Geilo
Encyclopedia
is a centre in the municipality of Hol
in Norway
, in the valley of Hallingdal
, with around 2300 inhabitants.
Geilo is primarily a ski
resort town
, but also offers summer activities. Geilo is in a valley
with mountain ranges on each side. The center of the town lies at 800 meters above sea level, and its highest point is 1178 meters above sea level. It is 250km from Oslo
and 260km from Bergen.
It has a train station (Geilo stasjon) with roughly five trains a day going to either Bergen (to the west) or Oslo (to the east). The closest airport is Geilo Airport, Dagali
(24km away), while the closest airport that accepts international flights is Fagernes Airport. Geilo has three lakes, Slåttahølen, Vestlefjorden, and Ustedalsfjorden, by far the largest of the three.
of geil f 'fenced road for cattle'.
The ski season in Geilo is much like the rest of Norway, roughly from late November until late April. Geilo has Four ski centres that make up one resort, which goes by the name Geilo skiheiser. This includes the Geilo town side of the valley, Havsadalen over the other side of the mountain and Slaata to the side which is excellent for beginners and small children as well as Geilolia (formerly Vestlia) which again is excellent for small children and beginners which also connects to the Kikkut area. All the Ski hire offer free helmet loan for children which is an excellent safety measure for worried parents. Geilo skiheiser has 39 slopes covering 33km accessed by 20 lifts (14 plate, 6 chair). Geilolia skisenter (formerly Vestlia skisenter) tends to have the easier green and blue runs and is where the three ski schools that operate in Geilo take place, whereas Slaatta skisenter has the blue and red runs. There is also an extensive cross country
system in Geilo, offering 220km of tracks, including 5km under floodlight. There are free pamphlets available in the ‘info’ boxes dotted around the town next to the maps showing the cross country trails and lengths. Skiing options include alpine skiing
, cross country (XC) skiing, telemarking
, snowboarding
, dog sledging
, toboggan
, ski orienteering
, and evening skiing most evenings. Another activity that has become very popular of late is 'kiting' (skiing or snowboarding whilst attached to a 'kite' or parasail) with the area around Geilo being rated among the best in the world. You will also see paragliders floating down from the top of the slopes with courses run in the area occasionally, although mostly in the summer months.
Both sides offer a 'big air bag' where all with twin tip skis or snowboards can jump onto an enormous air bag. This is a hit with people of all ages, with children as young as 4 having a go.
On Wednesday nights, there is a cross country night at the back side of Geilo-Hallen which is free to attend, although you will need cross country skis which can be hired at all the ski hires in the area at reasonable rates. This is an excellent opportunity to learn one of the fastest growing winter sports worldwide and an excellent training opportunity or a family night out.
Getting to Geilo is easy as the main rail line between Oslo and Bergen runs right through the centre of town. There are also bus routes from Oslo and Bergen as an alternative and the RV7 highway also runs through the town if you are coming by car.
Accommodation is not overly expensive with most hotels and cabins being listed on the internet and offering special prices out of the high season times. If travelling with friends, consider renting a cabin which can sleep up to 18 people and can make for very good value when the costs are divied up. With 3 supermarkets in Geilo, and food prices not too far removed from other European countries, It can be surprisingly affordable and refreshing change to the standard Hotel experience.
, tourist information, Co-op supermarket, café
Capri restaurant, newsagents, roofed parking, and a police station
connected. In the other is an ICA supermarket, newsagent, and Geilogrillen.
Down the road there is a small cinema
, library
, and school
. There is also a large sports hall (Geilohallen), which is also the cross country club (Geilo IL
). Behind the building is a floodlit prepared cross country track, and a biathlon
shooting range. The tourist Cetre is located next to Sport 1 and at the Train Station is the privately run 'Høve Støtt' which offers a range of activities and can organise events and other group outings and experiences, especially in regards to experiencing the Hardangervidda National Park area, including the glacier at Finse, which is 1222 metres above sea level.
For a small town there is a large choice of hotels and apartments. One of the hotels is one of Norway’s most famous, Dr Holms with 2 afterski bars, Recepten and the Ski bar upstairs with an excellent view over Geilo. Others include the Bardøla, Vestlia, which is on the door step of Geilolia ski centre, and the Highland Hotel.
, paintballing
, white water rafting
, rallying
, golf
, tennis
, cycling
; the two most popular are mountain biking
and hiking
. The Rallarvegen route from Finse to Flåm is extremely popular in the summer months and a breathtaking ride or walk. Budget an entire day, but well worth the effort. Another popular day out is at the Geilolia climbing park where people of all ages, including small children can climb safely with the use of harnesses on a prepared route up in the trees. It includes 'flying fox' sections guaranteed to raise a squeal of delight or two!
For Star Wars fans, Finse was home base for the filming of the Hoth ice planet scenes at the beginning of 'The Empire Strikes Back' with many locals from the Geilo area appearing as extras.
gained her ski instructors certificate in Geilo.
Ole Schroder II created the Havsdalen, a resort in Geilo center.
Ole Schroder I founded the Geilo Hotel in Geilo center.
The Schroders still visit Geilo in the winter and spring.
Hol
Hol is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Administrative history:The area of Hol was separated from the municipality of Ål in 1877 to become a separate municipality. In 1937 a part of neighboring Uvdal with 220 inhabitants was moved to Hol municipality. The area of Dagali was transferred...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, in the valley of Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
, with around 2300 inhabitants.
Geilo is primarily a ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
resort town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, but also offers summer activities. Geilo is in a valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
with mountain ranges on each side. The center of the town lies at 800 meters above sea level, and its highest point is 1178 meters above sea level. It is 250km from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and 260km from Bergen.
It has a train station (Geilo stasjon) with roughly five trains a day going to either Bergen (to the west) or Oslo (to the east). The closest airport is Geilo Airport, Dagali
Geilo Airport, Dagali
Geilo Airport, Dagali is a private airport located at Dagali in Hol, Norway. It was previously a public airport that was both a regional airport and served international tourist charter airlines serving the nearby ski resorts centered around Geilo. The airport opened in 1985, but failed...
(24km away), while the closest airport that accepts international flights is Fagernes Airport. Geilo has three lakes, Slåttahølen, Vestlefjorden, and Ustedalsfjorden, by far the largest of the three.
The name
The ski resort is named after the old farm Gjeilo. The name is the dative pluralPlural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
of geil f 'fenced road for cattle'.
Skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
system in Geilo, offering 220km of tracks, including 5km under floodlight. There are free pamphlets available in the ‘info’ boxes dotted around the town next to the maps showing the cross country trails and lengths. Skiing options include alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, cross country (XC) skiing, telemarking
Telemark skiing
Telemark skiing is a form of skiing using the Telemark turn. Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking either have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, just as in cross-country skiing, or may be released to only connect there.Telemark turns are led with...
, snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
, dog sledging
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
, toboggan
Toboggan
A toboggan is a simple sled which is a traditional form of transport used by the Innu and Cree of northern Canada. In modern times, it is used on snow to carry one or more people down a hill or other slope for recreation. Designs vary from simple, traditional models to modern engineered composites...
, ski orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
, and evening skiing most evenings. Another activity that has become very popular of late is 'kiting' (skiing or snowboarding whilst attached to a 'kite' or parasail) with the area around Geilo being rated among the best in the world. You will also see paragliders floating down from the top of the slopes with courses run in the area occasionally, although mostly in the summer months.
Both sides offer a 'big air bag' where all with twin tip skis or snowboards can jump onto an enormous air bag. This is a hit with people of all ages, with children as young as 4 having a go.
On Wednesday nights, there is a cross country night at the back side of Geilo-Hallen which is free to attend, although you will need cross country skis which can be hired at all the ski hires in the area at reasonable rates. This is an excellent opportunity to learn one of the fastest growing winter sports worldwide and an excellent training opportunity or a family night out.
Getting to Geilo is easy as the main rail line between Oslo and Bergen runs right through the centre of town. There are also bus routes from Oslo and Bergen as an alternative and the RV7 highway also runs through the town if you are coming by car.
Accommodation is not overly expensive with most hotels and cabins being listed on the internet and offering special prices out of the high season times. If travelling with friends, consider renting a cabin which can sleep up to 18 people and can make for very good value when the costs are divied up. With 3 supermarkets in Geilo, and food prices not too far removed from other European countries, It can be surprisingly affordable and refreshing change to the standard Hotel experience.
Centre of Geilo
Geilo is a small town and has few shops and entertainment spots. The sentrum mainly consists of two large wooden buildings, much like a shopping centre/mall. In one is an IntersportIntersport
The Intersport Group is an international sporting goods retailer. IIC-Intersport International Corporation is its purchasing division.The headquarters are located in the capital of Switzerland, Bern....
, tourist information, Co-op supermarket, café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
Capri restaurant, newsagents, roofed parking, and a police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
connected. In the other is an ICA supermarket, newsagent, and Geilogrillen.
Down the road there is a small cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, and school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. There is also a large sports hall (Geilohallen), which is also the cross country club (Geilo IL
Geilo IL
Geilo Idrettslag is a multi-sports club from Geilo, Norway.Established on 2 December 1917 as Gjeilo SK, it changed its name to Gjeilo IL on 19 May 1918 and later to Geilo IL. It has sections for alping skiing, freestyle skiing, skiing and biathlon, snowboarding, telemark skiing, football, handball...
). Behind the building is a floodlit prepared cross country track, and a biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
shooting range. The tourist Cetre is located next to Sport 1 and at the Train Station is the privately run 'Høve Støtt' which offers a range of activities and can organise events and other group outings and experiences, especially in regards to experiencing the Hardangervidda National Park area, including the glacier at Finse, which is 1222 metres above sea level.
For a small town there is a large choice of hotels and apartments. One of the hotels is one of Norway’s most famous, Dr Holms with 2 afterski bars, Recepten and the Ski bar upstairs with an excellent view over Geilo. Others include the Bardøla, Vestlia, which is on the door step of Geilolia ski centre, and the Highland Hotel.
Out of winter season
After the winter season,there are other sporting activities available including go cartsKart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
, paintballing
Paintball
Paintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
, white water rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
; the two most popular are mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. The Rallarvegen route from Finse to Flåm is extremely popular in the summer months and a breathtaking ride or walk. Budget an entire day, but well worth the effort. Another popular day out is at the Geilolia climbing park where people of all ages, including small children can climb safely with the use of harnesses on a prepared route up in the trees. It includes 'flying fox' sections guaranteed to raise a squeal of delight or two!
For Star Wars fans, Finse was home base for the filming of the Hoth ice planet scenes at the beginning of 'The Empire Strikes Back' with many locals from the Geilo area appearing as extras.
Trivia
Queen Sonja of NorwayQueen Sonja of Norway
Queen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
gained her ski instructors certificate in Geilo.
Ole Schroder II created the Havsdalen, a resort in Geilo center.
Ole Schroder I founded the Geilo Hotel in Geilo center.
The Schroders still visit Geilo in the winter and spring.