Geilo

Geilo has been welcoming skiers since 1890. Although its ski area and accommodation have certainly moved on with the times, the resort has managed to retain its charming, traditional character. We’ve made the Geilolia Ski Centre home to Neilson – its uncrowded slopes, excellent childcare and outstanding ski school make it the perfect choice for beginners, improvers and families.

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Ski Information

Beginners Skiing Excellent
Intermediate Skiing Very Good
Advanced Skiing Fair
Off-Piste Good
Skiing Altitude 1173m High
800m Low
Resort Altitude 800m
Glacier No
Pistes 32 km
Green 22%
Blue 30%
Red 39%
Black 9%
Number of Lifts 20
Drags 13
Chairlifts 7
Gondolas 0
Cable Cars 0
Funiculars 0
Longest run 2.2km
Direction of Slopes N, S, E
Terrain Parks Yes
Half Pipe Yes
Cross Country trails 220km
Night Skiing Yes
Mountain Restuarants 6
Snowmaking 49%
Resort Ski Bus Yes
Linked Resorts No  
Disabled Skiing No

Beginners

A wonderful environment for those skiers at the ‘delicate stage’. Many of the runs are extremely wide and uncrowded; perfect conditions to gain confidence. Ski instructors speak perfect English and have been working with beginners for many years to assure professional service at all times – no surprise then that they have been awarded our Marque of Excellence award two years running.

Intermediates

There are two skiing areas, the north facing Geilolia and new Kikut area and the south facing main ski area immediately behind the village, which has around 75% of the total skiing. Both areas are linked by a free ski bus in the mornings and afternoons. Many of the runs are wide and uncrowded cruising runs on the huge snow fields above the tree-line, ideal for improving your technique. There are also a variety of runs down to the village through the trees.

Advanced


Geilo has five black runs including a couple of testing mogul fields, however the resort does not claim to cater for the aggressive expert skier.

Snowboarding

Geilo has a specially designed terrain park including two excellent snowboard parks and a boarder-cross park, offering half-pipes, super-pipe, jumps and bumps.Geilo is a welcoming resort to both experienced and first-time snowboarders. Private instruction available.

Customer Reviews

Latest reviews (Click here to see all reviews)

StarStarStarStarStar by Barry Atkinson
I went to Geilo in January 1985 as a complete beginner. Geilolia is an ideal place to learn especially if you stay in the Forest Cabins or the resort hotel (Vestlia). That was my sixth Neilson holiday but obviously the first in the snow. I chose Neilson for snow because of brilliant holidays in Nidri, Porto Heli (twice) Finikounda and a Beach Plus in Corfu. I have nothing bad to say about Neilson except I am disapointed with many aspects of the "new" website which do not work very well.
StarStarStarStarStar by karen r
Returned recently from our second week in Geilo. Last year was the last chance saloon, with my ski-avoiding partner ready to quit the slopes forever. Fortunately Geilo was absolutely the right medicine and we're set for many years more I hope. Our 2 children (3 and 5) loved the Snowman club and our son was ready to happily wave us goodbye and stay with Charman for good! Our daughter had a great time too in ski-school - the Geilolia ski instructors speak perfect English and are very patient (with big people too thankfully!). The Forest Cabins accommodation was fabulous - spacious, warm and well-appointed, and it was great to have a little of our own 'outside space' for snowman-building and the like. The friendly woman on reception loaned us sledges for the kids all week too - a big hit, and very handy for lugging tired little bodies about the place. The reps, especially Ian (who even managed to charm and amuse at 4.30am), were helpful, pleasant, and easy to get hold of if needed. The only downer was that 4.30am bus to the airport. It's a shame after such a relaxing and wonderful week to return to work shattered! And the flight times this year (and the transfer from Oslo) are actually worse! It's the only thing leaving our return trip in the balance. For a 'family friendly' top 10 resort, a 4.30 am check-in at Gatwick with small children seems very unfriendly.
StarStarStarStarStar by Chris
This is a great place to learn. The forest chalets are very good, only a few meters walk from the ski centre. The instructors are very good and are able to cope with varying levels of skills within groups. The Neilson staff are very attentive and Chris our chalet host was a real star. Flight times do need to be looked at as they are not very UK friendly.

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