Winter discovery in Geilo

Luxury hotel with indoor pool, saunas and elegant dining room Masses of winter activities on offer: cross country and downhill skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, tobogganing and reindeer safaris Snow sure, picturesque town with convivial atmosphere and over 215km of immaculately groomed trails Panoramic railway to the Western fjords

Halfway between Oslo and majestic Bergen, home of theWestern fjords, lies the Hardangervidda plateau – a stunning winter wonderland of pine tree clusters and cheery log cabins crowned with plumes of wood smoke, scattered across a blanket of snow. We stay in the charming little town of Geilo, which nestles below the plateau on the shores of Lake Ustedalsfjorden. Its brightly painted wooden houses decked out with fairy lights reveal cosy cafés with frosted windows and warming fires to tempt you to linger inside.

Your base for the week is the elegant and recently refurbished Dr Holms Hotel in the heart of Geilo and considered Norway’s finest mountain hotel. Dating to 1909, and renowned for it’s historic grandeur, it effortlessly combines traditional rustic charm with modern day style, first class service and extensive facilities: swimming pool, steam bath, Shisheido spa, wine cellar (with tastings) and classic restaurant serving exquisite and beautifully prepared dishes. After dinner, you can choose between the cosy lounge bar with roaring log fire, the sophisticated library room or the livelier ski pub. There is also a bowling alley.

Your weekly programme is totally independent, giving you the chance to choose between cross country and downhill skiing. We have included cross country ski hire but for a small supplement you can change this to alpine skis. Other options include reindeer safaris, tobogganing and sleding with husky dogs. Alternatively, and for a complete change of scene, you can take the panoramic rail journey through the winter wilderness to the spectacular Western Fjiords.