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(photo: Røldal )

Haugesund Region
In the far west of Norway, near Haugesund and the fjords are three village resorts - Røldal, Haukelifjell and Hovden. Off the usual tourist trail, they offer an authentic, more rustic holiday with excellent skiing. The area enjoys a long season with exceptionally high snowfall, yet Haugesund is only 90 minutes by air from London Stansted.

Skiing
Røldal is famous for its powder snow and the greatest snowfall in the country. Its reputation among off-piste and cross-country fans is legendary. But there are excellent on-piste conditions too, for skiers from lower intermediate level upwards. Runs include 4 green, 3 blue, 4 red and 1 black. More experienced ski tourers and mountaineers can venture into the high-mountain terrain of the Hardangervidda plateau. There's floodlit night skiing once a week.

Haukelifjell with its spectacular mountains and smooth, quiet beach valleys offers plenty of opportunities for going cross-country - either in machine-made tracks or your own. The modern ski centre is just outside the accommodation cabins and has green, blue, red and black slopes, the longest of which is 2200m. A family-friendly resort, Haukelifjell has 3 lifts and an additional 80m band offering good training conditions for children and beginners.

Hovden is an expanding resort offering impressive but easily accessible high mountain terrain, many family-friendly activities and possibly the country's finest ski school. The ski centre offers some 23 km of runs and seven newly opened slopes. Floodlit skiing is available 2 or 3 times a week. For snowboarders there is one of Norway's best terrain parks. Other facilities include Norway's highest outdoor ice rink - and a water park where you can swim outdoors in a 30oC waters, while snowflakes settle on your hair.

The Resorts
These are village resorts, so you won't get the crowds, bustle or mass of competing facilities to be found in large, purpose-built resorts. Hovden, for example has only 400 or so year-round residents. But you can be sure of a warm welcome and the open, friendly and helpful attitude that Norwegians are known for. Even in small villages, you'll find that most people can speak English. All these village resorts have shopping facilities as well as restaurants, cafés and bars, offering a cosy, intimate après-ski experience. You'll also enjoy the atmosphere and picturesque surroundings of a genuine, long-standing community. Røldal, for example is built around an historic wooden stave church, dating form the early 13th Century.

Accommodation
All these resorts offer traditional cabins, with some also offering cabin apartments or modern self-catering apartments. Hotels of various grades are also available. You can expect the accommodation to be of good standard with modern facilities and equipment. For more detailed information, check the websites of individual resorts and tour operators.

More information
For more information about skiing in the three Haugesund resorts go to www.visitnorway.com.

http://www.visitnorway.com.