opening the same weekend is Hemsedal, Norway’s second largest resort with some of the country’s liveliest apres-ski. A great deal of investment has been made for the coming season with an increase in the number of floodlit slopes for night skiing, an additional new ski rental centre and more snow production facilities.

Also new is a beginners’ course for children between four and five encouraging them to build confidence on skis as well as having fun with youngsters of the same age. Hemsedal.com.

With numerous restaurants, bars, shops and museums, combined with one of Norway’s largest ski resorts, Oslo is the ideal winter short breaks destination. Ski just 25 minutes away by tram from the city centre. New for this year is a Christmas market in front of the city hall, open every day in December for those traditional gifts. For more information about the skiing and Christmas market go to Visitoslo.com.

Traditional family resort Geilo remains a firm favourite with skiers looking for a cosy atmosphere in a real mountain town. Easily accessible by train from either Bergen or Oslo, it is due to open on November 23rd. As well as skiing, the resort offers a wide range of activities including dog-sledging, snowmobiling and tobogganing. For more information go to Geilo.no.

For a greener ski break this season, sail to Norway where you can take to the slopes around the beautiful fjord region with a clearer conscience.

Reducing your carbon footprint you can set sail from Newcastle with DFDS Seaways arriving at Bergen only an hour’s transfer from the lively and atmospheric town of Voss. Set beside a frozen lake amid magnificent mountain scenery, Voss has a good range of slopes to suit skiers of all abilities. It has also fostered more Olympic contenders than any other resort in the world.

Reach the top by cable car in just four minutes where you will find the English speaking ski school and beginner slopes meaning any novices can enjoy the spectacular views from the first day of their holiday. Intermediate skiers can test a number of runs while off-piste and snowboarding is also catered for. The resort opens at the beginning of December. Visitvoss.no.

Back over in the east, Hafjell near Lillehammer is planning to open on 17th November. Investment has been made to install a new T-bar lift and also add 20 cabins to the gondola. More equipment has been bought for snow production and work has been undertaken to create a children’s snow and ski park. Hafjell.com.

Brand new for the UK market are the ski resorts of Røldal, Haukelifjell and Hovden in the west of Norway. Located between Haugesund and Stavanger, the resorts are easily accessible from the UK. Fly from Stansted to Haugesund in just 90 minutes with Ryanair or sail from Newcastle with DFDS Seaways. Røldal is famous for enjoying greater snowfall than any other resort in the country and is legendary for those seeking off-piste action as well as being well suited to the beginner and intermediate skier.

Hovden is the only place in Norway where you can swim outdoors 800 metres above sea level at a balmy 30 degrees, wallowing in the tropical heat while snowflakes settle in your hair. The Aqualand complex also boasts a 70m slide, obstacle river, solarium and sauna and is just one of the many family attractions at this new resort.

Hovden also has Norway's highest outdoor ice rink floodlit until 11pm, helicopter sightseeing, snowmobile safaris and a toboggan run. For more information go to Hovden.com.

Norway is also great for cross-country skiing, with fantastic trails at all of the main ski resorts. For more information see Skiingnorway.com.

Getting to Norway couldn’t be easier. Fly direct with Norwegian Air Shuttle to Oslo or Bergen with flights from £42 one-way, including tax, Norwegian.no.

Alternatively, sail to Stavanger, Haugesund or Bergen with DFDS Seaways, Dfds.com.

Further information about skiing or winter holidays in Norway is available from Innovation Norway (the Norwegian Tourist Board) at Visitnorway.co.uk.