Spåtind Sport Hotel: A Hidden Gem In Norway
Welcome to my review for Spåtind Sport Hotel. Spåtind Sport Hotel is an amazing hotel which focusses on sports and wellness located in the southern part of Norway, about an hours drive into the mountains from Lillehammer. The hotel is called after the mountain Spåtind, located in the middle between Lillehammer and Fagernes. Spåtind is the highest mountain (1414 m) in the mountain area Synnfjell. "Spå" (pronounced as Spo) means spy or to see in the future, and "tind" is a mountain peak.
I have lived and worked here for about 2 months during the summer of 2016, and was offered the chance to come back and work for the ski center for 4 months during the winter. This place and the people who are working and living there are absolutely amazing and it has changed my life for sure.
I have traveled quite a bit, but I have to say that Spåtind Sport Hotel honestly is the most magical place I have encountered so far. Although it can be extremely cold and even lonely there at times, for me it was the ultimate place to get back in touch with both myself and nature. This place is pretty isolated from the "outside world", and is therefore becoming like a small village on its own. Allow me to guide you through this hidden beauty.
Although the picture may suggest it, the mountains behind the hotel are not Spåtind.
Where to find Spåtind Sport Hotel
Spåtind Sport Hotel (open all year long)
Website: https://www.spatind.no
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spatind
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu5rKzi8qmmoX7MasJI-TpQ
Spåtind Ski Senter (open roughly from December - April)
Website: http://www.spatindskisenter.no
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spåtind-Skisenter-362405404148103
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoV9SYTT41l8OkzUqFccJfQ
Google Maps
About Spåtind Sport Hotel
The hotel was born on 15 March 1965, when Stig W. Johansen decided to start the build of a sport hotel in the best alpine class, with room for 150 guests. Unfortunately, the hotel went bankrupt after years and years of showtime.
Spåtind Sport Hotel is currently being run by Fredrik Lööf and Maj Elin Storeide. They (together with a lot of international workers) have given the hotel all the love it deserves and restored it back into the class it was originally intended for. The ski center is being run by a Dutch family who have decided to move to Norway and live their dream.
This is the perfect place to relax after months and months of hard work. This place offers nothing but friendly people and hostile nature. If you like sports, wellness and the outdoors, don't miss out on this one!
Spåtind Sport Hotel during Summer
Outdoor Activities
- Canooing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Mountainbiking
- Sauna (outdoor)
- Swimming (outdoor pool and lake)
- Tennis (2 tennis courts)
Indoor Activities
- Bars with lounge areas
- Entertainment area (including Playstation)
- Fitness area
- Library
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Swimming pool
- Table tennis
With most often parties with live music in the hotel lobby and lounge areas on Fridays and Saturdays.
Spåtind Sport Hotel during Winter
During winter the hotel is a lot harder to reach. You will need a decent car with winter tires (and sometimes snow chains) to get there. The roads are being cleaned 24/7, but the conditions can be really bad here.
Outdoor Activities
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling on ice
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Sauna (outdoor)
- Skiing
- Sledging
- Snowboarding
- Tubing
Every first weekend of January the Synnfjell Mush starts right in front of the hotel, on the slope of Spåtind Skisenter. This is an international dogsled race for multiple days, in which a maximum of 60 teams can participate. See the pictures below for a quick impression.
Indoor Activities
- Bars with lounge areas
- Entertainment area (including Playstation)
- Fitness area
- Library
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Swimming pool
- Table tennis
With most often parties with live music in the hotel lobby and lounge areas on Fridays and Saturdays.
This video gives an incredible aerial view of the entire area during winter:
Source:
Conclusion
Are you stressed out or in need of a workout? Better head for Spåtind Sport Hotel!
They have offered HelpX.net (Help Xchange) programs during multiple seasons in the past. This means that travelers are able to work here for about 25-30 hours per week in exchange for food and accommodation. This includes free access to the ski center and its equipment. They are currently not offering such a program I believe, but may be doing so in the near future.
More pictures related to Spåtind Sport Hotel
The husky is Askan the French beast! I hope you liked this as much as he did!!